Derby County have signed striker James Collins on a free transfer from Cardiff City. We spoke with Three Little Birds about the 31 year old Irishman.
Derby County have just signed James Collins. Are you surprised that Collins has signed for a League One club?
I think Collins is a Championship-level striker, however with his record for us last season, I’m not surprised he’s dropped down a league.
He played only 26 times for The Bluebirds last season, how did he perform?
Collins never hit the ground running and often found himself missing easy chances. There won’t be too many who are upset that he’s left.
How would you sum up his time at the Cardiff City Stadium?
Collins, considering his previous record, has been one of the most underwhelming Cardiff players in recent years.
Collins started (and scored) in Cardiff's opening preseason friendly this season. Why did the club decide to move on from him?
The club have moved him on because he doesn’t fit our system and hasn’t been good enough to get near our side. He trained with the U23s at the end of his time here.
Would you call his time at Cardiff a success?
I think Collins, most of all, will be disappointed with his spell in South Wales. But I’m sure he will suit League One football.
He’s a striker. What type of striker is he? Is he a hold up player? Does he run into the channels?
Collins likes to play through the middle, however he often gets caught out of position, playing too deep.
What other elements to his game are there?
He often tries to bring other attackers into the game, which is good if you have quick players like Mendez-Laing.
Derby struggled in front of goal last season. Is he someone who relies on service for goals or can he create chances on his own?
Collins missed a lot of opportunities to score last season, with some good service from Ryan Giles. If he can get confidence, then he should score a few for Derby.
What are his strengths? His weaknesses?
Collins’ strengths are that he has a good record, so he knows where the net is. He’s solid in the air and looks to pass a lot. However, he also tends to drop into positions where he’s not needed and is on the slow side.
Do you think Collins can be good player in League One for Derby?
I have no doubt he’ll score goals for Derby in League One, with international caps and campaigns with good goal tallies. He just needs the service and confidence to hit the target.
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