Farewell Ginge

Sad to see James Collins go to Aston Villa for £5 million. At least we kept Upson, Green and Cole, but Collins has been outstanding in all three league games this season and Villa have profited from our financial problems.

During his first season under Pardew he looked good in the air but sometimes vulnerable on the ground. But during the Great Escape under Curbishley he was fantastic at the back and just as big a reason for staying up as Carlos Tevez. His finest game was at Old Trafford during that epic 1-0 win. A proper centre half who attacks the ball in the air and is not afraid to hoof it.

Admittedly we have Tomkins ready to step in and Gabbidon is fit again and maybe one day Davenport might play again. But if Ginge was simply sold for financial reasons you can't help feeling that perhaps we should have kept Collins, not signed Kovac and sold a few more fringe players.