CONFIRMED Neil Collins leaves the club

[west_yorks_blade]

In answer to your question at the end, WWF, yes we are.

The alternative being that Neil Collins is better than Sheffield United. Laughable.

 

[wizadry]

The alternative being that Neil Collins is better than Sheffield United. Laughable.

Exactly!

 

[Barney]

If true, surely more than anything it's about him being a poisonous influence in the changing room.

If so then it's better to pay him off and fuck him off at the earliest opportunity.

Looks like some strong management at last.

They could have put some measures in place to stop that, like training seperately or giving it the Clough treatment and just calling him up when needed. Anything is better than nothing.

 

[lazyfecklessblade]

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

If Collins has left the club under these sort of circumstances then I for one am sad for him after these past years of dedicated service. Say what you like about Collins, but he has been 100% committed to the cause and has never given less than his best.

Any relief about him leaving (if he is in fact leaving) should be tempered by the fact that he has not played in the last three away games in which we have conceded 5 goals and gained just the one point in a game last Saturday when our central defenders were blamed for both goals in a game we should have won.

I express my appreciation to a player who has done his best. He has played for us for over 5 years and 177 games (12 goals).

It's a bit disappointing if we send him on his way with ridicule and abuse. Part of playing for a 'big club' I suppose. We are better than him are we?

Tbf, you have got a point. You rate him far higher than I do, but I don't doubt the truth about him always having been "been 100% committed to the cause" (in his own way) and about him having "never given less than his best".

He can't help his limitations, nor can he be blamed really for looking after his own interests.
And there's always the memory of his & Harry's partnership the first season down here in the depths.

Best of luck to him.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

If Collins has left the club under these sort of circumstances then I for one am sad for him after these past years of dedicated service. Say what you like about Collins, but he has been 100% committed to the cause and has never given less than his best.

Any relief about him leaving (if he is in fact leaving) should be tempered by the fact that he has not played in the last three away games in which we have conceded 5 goals and gained just the one point in a game last Saturday when our central defenders were blamed for both goals in a game we should have won.

I express my appreciation to a player who has done his best. He has played for us for over 5 years and 177 games (12 goals).

It's a bit disappointing if we send him on his way with ridicule and abuse. Part of playing for a 'big club' I suppose. We are better than him are we?

The club and manager have thankfully no time for sentiment . We are in a mess and cause and effect is being dealt with . If some get hit by shrapnel do be it . Supporting any player at this stage , with quality and performances to date , certainly shows having a foot in the wrong camp . Fans are entitled to have there view and say , with usually being a good barometer on all things SUFC.

You are entitled to your views , stop being like the I am better than you are bank manager .

UTB

 

[west_yorks_blade]

They could have put some measures in place to stop that, like training seperately or giving it the Clough treatment and just calling him up when needed. Anything is better than nothing.

You need to get shot of rotten apples not treat them with kid gloves and let them train separately.
For goodness sake, what would be the benefit of that?

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

If Collins has left the club under these sort of circumstances then I for one am sad for him after these past years of dedicated service. Say what you like about Collins, but he has been 100% committed to the cause and has never given less than his best.

Any relief about him leaving (if he is in fact leaving) should be tempered by the fact that he has not played in the last three away games in which we have conceded 5 goals and gained just the one point in a game last Saturday when our central defenders were blamed for both goals in a game we should have won.

I express my appreciation to a player who has done his best. He has played for us for over 5 years and 177 games (12 goals).

It's a bit disappointing if we send him on his way with ridicule and abuse. Part of playing for a 'big club' I suppose. We are better than him are we?

A great post. Well said.

 

[Ricky]

In the short term though we're going to miss having someone with aerial ability. I expect us to concede a few more from crosses.

Generally on Collins, I think he was a solid enough player at this level the majority of the time, but Maguire helped him quite a bit and we could've always done with replacing him with someone better. He also has better ability on the ball than the vast majority give him credit for. Despite being vocal he's never been able to organise the defence. Overall, not great, not bad, but he's nowhere near one of the main factors that has stopped us getting promotion.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

If Collins has left the club under these sort of circumstances then I for one am sad for him after these past years of dedicated service. Say what you like about Collins, but he has been 100% committed to the cause and has never given less than his best.

Any relief about him leaving (if he is in fact leaving) should be tempered by the fact that he has not played in the last three away games in which we have conceded 5 goals and gained just the one point in a game last Saturday when our central defenders were blamed for both goals in a game we should have won.

I express my appreciation to a player who has done his best. He has played for us for over 5 years and 177 games (12 goals).

It's a bit disappointing if we send him on his way with ridicule and abuse. Part of playing for a 'big club' I suppose. We are better than him are we?

Corrected this bit for you; He played for us for 5 years too long and 177 games too many

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

but I don't doubt the truth about him always having been "been 100% committed to the cause" (in his own way) and about him having "never given less than his best".

Exactly - the abuse and ridicule of Collins show "all we want is players who give 100%" to be the nonsense it is.

 

[sitwell]

So Neil ,it says here on your CV your last club paid you to leave ?

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Exactly - the abuse and ridicule of Collins show "all we want is players who give 100%" to be the nonsense it is.

Bottom line is that Collins has never been good enough . We have got to stop being sentimental about this current set of players or else we will never get out of this league .

The abuse and ridicule - read frustration by fans of a collective set of well paid players with hardly any return.

Harsh , hard , maybe even a little unfair but fact.

UTB

 

[Woodwardfan]

The club and manager have thankfully no time for sentiment . We are in a mess and cause and effect is being dealt with . If some get hit by shrapnel do be it . Supporting any player at this stage , with quality and performances to date , certainly shows having a foot in the wrong camp . Fans are entitled to have there view and say , with usually being a good barometer on all things SUFC.

You are entitled to your views , stop being like the I am better than you are bank manager .

UTB

Where's that come from My Lord?

Fair enough he's leaving and so be it. Let's wish him well, not curse him on his way, that's all I'm saying.

If I am to talk of treating people better though, perhaps Adkins could have let him down more lightly. You know he was held up as a 'model pro' in pre-season, he's been picked ahead of others for most of the season and he was on the chosen panel of 6 players put in place to give a voice to the manager from the whole squad of players.On the fateful night he apparently disgraced himself he was not subbed and played the full game.

If I were to think aloud that maybe our manager is playing to the crowd by taking this stern action then I'd also say he is 8 months too late to retain his credibility in respect of Collins.

P.S. I wasn't too chuffed how Doyle was moved on either. These things matter.

 

[sitwell]

Exactly - the abuse and ridicule of Collins show "all we want is players who give 100%" to be the nonsense it is.

Was it 100% sat on his fucking arse for 6 months last year ,when he was happy to take the money instead of moving on or going on loan ?

 

[bornablade]

So Neil ,it says here on your CV your last club paid you to leave ?

.....asked Nigel Clough. Collins nods rather sheepishly.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

P.S. I wasn't too chuffed how Doyle was moved on either. These things matter.

That was too late as well.

Now they have both gone we might turn the corner?

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Exactly - the abuse and ridicule of Collins show "all we want is players who give 100%" to be the nonsense it is.

I certainly don't think that "lack of effort" is a charge that can be laid at Collins' door.

And how do you judge a player like Paul Coutts on that score? Is it lack of effort in his case, or lack of intensity? Or just the lack of a naturally languid player who seems not possess a lot of drive on the pitch? In many ways, he's an excellent footballer but, by God, is he frustrating! He seems to lack effort, but it may well be more complex.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Where's that come from My Lord?

Fair enough he's leaving and so be it. Let's wish him well, not curse him on his way, that's all I'm saying.

If I am to talk of treating people better though, perhaps Adkins could have let him down more lightly. You know he was held up as a 'model pro' in pre-season, he's been picked ahead of others for most of the season and he was on the chosen panel of 6 players put in place to give a voice to the manager from the whole squad of players.On the fateful night he apparently disgraced himself he was not subbed and played the full game.

If I were to think aloud that maybe our manager is playing to the crowd by taking this stern action then I'd also say he is 8 months too late to retain his credibility in respect of Collins.

P.S. I wasn't too chuffed how Doyle was moved on either. These things matter.

Collins has been ruthless and selfish with SUFC IMO . Perhaps it's pay back time . What goes around comes around . Not one once of sympathy for the guy.

UTB

 

[ZoneManWilf]

Fair enough he's leaving and so be it. Let's wish him well, not curse him on his way, that's all I'm saying.

Fair enough, but lets not sugarcoat his Sheffield United career either.

 

[Staffs_Blade]

His parents were having a bit of a laugh when they named him - Neill William Collins - bloody 'ell.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Fair enough, but lets not sugarcoat his Sheffield United career either.

Nice to strike balance on a thread though.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Let's be fair Collins could have scored a hat trick of own goals in 6 Sheffield derbies and WHF would still rate him.

 

[Lane Ender]

Harry carried him only time he looked ok I'm afraid

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Nice to strike balance on a thread though.

Not for the sake of it though he has been one of the main reasons we haven't progressed.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

Adkins, unlike Clough, got the replacement in before pulling the trigger. To be fair to Clough though Adkins had a better chance of pulling it off due to the remaining length of contract, but it still had to be handled.

If this is true he also actually got rid of him instead of hoping months of sidelining with alleged injuries would tempt him to go to Carlisle United or other clubs via the Blades old boys network. Collins preferred not to play for a long time, turning down several loan moves until he finally succumbed.

Clough's isolation strategy and "half-truths" re alleged injuries to Collins ended up allowing him to be portrayed as a martyr and I'm sure his isolated presence was a running sore during the last months of Clough's reign culminating in us playing 5' 8" Alcock at CH because we had no-one.

Thank you for your services and your commitment Mr. Collins. No disrespect but times move on. All things must end and the future of SUFC is at stake. You are not in that future.

Our slim chances of promotion (be honest we need miracles) are unlikely to be weakened by his departure, especially as he would have known there was no new contract coming his way. If we only save 20% of what we would have shelled out if we had waited till the end of the season it won't be an insignificant amount as he had a championship contract. I suspect he would have been gone earlier except for the late arrival of his replacement and a suitable exit door found.

If this allows us to play a higher line that is also good as draws are no good for us if miracles are to happen. And if he is an unwanted influence in the dressing room (why else would he be in the council of players or whatever its called - keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer) the air may be a little sweeter there and we may see a benefit. Players will also know that nice Nigel is also not as soft as some take him for.

Not rocket science in the end but well done to those involved. Finally.

 

[Jostein's Bandage]

If he's got the sack before Jose, that's quite an achievement.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Bottom line is that Collins has never been good enough . We have got to stop being sentimental about this current set of players or else we will never get out of this league .

The abuse and ridicule - read frustration by fans of a collective set of well paid players with hardly any return.

Harsh , hard , maybe even a little unfair but fact.

UTB

The post was drawing attention to the oft-repeated nonsense: "we just want players who give 100%". It stands.

 

[bakeblade]

Gone to Burton.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Gone to Burton.

Or gone for a Burton

UTB