James Collins (F Derby b.1990)

**Snapshot** · 10/02/2021, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by ifk101

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** · 10/02/2021, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Snapshot

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** · 10/02/2021, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by Snapshot

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** · 10/02/2021, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

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** · 10/02/2021, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

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** · 10/02/2021, 1:04 PM

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

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** · 10/02/2021, 1:05 PM

Originally Posted by Snapshot

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/78113...arcelo-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** · 10/02/2021, 1:21 PM

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** · 10/02/2021, 1:23 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Here: https://talksport.com/football/78113...arcelo-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** · 10/02/2021, 2:08 PM

Originally Posted by Snapshot

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** · 10/02/2021, 2:52 PM

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** · 10/02/2021, 5:26 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 10/02/2021, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

Fair enough, but why post?

**Snapshot** · 11/02/2021, 12:11 AM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

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** · 11/02/2021, 8:59 AM

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-Patri...-Leeds-b-1993) - so take all further discussion there

**Diggs246** · 11/02/2021, 10:55 AM

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** · 11/02/2021, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

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** · 14/02/2021, 2:13 AM

Originally Posted by Snapshot

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** · 14/02/2021, 8:56 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

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.