So if we sign Russell would you be happy? For me I am not quite sure what he would bring to a Championship squad and if last season's purchases are a plan then why aren't we looking at players who can perform in the Premiership? Preston are more than happy to get rid of Darrell (and they are L1!!) so why do we need him? He never did much last season so why would he in the Championship? Right after that balanced arguement ...... to the polls! AlllHell
I can't vote as on the phone (mac died ), but can't see the worth I. Signing him. He wasn't bad, but he wasn't good. PNE are releasing him due to high wages they offered him to take him from Norwich (over 6k apparently). I hope if we do sign him that it's (max) half of that.
I can see both merit and demerit to Darrel Russell. The Merit is that he is an enthusiastic wholehearted player who will give his all for us, the demerit is that sometime the enthusiasm outweighs the ability and he has got himself sent off which has caused us problems. I believe that CP will only sign him if he believes that he can achieve a balance between those two extremes and get value out of him so I have to vote to trust CP's judgement.
I voted "no". He's ok but no better than we've already got. Incidentally, I'm being thick, but why on some polls when you view the results you can see the names of those who voted and on some you can only see the percentages?
We had a poll just like this a few months ago and if I remember correctly, it came out as 100% against us signing him Russell isn't exactly useless, he scored some vital goals for us and was generally solid, but two red cards in only a handful of games shows he's a liability. He's also not young enough to develop as the team progresses (in the way we hope Stephens, Green, Morrison etc will). Perhaps him and Powell are mates, but there are far far better, younger and perhaps cheaper options available.
Happy to sign him on a free or for a nominal fee if the wages are right. Would be better cover and competition for Hollands than Hughes, and could also play the more attacking CM spot in games where we need to consolidate rather than go all-out attack. We don't have another player like that in the squad but outside the first XI. Pritchard would put in five tackles for every one by Russell, but that is like the difference between being bitten by a midge or stung by a wasp. if Russell tackles someone, they stay tackled. Hughes is equally good as a defender but lacks the offensive contribution that Russell brings. Two red cards in half a season looks bad, but one was a clear error by the referee. You cannot hold that one against Russell. The other was petulant retaliation for which there is no excuse. But CP now knows this player well, on and off the field, and obviously feels it was out of character. His overall career disciplinary record is OK for a combative midfielder. I put both reds down to trying too hard to impress. CP probably thinks giving him a permanent contract will enable him to relax a bit on the field. I certainly feel there is more to come from him. Maybe only one good season left in him, but that will help us stabilise and give time for Stephens and Pritchard to mature. As for his being released by an inferior team/club, there are special circumstances. Firstly, he was on too much money. Secondly, Phil Brown is a difficult man to get on with and lost the plot at Preston, while Graham Westley is hell-bent on doing a "Chris Powell" and getting in all new players of his own. (He thinks it is an "instant fix". He will soon learn otherwise). Saint Christopher let Semedo and Llera go, but Sheffield Wednesday are delighted with them. Sometimes players just need a change of club to refresh their careers. The other thing about Russell is that he is good enough to play in the team, but not too good to spend some time on the bench. In that respect he is like Cort, and unlike Benson or, I fear, Evina, Hayes, and either Green or Wagstaff. I cannot see any of that lot sticking around if they are not playing. It is quite hard to find players like that who are not all washed up like Euell or Docherty. As to those who say we can do better, of course we could, but do we have the money? And even if we do, is this the position where we need most to strengthen? I should think the left and right wide midfield positions, plus a different type of striker, are more of a priority. CP now knows enough about this player to have no excuse for signing a dud. It is not like Pardew and Parkinson's desperate clutching at straws when we were in trouble and had no real money. So if CP wants to sign him and you vote against Russell, you are really saying you have no confidence in Chris Powell's judgment. Are you sure that is what you want to say?
Spot on, eddie. Getting the players in is easy, getting them to gel, and at the phenomenal speed CP did it is another ball-game entirely. Solid mid-table and maybe much better when they finally get a manager with a bit of flair. Meeow...
more like the past for me.....in my book he's no better than we already had and he was also sent off twice during his spell with us. I'd say thank you very much for your service, good luck finding a new club and you'll be afforded a warm reception should you ever return to The Valley. We need to move on and so does he.
I have no opinion of Russell mainly because I never saw him play. I know that he was sent off a couple of times during his loan but I would expect Sir Chris to use the signing on fee/wages on a better Championship/Premiership type player, preferrably a creative midfielder.
Trust me to be the odd one out - again ! I'm leaving my trust with Chrissy on this one - after all, he hasnt done much wrong so far.
I'd trust SCP in the long run as he hasnt put a foot wrong, just I cant see where Russell would fit in if the rumours are true about us signing Andrews and Quinn?
Not sure that Russell is an alternative to Quinn in midfield? Russell and Andrews are quite similar but not Quinn
