The Russell Martin Thread

[admin]

Russell Martin​

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Position: Defender

DOB: 5th January 1986

Signed: 4th January 2010

From: Peterborough United (Undisclosed Fee)

Contract: [SIZE=17.77777862548828px]30th June[/SIZE] 2016

 

[Andy]

Great to see Russ wearing the captain's armband for Scotland tonight, but that 1st German goal provides further evidence to those who question him playing at CB.

http://youtu.be/hkQPp3DSlXY

 

[splutcho]

I'm not a fan of Russell Martin at Centre Back, but to be fair, he's not the first defender Thomas Muller has beaten in the air, and he won't be the last.

 

[yellowarmy]

I don't like seeing him play centre back for us as well but the times I have seen him play there for Scotland, he always seem to play quite well for them. I personally see him as a great back up centre back for us

 

[Paul Handscombe]

The cross was quality nowt he could do about that.

I knew as soon as the goal went in that people would start saying that.  He was quality for the whole game, and if Neil Adams and Gordon Strachan think he is good enough at centre back who are we to argue.

He was picked as centre back against the world champions and was Captain as well.

People need to stop questioning his ability

 

[splutcho]

I'd rather people questioned what they wanted as it makes for decent discussion. Would be rubbish if we all agreed.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Russ jumping for the ball, it clearing his head and the guy behind him sticking it in is becoming slightly too regular a sight it must be said. Agree it was a great cross and Muller is world class, but other examples havent been. Is Russ simply not tall enough? Does he need to read headers better? I certainly dont think he is as bad at CB as some have made out, but would you expect Turner to concede a goal like that? He'd have woofed that ball up for breakfast

 

[Canaryboy]

That is his main issue as a centre back for me, lack of aerial ability. That cross would have been routine for Turner or Bennett.

 

[Andy]

Don't get me wrong, I thought Russ did very well all game against world class opposition but that was nothing special from Muller. He does struggle in the air & I suspect we'll see a few more goals like that this season.

 

[Surgeryman]

That is his main issue as a centre back for me, lack of aerial ability. That cross would have been routine for Turner or Bennett.

Agree with this. Have people forgotten how good he was at right back during our league one and Championship campaigns.
Russell Martin is a good right back and versatile enough to play CB if necessary. I would argue he is picked there by managers as they gave no other options.Cannot say I really know of any decent Scottish CBSs and would say Adams plays him as Bassong is out of favour and he feels Bennett is not quite ready ( far better CB than Martin IMO). Wonder why Neil has bought in 3 other CBs.

We now have better players in that position so we should play them! Give me Russ at RB instead of Whitaker any day. Actually I would have Kyle Naughton instead of both of them.

 

[Canaryboy]

Ironically the man who Scotland play at right back is an inch taller than Russell Martin.

For me Russell Martin is a top Championship right back, or a lower Championship / top League One centre back.

If he is insistent on moving inside this early in his career then I at least hope he is being made aware that he won't cut it in that position in the league above. I suppose he has to weigh up extending his football career or extending his top flight career, because whilst it wouldn't be a disaster having Martin at right back in the Premier League again - I do think it would be a disaster having him at centre back. 

He does have ongoing health problems and is probably conscious of the stamina required at full back as he gets closer to 30, but I really just can't see us getting away with him at centre back in the league above so if he could keep on going for a couple more years at right back that would suit us. Whether it would suit him is a different question, perhaps he wants to be playing to 34/35 at centre back but willing to play at a lower level.

But he has just been made our team captain, and you can't wear the armband on the bench - which is where he'll be next season if we go up, if he is by then still considered a centre back. 

 

[morty]

*Breaking news*

Russel has just signed a new three year deal.

 

[Personal Trainer]

I think he fully deserves it but not sure how much action he will see if we get promoted. Always good to have experienced cover in all positions. 

 

[Din]

Happy with that. Has had a good season and has proven himself to be a good defender at Premier League level as well. That said though if we do go up I don't want him to play centre back to be honest, I'd much rather we signed a new CB to play alongside Bassong, and then move Rus along to right back with Whittaker dropping out.

 

[ZLF]

a good squad player in the prem and starter in the champs - which are the leagues we will be in for the next 3 seasons.

I agree partially with Din - in that I think we will need better options than both Martin & Bassong if we get promoted.

 

[Boyerboy]

Congratulations on Russell for being voted into the PFA Championship team of the season.

Whatever City fans may think of him, it is clear that his fellow professionals think that he is one of the best in this league this season.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/barclays-premier-league/23/blog/post/2566905/team-of-the-weekend-august-15-16?ex_cid=2015_bnnr_UK_Football_ESPN_OutbrainD_aqsn

In the ESPN Soccerball team of the week. Along with Redders...

 

[splutcho]

As one of his biggest critics, I thought he was a definite stand out on Saturday. I hope he can carry that on into games where we're not playing a pub team.