Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Rip Van We Go Again on April 12, 2011, 10:58:02 AM
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sportinglife.com
James Collins admits Aston Villa's current plight is unacceptable but insists their team spirit and togetherness will help them ensure Barclays Premier League survival.
Villa have been embroiled in a relegation battle in recent months although Sunday's 1-0 win against Newcastle courtesy of Collins' header moved them five points clear of the bottom three.
But central defender Collins has rubbished speculation that the dressing room has not been completely united.
Collins, who will face his former club West Ham on Saturday at Upton Park, said: "The sprit has never been in question. I can say that this is the best changing room I've ever been in.
"The lads are great together, everyone gets on, and we are all fighting for the same thing.
"No one wants to be in a team that has been relegated. We showed great spirit out there against Newcastle."
Collins added: "For a club of Villa's size it would be disastrous for everyone to go go down.
"For any team in the Premier League, relegation is a disaster but Villa is a massive club. To be in the position we are in, is not acceptable.
"We know everyone hasn't performed and we need to step it up to the way we performed last season.
"We set out before the Everton game last weekend on an eight game season and we've got four points from the first two of those matches which is massive.
"It was a big win on Sunday but we don't want to get carried away and hopefully we can take confidence from that and get three points at West Ham."
Collins and defensive partner Richard Dunne were disciplined for their behaviour towards members of the coaching staff during a recent team bonding session.
But the pair were key to Villa's success last season and Collins believes they are getting back to that sort of form after injuries.
He said: "What's gone on in the past couple of weeks is done and dusted with now.
"We are professional footballers. We'll always try our heart out and perform and be as professional as we can.
"We weren't outstanding defensively at Everton but managed to get a good point.
"But in the second half against Newcastle, we showed some of what we did last season.
"I am concentrating on performing on the pitch.
"It is what I get paid to do and that is what I'm trying to do, trying to get back to the form I showed last year - and repay Villa for signing me and spending a lot of money on me."
Collins has been dogged by a long-term calf problem but is hoping he can be available for the rest of the campaign.
He said: "It has been frustrating for years now. I did my cruciate ligament at West Ham years ago and since then I've been having little niggles in my calf I can't quite get over.
"They keep recurring. It is something we are looking at behind the scenes here and, fingers crossed, I'm over it and I can play the remaining games."
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Hmmmm.....
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mind , I heard ex Villa Steve Watson saying he knew a few Villa players and said He hadn't heard any problems in the dressing room..
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p.s problem better with likes of Carew, Ireland and Warnock no where near.
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Collins: "Best changing room spirit ever - Vodka!"
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p.s problem better with likes of Carew, Ireland and Warnock no where near.
I'll bet it's been better since those three (and Beye) haven't been involved with the first team.
From what i've been told, Ireland is a constant moaner and whinger, nothing is ever right for him.
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p.s problem better with likes of Carew, Ireland and Warnock no where near.
I'll bet it's been better since those three (and Beye) haven't been involved with the first team.
From what i've been told, Ireland is a constant moaner and whinger, nothing is ever right for him.
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could you imagine being marrried to him , when his hair started to fall out ;-)
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p.s problem better with likes of Carew, Ireland and Warnock no where near.
I'll bet it's been better since those three (and Beye) haven't been involved with the first team.
From what i've been told, Ireland is a constant moaner and whinger, nothing is ever right for him.
could you imagine being marrried to him , when his hair started to fall out ;-)
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Edit
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p.s problem better with likes of Carew, Ireland and Warnock no where near.
I'll bet it's been better since those three (and Beye) haven't been involved with the first team.
From what i've been told, Ireland is a constant moaner and whinger, nothing is ever right for him.
could you imagine being marrried to him , when his hair started to fall out ;-)
I bet he went to church for 3 weeks on the trot, moaning at God and threatening to transfer to a Jewish Mosque.
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He said: "I have been frustrating for years now. I did have a good game once at West Ham years ago and since then I've been shit, and its the £5m Villa paid for me I can't quite get over.
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p.s problem better with likes of Carew, Ireland and Warnock no where near.
I'll bet it's been better since those three (and Beye) haven't been involved with the first team.
From what i've been told, Ireland is a constant moaner and whinger, nothing is ever right for him.
could you imagine being marrried to him , when his hair started to fall out ;-)
I bet he went to church for 3 weeks on the trot, moaning at God and threatening to transfer to a Jewish Mosque.
I've heard he prefers Islamic synagogues.
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If he gets sold in the summer,those quotes were probably all b.s.
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Think Collins is underestimated. He made a mistake and has been professional and effective in an attempt to put it all in the past ......
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Perhaps it's true that the players get on together really well but there has clearly been a problem behind the scenes this year. He didn't mention what the relationship is like between squad and coaching staff and this may well be the issue.
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Obviously on a win bonus to stay up.
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Am I wrong in thinking that Collins was the minor player to Dunne's leading role in the "incident"? Wouldn't surprise me if Collins was kept and Dunne shipped out in the summer.
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Perhaps it's true that the players get on together really well but there has clearly been a problem behind the scenes this year. He didn't mention what the relationship is like between squad and coaching staff and this may well be the issue.
Perhaps the importance of the coaching staff is underestimated... it was an enforced, panic decision after all.
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I can say that this is the best changing room I've ever been in.
does looks nice...
(http://www.avfc.co.uk/javaImages/1/a0/0,,10265~3776513,00.jpg)
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Collins: "Best changing room spirit ever - Vodka!"
Beat me to it
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Think Collins is underestimated. He made a mistake and has been professional and effective in an attempt to put it all in the past ......
Wasn't that his second mistake? I thought he also broke curfew earlier in the season
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Think Collins is underestimated. He made a mistake and has been professional and effective in an attempt to put it all in the past ......
Wasn't that his second mistake? I thought he also broke curfew earlier in the season
To be honest never heard about that. But his attitude on the pitch and off since has been top notch ....
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To be honest, I like both Dunne and Collins but if we're only keeping one of them in the summer, I'd go with Collins. He's got 3-4 years on Dunne in terms of age, he's the more mobile defender and he's weighed in with some important goals this season.
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christ on a stick, if they have good spirits, then i would hate to see them with bad spirit!
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Think Collins is underestimated. He made a mistake and has been professional and effective in an attempt to put it all in the past ......
Wasn't that his second mistake? I thought he also broke curfew earlier in the season
To be honest never heard about that. But his attitude on the pitch and off since has been top notch ....
Sadly, his performances haven't.
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I was speaking to a close family member about this incident as he knows some high profile agents and this is what I've been told!
The bonding session was not just for players. Other people from other departments at villa went too.
Anyway, Dunne did have way too much to drink and was a bit Lippy about a few things. A guy who was from the I.T dept started to have banter with Dunne but turned into him taking the piss out of his cock up at wembley last year. Dunne kicked off, saying what the fuck do you know about football etc, it got a lot more heated and that's when Collins got involved! I'm led to believe Collins was playing peace maker but due to his involvement explains why the story came out as it did.