Am evening with Neill Collins……..

Just back from an evening with the NC………around 50 others there too, mostly Barnsley fans.

This guy is great imo, speaks very very well, no ********, just down to earth answers. Acknowledged that we were poor the other night, also recognised we’ve been poor in 1st / 2nd half’s pre Christmas but are getting there, was over the moon to join the club when he was approached.

I’ll admit that early December I was frustrated with him and said to my dad, this guys not winning me over, however, I’ve watched us long enough to know that people need time to adjust, coming in late losing our regular back 3 was always going to be a challenge and to say we’re in the top 6 with the leagues top scorer is a very good first 5 months in my book…….

He says Saturdays game is particularly tough and they’re a team who play a brand that have sometimes caused us issues this season……

A got the impression we’ll be seeing Williams at RWB when Pines comes in, he said that JW was the best option we had at the start of the season to play In that position……

Overall a very good night, attended by some good faces, won myself a bottle of fizz for the general and the snap was good too…….

JC

 

Enjoyed it too. He came across incredibly well and reminded me a lot of Hecky - articulate, conscientious, smart and generally a decent bloke.

 

The latter is spot on……..had a quick chat with him when the photos were taking place and he just seems a genuine nice geezer

 

We've had some **** coaches recently, Neill isn't one of them. He might be here one job too soon, but I think he's going to have a decent career in the long term.

 

I agree, he’s come into football the right way too, had to battle his way but then forged a great career, a was just really impressed with his calm demeanour, a reckon we’ve got a good camp at the moment

 

Good to hear amongst all the rubbish spouted on here about getting rid.

 

You’ve only to look at what managers have wanted him & had him as captain to know what sort of bloke he is.

 

I listened to him on ‘Undr the Cosh ‘with big John Parkin n gang…..you could tell by the way they spoke about him tht they held him in high regard and had loads of respect for him

 

Thanks for this. I had no idea he’d been on with them. I’ll give it a listen on my drive today

 

This.. with bells on..

 

A good read.
He does seem a decent fella and seems respected in his profession. I am yet to be fully won over by his style but I do understand it is a work in progress and he can only work with what he has got.
In short, I am not 'Collins out' but I am not singing his name from the stands yet either (I am not sure singing is allowed in ESL).
I remain optimistic that we are a couple of signings and tweaks away from backing up our League position with consistently decent displays.

 

I'll have to look that up..

 

Gutted I missed this pal, I’d have definitely made one, we could have had a pint n catch up.

 

Yeah a get what you mean, a think he’s very different to what we’ve had previously and a think that’s maybe why some fans have had a standoffish approach, a think some fans also align him with the board who they seem to distrust also tarnishing there views.

Had a good chat with a member of staff from the club who was on about Khaled, said ultimately there was mistakes but also good things that he did too but never got any praise as the fans seemed to want to concentrate on things that weren’t great……..said the spirit in the camp was very good too

 

If it wasn’t for my pal I wouldn’t have known myself tbh…….always up for a catch up and a pint

 

Difficult job picking a team up after the way we lost at Wembley.
Difficult job in general, high expectaion levels lost experienced players, little money to spend as the books have to be balanced, long injury to connell the list goes on.
Whichever way you look at the cards were definitely stacked against him, to have us anywhere near is quite remarkable really.
He's made mistakes and there's still a percentage of fans not convinced and go for the jugular at the first opportunity, but for me he's remained calm and focused on the job in hand.
I think he knows he can't please everyone but shows great character and resolve.
Very solid 7 out of 10 for me considering the tools he has to work with, still a work in progress but ticking along nicely.

 

Could mnt agree more

 

Out of interest who organised the event? First I saw of it was a ticket for sale yesterday.