James Collins

Date of Birth : 23rd August 1983 Place of Birth : Newport, Wales Signed : July 2005 (Cardiff) Position : Centre-Half Height : 6.2 Weight : 13.1 Appearances: 54 Goals : 2 International Appearances : 27 (1)

KB: KUMB; HM Hammers Mad; ST Sunday Times; SE Sunday Express; SM Sunday Mirror; OB Observer;
DM Daily Mirror; GU Guardian; TM Times; HD Hammers Diary; SK Sky; DE Daily Express BC BBC

The Guardian: It has to be borne in mind that this side were until quite recently viewed as relegation candidates. The club, too, was supposed to be in some sort of turmoil. Gianfranco Zola has excelled to silence such talk and he can talk plausibly about progress to come for the side. A fourth league win in a row at Upton Park had not seemed probable. Even so, West Ham were solid for the most part and Zola's management is effective. His centre-back James Collins typified the competitiveness of the line-up. He dealt with the conventional attacks and players such as the centre-forward Carlos Tevez were stifled. (Kevin McCarra)

The Observer: The understanding between James Collins and Matthew Upson, in front of the confident presence of Robert Green, gives West Ham a pleasingly solid base. Six games unbeaten are proof of that. "The defending was top class," said Clarke. "But we didn't come here to camp on the edge of the 18-yard box. We are a bit disappointed we didn't create more." Gianfranco Zola's team were far less imaginative than recent form suggested, barely reaching Manuel Almunia's goalmouth except for in first-half stoppage time, when Collins headed Mark Noble's corner towards the goal and Gaël Clichy ushered the danger away on the line. Collins saved West Ham in similar fashion after the break, nodding away from Kolo Touré. (Amy Lawrence)

The Sunday Times: Arsenal never looked likely to turn their overwhelming territorial advantage into goals and West Ham withstood the pressure more comfortably than they might have expected. They are now unbeaten under Gianfranco Zola in eight games. They managed only one meaningful goal attempt, which Carlton Cole fired straight at Manuel Almunia in the 76th minute, but deserved their point for the combative spirit of a back four in which Matthew Upson and James Collins excelled. Collins recovered from a heart-stopping start, when he grazed his own crossbar with a defensive header, to make a series of last-gasp tackles and cleared a shot from Kolo Toure off the line with goalkeeper Robert Green beaten. (Joe Lovejoy)

BBC Sport: Liverpool applied all the early pressure, with James Collins clearing off the line from Albert Riera early on and Carlton Cole doing the same from Sami Hyypia. Craig Bellamy almost shocked Liverpool when he struck the post from long-range before the interval, but it needed Robert Green's magnificent save from Yossi Benayoun to keep West Ham on level terms after the break. West Ham have still not won at Anfield for 45 years, but boss Zola will take great heart from a point built on sound defensive organisation. Liverpool have the consolation of heading the Premier League pace-setters after another below-par performance, but they know they must produce better to maintain their position. They predictably exerted all the early pressure and twice had penalty claims turned down as they appealed for handball against Herita Ilunga. Collins came to West Ham's rescue in the 13th minute, clearing off the line from Riera after keeper Green punched away a cross from Steven Gerrard. And Hyypia should have given Liverpool the lead three minutes later, heading Gerrard's corner wastefully over the top when unmarked. Cole then repeated Collins' defensive heroics when he cleared off the line from another Hyypia header after Durk Kuyt had turned on another Gerrard corner.

The Times: They were denied, principally, by another display of brilliance from Robert Green in West Ham’s goal, with Matthew Upson and James Collins, the central defenders, not far behind, but there was poor finishing and panic on occasions from Liverpool, too. (Martin Samuel)

Hammers Mad: Can there be any doubt about the identity of the Man of the Match? Step forward James Collins. An immense performance, especially in the second half. OK, he was lucky not to have given away a penalty/been sent off, but other than that he (or rather his head) had a superb game. I can’t remember the last time I saw a central defender head the ball so often.

KB: KUMB; HM Hammers Mad; ST Sunday Times; SE Sunday Express; SM Sunday Mirror; OB Observer;
DM Daily Mirror; GU Guardian; TM Times; HD Hammers Diary; SK Sky; DE Daily Express

The Guardian: Toshack is concerned that his first-choice centre-backs, Danny Gabbidon and James Collins, were not in the West Ham line-up at the weekend for the defeat by Manchester City. "Collins had a great end to last season and Danny is now back from injury. West Ham have brought in a lot of new centre-backs and although I do not see this as a problem for the pair now, you would hope that by October they would have got a few games under their belts." (Ewan Murray, 14th August)

KUMB: Anton Ferdinand has revealed that he is looking forward to the challenge of retaining his first team spot next season.Ferdinand, who along with Matthew Upson, Calum Davenport, James Collins and Danny Gabbidon will be fighting for the two available central defensive spots revealed that he wasn't phased by the competition - and that he still saw his long-term future with the Hammers. "I definitely want to stay," he said. "I would not be at the club now if that was not the case. "I am happy to fight because if you're not playing well, you know you are not going to be playing the following week. (23rd July, 2007)