Russel Martin abuse.

[Number 9]

I would suggest the reasons why it happened.

1- As Captain, many expect more from him.

2- His remarks in press conferences over past year or two have alienated some fans.

 

[morty]

Why do managers keep picking him as captain then? Why not Bradley Johnson, why not Wes? Why not Jonny Howson? Why not Jerome?

And I would rather hear passionate honesty than stock nonsense trotted out.

 

[Number 9]

It's been suggested that he grasses up players to the management team, I have heard that suggested lots, I don't know if it's true or not. It doesn't portray him in a good light.

Passionate honesty, in my mind, doesn't include publicly  berating the supporters for vocalising their disappointment and then a short while later saying the club should have changed things earlier. 

All while not appearing to be very good at his job of defending.

 

[morty]

Suggested by who? Im around people who I would consider to know a lot about what goes on in the club and I have never heard anything suggesting that.

To be honest mate you have decided you dislike him and nothing he could do would change your mind. I just find the scapegoating utterly nonsensical, and illogical.

 

[Number 9]

I don't dislike Russ, I've met him a few times, lovely chap. And while I never would boo our players during the game, I can see why some have.

I've got to sleep now, enjoy your hols mate.

 

[GJP]

Why is it perspective? It has absolutely nothing to do with why he is picked to play at Norwich city.

Funny how folk who know more about football than you or I pick him to play and defend him....

I think you're missing my point a bit. What I'm trying to say is...

I see a lot of people talking about what Russ has done for this club and all I'm saying is....don't forget what this club has done for Russ.

 

[Canaryboy]

GJP, as much as I agree that Russell Martin is well past his best and shouldn't have been given a contract extension... I just want to knock this Peterborough thing on the head:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/peterborough-united-boss-darren-ferguson-letting-russell-martin-join-norwich-city-is-my-biggest-regret-in-football-1-1462503

Darren Ferguson went on to regret the decision to sell him to us. 

Russell Martin for me was a decent full back who lost his pace and stamina earlier than is typical for a footballer, and once that happened didn't really have any right to remain at this level... he should have become a League One right back a few years ago, that's what he is. 

 

[GJP]

GJP, as much as I agree that Russell Martin is well past his best and shouldn't have been given a contract extension... I just want to knock this Peterborough thing on the head:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/peterborough-united-boss-darren-ferguson-letting-russell-martin-join-norwich-city-is-my-biggest-regret-in-football-1-1462503

Darren Ferguson went on to regret the decision to sell him to us. 

Russell Martin for me was a decent full back who lost his pace and stamina earlier than is typical for a footballer, and once that happened didn't really have any right to remain at this level... he should have become a League One right back a few years ago, that's what he is. 

I am aware of that.

I'm not commenting on whether he should have been in the Peterborough team or not. 

 

[morty]

So what are you saying?

?

 

[GJP]

Russell Martin for me was a decent full back who lost his pace and stamina earlier than is typical for a footballer, and once that happened didn't really have any right to remain at this level... he should have become a League One right back a few years ago, that's what he is. 

Yup. Once he realised he didn't have the legs for fullback he pushed to become a centreback. Which he got because Neil Adams was "incharge". He may not have got that under a different manager.

 

[morty]

So that became legally binding then? Because Adams played him there, subsequent managers had no choice in the matter?

 

[GJP]

So that became legally binding then? Because Adams played him there, subsequent managers had no choice in the matter?

I would suggest it has become a bit of an awkward issue.

I don't think it's all his fault but he is now the only constant in a defence that cannot get its act together (although you could now start to chuck Ivo into that too). At this point I think we need to start looking at it that Russ has done great for us but he ain't getting any better as a player and our defence ain't getting any better so therefore we need to have a look at something different going forward.

 

[morty]

I think that you are trying to see something that genuinely isnt there.

Russel Martin is a perfectly adequate championship squad player. And if he isnt good enough, he doesnt play. Its that simple. Can you tell me why he keeps getting picked to play? And if the answer is " we dont have anyone better" then that really isn't his fault, is it?

 

[GJP]

Russel Martin is a perfectly adequate championship squad player. 

Totally agree. He would be in my squad.

 

[morty]

Youre dangerously close to entering the group of folks who are angry at Russel Martin but really can't adequately explain why.

?

 

[Canaryboy]

My concerns about Russell Martin have been superseded by my concerns about James Husband, although I think the true problem may lie not with the assorted individuals right now but with Farke's tactics.... is "zonal marking" actually a thing in this country, and isn't it a bit easy to exploit? 

Rafa Benitez employed zonal marking at Liverpool when he was there, but have players like Martin and Husband ever played it before, and surely something which is difficult to get to grips with... would be a bit like asking somebody with an automatic license to drive a manual. 

Perhaps I'm old fashioned but if the opposition have a massive unit up front then you stick your biggest defender on him to win the aerial battles, if the opposition have got a quick striker who tries to get behind the back then you play defenders who can play the offside trap, etc etc. Surely with "zonal marking" the opposition can just work out that a midget is in x zone and a slow coach is in y zone, and then tell their speed merchant to hang around near zone y and stick their biggest unit in zone x and tell people to pump balls to him. 

Also, I've never seen a zone score a goal*

*Just pinched that. 

 

[Number 9]

Ask the question of our individual players.....

Can this player improve by coaching, can he be trained on?

The newer younger recruits we hope can make progress, time will tell.

Honestly considering the remnants of the group from last season, who has been improving their game and becoming a better player over the recent seasons?

Even if we discount the Alex Neil effect and rather than looking at the past where few players seemed to improve, which players have the potential to train on and improve the coming season? 

Russ wouldn't feature on the list of we're honest.

 

[morty]

Russel Martin is not a young, up and coming player who we are looking for improvement in, and no one is touting him as one. So not really sure where you are going with that.

Having bought Grant Hanley I suspect Russ may not feature as much, and if we are better defensively then it will be all sbout Russ being dropped  for some folks. Still, we seem to have scapegoat in the wings in Husband.....

When I think about some of the absolute clownshoes our fans have not only tolerated over the years, but idolised, it makes this even more ridiculous.

 

[GJP]

Youre dangerously close to entering the group of folks who are angry at Russel Martin but really can't adequately explain why.

?

Not really. I'm not angry with him. I just question whether he's someone you make a mainstay of your defence.

 

[Fenway Frank]

I'm not sure that anyone would expect him to be a mainstay of the defence, particularly now we have Hanley and Klose returning to fitness