James Collins says he is in the 'form of his life' at the moment
West Ham United defender James Collins believes he is in ‘the form of his life’ following a spell in the Hammers team which has yielded three clean sheets from his last five games.
A new two year contract also came about in that period, leaving Collins delighted as he looks ahead to 2016 and a monumental year in Hammers history.
We caught up with the ‘Ginger Pele’ for this week’s Big Interview…
After another clean sheet against Liverpool, would you say you are playing as well as you ever have?
JC: “I am definitely in the form of my life. I have just been speaking to Matty Etherington upstairs and he says the same – I don’t know what it is, just getting better with age I guess.”
Just how happy were you to sign your new contract over Christmas?
JC: “It was huge to sign a new contract, the thought of leaving the club again was getting me down a bit. I have got my family settled here, the kids are in school and I love the club, the fans have always been tremendous to me, so to get it sorted when it looked like it might not have happened is amazing.”
Was your recent form the tipping point for getting the new contract?
JC: “Yeah, possibly. There was no two ways about it, I was fourth choice centre-half at the start of the season, the gaffer told me that.
“I just thought the least I could do was get my head down and work hard in training and if the opportunity came along I would try and do well.”
After doing the double over Liverpool, how far can we go?
JC: “It is a great team to be playing in. Sometimes we defend a little bit too much, if you know what I mean, it is a bit last-gasp, but that is how I like to play the game.
“If everyone is fit and the best XI is on the pitch, then we can give anyone a game.
“Even with Dimitri coming on for half an hour, it is a massive boost. We might have lost Lanzini against for a little bit, but it is a great squad and gives someone else a chance to come in.”
With Euro 2016 on the horizon, how determined are you to be there with Wales?
JC: “The Liverpool fitness coach is also the Wales fitness coach and I spoke to him after the game and he just said keep playing well.
“It is obviously something I am really looking forward to for the summer.
“To be part of a team that has qualified for the Euros is massive and hopefully I will keep my form high and have a chance to start for Wales.
A new two year contract also came about in that period, leaving Collins delighted as he looks ahead to 2016 and a monumental year in Hammers history.
We caught up with the ‘Ginger Pele’ for this week’s Big Interview…
After another clean sheet against Liverpool, would you say you are playing as well as you ever have?
JC: “I am definitely in the form of my life. I have just been speaking to Matty Etherington upstairs and he says the same – I don’t know what it is, just getting better with age I guess.”
Just how happy were you to sign your new contract over Christmas?
JC: “It was huge to sign a new contract, the thought of leaving the club again was getting me down a bit. I have got my family settled here, the kids are in school and I love the club, the fans have always been tremendous to me, so to get it sorted when it looked like it might not have happened is amazing.”
Was your recent form the tipping point for getting the new contract?
JC: “Yeah, possibly. There was no two ways about it, I was fourth choice centre-half at the start of the season, the gaffer told me that.
“I just thought the least I could do was get my head down and work hard in training and if the opportunity came along I would try and do well.”
After doing the double over Liverpool, how far can we go?
JC: “It is a great team to be playing in. Sometimes we defend a little bit too much, if you know what I mean, it is a bit last-gasp, but that is how I like to play the game.
“If everyone is fit and the best XI is on the pitch, then we can give anyone a game.
“Even with Dimitri coming on for half an hour, it is a massive boost. We might have lost Lanzini against for a little bit, but it is a great squad and gives someone else a chance to come in.”
With Euro 2016 on the horizon, how determined are you to be there with Wales?
JC: “The Liverpool fitness coach is also the Wales fitness coach and I spoke to him after the game and he just said keep playing well.
“It is obviously something I am really looking forward to for the summer.
“To be part of a team that has qualified for the Euros is massive and hopefully I will keep my form high and have a chance to start for Wales.