just read where he wants to play in the MLS and may be able to get a free transfer. Anyone know anything about him? I know he is 34 and a midfielder but thats about it. Are we at a point where the MLS does not need to look at 34 year olds? no offense Carlos! Or can this guy help a team like the Revs?
Name: John Collins Position: Midfield Born: 1/31/68, Galashiels, Scotland Current Club: Fulham (English Premiership) Previous Clubs: Hibernian (Scotland), Celtic (Scotland), Monaco (France), Everton (England). Courtesy of the Fulham website: Biography: "John joined Fulham from Everton for an undisclosed fee in July 2000. A close and trusted friend of Jean Tigana, John played an important role in seeing that the new management worked fluidly with the existing squad. A consummate professional and midfielder leader of real class, Collins made an immediate difference to Fulham’s football. Brought up in Galashiels at the heart of the rugby stronghold of the Scottish borderlands, John drifted away from a potential rugby career and played for Celtic Boys' Club and Edinburgh's Hutchison Vale before he signing for Hibernian in 1984. He made his Scottish Premier Division debut for Hibs against Aberdeen at Pittodrie at the age of just 17 in the same team as former Everton player Joe McBride, going on to replace McBride as a substitute in the Scottish Cup Final against the same team later that season. His career blossomed under Alex Miller and in 1988 Collins made his international debut for Scotland in Saudi Arabia. Two years later he made a high profile move to Celtic and although he wasn't able to help the Bhoys break Rangers stranglehold on the league, he became a genuine star player cementing his place in the international set-up. In 1996, always looking for a new challenge, Collins made the decision to take advantage of the Bosman Ruling to secure a free transfer away from Scotland moving to the French Riviera when he opted to join Jean Tigana's Monaco side. He won the French League in his first season and enjoyed a successful Champions League campaign the following season when Monaco reached the semi-final stage. Soaking up the flair and style of the French League and progressing under Monaco's rigorous training techniques, Collins made the best possible preparation for the 1998 World Cup and was one of Scotland's best players of the tournament, scoring a memorable penalty against Brazil in the opening match."
FWIW, Renato Capobianco said today that he thinks Steve Nicol was happy with the roster. ...and I get the feeling that he wasn't blowing smoke. They genuinely like the team they've got.
Did that roster happen to include Diego Serna? I'd be happy with that roster. Of course, I'd be happier if we added one or two left-sided players...
I don't think so. As I said in the practice report, nobody came right out and said it, but you got the feeling that Serna didn't figure into anyone's plans.
That's reassuring. I like the idea that we are heading into preseason with a stable roster and almost our entire starting line up from last year returning. JMM and Nowak shoudn't have any trouble fitting in. With Westfield staying in school our senior roster is within specks if we consider Serna, Rooney, Frias and Llamosa gone. Of course there may be something cooking that they just don't want to talk about. Lots of space open in the DV roster. George
A quote from Steve Nicol about JMM in the Herald seems to support this. It says... "Said Revs coach Steve Nicol of Moore: 'He has proven to be a natural goal-scorer with plenty of national and international experience. Pairing him atop with Taylor or Wolde (Harris) will give us one of the most dangerous front lines in the league.' " By my math that makes Serna either the #4 striker or just plain off the team.
Is Serna on the team right now? I mean on the official roster. If so, if he leaves we should have plenty of cap space. Not only could we, if need be, sign some solid discovery picks, but we could also wait until midseason and trade some cap space to a desperate team for a decent draft pick.
fwiw, j.c. is in the middle of negotiations with coventry city right now. a sticking point being that they don't want to pay him enough and want fulham to help foot the bill themselves. a la carl everett i suppose....minus the whole part about being a consumate professional and all.
English press (The Times) are actually suggesting a month-long loan for Collins to Coventry City at this point, this according to his agent Raymond Sparkes and Coventry boss Gary McAllister. To be honest I don't really see him as a viable option at the moment, not with both Joe-Max Moore and Peter Nowak potentially playing similar positions in midfield, and not for the money he could be asking for. For my money, there are two players in similar circumstances who'd I'd look at, even as remote possibilities: Current Liverpool midfielder Patrik Berger. The 29 year-old Czech Republic midfield player is planning to leave Anfield this summer when his contract is up. There's some thought that he'll likely return to Germany... Current Real Madrid and former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman is looking to exit the Spanish club after seeing his playing time cut back to nothing. the 31 year old has gone on record as saying that "Money isn't that important" and that he simeply wants to go someplace he can play... Both have a history at left-midfield and have shown great talent there. However, I doubt anyone on the Revs staff would consider such a move, but here's the interesting rub: A player such as these two could come to MLS, make a good penny, still play at a relatively high standard, while enjoying a good standard of living. Hell, if Giles Grimandi can end up in Colorado at only 32 years of age... The Magpie
McManaman It's worth a warm chuckle though, like "What if I really did win Mass Millions." Patrik Berger would also incalculably valuable - I've only seen him on the tube, but he seems all that and more....sigh
Wait a minute What about my dream of seeing Dennis Bergkamp in Revs White and Blue before his career's over....
Doesn't Bergkamp have a massive fear of flying, ala Earnie Stewart (though Stewart is apparently over his phobia)?