West Ham United midfielder Jack Collison completed his one-month loan deal to Bournemouth earlier this month, but is this a key signal from Big Sam for Jack to start hitting the road?
I have long been an admirer of Jack Collison, he is, for me, one of the best passers of a football in our squad and one of the most creative players on the park. But since picking up his first knee injury in 2010, he hasn’t quite got back up to speed.
Having joined from Cambridge United in 2007, Collison burst on the scene against Everton when his goal of the season strike put the Hammers in the lead, only for the Toffees to hit back with three goals in 15 minutes to win 3-1.
From that moment on you could see what a special talent he was going to be. But horror struck for the Welshmen as he attempted to chest and turn on the ball only for his foot to get stuck in the shocking Wigan Athletic turf, which saw him miss 6 weeks with a dislocated kneecap.
In my opinion the Hammers medical staff rushed Jack back and he suffered a similar injury in 2010 which saw him miss fourteen months of football, enough to make anyone a little rusty. But credit where credits due in the Irons promotion campaign he stepped up and was a leading light towards the end of the season (who can forget his goals at Leicester City and Cardiff City to aid the Hammers promotion.)
It is often a discussion had by West Ham fans, is the Championship Jack Collison’s level? I tuned in to watch BBC’s Football League Show to watch a bit of the Npower highlights. It was noticeable how shocked former Hammer Leroy Rosenior was that West Ham allowed Jack to join Bournemouth. He told presenter Manish Bhasin that it reminded him of when Bournemouth snared Jermain Defoe on loan.
I think Collison’s loan move is the best thing for both parties, Jack, who for me would currently struggle to get in our side with the emergence of Ravel Morrison and the solidity of Mohamed Diame, Kevin Nolan and Mark Noble. Collison would only get bench time at West Ham as things stand. Bournemouth get themselves a quality player for a month or two which could help aid a promotion challenge later down the line. And for Collison it helps him get back to match fit should the Hammers ever need to call on him.
So it’s ‘win-win’ whichever way you look at it.
Is it time for Jack to hit the road?
For me with Nolan not getting any younger, maybe if he impresses in his loan stint at Bournemouth he could still have a big future at the club, however with zero assists and goals, he hasn’t got off to the flyer he and West Ham would have hoped for.
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Is it time for Jack to move on?
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Come on you Irons!
Certainly Not! Jacks far too good a Player to let go. His time as a regular cannot be too far off. He has Strength, and is not afraid to go forward, which is not done enough, by some Midfielders. If we do not take advantage of his obvious attributes Some one else will.
His quality is obvious for all to see and we’re priveledged to have him here at AFCB. For me he can stay as long as he wants.
Fitness is obviously Jack’s problem – this gives both parties a chance to demonstrate that Jack is up to playing regularly.
I hope that he can get regular games in during the loan period and come back stronger – if not… well let’s not go there..