CONFIRMED Neil Collins leaves the club

[Jostein's Bandage]

When do the testimonial tickets go on sale?

 

[sitwell]

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

Thought his results were today ?

 

[Sirius]

You could get good money for Princess Diane's passport.

Great minds and all that posted abo ve

 

[Sean Thornton]

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

100% for the club would have been better than 100% for himself. If the club have got rid, are you disagreeing with that decision on the basis of his perceived 100%?

Now there's a dilemma !

 

[alcoblade]

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.

You have to question how long we can be expected to pay him a fortune before he answers those questions.

There looks like a player in there somewhere, but in reality he's nothing more than a passenger. He really must do better, and quickly.

UTB

 

[Tyler Durden]

This is brilliant and very welcome news if true. I hope he continues to fail for the rest of his miserable "career".

I hope we don't need to wait too long until the next worthless piece of shit gets jettisoned from the club.

 

[mosbolad]

Collins gave 100% for Collins. He made mistakes aplenty but was always, always very quick to dish out the bollockings to whoever was near even when the 'mistake' lay at his door. Did he ever praise and encourage young players on the pitch? Maybe Harry but I believe that was self interest.

Interesting that he has been dropped and if we are to believe the thread finally paid off by 2 managers. I thought he was poor in the Championship, acceptable in league 1 but maybe his disruptive influence was too much and too corrosive for the harmony of the team. He failed to push forward as he hadn't the pace and would be shown up. (yes he went up for corners and did score some goals). Is he the player Adkins alluded to not following instructions? Another poster mentioned a bust up with Adkins following maybe Burton. Was this the final Neill in his coffin?

So he's been paid up. I don't imagine it will be the full amount as he is off on his American adventure (good luck Tampa (Rumours forum)). I won't miss him but don't wish him any ill either.

 

[Lane Ender]

This is brilliant and very welcome news if true. I hope he continues to fail for the rest of his miserable "career".

I hope we don't need to wait too long until the next worthless piece of shit gets jettisoned from the club.

Don't ever apply to be a magistrate TD

 

[Cyprus Blade]

Thought his results were today ?

PFA consultations when the results come through so may take a day or two for anything to come out. If the stuff about him clearing off is true I think he is long gone from the Lane

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foot...over-jose-baxter-drugs-test-results-1-7786031

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Another poster mentioned a bust up with Adkins following maybe Burton. Was this the final Neill in his coffin?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Don't ever apply to be a magistrate TD

He's a High Court Judge

 

[mosbolad]

Now that is disturbing!

 

[Bedrock Blade]

Just in case no-one knew....

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

He's bad, no doubt about that but we're paying up a player, when 1. keeping him wouldn't have made a difference if he didn't want to play him and 2. he is out of contract in a few months any way. It is very representative of our foolishness.

I think he must be having a negative influence on the team, and if that is the case then Adkins is right to get rid off any bad eggs.

 

[longinthe toothblade]

Cos he's about as much use as Princess Diane's passport.

Yeh, but Barney is absolutely right and you are wrong.....think about it

 

[Bladesman]

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.

Pretty much sums up what I would have said as well.

Collins has always looked out for himself and he had a number of chances to leave the club last year but appeared to turn most of his options down. He was clearly a thorn in Clough's side but he couldn't move him on.

Collins is one of the reasons we ended up in League 1 and why we have struggled to get out.

I assume his contract is it at a point now where the club see it financially viable to pay him off but really its something that should have been done a long time a go.

 

[longinthe toothblade]

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.

Maybe but other than that, it doesn't make a lot of sense does it?

 

[longinthe toothblade]

It's a fucking sad day for the club isn't it, if Collins's departure is the only thing you lot have got to shout about.

 

[YES Blade]

Maybe but other than that, it doesn't make a lot of sense does it?

What more reason do you need? Saving money on a player who isn't going to play or be at the club next season.

 

[PeteBlade]

It's a fucking sad day for the club isn't it, if Collins's departure is the only thing you lot have got to shout about.

Well yes, that's the entire fucking point isn't it?

 

[The Crab]

Except they are only rivals if he signs for the MLS.

Tampa aren't in the MLS.

Quite correct, just that at the time the rumour I'd heard was just that he was off to the MLS, hence my somewhat feeble attempt at humour.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

The question remains why would NA play Collins 30+ times if he was so disruptive.

Name the other c/h's to pick from, the c/h pool is lacking.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

It's a fucking sad day for the club isn't it, if Collins's departure is the only thing you lot have got to shout about.

Doyle has already gone.

 

[wizadry]

Lets not be too hasty, we haven't had a confirmed yet

 

[COME BACK CHED]

i thought we missed him at Fleetwood ,................................................ just saying like .

 

[Slim Man]

i thought we missed him at Fleetwood ,................................................ just saying like .

We didn't miss 'him', just don't like we don't miss Doyle.

We miss players like them, better players who do what they do but at a better standard than Conference level. We do not miss Doyle and we won't miss Collins, fact.

Though Doyle was a top bloke, I have nothing against him at all and wish him all the best. But I despise Collins.

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

Well, they certainly seem to be on tour in England at the moment. Latest port of call: Notting Haym.

http://saintpetersblog.com/254407-2/

as if one wasn't enough, reading this there seems to be a further team named Wednesday south of us - either that or it's poor American grammar

 

[The Crab]

He's bad, no doubt about that but we're paying up a player, when 1. keeping him wouldn't have made a difference if he didn't want to play him and 2. he is out of contract in a few months any way. It is very representative of our foolishness.

Just spitballing here, but if he is as big a disruption in the dressing room as he is alleged to be, maybe Adkins has reached the end of his teather?

 

[blades78]

I don't understand why some are giving Clough credit for identifying that Collins was a liability. It was Clough that gave Collins a 2 year contract extension!!!

 

[Cyprus Blade]

It was Clough that gave Collins a 2 year contract extension!!!

Was it ? I always thought it was one of those special Sheffield United contracts which lets the player decide if he wants to activate the extension clauses.