AmericanRam Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Johnny Russell is Derby County catalyst - Steve McClaren Manager Steve McClaren says Johnny Russell is providing the spark for much of Derby County's best attacking play. The 24-year-old forward has started the last five matches and scored his second goal in that run in Tuesday's 2-0 win over in-form Huddersfield Town. McClaren told BBC Radio Derby: "He was fantastic. He has such energy and is the catalyst at the moment. He has done so well since he came into the team. "It was great to score but it is not just that, it's the work off the ball." McClaren, whose side are back up to fourth in the Championship table, are just one point off Bournemouth and Middlesbrough and level on points with Watford. "It was a composed performance," McClaren said. "We can improve on that but I am delighted with the application and the discipline. The work from Chris Martin and the wide players was fantastic. "We had a knockback on Saturday and we needed a reaction." Russell agreed that it was the ideal way respond to the last-gasp defeat against Brentford. "In previous games we have let ourselves down and after the Brentford game we had a meeting to speak about what was going wrong and that was all positive," the Scot said. "We showed that we had a point to prove and we did." Russell was not a regular during the early part of the season, and his first goal this term came in his 11th appearance - the 2-0 League Cup win over Reading in September. But after impressing as a substitute in the next four games, he has forced his way into the side. Russell added: "The gaffer has shown a lot of faith in me and has taken the pressure off me to play the way I want to play. The way we set up against Huddersfield gave me a lot of freedom." Great article on Johnny.I think he has been one of our better players lately and on the starting sheet for me every time now. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheltenhamRam Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Loved the standing ovation for him. Thoroughly deserved and hope he keeps it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gypsy Ram Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I have mentioned this before, his link up play has been exceptional. I also think he leads the assist charts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North_Stand_Ram Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Best performance he's had in a Derby shirt IMO. Absolute gold. Could prove a snip at 750k, I reckon a Scotland callup aint too far away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Day Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Came in for a lot of criticism recently, unfairly of course but I never expected any less on here.Have to remember with Russell he has been unlucky with injuries and never been given a proper run in the team to build up any form.I hope when Ward comes back Russell doesn't lose his place, with the risk of being called a racist and attracting unwanted attention from the #DMLB if he takes anyones place I hope it's Dawkins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RamNut Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Shiit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanRam Posted November 5, 2014 Author Share Posted November 5, 2014 Shiit Thank you for your input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CumbrianRam Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Came in for a lot of criticism recently, unfairly of course but I never expected any less on here. Have to remember with Russell he has been unlucky with injuries and never been given a proper run in the team to build up any form. I hope when Ward comes back Russell doesn't lose his place, with the risk of being called a racist and attracting unwanted attention from the #DMLB if he takes anyones place I hope it's Dawkins. Only problem with that, Dawkins did not start last night. ;-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RamNut Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Thank you for your input. Irony americans No further questions m'lud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Day Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 True but he has been starting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 He runs around a lot, which earns him extra brownie points compared to others, coupled with his assists and scoring. Last night I noticed him up front at a Udders corner, instead of Ibe, however when he noticed a late runner into our box he sprinted back to cover. Top fella, he's Gabbiadini to Ibe's Kitson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sexydadbod Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 He is my favourite player because he has got everything,just needs to be more consistent though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilHunt180 Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I just wish he could finish a one-on-one. If he could convert more of the chances he gets, he'd be worth millions. Couldn't understand last night why, when it was obvious after 5 minutes that Russell had got his fullback on toast every time he ran at him, we continued to attack down the opposite flank at every opportunity. Strange how it played out really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Any excuse! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shuff264 Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Plays better without the beard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott129 Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I think everyone on here agreed that he just needed a run in the side and he'd come good. Some players are suited for an impact sub role. Our Johnny ain't one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxram Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 iirc, both the Brentford and Huddersfield commentators picked out Russell as our best player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WystonRam Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I took a Danish colleague to the game yesterday, he picked Russell out too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cardifframs Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Being as its a Johny love in Have it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loughboroughRAM Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 ever since we signed him i've been frustrated by him as for some reason I seem to see him as one of our most exciting players and he never really lived up to it due to injuries and not starting games etc. Now he's getting a run in the team he's finally coming good and it's great to see, hopefully the best is still to come Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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