Dons love George

[mosbolad]

I wasn’t at Gillingham, which goal did he berate him after? Bullying is a strong accusation so I’ll leave that alone.
Just to be clear, was it aimed at a fellow, grown, pro footballer or the young mascot at the game?

Edit; yes, recently - after both moved on, so no compulsion whatsoever to do so.

'Young mascot at the game'. Oh dear Danny, I can see I am a mere amateur in the sarcasm stakes.....

 

[stringer]

'Young mascot at the game'. Oh dear Danny, I can see I am a mere amateur in the sarcasm stakes.....

Just trying to get the facts.
Which goal?

 

[Booker4]

Collins had good years in League one 2011-12 and 2012-13. He wasn't bad in 2013-14.

Anyone who thinks he was always terrible for us doesn't have a very good memory. We could not have had such good defensive records in 2012 and 2013 if he was useless.

Its interesting that people never mention far worst players in that era - presumably because they didn't stay as long whereas Collo and Doyle did, so presumably that makes them worst players? Or makes Collo and Doyle more of a target because they were there for long periods and it was a frustrating time after the first season where we failed to get promoted with 91 points and therefore any failure after that was their fault?!

What about the other players of that era?! Matt Hill, Danny Higgingbotham, Daryl Westlake, Fabian Brandy etc. They were all worse for starters but they never get mentioned just because they weren't "stealing a wage" for as long?!

 

[The Crab]

Its interesting that people never mention far worst players in that era - presumably because they didn't stay as long whereas Collo and Doyle did, so presumably that makes them worst players? Or makes Collo and Doyle more of a target because they were there for long periods and it was a frustrating time after the first season where we failed to get promoted with 91 points and therefore any failure after that was their fault?!

What about the other players of that era?! Matt Hill, Danny Higgingbotham, Daryl Westlake, Fabian Brandy etc. They were all worse for starters but they never get mentioned just because they weren't "stealing a wage" for as long?!

I can't even argue with that, they were shocking.

 

[Bladepicker]

Many agree mate but for me Doyle and Collo were decent servants in a tough era not helped by bad managerial appointments or bad timed sackings and a lack of funding for the team/selling better players, all of which is understandable given the clubs position but not Doyles and Collo's fault.

It's not their fault but they were both fucking shite.

 

[ljk]

Just trying to get the facts.
Which goal?

I was at that game. I don't have any strong opinions on Collins either way but that was an unfortunate incident.

Long had made a few errors (one cost a goal) and some fans started to turn on him, standing right behind the goal and shouting some really heinous shit (to his credit he took it incredibly well). After making another mistake (or conceding a goal, I don't remember exactly), Collins gave him a real dressing down and was clapped by a handful of the baying mob, who seemed buoyed by the whole thing.

Long visibly wilted, and at the time it seemed a bit like Collins had callously thrown him to the mercy of the type of fans that get banned on twitter. To be fair, though, Collins may not have realised the extent of abuse that was being hurled, and what he might have been exacerbating. I never saw him act that way towards Long or any of our other players before or after (though I did miss most games that season). As has been already mentioned, he was a decent, experienced partner for Maguire. If the fans hadn't been in such close proximity and Long hadn't been public enemy no.1, it wouldn't have appeared so unnecessary.

That's how I remember it, anyway.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I was at that game. I don't have any strong opinions on Collins either way but that was an unfortunate incident.

Long had made a few errors (one cost a goal) and some fans started to turn on him, standing right behind the goal and shouting some really heinous shit (to his credit he took it incredibly well). After making another mistake (or conceding a goal, I don't remember exactly), Collins gave him a real dressing down and was clapped by a handful of the baying mob, who seemed buoyed by the whole thing.

Long visibly wilted, and at the time it seemed a bit like Collins had callously thrown him to the mercy of the type of fans that get banned on twitter. To be fair, though, Collins may not have realised the extent of abuse that was being hurled, and what he might have been exacerbating. I never saw him act that way towards Long or any of our other players before or after (though I did miss most games that season). As has been already mentioned, he was a decent, experienced partner for Maguire. If the fans hadn't been in such close proximity and Long hadn't been public enemy no.1, it wouldn't have appeared so unnecessary.

That's how I remember it, anyway.

Exactly as I remember it. The treatment a substantial portion of our fans gave him that day annoyed me just as much as the result and overall performance as I headed home from the game. It’s probably the only aspect of that match that will have a lasting memory.

 

[mosbolad]

Just trying to get the facts.
Which goal?

I wasn't there either and I wasn't referring to a particular goal there although some who were have cleared that up. However having just watched the highlights Long should have done better on the first goal although a player was backing into him. Overall we seemed appalling that day, Adkins first game in charge.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Its interesting that people never mention far worst players in that era - presumably because they didn't stay as long whereas Collo and Doyle did, so presumably that makes them worst players? Or makes Collo and Doyle more of a target because they were there for long periods and it was a frustrating time after the first season where we failed to get promoted with 91 points and therefore any failure after that was their fault?!

What about the other players of that era?! Matt Hill, Danny Higgingbotham, Daryl Westlake, Fabian Brandy etc. They were all worse for starters but they never get mentioned just because they weren't "stealing a wage" for as long?!

They were shit but everyone says they were shit. Doyle and Collins were shit and some people laud them as “great servants” rather than poor footballers. All about opinions but the fact that as bad as they were they continued to get a new contract and were part of the spine of the team for a bad period of football for the Blades will always rankle with me.

 

[ThatJa]

They can keep him.