James Collins F Derby b.1990

[Snapshot]

But he has been given chances in an Irish jersey to show what he can do. Why persist with a player that has peaked and that peak isn't good enough for international football? See the Georgia game as example. He failed to hold the ball up, failed to link play with his team mates, and clearly showed he lacks the mobility for the lone striker/ 9 role. Offered nothing in the Switzerland game, he fluffed his lines when given the chance to shoot at goal. I thought he was ok in NL game against Bulgaria - but he didn't score when given the chances. There's no suggestion in what we had seen so far that is capable of offering more than huff and puff. So good for him that he is scoring goals at his club. But his performances in an Irish jersey have been underwhelming (at a time when his club scoring form is good).
He's made six appearances for Ireland. He's scored one goal. His performances were certainly not overwhelming - but please name those who's performances were. Connolly much hyped but five appearances, no goals, two missed one-on-ones with goalkeeper and a lot of falling over? Robinson? Maguire? Horgan? O'Dowda? Idah and Parrott? - promising but not scoring? Meanwhile Collins has scored 21 Championship goals in a season and a half and you consign him to the tip.

[CraftyToePoke]

He's made six appearances for Ireland. He's scored one goal. His performances were certainly not overwhelming - but please name those who's performances were. Connolly much hyped but five appearances, no goals, two missed one-on-ones with goalkeeper and a lot of falling over? Robinson? Maguire? Horgan? O'Dowda? Idah and Parrott? - promising but not scoring? Meanwhile Collins has scored 21 Championship goals in a season and a half and you consign him to the tip.

He's a donkey, but he's a good donkey and he's our all we have donkey so we might as well celebrate his donkeydom is what you're saying. And it a way you're right. If you have no dog you must hunt with a cat, or something. Step forward Jimmy Collins.

[tetsujin1979]

He would have been very capable of a hat-trick against that ordinary Bulgarian defence. His main obstacle would have been the poverty of supply from a clueless Irish midfield. Bamford scored a top quality hat-trick this season against a Villa defence (Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett) way above what Bulgaria fielded. He would be a fantastic addition to this feeble Irish team. We need to keep trying for him.

He's made it quite clear his dream is to play for England.

[Snapshot]

He's a donkey, but he's a good donkey and he's our all we have donkey so we might as well celebrate his donkeydom is what you're saying. And it a way you're right. If you have no dog you must hunt with a cat, or something. Step forward Jimmy Collins.
I like your style, CTP. I too would be confident he wouldn't make an ass of himself.

[Snapshot]

He's made it quite clear his dream is to play for England.

Where did he say that? Show me the quote. He has not rejected playing for Ireland. No definitive statement. Aldridge, Cascarino, Lawrenson, Townsend and Houghton never dreamt of playing for Ireland - and neither has Bamford. But opportunity knocks. Jack Charlton would have camped on Bamford's doorstep. He'd have told him he'd actually play at a WC Finals in an Irish shirt rather than bum-warming a pine plank watching Kane and Calvert-Lewin or Abraham, Ings, Wilson etc. Wave a green flag - not a white one.

[elatedscum]

He's a donkey, but he's a good donkey and he's our all we have donkey so we might as well celebrate his donkeydom is what you're saying. And it a way you're right. If you have no dog you must hunt with a cat, or something. Step forward Jimmy Collins.

Best post of 2021

[tetsujin1979]

Where did he say that? Show me the quote. He has not rejected playing for Ireland. No definitive statement. Aldridge, Cascarino, Lawrenson, Townsend and Houghton never dreamt of playing for Ireland - and neither has Bamford. But opportunity knocks. Jack Charlton would have camped on Bamford's doorstep. He'd have told him he'd actually play at a WC Finals in an Irish shirt rather than bum-warming a pine plank watching Kane and Calvert-Lewin or Abraham, Ings, Wilson etc. Wave a green flag - not a white one.
Here: https://talksport.com/football/781139/patrick-bamford-leeds-stats-goals-england-marcelo-bielsa/

That has led to calls for Bamford to be under consideration for a first England call-up, something the 27-year-old has admitted he’d relish.
He told talkSPORT: “That would be a dream [come true]. The important thing for me is that I’ve played six games and done quite well in those games, but it’s unfair for me to compare myself to the other England strikers who have been doing it for a long time at this level.

[Eirambler]

Bamford has had more than enough opportunities to come and play for us if he wanted to. Even now, he knows where we are if he changes his mind. But, as I understand it, the question has been privately asked by FAI representatives on more than one occasion and the answer has always been no.

Which is fair enough, similar to Mark Noble or anyone else, he shouldn't be harassed into playing for us if he doesn't want to. He is English and he wants to play for his home country, no problem.

[Snapshot]

Here: https://talksport.com/football/781139/patrick-bamford-leeds-stats-goals-england-marcelo-bielsa/
He's telling Southgate to pick him, talking the talk, marketing himself. The reality is he wants to play at the WC and his preference is England. But he's keeping his options open.

[nigel-harps1954]

He's telling Southgate to pick him, talking the talk, marketing himself. The reality is he wants to play at the WC and his preference is England. But he's keeping his options open.

Where's the quote to prove this?

[irishfan86]

Uh...see Tets post above. If anyone honestly thinks Bamford would like to play for us at this point and that England is not his first preference, I really don't know what to tell you.

[Trequartista20]

Uh...see Tets post above. If anyone honestly thinks Bamford would like to play for us at this point and that England is not his first preference, I really don't know what to tell you.

Yep, fuhgeddaboudit; Bamford's not interested.

As far as Collins is concerned, it's worth noting that Wales's qualification campaign was to some extent foundering before they stuck lower league journeyman Kieffer Moore of Wigan up front as a focal point, and he's been a fixture ever since.

We need to realise where we are - Collins can't and shouldn't be discounted.

[Snapshot]

Uh...see Tets post above. If anyone honestly thinks Bamford would like to play for us at this point and that England is not his first preference, I really don't know what to tell you.

Fair enough, but why post?

[Snapshot]

Where's the quote to prove this?

Your query is inadvertently brilliant. There is no definitive comment from Bamford that he won't play for Ireland.

[tetsujin1979]

As Donald Rumsfeld once said, "The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."
anyway, this has little, if anything, to do with James Collins, and there's an existing thread in the World League Football forum for Bamford - https://foot.ie/threads/178387-Patrick-Bamford-(F-Leeds-b-1993) - so take all further discussion there

[Diggs246]

Guys re collins judge what you see with your own eyes. Georgia and Switzerland were 2 competitive games where he reminded me of conor sammon

[elatedscum]

As Donald Rumsfeld once said, "The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence."

can we describe Collins as a known known at this stage in his career?

[Charlie Darwin]

Collins doesn't get the credit he deserves. There seems a certain bias against him. If Maguire or O'Dowda or boy wonder Troy Parrott (had) scored as many Championship goals they'd be touted as WC starters. Collins is no Aguero or Calvert-Lewin, but he scores goals at a level more than good enough for our current standard. Maybe, to use that superfluous and snobby term, he's not "technically gifted" but if he gets the job done - i.e. he puts the little round thing in the net - he's good enough and deserves to be recognised as such.
But he's actually started games for us so that's what he's being judged on. I like him and hope he keeps banging them in so he can be considered to start in a competitive game.

[Snapshot]

But he's actually started games for us so that's what he's being judged on. I like him and hope he keeps banging them in so he can be considered to start in a competitive game.

I thought he was ok against the best opposition to date under Kenny (England). He moved about, presented well and had two shots on target despite pitiful service (Horgan excepted). Please remember John Aldridge didn't trouble the scorekeeper for 20 matches. Collins is no Aldridge - he's awkward and lacks class - but he's scoring goals at a decent level. In other words - currently, he's good enough.

[Charlie Darwin]

But he's in the squad and he's getting game time. It's not like he's been frozen out.

[Snapshot]

But he's in the squad and he's getting game time. It's not like he's been frozen out.

It's more like he was covid-ed in.

[ifk101]

Collins remains the top Irish goalscorer in the Championship this season, despite a scoreless sub appearance last night. Since scoring a hat-trick mid December, Collins has gone 14 appearance with 1 goal to his name, and his goals per minutes played in this Championship is working out at 1 goal every 315 minutes.

[Trequartista20]

Collins, who scored 13 times for Luton this season, is a target for Middlesbrough, according to the Northern Echo, and are the frontrunners for his signature. Cardiff and Bristol City are also said to be interested

Collins is out of contract at the end of the season.

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/19306529.middlesbrough-interested-signing-luton-striker-james-collins/

[Eirambler]

Chance of a good contract here to set him up for after football. He has been a bit of a journeyman throughout his career so won't have made huge amounts up to now. Capable of doing a job at Championship level.

[Trequartista20]

Looks likely he's signing for Big Mick's Cardiff.

It seems a slightly odd move for both parties, on the face of it, given that Cardiff already have Keiffer Moore, who scored 20 times for them last season.

[Trequartista20]

Move confirmed:

https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/cardiff-city-agree-sign-james-collins

[samhaydenjr]

Had a terrible start to his time at Cardiff but seems to have started to make progress, scoring his third in ten games today: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60005537

[Demesne Lad]

Collins hasn't had the happiest of times at Cardiff this year. Portsmouth were interested but now (according to Football League World) face competition from Derby County, who are assembling an interesting team of veterans, obviously with the objective of a swift return to the Championship.

[Eirambler]

He's an honest hard working player, but he's not international quality. Scoring penalties padded out his numbers a bit at Luton and he seems to have been found out at Cardiff.

I don't know that we'll see him at international level again unless we have a striker injury crisis - I'd have Idah, Parrott, Obafemi and Robinson ahead of him for starters, Keane and Hogan seem to be in front of him in Kenny's eyes also.

[Demesne Lad]

Pompey boss Cowley seems resigned to Derby County getting Collins. As Pompey need to sign a striker, Jonathan Afolabi is reported to be on trial with them.

[pineapple stu]

First Derby goal today, set up by David McGoldrick. Comes in his tenth game though, which is hardly stellar at third tier level. Derby are outside the playoff spots at this early stage, with just three wins from the opening seven games. They were 2-0 up today but lost 3-2.

[samhaydenjr]

First Derby goal today, set up by David McGoldrick. Comes in his tenth game though, which is hardly stellar at third tier level. Derby are outside the playoff spots at this early stage, with just three wins from the opening seven games. They were 2-0 up today but lost 3-2.

Should have stayed at Luton

[Demesne Lad]

Shrewsbury are interested in bringing Collins back, according to the 'Shropshire Star' and 'The 72'. Collins is 32 and has a year left on his contract at Derby County.

[CraftyToePoke]

Scored his 200th club goal Saturday in a 2 - 0 Derby victory over Carlisle.

[Demesne Lad]

Could be on his way to Lincoln City - 17 Championship appearances for Derby Co., but only one start, for a total of 210 minutes so far this season.

Imps Linked With Experienced Derby County Striker | The Stacey West (https://staceywest.net/2025/01/19/imps-linked-with-experienced-derby-county-striker/)

[seanfhear]

Could be on his way to Lincoln City - 17 Championship appearances for Derby Co., but only one start, for a total of 210 minutes so far this season.

Imps Linked With Experienced Derby County Striker | The Stacey West (https://staceywest.net/2025/01/19/imps-linked-with-experienced-derby-county-striker/)He's getting around to a few / a lot of clubs at this stage ~ ~ I hope he is making good money from all of this.