With the recent news that Jack Collison took part in 45 minutes of play for the development squad, it is bright for the club that a player who played a large part in our promotion last year will soon join us. Jack has the ability and the temperament to become a regular in the West Ham squad for years, though where does the exciting 24-year-old fit in the current West Ham midfield.
In a report, I recently heard Jack Collison be described as a very exciting winger, correct me if I’m wrong but Jack Collison isn’t a winger. If Jack is a winger, I can’t see him getting ahead of Ricardo Vaz Te, who for me has been sorely missed since his unfortunate injury back in October. Jack Collison for me is an attacking forward playing midfielder, who would be a great addition to many teams in the Premier League. Of course I’m not suggesting he could get in a Manchester United or Chelsea midfield, or clubs of that ilk, but good stable Premier League sides would welcome him to their clubs. It’s forgotten easily because it seems that Jack has been in and around the side for around 5 years, that he is only 24 years old.
I point that fact out because at the moment, Jack is just behind the 3 starting members in the middle. Kevin Nolan gives the experience and the leadership that you expect to get from your captain. Mark Noble offers balance and poise and is one of our largest contributors to moving the ball forward and accurately spreading the ball around the pitch to get West Ham United ticking. If Mark improved his standard of corner kicks and the pace of his passes he could be the complete package. Diame’s influence at the moment is clearly evident, he won us the tie versus Chelsea and when he was forced off at home to Liverpool, the change lost us the game. Jack will find it very hard indeed to usurp these three, though with a spot open in this side, Jack will be racing back to fill it and he could offer the side something that we don’t already possess.
I’ve been looking forward to the return of Jack Collison for a while now because you can only look back at what he did for the side back in May in the run in to the Play-off final. Before the play offs, Jack scored a sumptuous strike away to Leicester City and this meant that we took our last game of the season to be a straight shoot out with Southampton. Then in the play offs he scored both of the goals in the first leg through very persistent running and forward play, with some fortune for the second goal. In the second leg he left the game with an injury, although he still made a big impact in that leg and he also did so in the final at Wembley. The form he showed at the end of the last campaign will surely excite many and go to show that he may be starting to mature into a player who could feature for many years in this West Ham side.
In my opinion, Jack has a bright and very prosperous new year ahead of him and the years 2013 and 2014 will be the making of Jack, though at the moment, he will have to show the great form he displayed at the end of last season to get in the side ahead of the current, in form midfielders.
Collison is a lot, lot, lot better than Vaz Te! I also think that on ability, he can match Noble very easily. If he gets back to his best (Arsenal hunting for 10mil) he can get in the team ahead of almost anyone.
Hello. I’m I the only one that thinks Vaz Te was plAying shit be4 he got injured. He thinks he bigger than the club. With mark noble I love him but he’s no good at taking set- pieces. Iv been a season ticket holder for 10years and he’s never scored a free kick or have we every scored from him taking a corner
You’re not the only one regarding Vaz Te. Thought he was very poor prior to injury, wouldn’t get back in the team if I had a say
Of course he bloody fits…. what a stupid headline
A skillful, physical player with good vision….what’s not to like?
His fitness is the issue, not whether he fits. Who is he supposed to be not fitting in with, the manager? His team mates? The supporters? I just don’t see what you’re on about myself
To my mind, he isn’t competing with Noble or Diame. We tend to play a 4-2-3-1, or something like it, with those 2 occupying the “2”. I see Jack as challenging for any of the “3”. He was used mainly on the right of that 3 in our promotion run in, and Sam obviously rated him then. I’d say his best position is the Nolan position, or the one Gerrard used to play for Liverpool before his legs gave out. An attacking CM. But Jack has shown he’s more than capable of giving a solid option on the flank, and I’m sure he could do a job in a more defensive role if needed