Just watched the highlights back. The goal we conceded - I’ve seen some people suggest Russell might make a good centre half on previous threads. I’d offer that goal as evidence that he couldn’t. He just hadn’t got the game awareness. What on earth was he doing? One ball over the top and he’s five yards behind by the time the ball lands.
Give him the ball unmarked with no pressure and he'll find a man and I can't fault that but we all know he can't or won't tackle and if he's under any pressure at all he crumbles so the decision to put him at centre back was absolutely bonkers. Can't really blame him for performing badly somewhere that all common sense should tell you he would perform badly in
Our defence isn't that good and looks worse than it did when Shepherd was in it. Luckily there isn't too many big clubs around this season to pick it apart like the other night.
You say that but like I say, on the Russell thread last week it was suggested he’d make a good centre back. Clearly not, he’s one of a few players I’ve seen that stands well over 6 foot but is only 5’9” in an aerial challenge. If he bothers to challenge… When it comes to Russell, for me he has some ability and can at times look classy on the ball - but the issue is he’s not good enough to play further forward as a creator, and he’s far too slow (and averse to any kind of physical challenge) to play further back. He retains possession with good simple passes better than anyone else in the squad at times - but he will cost us with his lack of mobility and game awareness every week. As much as he has looked better this season than last (that isn’t really a high bar), for me there isn’t a place for him in the first team, even with Connell out and Phillips looking off the pace. Even against the lower ranked teams he stands out as ponderous; against the better sides he’s a complete passenger.
Completely agree. I’d play Kane over him after seeing how comfortable Kane looked in that role yesterday. We aren’t losing any physicality as like you say Russell’s not that kind of player. The only negative really is losing his height at set pieces but if Cosgrove & O’Keeffe are starting then I don’t think that’s an issue either.
Russell will never be good enough, he’s too slow & cumbersome to be any good in the English game. He’d be better & more useful in a league that isn’t as physical & is played at a much lower tempo.
To be fair, before the Pompey game he’s been excellent this season. We were down to 10 men yesterday and asked him to fill in there, with the leader of the defence having gone off. Just glad the final whistle came before any more damage could be done. In related news I hope Kacper’s injury isn’t as bad as it seemed.
Opinions eh you think excellent I think we're been getting away with playing him probably somewhere in between is fair.Kasper looked like a dislocated shoulder if so depends on how much nerve and tissue damage it's done coming out fingers crossed.
