Chris Martin

I'm pleased for him. Maybe being away from the mates he grew up with will help him to focus on what he's good at - remember his 2 goals against Col U on that waterlogged pitch??? I think he'll do well.

 

good luck to him, just stay out of the pubs Chris

 

Great talent wasted. He could have been so much better and now he has probably peaked. He should repent at leisure at what he has p*ssed away (literally)

 

Good luck to him - hope he takes this chance well. Shame his personal traits betrayed some great talent and potential. Besr wishes to you Chris - good luck at Derby.

 

It's his goal against Leeds that I will remember, lovely finish from Stephen Hughes' cross.
Hopefully a different team and away from his home will help him grow up and apply himself a bit.

 

Got that dead right THURNBY, the boy has been a bloody fool!

 

I'm not so sure - how many brilliant youngsters actually make it to the top?

I think Martin has always been a top of the Championship potential. Of course, with a bit of luck he could have gone further... He still has time and he is clearly making the effort now. I don't think he has completely pissed it away just yet. You never know - one full season with a decent Derby side could see them promoted.

 

All strikers, including bad ones, score a few good goals. Jimmy Blair, years ago, was generally considered to be useless but I recall him scoring a wonder goal at Carrow Road. As far as Martin is concerned I just do not get this ' great talent ' bit. He had no speed, no dribbling ability, no ability in the air, missed more chances than he took, had the turning circle of a battleship, had a terrible attitude, an even worse body language and his scoring ratio to games was very poor apart from his spells in the lowest divisions. You won't be surprised to hear me say - bloody good riddance!!

 

All strikers, including bad ones, score a few good goals. Jimmy Blair, years ago, was generally considered to be useless but I recall him scoring a wonder goal at Carrow Road. As far as Martin is concerned I just do not get this ' great talent ' bit. He had no speed, no dribbling ability, no ability in the air, missed more chances than he took, had the turning circle of a battleship, had a terrible attitude, an even worse body language and his scoring ratio to games was very poor apart from his spells in the lowest divisions. You won't be surprised to hear me say - bloody good riddance!!

 

I wouldn't agree with that, that is until he put on all the weight and just out bulked himself and reduced his movement to that which you described.

He was a very crisp striker of the ball, hardly ever miss hit a shot. His trouble was getting the chances in the first place.

 

His relationship with Holt intrigued me. In League 1, together they were an absolute handful. Not quick by any means but had an eye to run into the right positions. And why not, they were playing against some inferior defenders.
In the Championship, Holt flourished but Martin found it tougher against better defenders. But as a pair, although the a mount of goals wasn't as high, they were good enough.
But I was shocked that Martin was given games at the start of the Prem campaign. He didn't have enough to frighten Prem defenders and although he has enough close control to be able to play a withdrawn strikers role, we didn't need that at the time. And I was surprised that he was kept on for this season. I'm afraid sportsmen are commodities. They demand the money and adulation and that comes with a price. No security or cushy 5 years at a club in the stiffs. There is no reserve football anymore either, so when clubs have had enough, you are gone.
This has taken 12 months too long.

 

I hope he does well, did well to get us where we are, but time for him to move on as redruth said probably a year too long, though maybe no-one wanted him last summer or the new management wanted one final look at him!?