20 Questions with...Jack Collison

Posted by Sport.co.uk on: 17 October 2009 - 19:58
Author: Jonny Abrams
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This week, Sport.co.uk pestered West Ham and Wales Under-21s midfielder Jack Collison with our 20 Questions template: that’s 5 personal ones, and 15 general ones, system fans!

Do you ever find yourself in awe of Gianfranco Zola?

JC: Definitely, especially when he first came in. I think everyone was a little bit. But he’s such a nice, genuine person; now it’s just a pleasure working for him.

How much do you think the side is missing James Collins and Craig Bellamy?

JC: Obviously, they’re massive players, and obviously team-mates of mine at Wales, but people move on all the time in football and we’ve got a few new faces in who are looking to fill the gaps. We haven’t started brilliantly this season but we’re gonna look to put things right this Saturday [away to Stoke City].

Who do you see as the first-choice midfielders at the club, or is it not that simple?

JC: I wouldn’t say anyone has cemented their spot properly. Scotty Parker and Mark Noble have so far been in there week in, week out. They’re both very good pros and very good players. Unfortunately we’ve had a few injuries over the past few weeks: myself, Valon Behrami, Kieron Dyer and Kovac have been in and out. It’s gonna be a great battle to get those starting places.

Do West Ham have the best youth academy in the country? Recent history would suggest so.

JC: It’s very well-known for producing very good players and obviously the current crop are doing really well: James Tomkins, Junior Stanislav and, more recently, Zavon Hines have all started doing well in the first team in the Premier League. It’s great for West Ham as a club and hopefully they can keep producing players like that. (Sport.co.uk mentions Freddie Sears and asks Jack if perhaps it was a mistake to let him go out on loan) I think it’ll be good for Freddie to get some first team football. We all know what a good player he is, so maybe playing first team football week in, week out in the Championship will do him good and I’m sure he’s going to come back an even better player than he already was.

What do you think of the job John Toshack is doing at Wales?

JC: Obviously the campaign overall has been a little bit disappointing as a whole team, not just the manager. He even said he was a little bit disappointed himself, because we feel that we’ve got a good squad and we should be challenging to qualify for the World Cup rather than come 4th. The boys did really well last night and got a good win, and hopefully [John Toshack] can be the man to take us forward and get us into a major championships.

Who’s the funniest member of the West Ham dressing room?

JC: Mark Noble. He’s a real joker off the pitch. He’s hilarious, a proper Essex boy. He’s just mad. His comments and one-liners are brilliant. He’s a good laugh and a massive character in the dressing room.

What about the stupidest?

JC: I’ve got to be very careful here! There’s a few people. Er…probably Mark Noble again. He’s a funny character but he’s not got the best of brains off the pitch. On the pitch, he’s an absolute genius, but he can come across quite funny sometimes.

And the most annoying?

JC: There’s quite a few of them! Nah, I wouldn’t say there’s anyone really annoying. Being a young player coming into any team, you’re going to be expected to take a lot of stick off the older lads but, at the end of the day, we’re a team and if we’re taking stick off them then it’s normally just for the banter and nothing too serious.

Who did you support as a boy? And who do you support now?

JC: When I was a lad, I used to go and watch Chelsea. As I got a bit older, I used to go and watch Cambridge every week ‘cause I was at Cambridge United. And now I’d say I’m a West Ham fan; it’s a great club with a great tradition and the fans have been brilliant to me. (Did you go and watch Chelsea while Zola was a player there?) Yeah I did, actually, which was an absolute pleasure because he’s one hell of a player. And Steve Clarke was there as well.

What’s the best goal you’ve ever scored? In a match, in training, or anywhere…

JC: Probably my debut goal for Wales Under-21s against Bosnia. I went on a bit of a mazy run and, very unlike me, I even managed to take the ‘keeper on and slot it in an empty net. So I’d have to say that one. Yeah, well, his goal at Villa Park was something else. He’s scored a few good goals, especially in training.

What’s the best goal you’ve ever seen?

JC: (Pauses in deliberation) Steven Gerrard’s against West Ham in the FA Cup final. And, to be fair, the manager got one against Norwich – his little backheel – which wasn’t a bad goal - I’ve seen quite a few on the training ground but, yeah, probably Steven Gerrard’s.

A lot of people say that footballers have terrible taste in music. What would you say in defence?

JC: I can agree with that to a certain extent! But I don’t think my taste is too bad. Music’s quite a big part of football now; a lot of teams listen to it before the game. There’s a lot of dodgy iPods going on. Carlton Cole’s normally in charge [of the music in the dressing room]; he’s not too bad. (What does he play?) A mix of everything, to be fair. But if Zavon Hines gets a chance then he puts a bit of funky house on, which doesn’t go down too well with some of the older pros!

What’s your favourite pre-match meal?

JC: Chicken and pasta. I have the same most weeks. And I like to have a little yoghurt and a banana afterwards.

Managers will love that! Who do you think is the most underrated player around at the moment?

JC: (Pauses in thought once again) Maybe Scotty Parker. Obviously, being at West Ham, I get a chance to train and play with him week in, week out and he’s a great pro, and the amount of work he puts in for the team sometimes goes unnoticed. Obviously, playing with him, you get to notice the amount of work he puts in; tackles, he’s here, there and everywhere. For me, he’s a great player to look up to.

What do you think was the most unfair card you ever received, and can you remember who the referee was?

JC: I don’t actually get too many cards; I’m not the best at tackling, to be fair! I got booked when I came on at Old Trafford last season where I didn’t actually catch him, but it was nothing serious.

There are some truly horrible kits going round at the moment. Have you ever had to wear one which you’ve hated?

JC: No, I can’t say I have yet. There’s obviously a few dodgy kits going about at the moment, especially the Newcastle one, but fortunately our kit’s quite nice at West Ham.

How much would you say you’re worth in the transfer market?

JC: Not much. A Mars bar and a packet of crisps!

Have you ever been quoted out of context?

JC: I don’t think so, not yet. Not that I know of. But who knows after today? (Laughs)

You’re safe with us. What’s the highest amount of kick-ups you’ve ever managed in one go?

JC: I couldn’t say. After about a hundred, I get bored and want to smash the ball about or try and do a trick, which I’m not very good at.

And finally: who at West Ham is, ahem, the ‘longest in the showers’?

JC: We had a young player called Kyel Reid who’s very long in the shower! He’s at Sheffield United now.