Sideways Sammy

After navigating past Ben Wilson in the goalkeeping pecking order earlier in the season, Brad Collins has done enough to maintain his starting position but has been part of a defence that has leaked goals throughout the campaign. The former Chelsea youngster has proved a decent to impressive shot-stopper and reasonable in commanding his penalty area, it has been Collins’ confidence receiving the ball to feet and being able to play short passes with the defence that has been the chief reason why there’s little question of losing his place to Ben Wilson. Heading into the summer, however, the question is whether Collins might be in danger of losing his place to a potential summer signing.

In most aspects of his game, Brad Collins has been a steady performer in his first year at Coventry City. While there have been a few mistakes, most of them are the result of how Mark Robins has wanted the team to play out from the back. Where the biggest doubts surrounding Collins are relate to the intangible quality of confidence that the best goalkeepers project. There has rarely been the sense with Collins that he is someone who is going to shut up shop, dominate his penalty area or turn defence into attack within the blink of an eye with his distribution. That lack of a sense of character to his presence in goal has perhaps contributed to the tame way in which this team has steadily leaked goals throughout the campaign.

While there isn’t a huge need or desire to replace Brad Collins as first-choice goalkeeper heading into next season, his status isn’t unassailable either. With something needing to be done to improve the team’s ability to keep clean sheets, Collins is as vulnerable as just about anyone in the defence to being replaced with a better player over the summer. The question is just how much better a goalkeeper can the club realistically to be able to sign when they know that Brad Collins is already a decent enough player in the position for this level in situ. Whether or not higher calibre competition arrives in the coming months, Collins is someone who could do with a strong run of form to project a sense of authority in his position.