Has Rusty finally gone?

[Adam NCFC 0]

"Leeds are close to

making their third summer signing having agreed a deal in principle with

an unnamed player."

With the midfield looking like it''s going to have maybe 2 more additions, do you think it''s a bad thing? I personally don''t rate Rusty as highly as everyone else, and I felt he was poor the last 10/15 games of the season. But, he''s a worker, and does give his all, so I can''t moan at that [y]

[Queen B 0]

I personally don''t think it would be a disaster. Why bother trying to keep him if he''d rather be somewhere else anyway? Seems pointless.

[DDD In The Fine City 1]

We should never have re-signed him, never going to be good enough to play for this club at the level this club should be

[Arthur Whittle 0]

Not bothered to be honest.....done a job in league one....but same as everyone in the squad.....they all done a league one job, now we need a team to do a job in the championship.......Rusty im unsure of in that league and wouldnt be too bothered.....be more pissed if Doc went to Leeds.

[Norfolk Mustard 70]

I wouldn''t be at all surprised to see Russell and Doherty sign for Leeds.

That would be a definate ''two-fingers'' to Norwich in the process wouldn''t it?

[Jim Smith 1,699]

Not a disaster because he is replaceable. I thought he was excellent when he first came back to us but had a poor season when being messed about by Roeder and played up front or at right back. First half of last season he was great and really bossed the midfield at times but looked quite disinterested and his form dipped in the last couple of months. I do like Rusty but his passing lets him down at times and feel at champ level he is not as vital to us as he would be if we were still in league one.

Put it this way if he goes to Leeds then when we play them he''s not a player I will be massively worried about facing!

Conversely though i would also be quite pleased if he signed his contract and stayed.

[Row D Seat 7 0]

Just been speaking to the bloke I''ve been in touch with about Norwich''s comings and goings.

Rusty is as good as gone.

[kdncfc 0]

Can''t say I''m bothered whether he goes or not, a hard worker but his passing and shooting ability are distinctly underwhelming. Not good enough for the Championship.

[Canary_on_the Trent 0]

As i''ve said before, I think Russell is a "limited" player, has done a really good job sitting in front of the defence though and we''re going to need somebody with a physical presence to replace him in my opinion, a midfield combination of any of Crofts, Fox, Smith, Hughes or Lappin would really struggle to impose itself on a game without somebody to win the "battle".

[kdncfc 0]

I though Crofts was a physical presence who puts himself about.

[BroadstairsR 0]

Not a disaster for me. Two more players associated with our most dismal season ever off the books ie. Russell and Doherty. They both had their good points and were by no means bad players, but I want closure on that dreadful episode in our recent history. Croft, Marshall, Bell, Clingan and all those awful loanees, bye to all of them. PL is starting again, that suits me fine. 

[BroadstairsR 0]

+ Otsemobor. Nearly forgotten already.

[Northern Canary 0]

I thought he was a key factor in the success of the diamond last season, so it would be good to keep him on. However, if a player doesnt want to be here i think its better to find a replacement, and despite proving his worth last season there may still be question marks about how he copes at championship level. Did well for stoke but poorly for us, albeit under Glenn Roeder.

[Erik the Viking 0]

For me it would be a shame for Russell to go as IMO he is a proven championship player who still has a hell of a lot to offer the club. A very good season last year and him sitting in front of our back four played a crucial role in protecting dodgy Doc et al, also his ball winning skills & work rate are crucial in the engine room. For every Wes we need a Russell, his experience would be a definite loss for me...  

[Rudolph Hucker 0]

Perhaps we should see him as a corrosive element?

[Downloads 35]

Not being funny mate, but a proven Championship player at doing what?

Relegation wasn''t his fault, but it was a group of players fault and he takes his share.

We need different players in who aren''t proven failures. I for one am glad Rusty is going and the Doc has gone etc. Hopefully Tudor and Gill will be off next.

We need a new breed to stand a chance of staying up or we will have the same fate.

IMO anyway.

[Bury Yellow 2]

Rusty can go as far as I''m concerned. He was just showing signs of his old failings for the last part of the season.

Oh and The Doc! Ending up at Leeds? Now that really is a good one. If he ends up in any Championship side I would be very surprised

[SnakepitCanary 0]

I''d like to see Crofts or Smith take over the mantle, with the latter having really good potential to play their, and I think Lambo should try and retrain him and teach Smith how the play the role as effectively as Russell had last season. Losing Rusty will be quite a big blow, but not huge.

[SwindonCanary 423]

I''m surprised so many of you do not rate Rusty after watching matches last season, I''ve got to agree with Gazza, he held our defense together by giving them protection, they always say ''it''s a thank less task'' and I think this proves it. if he held that position in 08/09 season we would have never ended up in Division 3 (1) 

[SwindonCanary 423]

Spell check- DEFENCE !

[GJP 73]

[quote user="Bury Yellow"]Rusty can go as far as I''m concerned. He was just showing signs of his old failings for the last part of the season. Oh and The Doc! Ending up at Leeds? Now that really is a good one. If he ends up in any Championship side I would be very surprised[/quote]

I disgaree.

I actually thought in a few games towards the end of the season that Rusty was one our best players. I felt he played with a real determination to make sure we got promotion and finished top of the pile.

As for the Doc...his career reads as someone who has played the very large majority of his career in the top 2 divisions so I don''t think it''d be any surprise to see him playing Championship football again. He was the best defender in League 1 this season and I''m sure there will be plenty of clubs interested in a player of his calibre.

[O.T.B.C 0]

Rusty controlled a lot of games and had a look about him that I had not seen before, he had this air of authority.

I would rather have him in the squad, then give him to those dirty Northern c/unts. He may have been in a squad that got relegated, but he now has extra tuition with Lambert, who was no mean midfielder.

[Adam NCFC 0]

I also think Rusty would suit Leeds well, as they are dirty basterds, and I''m sorry to say every time Rusty goes to tackle he looks like he''s going to be sent off! The southampton red card summed it up.. It was such an awful decision, and worst red card I''ve ever seen given, but WHY did he feel the need for his foot to be that high? He''s clumsy.

[grantroederdisaster 0]

I actually thought in a few games towards the end of the season that Rusty was one our best players. I felt he played with a real determination to make sure we got promotion and finished top of the pile.

As for the Doc...his career reads as someone who has played the very large majority of his career in the top 2 divisions so I don''t think it''d be any surprise to see him playing Championship football again. He was the best defender in League 1 this season and I''m sure there will be plenty of clubs interested in a player of his calibre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Someone saying it as it actually is!

 

If Elliot Ward does half as well as the Doc did for us then he''d of been a good signing! 

[king canary 5,351]

He did well in that role last season but he is still too slow. Even at league one level he was often getting caught on the ball by teams with a bit more awareness. He was able to run so many games in league one because alot of teams stood off, sat back and didnt apply much pressure to him. Dont get me wrong I think he was fantastic last season but if Doc found his level so did Rusty. He was one of our most overated players in the championship, people liked him because he ran around alot.

[6088m canary 0]

Depends what people expect of a midfielder really eh?Russell is a tremendous athlete (if im right he trained as a decathlete then moved late into football,much ala Walcott) yet he hasnt got a footballing brain.  In league one he is fine to break up play and pass it to an unmarked midfielder.  Problem is however that he wont have as much time on the ball in the Championship nor will he have easily available team mates to pick out.  I dont want to diss the man though, he is as many have posted here over the years, a limited footballer, yet he did his job well and always seemingly tried his best.  Cant be faulted for that and id wish him well.  Simple fact remains though that he is not good enough for a top 6 (where we should be aiming) Championship side.  This is proven at City and Stoke (both top 6 once he left).Crofts seems to be a like for like. Korey could play there yet id worry hes a little too inexperienced for such a pivotal role.  Since Lambert himself basically played Rustys role throughout his career id definitely trust his judgement and im sure well get better if he goes.  On that basis, why worry?

[Evil Monkey 51]

Not overly fussed if he goes, he and Doc were indeed great performers at League 1 but one wonders whether they found their level in that division.  Both have ''Championship Experience'', but what use is that when its mostly experience of battling towards the bottom of the league when we''re aiming for the play-offs?Good luck to them both, but good luck to Leeds if they''re foolish enough to pick them up.

[JF 694]

Don''t care if he goes. Yet another player who has proven to be not good enough at Championship level.

[morty 0]

If he goes he goes.If Lambert really, really wanted him we''d offer him a better deal.So its "Thanks for a great season Rusty, goodbye and good luck" for me I''m afraid.

[cityislife 0]

Rusty is/was a key player for us. Best cm we have/had. Exactly what we need next season. Stablity in the team is a key.