March
07

The Watchlist – James Collins

Filed under: Injury News - Posted by: Sir Paulos

Having missed two Premier League weekends on the trot through domestic cup duties, Aston Villa return to action with the first of two consecutive Double Game Weeks.

Investment in Martin O’Neill’s squad will understandably be high, and with Villa’s favourable run-in (plus, following the postponement of their weekend GW34 match with Everton, they may, unless the Everton game is re-scheduled midweek, have two more yet-to-be-scheduled outstanding doubles) any transfers in could easily be considered “keepers” from here on in.

Whilst the likes of Richard Dunne and James Milner are the most obvious choices, there are definite bargains to be had amongst the Villa team. Priced at just £4.5m, James Collins falls firmly into that category…

Earlier this season, Collins was in sparkling form alongside Dunne in central defence, and had impressed his manager to such an extent that O’Neill talked of him as a possible future captain of the club.

A groin injury suffered against former club West Ham in November sidelined the Wales skipper for a couple of months but having now fully recovered, he has played every minute of Villa’s league games since the turn of the year. His recent performances that have helped maintain the club’s run as the only unbeaten club in the Premiership for 2010.

Collins return to central defence has seen Carlos Cuellar shift to right back in O’Neill’s preferred line-up, and he has subsequently caught the eye of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Bonus Point judges, scoring more bonus than any Villa defender since coming back to the first-team fold. Villa’s defence have been the foundation of their success this season, and with eleven clean sheets, have only two less than Chelsea, having played two fewer games.

A great “differential”, Collins currently has just 6.5% of FPL owners compared to fellow centre half Dunne at 40%, who is also currently £2.1m more expensive. With Villa’s next five gameweeks now confirmed as: (stk & wig, WLV & SUN, che, bol, EVE), Martin O’Neill’s team will be looking to turn up the pressure in this season’s close-run battle for fourth and James Collins could and should have a big part to play.

About The Author

“Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season.”

Sir Paulos @ffscout_paulos

> See all posts by this author

0 Responses to “The Watchlist – James Collins”

Commenting is now closed for this post.

Scout Picks

For Gameweek Twenty Four

  • Krul
  • Vermaelen
  • Kompany
  • Huth
  • Silva
  • Morrison
  • Bale
  • Valencia
  • Ba
  • van Persie
  • Agüero
  • Taiwo
  • Donovan
  • Zamora

Recent Comments

  • Worried about this to CW. Thinking of Starting Moses @ Bolton ahead of McClean now. What are your thoughts? »
  • He walked away from his team before the Euro finals instead of keeping politics behind closed doors. He publicly combed… »
  • you might want your mechanic to have a look at that... »
  • All 3 are capable of goals and big scores.......as last week demonstrated. Big game if afforded them keep em!! »
  • I think I'll be going to bed also. Night everyone. »
  • Due to Huth's dismissal i'll be forced to play him or Santon away to Spurs. Thought Enrique may have the better chance… »
  • Anyone know/ hazard a guess as to how many people are registered on here these days ? »
  • scott sinclair as a differential this weekend ;) »
  • Righty, my coach is just about to turn into a pumpkin. Night all. »
  • I reckon that most that are getting him probably have or will have before the weekend so the upside in price should be… »

Partners

Next Six Ticker

The Watchlist

Goalkeepers

Player Club Factors
No Change Krul NEW A, Vs
No Change Hart MCI B, Vs
No Change Kenny QPR C, Vs, Rest, £
Up Al-Habsi WIG B, Vs, £
Up Schwarzer FUL C, Vs, Inj
No Change Mignolet SUN B, £
Up Vorm SWA B, £
No Change Foster WBA B
Up Robinson BLA C, Vs
Down Hennessey WOL B, Vs
No Change Sørensen STO B, Vs, Rest, £
No Change Bogdan BOL C, Rest, £

Defenders

Player Club Factors
No Change Richards MCI B, Vs, Inj
No Change Simpson NEW B, Vs, £
Up Senderos FUL B, Vs, Rest, £
Up Evans MUN B, VsX, £
Up Rangel SWA B, VsX, £
No Change Bardsley SUN B, £
Up Taiwo QPR C, Vs, £
Up Cole CHE C, Vs
No Change Vermaelen ARS C
Down Assou-Ekotto TOT A, VsX
No Change Clark AVL B, Vs, OoP, £
Down Riise FUL C, Vs, Rest
No Change McAuley WBA C, £
Down Johnson WOL C, £
Up Figueroa WIG C, Vs, £

Midfielders

Player Club Factors
No Change Bale TOT A, VsX
No Change Dempsey FUL A, Vs, OoP
No Change Silva MCI B, Vs
No Change Sessegnon SUN A, £
Up McClean SUN A, £
No Change Valencia MUN A, VsX
Up Sigurdsson SWA B, VsX, £
No Change Mata CHE B
Up Taarabt QPR C, Vs
Up Sinclair SWA B, VsX, £
Up Moses WIG C, Vs, OoP, £
Down Ben Arfa NEW C, Vs, Rest, OoP
Down Walters STO C, Vs, OoP, £
Up Barton QPR C, Vs
No Change Ireland AVL C, Vs, Rest, £

Forwards

Player Club Factors
No Change van Persie ARS A
No Change Agüero MCI B, Vs
Up Ba NEW B, Vs
No Change Zamora QPR B, Vs
Up Dzeko MCI B, Vs, Rest
Up Bent AVL A, Vs
Up Yakubu BLA C, Vs
Up Cisse NEW B, Vs
No Change Rooney MUN B, VsX, Inj
No Change Sturridge CHE C
Down Fletcher WOL B, £
Up Graham SWA B, VsX, £

Selection Factors

A, B, C Current Form
Vs Favourable Fixtures
VsX Unfavourable Fixtures
Rest Rotation Risk
Inj Injured/Returning from Injury
OoP Out of Position
£ Potential Bargain
Sus Suspended/Near Suspension

Suspension Tightrope

Player Team YC
Lowe BLA 9
Terry CHE 8
Barton QPR 8
Cattermole SUN 8
Song ARS 7
N'Zonzi BLA 7
Meireles CHE 7
Fellaini EVE 7
Huth STO 7
Shawcross STO 7
Caldwell WIG 7
Henry WOL 7

“Robert hasn't touched him. The player tries to get him sent off. It's a disease that's creeping into the game.”

Tony Pulis laments the referee's decision to send off Robert Huth against Sunderland