Russell Martin admitted it himself – he would be 'peppered from pillar to post' for talking to the media following yet another dismal Norwich City performance.

At the moment, as soon as a City player opens his mouth to explain away a performance he gets 'the treatment'. As City club captain, Martin has the dubious responsibility of fronting up more often than most – you doubt very much anyone wants to face the media.

Martin used the word embarrassing in an interview with our Michael Bailey after the defeat at Huddersfield – and that's simply lighting the blue touch paper for fans who need a target to aim for. Many spat venomous comments in his direction (again): it is the way of social media that it appears to be an acceptable form of complaint.

However, a distinction does need to be drawn.

Forget how good a player Russell Martin, or any of the City players, is; forget what you think of their skill set. The players are signed and selected by a coach or a manager who bears the responsibility on that front.

Focus instead on their attitude. If a player is clearly not pulling his weight then criticise away. A player cheating a living should expect some critical scrutiny.

But if anyone should be exempt from such an accusation it is Russell Martin.

You might not like him as a player, but his attitude towards playing for Norwich City should not be in question. Paul Lambert signed him – and that should, in itself, be a ringing endorsement of his character.

Lambert didn't suffer fools on his playing staff and the fact Martin has been here since November 2009 suggests that his managerial successors didn't either.

Like many members of the Carrow Road playing staff, Martin will be unsure of his future, given the current changes in the management structure.

Whatever Stuart Webber and his new head coach decide, Martin should be viewed as a man who has always served his club to the very best of his ability: you get the sense he wouldn't hang around, warming a bench, to ensure he gets a generous shilling from a club he owes nothing.

Sadly, those who do are those we tend not to hear from.