The Season’s 3 Worst Players

In a season in which the majority of Norwich City players have not been outstandingly good, nor outstandingly awful, it is perhaps hard to pick-out the worst three. There have been a few, however, that for me, stand-out as, not necessarily the worst (because that accolade will always be Kyle Lafferty’s) but the most disappointing, in relation to the potential impact that they could have had.

Russell Martin

If there is one player who has been ridiculed more than any other by large sections of the Norwich City fan-base this season then it is Russell Martin. The combination of the words “Martin” and “central defence” is enough to send shivers down the spine of any City follower, as the natural right-back has put in calamitous after calamitous performance in the position this season. In the Championship, Martin looked shaky to say the least in the centre-back berth, and thus, a league higher, it is no surprise that he has looked a complete and utter liability. The dreadful pass-back to put James Milner in to make it 4-3 to Liverpool in January’s home defeat was a culmination of the woeful form that he has crippled the side with this season. While high-profile mistakes such as this one have been minimal, our defence has consistently looked vulnerable with Martin at the heart. It is no surprise that the arrival of Timm Klose, and the consequent displacement of Martin (shifted to right-back) has resulted in a huge upturn in fortunes for our defence. Since the ex-Wolfsburg defender’s debut, City have conceded just 11 in 8 compared to the 14 in 4 we let in prior to his arrival, with Martin at centre-back. In fairness to City’s captain, he has put in some solid performances in his more natural right-back position, as he always does, but if I am pushed to pick the season’s worst performer, then Martin is more than a justifiable choice.

John Ruddy

The fact that this season saw John Ruddy dropped for the very first time since joining the club back in 2010 suggests that he is a worthy nomination. Back in 2011/2012, after Ruddy’s dominant goalkeeping performance had led us to, and kept us in, the top flight, it would have surprised many City fans if he was even still at the club in four years time, never-mind still at the club and on the bench. His form had taken him to the periphery of the England set-up and had seen him linked with big-money moves to the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal. Soon, however, came a huge injury lay-off and he has never quite got back to his best since. Last season saw glimpses of the ‘old John Ruddy’ but mistakes had began to commonly creep into his game - a vulnerability that he carried into this season. High-profile mistakes such as the one in the dying embers of the away game at Man City have cost us numerous points and there is no doubt that with an in-form, circa 2011 John Ruddy, Norwich would be in a far more comfortable position. In fairness to Ruddy, his performances have improved markedly since being brought back into the side and City fans can only hope that this is a sign to suggest that our former stalwart has turned a long-awaited corner.

Cameron Jerome

The inclusion of Cameron Jerome feels a harsh one. If one was to define “worst” player as simply the least talented and most incapable then Jerome would be nowhere near this list. However, if you are to judge it based on the impact that a player could have had then Jerome has to be included - simply because he has spurned so, so many chances. Everton (H). Leicester (A). Chelsea (H) - I could go on. These are just three examples of games where Jerome has missed guilt-edged chances which, as with Martin and Ruddy’s mistakes, have cost City points. His inclusion seems unfair because more often than not we are a better side with him leading the line - he works tirelessly, holds the ball up well and often creates space and opportunities for others. Furthermore, unlike Dieumerci Mbokani he continuously gets into these goal-scoring positions (while the Congolese rarely ever looks like scoring), it’s just a shame that he so rarely converts.