having made just 4 or so apperances for preston is he really good enough here? bit confused with this one as been reading parret and james harper were the targets
Brown obviously doesn't rate him, hardly played for us so couldn't give any ideas about him, he will get stuck in though and he obviously wants to play for a winning side so he's joined you.
He was a big figure in norwichs promotion season I believe.. Seem to remember them being disappointed when he signed on a free, citing it must have been for financial gain. Haven't heard of him since that season though, so guess he hasn't been up to much. He will only be cover though, so neither here nor there about it.
I would assume so. Sad really, think everyone on here was quite excited when we signed him. Hopefully he enjoys it here though and recommends the club to his brother Also, Darel Russell was born in East London according to his twitter, so another 'fairly local' boy in the squad now.
Apart from his time at Preston, he seems to have been a regular for most of his career. A midfield battler, and alternative to Andy Hughes. http://www.evertonfc.com/match/report/1112/bolton-v-everton Bizarrely, the Everton OS seems to think Mikel Alonso is an injured Bolton player, no wonder he hasn't been playing for us!
That explains a lot then, he must have been knackered in the JPT game after travelling back and forth from Bolton to train every day Anyone else feel we really should have brought in a left footed left-mid instead of a CM? At CM we have - Hollands, Hughes, Euell, Alonso, Pritchard At LM we have - Ephraim (right footed), then a load of inexperienced youngsters.
I hate to say this - but this and the possible Harper move smack slightly of panic, born either of JJ's injury or the impending loan window closing. If we were watching these players that closely, why didn't we sign them a while ago? The calm, considered approach seems to me to have deserted us for the moment.
Maybe Powell had a list of players with Hogan and Darel included just in case something like this happened at the end of the Transfer Window, i.e. what would be the point of having Russell if Jacko / Stephens and co. were all fit all throughout the season, would be a complete waste of wages (if we're paying them) I cant imagine any manager being unprepared what with the Loan window now closing for a month
Have to agree. A touch of the "Michael Stewarts" methinks. I can understand the desperation in those days but not nowadays. I assume he is here instead of Harper (not in addition)? 1) It shows we are not expecting any contribution from Alonso before the Transfer Window re-opens in January. 2) It confirms that both Jackson and Stephens will be out for a long time. 3) It could mean demotion for Hughes. Russell is, or should be, more of an all-round midflelder. Against Brentford our centre-midfield was hardly involved. CP could be hoping that Russell can get himself into the game better than Hughes. 4) It is a slap in the face for Bradley Pritchard. I don't know what he has to do to get a place in the match-day 16. Whenever he has played, whole match or bit part, he has done well in defence and attack. If you read the last sentence of the OS news item on Russell (it won't permit copy and paste) the implication is that Russell is on trial for a more permanent contract. I can understand that with Ephraim but where would Russell fit in if we get promoted? Lastly, it was very considerate of Jackson to get himself injured a few days before the loans deadline expired, rather than a few days afterwards. Powell is a lucky manager. I bet poor old Parky would have liked the luxury of being allowed to sign a 21st new player with the season only a third gone, though this does seem more like a Parky-style signing.
It seems strange to me that Preston have allowed him to play in FA Cup games? Sounds like a transfer has been agreed for January.
You're right there, eddie. IMO Pritchard has done nothing that would get him excluded or overlooked - he livens up a game no end, although I must admit I've not seen him for more than about 45 minutes all told this season. Yes, from the wording of the article, it does look as if Russell's stay might be more than just a temporary loan. When everybody's fit, we are going to have one packed midfield, especially with Callum Harriot bubbling just under.
Hold on guys - cant quite understand the apathy re this signing. Whenever i saw him play for Norwich, i was very impressed - a very combative player who i believe is a good player. Also cant quite understand why this would be regarded as a 'panic' signing.- its quite obvious by the guys that were acquired in the summer that the people in the know at the club know who they want, and Russel would have been one of those. He'll do well with us.
Well said Stu, completely agree. Why would it matter anyway if we've got an extra player? Just adds extra depth to the squad in case of any further injuries, and Russell seems a decent player!
I don't really have a problem with strengthening the squad, just an observation (an old one, admittedly) that when we get a player in on loan, it pushes a player that's contracted to us back down the pecking order. It gives no incentive for the 'fringe' players and the younger players to raise their game, when they see outsiders with no commitment to the club parachuted in to the position they play in.
If you assume Hughes is really a RB (cover for Solly) then with Stephens out and the great hope Alonso missing, then Russell fills a gap. I suspect Powell sees Pritchard as more a supersub or an attacking midfield option
