Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports, former Ipswich star James Collins has given his thoughts whether McKenna can lead the club back to the Premier League first time of asking, describes Jacob Ramseys departure from Aston Villa as a "shame" and names the big name defender who could be the perfect signing for West Ham United when the January Transfer Window opens.
Collins also noted his love for Celtic Football club, his unfulfilled dreams of play for the club and discusses whether Martin O'Neill can guide the club to another Scottish Premiership title.
Elsewhere, the former centre-back gave his predictions for his former clubs West Ham United, Aston Villa and Ipswich Town.
Can McKenna's Ipswich Bounce-Back?
It's not as easy as you think. I remember West Ham going down a few years ago and Big Sam coming in. Everyone thought they were the best team and would win every game, but it's not that easy. It was a real struggle for West Ham that year to come back up under Big Sam, and what a job he did, because everyone knows how hard it is to get a team up. Kieran McKenna would be thinking the same about every game.
It's almost a cup final when people play against Ipswich. I spent a small amount of time at Ipswich towards the end of my career, and I've got to say, it's a great club. Great fans, great people at the football club, and obviously the manager. You can tell he's a top, top manager by the way he's been linked with every club that becomes available.
It's tough, there's no doubt about it. Like I said, the expectation is there for him to go and smash teams three, four every week, but that's just not the case. But they've certainly got the quality, they've got the experience at the football club to go on a run. I fully expect them, certainly after Christmas, to really knuckle down and get the results to push them towards the top spots, if not the playoffs. Like I said, it's a great club, a big club, a big fan base, and it'd be great to see them back in the Premier League. It really would.”
Transfer Market
"Shame" Ramsey Left Villa
It was a shame to see a young player leave Villa like that. He's gone on to Newcastle and probably hasn't played as much as he'd like. When you don't want to leave a club, move on, and don't play as much as you'd like, it's tough.
He's come on as a sub and done well, but it is tough, especially for such a young lad, knowing he didn't want to leave Villa. It must have been tough for him, and it's going to take time to get over the fact that he's not at Villa anymore because he didn't want to go, and the fans didn't want him to go.
He is a good player, though; there's a real star in there. The more playing time he gets at Newcastle, the better for him and the club. I'm sure in the coming months, towards the end of the season, we'll see the top-quality player he is.
Maguire To London Stadium?
Harry Maguire is an old-school centre-half, but he can play, there's no doubt about it. I think he just, he's that sort of player that suits West Ham. He seems like a West Ham player. The defence and the set-play situation have been hard to watch at times, as we all know as West Ham fans. So someone like Harry, I think, would fit West Ham really, really well.
I think the West Ham fans would enjoy watching him. He's a bit like myself, I think, when I used to play a little bit, no nonsense, can play if you ask him to, but his main job, I would say, not knowing him as a lad, would be defensive, and certainly that's what we need. It'd be great to see him there. I think he just fits the football club.
I think he's taken a little bit of stick over the years, Harry, at Manchester United, and a lot of it, you know, just as well in my opinion, because I really think he's a proper centre-half and I'd love to see him at the football club. There's no doubt about it; we need help in that position. Konstantinos Mavropanos, I haven't heard anything, but it seems like he's out for quite a while, and we are a little bit light at centre-half.
Scottish Football
Playing For Celtic Or Rangers
When I was at West Ham, that was talked about. I was a Celtic fan growing up. I always, always, always talked to my brothers and my family about how playing in a Celtic-Rangers derby would have been phenomenal.
It's probably just rumours; you know what football's like. I would have loved to have gone out there and played, but if I had to pick one, yes, it would have been Celtic.
Martin O’Neill "Exactly What Celtic Need"
He's just what they need at the moment. I actually played golf with Martin about a week before he got the job, and he certainly wasn't talking about it then. He certainly didn't know it was coming. But a legend in football in my eyes. He signed me at Aston Villa, and I have nothing but good words to say about Martin. To see him back in football is great.
Just to spend time with him is brilliant. Obviously, he's a legend at Celtic, what he did there in his time up there. The fans obviously took to him, so it's just great to see him back in football, and there's no doubt about it, he'll be loving his time up there and doing well, getting the team back to where they deserve to be or where they should be. It's just great to see Martin back; he's a great character.
Can Celtic Still Win The League?
It's a huge, huge club. We're talking about a club being seven points off the leaders and still probably favourites. With Martin back there, there's a sort of confidence that brings, and the fans are getting behind them again.
I think Celtic will probably go on and win the league up there if I'm honest. Everything's going for them, like I mentioned, Martin being back, the legend he is, and the feeling that's back at that football club. They are a juggernaut. When they get on a roll, you could see them going all season without losing another game. So I think for Hearts, it'll be tough to hang on. They'll have a good go there; there's no doubt about it.
But I think if Celtic get back to where we know they can be, they could go every game and win for the rest of the season and win the league, absolutely. Hearts fans won’t be happy. But we'll see how it plays out.
Predictions
Bournemouth vs West Ham
Three weeks ago, it would have probably been Bournemouth all day, but it's amazing what two wins do. The confidence they breed in that West Ham squad means they feel they can go anywhere and get a result. It won't be easy. Bournemouth are a really good team at home in that atmosphere and doing really well, but the boys are getting back to where they know they can be, the level that they want to be at, and certainly defending a lot better.
They don't look so open and look likely to concede at any minute as they did a few weeks ago. So it will be tough, but I think with the confidence, I'll go for a 2-1 West Ham win away from home.
West Ham vs Liverpool
We know the fans get up for these games, and anything can happen at West Ham when the fans are going. I mentioned it about the Wales fans, but when it's going well and the fans are enjoying what they're seeing, it's a real tough place for an away team to go.
We have got a good record against the bigger teams at the London Stadium, so it wouldn't surprise me if West Ham got a result. It'd be tough, as Liverpool are a strong team. I don't think we've seen the true Liverpool team yet this season, they've struggled in games. But it's a tough one. I'm going to sit on the fence and go 2-2, I think.
I think there'll be goals in the game. With a bit of confidence, West Ham could come back and score, but Liverpool are always a threat, from set plays and from open play. So, I'll sit on the fence and go for a 2-2.
Leeds vs Aston Villa
No doubt Leeds have been struggling, but what a tough place to go, Elland Road, to try and get a result when the fans are not too happy. But Villa would be confident going up there. Like I said, Leeds are struggling. I'll go 2-1 Villa.
Ipswich vs Wrexham?
Two good clubs. Wrexham is doing their thing and trying to get towards the Premier League, and Ipswich have just come down and is trying to get back in there. So it should be a great game. I’ll go for 3-2 to Ipswich.
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