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Collins: With the Squad We've Got Now, We Can Get Out of It
Tuesday, 15th Jan 2019 13:16

New signing James Collins has admitted that a defeat to Rotherham at Portman Road on Saturday might have made staying up too big an ask but having won that game, while still tough, there’s a belief that the rejuvenated Blues squad is capable of pulling off what would be the greatest of escapes.

Collins, 35, made a man of the match debut during the 1-0 victory over the Millers having signed on a free transfer the day before the game.

"It's going to be a tough ask but if we'd have lost that game on Saturday it probably would have been a task that was probably too much," Collins said on BBC Radio Wales’ Elis James' Feast of Football podcast.

"But now we've got the three points we're that much closer. We can only take one game at a time.

"Until it's not possible, we can certainly feel that with the squad we've got now, we can get out of it. It would be unbelievable."

Former Wales international Collins, who was released by West Ham last summer, has also opened up on his short-lived return to Aston Villa following a trial - which in turn came after a trial spell with the Blues last September - that ended when he tore his recently-signed contract up having suffered an injury.

"It just didn't seem right," he reflected. “They offered me a short-term contract and I got injured the morning I signed the contract and I ripped that up.

"I literally signed the contract, went out to training and pulled my calf in the first warm-up session so I just went in and said 'that's not right to come in and take money,'

"I could have been out for four weeks and I said 'let's rip that up.' It was probably more embarrassment more than anything."

He added: "At my age I'm not particularly in it for the money - I just want to play more football. I had a nice Christmas with my family and luckily I had the call off Ipswich."


Photo: TWTD



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midastouch added 13:21 - Jan 15
I remember when we signed Tony Mowbray from Celtic and at the time I wasn't too sure about it thinking he might be well past his best and we all know how that worked out, let's hope that Collins can have as big an impact as Mowbray did. He'll obviously need a bit of luck in not picking up any injuries but going on his first game for us, then he could well have a massive part to play for us this season. Ginger Pele to the rescue!
28

rugbytomc added 13:25 - Jan 15
Does he know anyone who wants to play right back?
3

wkj added 13:25 - Jan 15
If "The Terminator" Collins says we can get out of it... I aint gonna argue COYB
3

Bergholtblue added 13:48 - Jan 15
Need at least one win from Blackburn and Villa. A tough ask, but if you don't have belief you don't have anything.
9

baxter7 added 13:55 - Jan 15
How nice to see a player tear a contract up instead of getting paid for being injured how many players would have done that good on you James truly a professional
22

MooseJuice added 14:03 - Jan 15
Love this photo!
3

ArnieM added 14:04 - Jan 15
Do we actually need a dedicated right back now , considering Pennington outstanding performance Saturday?
14

blueboy1981 added 14:08 - Jan 15
James Collins, you were the difference between winning and losing against Rotherham - let's hope, and pray you stay fit for the rest of the season, in so doing we may just have an extremely well frozen icicles chance in hell of surviving the drop.
7

BaddowBlue1 added 14:10 - Jan 15
I think he didn't rate Hurst but does Lambert, not only that his season has a real purpose in trying to get us over the safety line rather than just playing for midtable. As Lambert said the players that come are up for it and full credit to their profession.
9

Cakeman added 14:30 - Jan 15
Well said James Collins, that's the old Bulldog spirit we need. Certainly one who you would want alongside you in the trenches.
14

woohoo added 14:38 - Jan 15
Looks to be bringing something that we've needed for some time - physical presence in defense and a real 'they shall not pass' mindset.

"If they can't score, they can't beat us"

I also love the photo!!
12

Fatboy added 15:29 - Jan 15
@baxter7

Re. tearing up contracts, didn't Taricco do the same when he went to West Ham?
1

Warkys_Tash added 15:29 - Jan 15
Saturday's 2nd half was like the film 300 ‘stand together' - more of the same please guys, with The Ginger Pele the Commander
3

warktheline added 15:37 - Jan 15
Let's not forget we beat the side with the worst away record in division ! Add their woeful goal tally on the road and as such it's far from a revival ! Relegation looks nailed on but on the plus side we now appear to be adding experience to a very low in confidence light weight squad. Long term project thus patience is undoubtedly required ! Any points here on in should be viewed as a bonus, and hopefully testament to an improving Ipswich Town team.
3

heathen66 added 15:38 - Jan 15
At last...a real leader at the back, someone that takes responsibility.
Would have beaten Millwall with Collins playing !!!
10

rugbytomc added 15:52 - Jan 15
ArnieM - Yes I would say we still need a right back. Pennington has been great this season full stop (in my opinion). But just like Chambers, he lacks the pace to play full back against a team with pacy wingers. Yes we beat Swansea away but the ease with which they cut us up down our right hand side when he played their earlier in the season suggests to me that we need options there - so Pennington will do for games against lumps like Rotherham and probably Blackburn, but we need a proper right back for other games.

Also - he's only on loan and CB is his best position. We have needed a right back for years. PL is only saying Donacien is a CB not a RB because otherwise Evans will say "You've got 2 right backs in Spence and Donacien and the latter cost £750k - you're not having another one" whereas hopefully now he will say Pennington is our only option, we need cover at the very least. HOPEFULLY
1

Sourdough added 16:04 - Jan 15
Dyer didn't tear up his contract.
1

ITFCsince73 added 16:30 - Jan 15
baxter7. Hes had a long time in the game, which has made him a millionaire.
He didn't join Villa or us for the money.
But still commendable.
0

oldelsworthyfan added 16:53 - Jan 15
The last decent RB we had was Richard Stearman........and he spends Saturdays sitting on the bench with Sheffield United!
2

BerlinBlue added 18:06 - Jan 15
He was very impressive on Saturday, and will be so important for our hopes of avoiding relegation. As he says, with the new additions now installed, we are in a much better state and we can now be that much more optimistic.
3

blueblood_soldier added 20:08 - Jan 15
Maybe he should have a word with Adeyemi reference joinng a club getting injured amd ripping up a contract??
5

Dissboyitfc added 07:28 - Jan 16
PL would become an over night legend if he saves us!
4

bluerico added 11:47 - Jan 16
This is the right attitude to have, and just what I would expect from a pro like Collins. Pity we did not get him earlier in the season.
2

Edmundo added 19:55 - Jan 16
Wark 1992, Mowbray 2000, Collins 2020 (promotion from...?)
0

karls_dad added 20:18 - Jan 16
He was an absolute rock on Saturday, what a player!! And a really nice guy, he came over to where I was sitting (disabled section) and passed his shirt over to someone very close, what a lovely man!
Please stay fit Mr Collins we desperately need you!
1


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