James Collins

[SoccerHQ]

I’d love to know definitively about the Sid thing. Every time I hear him speak he seems sound enough but the Sid stuff is there in the background. How sure are we about it?

Wasn't it pretty widely reported at the time? We went on a spa break when there wasn't any games, night off and there was slanging match involving him, Delph and Sid and a few of the coaching staff. This was in Houllier season.

Anyway Collins was a decent CB. Could get found out against sides with quick strikers with good movement but brilliant against the hoofball teams. Him and Dunney were rocks in 09/10 for vast majority of the season.

Different times of course judging whether the CBs we had at the time were good enough to get us in the top 4.

[Damo70]

Didn't we sign Warnock, Collins and Dunne on deadline day? I think they all made their debuts in a win away to Small Heath. They were all excellent in their first season but didn't do the business for us once MON left. I remember one night game at Villa Park (possibly under McLeish) in which Warnock had a nightmare and was getting pelters from the crowd.

I saw James Collins in Solihull town centre once pushing a kid in a pushchair. Given the allegations I should clarify he was pushing the pushchair and at no point actually pushed the kid.

[eamonn]

Well thanks for putting our minds at rest.

[PeterWithesShin]

I remember one night game at Villa Park (possibly under McLeish) in which Warnock had a nightmare and was getting pelters from the crowd.

QPR I think.

[SoccerHQ]

Don't think Warnock ever recovered from a poor game in the league cup final. Started off very well but like pretty much all our left backs was a nervous wreck for rest of his career here.

[danno]

Is there anything about how he now plans to use his 50p shaped head now he isn’t using it to miss 4-yards-out headers from corners?

I arched an eyebrow Roger Moore style at this, then I realised I could only actually recall him scoring one header in a crap 1-0 home win against a Pardew Newcastle. The only other thing I remember was Shefki Kuqi coming on. Sat right behind the dugout I remember Pardew's final instructions were "we need a goal, get us a facking goal". Lol

[Rigadon]

The genius of Alan Pardew. 

[Pat McMahon]

James talks very fondly of his time at Villa on the latest episode of Elis James' Feast of Football podcast:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05cmk38

He believes that he played his best football playing alongside Dunne and under MON. Surprisingly, he came across very well - I'm surprised that he and Hutton are still looking for a club.

Just listened to that and I agree with you.

[N'ZMAV]

I remember one night game at Villa Park (possibly under McLeish) in which Warnock had a nightmare and was getting pelters from the crowd.

QPR I think.

Bolton game.

[dcdavecollett]

Warnock was played in midfield in that match; he hit the bar in the first half and scored our goal in the second half. he had a pretty decent game.

[pauliewalnuts]

I remember at some point in his time with us, Warnock developed a horrible habit of giving needless free kicks away in dangerous areas.

[Tuscans]

From 34:42 life under Martin O'Neil by Ginge and Sidwell.

[Rory]

From 34:42 life under Martin O'Neil by Ginge and Sidwell.

Must be the first time Sidwell has ever been the 'and' in a 'ginge and x' equation.

[aldridgeboy]

He also said recently in an interview( might be this one actually )that Dean Smith signed him back for us on loan. But he got an injury on first training session, so tore up his conttract. Fair play

[eamonn]

Forgot about that, thought it was a myth.

O'Neill's methods in the late 00s were already getting on for 20 years out-of date. Nice quip to the lot who played in Moscow...he was at it again tonight not too impressed with Upamecano.