CONFIRMED Neil Collins leaves the club

[HeCanDoMagic]

Or the North American Soccer League

You see, he's only been there 2 minutes and relegated already.

 

[Bladesman]

Does anyone have any fond memories of Collins? Granted my memory is poor, but I'm struggling.

I'll stop short of calling him names (which isn't something I've done whilst watching him play), but he really is dog shit at football.

Good luck to him, anyway.

The fondest memory I have is today.

Him finally leaving the club.

 

[Maccablade]

We can release another 7 or 8 players aren't they interested?? please somebody tell them....quickly before its too late.

 

[TJB.]

He popped up for a headed winner at Huddersfield a few years ago that I rather enjoyed.

Other than that unrelenting dreadfulness.

I was there. The header came in the first 5 minutes or so of the game. The rest of it was pretty dreadful.

 

[TJB.]

Wouldn't feel too sorry for him.

I don't. Nor will I when he gets eaten by a crocodile in the Florida swamps

 

[Smirth]

This is a good day for the club IMO.

Good luck to him but I'm so glad to finally see the back of him. He's been a huge drain on the club for 5 years and he's finally gone. Just don't replace him with another ageing has-been, Adkins.

 

[JackSUFC]

Bye Neil.

Still can't get my head around the fact he was with us for so long, he's been symbolic of Sheffield United in the 2010's which says it all.

Can say he was a good 'servant' in his time here and did a steady enough job at the side of Maguire.

Won't be missed though (what I was getting at) which is strange for a player who's been here for so long.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I don't. Nor will I when he gets eaten by a crocodile in the Florida swamps

The gulls on St Petes beach will have him first.

 

[Bladesman]

This is a good day for the club IMO.

Good luck to him but I'm so glad to finally see the back of him. He's been a huge drain on the club for 5 years and he's finally gone. Just don't replace him with another ageing has-been, Adkins.

I wonder if we can replace him with the great Nyron Nosworthy.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Just don't replace him with another ageing has-been, Adkins.

But if you do I've dubinned mi' boots

 

[LoughboroBlade]

It pretty much sums things up at the club presently (or my support for it) that our longest serving player has just left and I don't really care.

He bounced back after relegation, but overall in the seasons that followed he was a mixed bag. These last five years can be usefully categorised as The Collins Years when we look back in years to come.

 

[derryblade]

Agree about Edgar but Baptist deserves more than that, he,s the kind of aggressive defender we need
a couple more like him and we wouldn't be the soft touch we are at present. Tel Kennedy is of the same kind, but as we and he knows bad knees let him down and that is a shame as he is a leader.
I rated Tel more than Maguire in that youth team,he always leads from the front and shows no fear,which is why
More than not caused his problems
He's not managed to stay fit since and I rue that fact. But he is still playing so hopefully he may have a run where he's injury free

Baptiste I believe is on a 3 year contract probably on a decent wedge and 30, add Hammond 30+ also on decent money it doesn't make financial sense and certainly no chance of a resale return. More importantly it doesn't fit with NA saying he has identified young hungry athletic footballers, unless he's telling porkies. How many 30+ footballers do we need.

 

[SwissBlade]

Today is a great day!

 

[I should coco]

He bounced back after relegation,

'Bounced back' in the sense that he kept managing to steal a very comfortable wage?

 

[Bladesince59]

I mentioned this last week, but i got the impression from Phipps' email that they blamed Clough for the fall out with Collins and Butler

The cunt is off, appropriately, to play for Tampax Wednesday or some such outfit.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

This is as 'United' as the fans have been all season

 

[Jostein's Bandage]

People being a bit harsh maybe. Probably not so much a crap player, as miles over the hill. It's not his fault we don't know what the feck we're doing as a club. He should have been released 3 years ago. You're a long time retired, of course you are going to take the new contract if it's offered.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

'Bounced back' in the sense that he kept managing to steal a very comfortable wage?

I was amazed that he and Doyle weren't disasters given their performances for the doomed 2010/11 team. That first season he was an important part of what had generally been a solid defence.

 

[SUFC Guy]

I especially liked his kind words and appreciation of our current manager

Looks like he was the disruptive one after all.

3 points tomorrow and a promotion push to follow

Another one gone, how many more do we need rid of?

 

[1danewhitehouse]

It might not be for the full value of the contract that's why.

Collins might have a contract lined up elsewhere meaning he would accept say 50% of his contract value so he can sign with another club for the remainder of this and for the next season or two.

If at all possible, we should be looking to do similar deals with others who aren’t going to feature.


JCR hasn’t been involved for a while. Same for Tel.


We’re going to need to save every penny we can for the summer re-build.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

What is the point in paying up a player when he's out of contract in a few months and we could have used him where needed untill then? Mind bogglingly silly.

When clubs pay up contracts they come to an agreement to pay a reduced amount so the player can look for a new club whilst still getting something in respect of his contract. Say he had 12 weeks contract remaining at £4,000.00 per week. We might have paid him sum of £25k to go now saving £23,000.00 towards next season’s budget or possibly covering what we’re paying for Baptiste or funding the winger we’re supposedly after.


Also, if Collins is undermining the manger, he won’t want him round the dressing room. Even if he was costing him nothing. We also have McGaehy, Kennedy and Wallace who can come in for the odd game between now and the end of the season if required


Makes complete sense and only in Barney land is this a bad move.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Can't blame the guy - he has two young children and this represents a great opportunity for him - Good Luck Neil Collins

Of the move and his time with the Blades, Collins added: "These opportunities only come along once in a lifetime and it was the right move for me and my family at this point in my career, I am indebted to the club for allowing me to take up this opportunity.


"There have been some devastating lows but some fantastic highs during my time at Bramall Lane and there is no question that once a Blade always a Blade - this wonderful club has a way of getting under your skin.


"I'd like to thank the players and staff I had the pleasure of working alongside. There are so many fantastic people working behind the scenes that deserve to see the club back where it belongs along with the long suffering fans who are the most loyal in the country.


"Thank you for the memories and all the best in the future."


Read more at http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/sheffield-united-neill-collins-3001067.aspx#MWBKEYoAR7ehgkil.99

OR

"I've been paid a lot of money for doing an absolute wank job and I'm laughing all the way to the bank"

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Absolutely. We had the chance to do this type of thing before the start of the season, when we had an entire season to go. Paying a player up when promotion is pretty much impossible, and just a few months before he's out of contract any way is about as ridiculous as it gets.

You’ve had it explained to you why it’s not ridiculous (money saved, better player brought in, bad apple out of the dressing room). Now please explain why you still think it is.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

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.

Pretty much agree with this. But aerial ability or not, if a player undermines the manager, with the lack of discipline and nob-head culture we have at our club at the moment, that player must be made an example of. Thankfully he’s a player most of us wanted out in the summer anyway. Same goes for Baxter. These players have been very mediocre all season. The first step out of line should see them disposed off. There’s just so little value in the squad to offset any poor behaviour.

 

[BushBlade]

Baptiste I believe is on a 3 year contract probably on a decent wedge and 30, add Hammond 30+ also on decent money it doesn't make financial sense and certainly no chance of a resale return. More importantly it doesn't fit with NA saying he has identified young hungry athletic footballers, unless he's telling porkies. How many 30+ footballers do we need.

Probably three or four if the rest are going to be youngsters. Proper solid pros though, who understand what it takes to achieve and who can lead and encourage the younger players.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

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

Aye laddie but yeel see tha I also have two promotions to the Premier League on there and that on my first Sheffyi Nited Debut we beat them stinkin filthy pigs.

 

[Rodders]

Nice signing off statement. Once a Blade, always a Blade. Are we unique in that respect, with so many ex-players (many who have gone on to play for others teams) who would call themselves a Blade?
'This club has a way of getting under your skin' - Like a rash you can't itch sometimes

I'm not sure; Isn't that just the equivalent of "I've always wanted to play for ............." though?

 

[Highbury_Blade]

There's only one Neil Collins, there's only one Neil Collins,
You've always been shite,
But now it's alright,
Cos some other cunt is paying you.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

As he's joining Tampa Bay, he'll have a lovely house on the beach in Clearwater or St. Petes. Wouldn't feel too sorry for him.

Watched Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Best , Marsh era , when based in Naples , Florida , many years ago.

Another side fallen from grace . Level of football in the league is lower than MSL and is like conference level.

Last chance saloon for a player on his last pay day . Good riddance to bad blood and below standard player IMO.

UTB

 

[Kendal]

The abiding memory of Neill Collins...

Urgh. Just had to bleach my screen.