'Super' John Collins
is the Evening Standards first 'Footballer of the Month' winner of the new
season
Juveniles
come in all ages, and many of them are to be found playing professional
football. John Collins is an exception, which is not meant to make him sound
like somebody's grandad. But there is an impressive stillness about him,
hinting at a steadiness of mind which told him that dropping down a division
to join Fulham this year was a pretty cool move.
Already
it is bringing rewards. Collins's presence has played a pivotal role in
Fulham's club record-equalling six straight wins to start the season.
The
ultimate prize of a Premiership place is some way off, but the former
Scotland midfielder was the runaway choice for Standard Sport's first
Footballer of the Month of the new season.
"I
couldn't have asked for a better start," said the 32-year-old in his
clipped Borders accent "It's just what we hoped for. We're not getting
carried away but the hard work is starting to pay off."
The
only disappointment is that Collins is suffering with a groin injury, and is
unlikely to be fully fit for tomorrow's trip to Nottingham Forest.
And
yet, in its way, even that is indicative of the brave new world at Craven
Cottage. As is now well-known, Collins would not have contemplated the £2
million move from Everton were it not for the arrival of Jean Tigana as
manager, and part of the Frenchman's philosophy so esteemed by Collins is
that injuries are not rushed.
But
even allowing for the temporary absence of the talismanic Scot, the
excitement around the club is tangible. Every now and again, such a magical
time visits a club, sparking off a wonderful sense of purpose and destiny.
Fulham
is such a place, due to the imaginative choice of manager and his ability to
get players such as Collins on side. Intriguingly, Collins has almost
nothing to say about the reticent Tigana as a person, but professionally
cannot praise him enough.
"I
never like talking about people at a personal level, although Jean's a nice
guy, an honest man," he said. "Obviously I really admire the way
he believes football should be played."
"The
two of us think the same way about how we like a team to play. He has
assembled a great team around him who are here morning until night every day
of the week. I've never seen anything like it."
"It's
proof of what Jean told me about his plans to make Fulham into a big club to
challenge the best. It sounded a great project and it is why I came. "
"Yes,
it meant less money but that's not everything, is it? The satisfaction if we
make it to the Premiership will be fantastic."
In
that context of course "less money" is still a fairly gobsmacking
wage, and the Collins family have just moved into their new Surrey home. All
the same, a footballer who says money isn't everything - whatever next? But
then Collins is atypical of the breed in so many ways. He made sure he hung
on to the French he learned during his time under Tigana at Monaco by
subscribing to a French television channel on his return to Britain.
He
goes back regularly to see friends, and his children are bilingual. Thus he
is now able to translate Tigana's instructions to the squad when the
vagaries of language get in the way, although insiders at Fulham say
Tigana's English is rather better than appearances in front of a microphone
suggest.
Collins'
own voice is surprisingly quiet. You have to lean forward to catch most of
what he says, and it lends weight to the impression of composed authority he
exudes. You can imagine the younger players at Fulham finding his presence
particularly steadying, and Collins makes a point of mixing with all the
players, senior and junior. The day we met he was sitting around the lunch
table with half-a-dozen of the younger squad members, characteristically
doing as much listening as talking, observing and assessing those around
him.
Even
his face adds to the watchful impression. Close to, fine lines make him look
older than 32. If you didn't know, you could take him for an extremely fit
40-year-old (sorry, John).
Yet
coupled with his demeanour, it underlines the feeling of cool-headed
dependability about him. And when he talks of Fulham's prospects, he deals
strictly with unromantic facts.
"If
you're going to make a small club into a big one, you need a few things in
place. You need a chairman whose got money and is prepared to invest it. You
need a good manager, decent facilities."
Not
to mention a player like Collins, to contribute a level of sophistication
which is vital at this hopefully transitional time.
"Yes,
I suppose so. I've been around and inevitably I notice the standard is
different here, but it's bound to be. I enjoy passing on tips to the younger
players and the older ones, too, if they want it."
"I
like constructive talk. I think players have to be told to relax when in
possession. They don't have to try to score every time. You can tire the
opposition by keeping possession and then pick your moment."
That
patience is Collins' style all over. Now he has brought it to Fulham. If
good things come to those who wait, then Fulham's time has indeed come.