Catching Up With Collins

by jake nutting

Unused Substitutes:​ How did Brandon Allen’s departure from the club and signing with Memphis come about?

Neill Collins:​It's always disappointing when you sign a player and it doesn't quite work out. I would say it says more about the players that have been in the first team more regularly like Seba and Juan. They've made it really difficult for others to get as many opportunities as they'd like cause they've done so well together. When you're a player like Brandon, who probably needs to be playing week in and week out to reach his full potential and we can't give him that opportunity right now it’s tough. I think his talents suit Memphis and obviously we wish him all the best. When you sign 18 or 19 players in the offseason not every one of them is gonna be a major success because you can only pick 11 each week and if you're doing things right generally you don't need to make lots of changes. I think that's the biggest thing. We've been having relatively consistent lineups, although we've had to deal with two or three different injuries. It's just part and parcel to football. Brandon's a great lad and really I wish him all the best.

US:​ Now that we’re approaching the halfway point of the season, are we getting to point where you’re looking at possible roster additions?

NC: ​Everyday we look at the players we've got, the squad we've got, the players available, and people are always contacting us, so that's an ongoing fluid process. We think we've got a really great squad, a lot of great competition, and a lot of people coming back from injury. I'm gonna have to give you the pat answer here and say were always assessing our squad and trying to make it better, but I believe with the players we've got we have a lot of great options. If something comes up that we think can make us better than we'll do it. If not we'll just be happy to try and keep all these guys fit and continue their good form.

(Update: Since this interview the Rowdies have traded forward Antoine Hoppenot to Louisville City for former Rowdies forward Lucky Mkosana.)

US:​ It must be nice to be operating from a place of confidence this year after last summer when you were desperate for bodies at certain points.

NC: ​When I took the job last year, if you'd told me the turnover that I would have had to make in the following four or five months I'd have been gobsmacked. We had injuries, we had retirements, and then on top of that we just weren't performing. I actually think it's put us in good standing for this year because we found Tarek, we found Dom Oduro, we found Pape, Seba ended up moving up top, so that all helped us for this year. Right now we're in a position where we've got a well balanced squad and players that are a good age. So it is different and it's also being in a different position in the standings definitely helps you attract the type of player that we want. But again you've got to think to add a player at this stage of the season, they've got to make us stronger. That's no easy feat. There's not a huge market out there because all the other clubs in the USL are wanting to keep their best players. It's tough. We're gonna try really hard to keep getting better, but we're not gonna do something just for the sake of it. Because we've got a tight knit, honest group of lads that are working so hard for each other and working so hard in training. For someone to come into that they need to be the right fit.

US​: Where are Leo Fernandes and Andrew Tinari in their recovery from injuries?

NC:​ Leo was on the bench at Bethlehem but we didn't feel he was quite ready to be back involved. He's close. Andrew Tinari is working hard behind the scenes. We hope he's not too far away. They're two of our most creative players, so they've been missed obviously but there have been people who've come in and done a great job. Zach Steinberger had a great game on the weekend. That's another thing about the squad, whoever has been asked to come in has done a real good job. It'll be nice to have these people back, but everyone who is here is playing a part.

US:​ We haven’t seen forward Jaime Siaj in action yet. How close is he to coming in?

NC:​ Jaime's probably two or three weeks away. You have to remember I think he's only played 45 minutes of preseason football before hurting himself again, so he's been really, really unlucky. He's someone I'm excited to get involved because I think he'll bring us an extra dimension to the attack. He's kinda like Malik Johnson, he'll feel like a new signing when he appears. It's a process. Hopefully fans get to see Jaime in the Green and Gold in the near future. We're certainly looking forward to getting him out there. He's not far away now.

US: ​We’ve been seeing Malik Johnson more and more. How do you feel his integration has gone?

NC:​ Fantastic, both on and off the field. Off the field Malik's really liked, he's done really well with the boys. He's a real team player. His performance on the field has endeared himself to the players. He set up goals in Birmingham, and then Charleston, and this last week he was a real handful. We're real delighted with Malik. I said at the time that we got him that I couldn't believe it and I'm just excited to see if we can get him to his real potential.

US: ​You’re losing Juan Tejada for a week in July to international duty. Is his emergence a perfect example of the kind of platform you wanted to provide for younger players?

NC:​ 100%. It's a sign of where we're at as a club. We've had Shawn Barry miss a game earlier inthe season on an international trip. We've had David Najem miss a game because of international duty and now it's Juan's turn. That's just a sign of how well these players are doing individually and how well the team's doing. Long may it continue. Yes, we'll suffer for that weekend losing Juan but I just hope we can get more players that kind of recognition. It means that they're doing well for the Rowdies and ultimately the players can enjoy that success individually as well.

US:​ You’ve had couple games lately where’ve let in some late goals. Is the way the team manages games and closes things out an area that needs to be focused on?

NC:​ I think we've managed games fantastically well. That's why we've got so many clean sheets. You can point to games like the New York Red Bulls, we managed that fantastically well. Nashville away from home we won 1-0. Memphis away from home we won 1-0. The Charleston game we should've seen that game out. We should've scored more goals. Last Saturday it was penalty that I don't think should have been given. (Editor’s Note: Completely Agree!) It was a poor decision and they've got a two-minute flurry. I would've been devastated for the players if they hadn't gotten rewarded. Your point's valid that we've given up some late goals, but it's just part and parcel to football. If you don't get two or three goals up, late on teams are always gonna have a gamble. It's something that we're mindful of but I think the players have shown they're great at closing out games at times. I really rue that Charleston game in terms of dropping those points at home. It was a learning experience for us, we will learn from that. It was the type of set piece goal you can give up at anytime, especially against a team with the size of players Charleston have got. But I have to credit the defense and John. They have really seen out these games really, really well.