Over 3,200 West Ham away supporters sang their hearts out at the King Power Stadium during the Hammers 2-0 win over Leicester City.
The subject of many of their songs was James Collins aka the Ginger Pele, the 34-year-old contract with West Ham will finish next month and he has admitted there have been no negotiations or contact with the Hammers over any possible contract extension.
The centre-back is a massive West Ham fan who we are told will consider pretty much anything to stay at his beloved club and finish his professional career with the Irons. Collins took his son to Arsenal away and mingled with West Ham supporters last month much to the delight of away fans who posed for photos with him.
James Collins was once again a supporter as he travelled with the first team squad to Leicester despite not being match fit, he joined players on the pitch post-match to celebrate the win and applaud away fans who made the journey.
The West Ham away army sang: ‘SIGN HIM UP, SIGN HIM UP GINGER PELE! SIGN HIM UP, SIGN HIM UP I SAY! SIGN HIM UP, SIGN HIM UP GINGER PELE! PLAYING FOOTBALL THE WEST HAM WAY!’
Sign him up, sign him up Ginger Pele ⚒ pic.twitter.com/9oeMqdRYR7
— West Ham News (@whufc_news) May 5, 2018
Great chant, sounded great on the telly box and it’s bang on. The club would be stupid (which is, in itself, a silly thing to say because we all know they are) not to give him another year. SIGN HIM UP!
Hang on a minute, as much as I love Ginge if the club went out and signed a 34 year old centre back this summer you would all be up in arms, so get real you complained when Evra came , you complained when Fonte came, we either build for the future or play a load of aged stars, you cannot have it both ways, by keeping Ginge you bar the advancment of players like Oxford and Burke., let him stay as a defensive coach much like keeping Nobes as a midfield coach , but playing them next season would be a backward step imo
I would have thought he’d be a great coach; he’s a leader on the pitch and directs the players around him. If it wasn’t for Noble, he’d have been a great captain. He wants to stay, which would also provide decent injury cover. Given Winston’s injury problems (yeah, I know, “Winston who?”) we need a reliable defensive Plan B. Even if Rice is coming good, Moyes sees him as a future midfielder. I know Pearce currently does the defensive coach role, but this is the Ginger Pele we’re talking about.
ginge is special but without the c&b specs on, he’s 34 and he shouldn’t’ be offered a playing deal. perhaps a coaching role combined with a PAYP playing deal (for emergencies) but we should make it clear the former is the priority. if he wants to take it good, if he wants to carry on playing, then we’d welcome him back at any time.
i love how he’s turned up to games despite being injured. has anyone seen antonio at any of the games since his injury and world cup ambitions were destroyed leaving him in tears?