Russell Martin

[Holmes_and_Watson]

13 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Absolute classic. 87th minute after dicking about all match and not putting the game to bed.

Exactly this.

I watched from 40 mins on. Motherwell conceded by being even more suicidal in passing out from the back, than Rangers. The often defensively maligned Tava ier got the header from a resultant corner to get the lead.

Rangers had lots of the ball, with Rothwell being central in their midfield and in taking corners. As the game went on, Motherwell did get a fairly controlled number of players forward. But Rangers never exploited the space quickly enough. Nor did they manage to break down Motherwell, when the home side were more compact.

As normal for Martin sides, they didn't mind ceding some space down the flanks. That's an acceptable risk for Martin, and they were comfortable dealing with it. However, Martin never factors in that seeing your side break forward creates a bit of momentum and noise. He's not I tested in that. 

Motherwell's equaliser came fairly centrally, with a chest down back out to be struck past Butland.

Butland didn't mind kicking long. Not that Rangers did much with that, and you can see Martin wanting to train that out, or bring Baz in on loan. 

After Rangers showed a couple of minutes of life after conceding, it was Motherwell's Sparrow who nearly got all 3 points for them. Butland's shot stopping kept them with a point.

Before the game Martin was aware of the requirements, while pointing out the amount of changes completed, and still to be done. 

“There's been so much change and we're navigating a lot of change at this football club, everyone is, and the staff and the players are really doing well with that.

“To manage that is not always easy, so we're trying to win while building and developing. We have so much to work on and so much to go in terms of performance and what we're looking like.

“We've had five weeks that have been hectic with pre-season and then two massive games to prepare for and now we have to focus everything on this because this is what you're judged on, the success of a season."

Not that this will impress a number of their fans. They dropped points in the last 2 opening league games. Neither manager lasted the season.

Rangers failed to really create anything in that second half, whether they had space to move on or not.

They showed sparks of playing at a higher tempo, and Martin will have to get them there for longer. Although I can imagine Rothwell spontaneously combusting at being in a game of that pace.

Defensively, you could see Martin's training at work. They are already better than other sides at playing out. They moved players into space to receive short passes from the centre halfs. 

However Rangers had high possession before Martin. Controlling possession isn't the problem.

Today, they couldn't even move it up quickly enough when they had space. Rangers clearly the more talented side. Undone by having a narrow margin and not being able to keep a clean sheet. Familiar territory.

No doubt Rangers forums will be in their meltdown phase, even before Celtic kick a ball.

[Sheaf Saint]

2 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

I know the Rangers fans set high standards and aren't known for lots of patience, but even I never expected to see this after just one league game. 

[trousers]

2 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I know the Rangers fans set high standards and aren't known for lots of patience, but even I never expected to see this after just one league game. 

They put the Martin bashers on here to shame... We're obviously far too tolerant... 😁

Edited Saturday at 18:59 by trousers

[RedArmy]

4 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Facing 51 shots in three ganes is good, right?

 

 

 

 

Scar tissue

[coalman]

7 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

 

[whelk]

4 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I know the Rangers fans set high standards and aren't known for lots of patience, but even I never expected to see this after just one league game. 

TBF if RM is dressing like that he is inviting stick

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I know the Rangers fans set high standards and aren't known for lots of patience, but even I never expected to see this after just one league game. 

Never underestimate the win at all costs mentality of Old Firm fans. As we all know, there's deep rooted cultural hatreds and rivalries mixed up in it.

A vocal percentage couldn't give a stuff about the club's player turnover, lower resources or implementing football philosophies. 

Did they win, and are they doing better than Celtic are their priorities.

[coalman]

8 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Facing 51 shots in three ganes is good, right?

 

It means you're playing entertaining football.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

19 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

"Lucky to get a point"

"Braver than us, i am very disappointed and hurt by that". (Course you are Russel)

Had a real go at the players for their mentality. The players "need to drop their egos".

"He's surprised and angry" - said with classic smug martin smile.

 

 

Very early for him to be this brittle. Every point dropped is going to bring loads of criticism. Every time it happens, there will be people wanting him gone. The larger the gap to Celtic, the louder that's going to be.

So, he does need to walk the walk in terms of all his getting the players onside platitudes he said with us. 

Motherwell were not braver. Martin's system allowed them to have some momentum, and his own attack created nothing of note at the pace they were instructed to play at.

He can't be surprised as he sees it in training every day, and their fitness is likely to fall to Rothwell levels, rather than improve.

It's clearly going to take time for him to work out transitions from the centre of midfield to attack. And then to do it at pace. And against sides, far more happy to defend.

Sadly, he's never going to learn to win ugly. Rangers don't seem to have anyone to do that anyway.

Hopefully for him, his tactic gets him through the next Euro round, as that's likely to be where it's better suited for now.

If he's going to throw regular starters under traffic this early, he's in trouble.

[Suhari]

1 hour ago, Sheaf Saint said:

They had 62% possession though. 

 

[hypochondriac]

Just listened to his post match interview with a huge smile on my face. It's identical to what he said with us. Not tactical apparently! Hilarious. 

[Badger]

42 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Facing 51 shots in three games is good, right?

 

 

 

 

They should just be thankful they haven’t got Bazunu in goal then. 

[East Kent Saint]

The BBC live reporting had a comment that RM tactics were worse then watching 17 coats of paint drying 😄

[saintant]

Groundhog day watching that game. Rangers fans are already raging and saying all the things most of us said including lack of fitness. They've played 3 games and, if their opponents could finish, would have lost them all comfortably. Feel a bit sorry for the fans up there because they've got this for the whole season although many are saying he'll be gone by Xmas. RM continues with his self belief in his way of playing and, as we found, he will never change.

[coalman]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/videos/cev2en81zpxo

[The Kraken]

Fabrice right now.

[Yorkshire Saint]

I was just looking at the Bear Pit. The Glasgow Rangers forum and they have quoted this forum and this chat in there. 

I'd just like to say lads, we feel your pain and it ain't going to get any better. From playing the ball around at the back, to inverted fullbacks to being opened up in two passes every time you have a corner. It's a torrid affair and you will never be brave enough.

I like the man but his football is a painful watch 

[bpsaint]

1 hour ago, Badger said:

They should just be thankful they haven’t got Bazunu in goal then. 

Fingers crossed they do by the end of the window.

[Badger]

29 minutes ago, Yorkshire Saint said:

I was just looking at the Bear Pit. The Glasgow Rangers forum and they have quoted this forum and this chat in there. 

I'd just like to say lads, we feel your pain and it ain't going to get any better. From playing the ball around at the back, to inverted fullbacks to being opened up in two passes every time you have a corner. It's a torrid affair and you will never be brave enough.

I like the man but his football is a painful watch 

Interesting reading, hadn’t taken them long to realise Legohead’s limits has it ?

As you say, we can sympathise with them. But far rather he’s their problem rather than ours.

 

[Badger]

From the Rangers Forum:

Does he learn or is he too stubborn??? 
 

And amused me:

“Essex wide boy” … that one might upset the hipster Lego. Don’t think he’d like to be compared to White Van Man of Essex.
 

Perhaps he’ll explain his ideas on being vegan and supporting Eddie Izzard as a Labour candidate in Glasgow for the locals at some point. That should go down well. 

[RedArmy]

40 minutes ago, Yorkshire Saint said:

I was just looking at the Bear Pit. The Glasgow Rangers forum and they have quoted this forum and this chat in there. 

I'd just like to say lads, we feel your pain and it ain't going to get any better. From playing the ball around at the back, to inverted fullbacks to being opened up in two passes every time you have a corner. It's a torrid affair and you will never be brave enough.

I like the man but his football is a painful watch 

We’re still feeling the effects of Russball and he isn’t even here any more. Lost count of the amount of times today there was a man free out on the wing but we took 4 passes to get the ball there and by the time it got there Brighton had men back. 

[Whitey Grandad]

2 hours ago, coalman said:

It means you're playing entertaining football.

It means you're facing entertaining football. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Just looking at the Old Firm totals in the last few seasons, to see what Martin is up against.

24/25 - 75 points. 17 behind.

23/24 - 85 points. 8 behind ( Beale got punted in October)

22/23 - 92 points. 7 behind.

21/22 - 89 points. 4 behind.

20/21 - 102 points. Winners by 25 points. It was their first title since 2011, breaking Celtic's 9 in a row. The team had Davis and Aribo in it, as well as the likes of Bassey.

It's been a brutal time since Newco Rangers started up.

Some more thoughts...

It's very early on, but Martin's control will be beneficial in Europe. His comments of his players only gearing up for Europe may shortly come back to bite him, as they don't bother there. Hopefully not.

He knows he needs a left back. Not sure if that means Tavanier is pushed up, so both he and Aarons can play. You'd think so, as they don't have the strength in depth to have them competing.

If Dessers goes, they need a more physical runner to drop back and support, as well as finish. That's a priority, and a tough one on their budget.

If they can get someone, then Danilo, Gassama, Bajrami and apparently the loan kid can provide attacking support. Cameron looked decent when he came on too.

The centre half pairing did okay. While Rothwell and Barron can do a holding job. Butland is going to have to learn to pass short, or have clearer targets.

The team have already started to pick up some of the controlled passing from the back. Like us, a lot more is needed further up to keep the transitions going. We had better players in the champ, to use creative skill above, and as part of, Martin's system. This covers a lot of the things Martin levelled at his team today. They will have to conform to his system, or it falls apart. That's going to lead to departures in a short space of time to get replacements.

They could do with Baz, Manning and/or Will on loan. Players who really made a difference to his system, and fill gaps in that Rangers side.

If he's learned one thing, it's hopefully fitness related. Our PL team were miles off their opponents. He was criticising them for their lack of running today. Partly, that's getting used to the lack of movement when his system isn't working. But if he lets the squad be anything less than have PL fitness levels, then he's knowingly repeating a failure.

Martin knows full well he has to win games. A number of his quotes reflect that. But it's going to have to happen in exactly the same style as he always sets up for.

[S-Clarke]

His way of playing is totally flawed, maybe he'll get it one day. His teams just allow too many shots and let in too many goals, there is an enormous tactical error in how he coaches football teams. Way too easy to break against, MK Dons, Swansea, ourselves - it's always going to be the same with him.

[saintant]

42 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Just looking at the Old Firm totals in the last few seasons, to see what Martin is up against.

24/25 - 75 points. 17 behind.

23/24 - 85 points. 8 behind ( Beale got punted in October)

22/23 - 92 points. 7 behind.

21/22 - 89 points. 4 behind.

20/21 - 102 points. Winners by 25 points. It was their first title since 2011, breaking Celtic's 9 in a row. The team had Davis and Aribo in it, as well as the likes of Bassey.

It's been a brutal time since Newco Rangers started up.

Some more thoughts...

It's very early on, but Martin's control will be beneficial in Europe. His comments of his players only gearing up for Europe may shortly come back to bite him, as they don't bother there. Hopefully not.

He knows he needs a left back. Not sure if that means Tavanier is pushed up, so both he and Aarons can play. You'd think so, as they don't have the strength in depth to have them competing.

If Dessers goes, they need a more physical runner to drop back and support, as well as finish. That's a priority, and a tough one on their budget.

If they can get someone, then Danilo, Gassama, Bajrami and apparently the loan kid can provide attacking support. Cameron looked decent when he came on too.

The centre half pairing did okay. While Rothwell and Barron can do a holding job. Butland is going to have to learn to pass short, or have clearer targets.

The team have already started to pick up some of the controlled passing from the back. Like us, a lot more is needed further up to keep the transitions going. We had better players in the champ, to use creative skill above, and as part of, Martin's system. This covers a lot of the things Martin levelled at his team today. They will have to conform to his system, or it falls apart. That's going to lead to departures in a short space of time to get replacements.

They could do with Baz, Manning and/or Will on loan. Players who really made a difference to his system, and fill gaps in that Rangers side.

If he's learned one thing, it's hopefully fitness related. Our PL team were miles off their opponents. He was criticising them for their lack of running today. Partly, that's getting used to the lack of movement when his system isn't working. But if he lets the squad be anything less than have PL fitness levels, then he's knowingly repeating a failure.

Martin knows full well he has to win games. A number of his quotes reflect that. But it's going to have to happen in exactly the same style as he always sets up for.

Their fitness is what it is, preseason is over up there. This is as fit as they'll be and they look well short of the required levels. Motherwell were still full of running at the end of the game but many of the Ranger's lot were blowing out their asses. We had it last season and he clearly hasn't learned. He's asking for more running but I think they'll struggle to give it to him and a lot of that is on him. He's already dumped the players under the bus at the first sign of his plans going tits up. Needs to take a long look in the mirror though he probably already does plenty of that. If he continues to stubbornly fly his flag of one way of playing then the Rangers fans will be venting their feelings and I hear they booed their players today at the end. Every team they face will be ready to press them high and the pressure will just grow.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

21 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

His way of playing is totally flawed, maybe he'll get it one day. His teams just allow too many shots and let in too many goals, there is an enormous tactical error in how he coaches football teams. Way too easy to break against, MK Dons, Swansea, ourselves - it's always going to be the same with him.

MK Dons in League 1

Swansea in the Championship

Southampton in the PL

Rangers in the CL qualifiers.

Brand Martin won't feel he has to get it anytime soon. 🙂

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

Their fitness is what it is, preseason is over up there. This is as fit as they'll be and they look well short of the required levels. Motherwell were still full of running at the end of the game but many of the Ranger's lot were blowing out their asses. We had it last season and he clearly hasn't learned. He's asking for more running but I think they'll struggle to give it to him and a lot of that is on him. He's already dumped the players under the bus at the first sign of his plans going tits up. Needs to take a long look in the mirror though he probably already does plenty of that. If he continues to stubbornly fly his flag of one way of playing then the Rangers fans will be venting their feelings and I hear they booed their players today at the end. Every team they face will be ready to press them high and the pressure will just grow.

I didn't watch long enough to hear the boos, but not surprised. Every point lost is keenly felt.

Rothwell's default state is being red faced and looking unfit. Motherwell didn't need to press much. They just outworked a tiring opponent, struggling to adapt to a system, for much of the second half. At the other end, that tired Rangers team are going to have to turn possession into breaking teams down. They didn't look like doing it today. A good Euro performance will ease the pressure...until the next game.

[Turkish]

I guess the players still have some scar tissue and some aren’t good enough for Russball. It's not him it’s all the others 

[coalman]

7 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said:

It means you're facing entertaining football. 

Sadly neither of things are true under Martin. He somehow manages to set up both to concede chances and sick the life out of the game.

[Convict Colony]

Damn that rangers forum is like re-reading this thread from the beginning of last season.

Stay strong fella's it doesnt get any better, just drink a shot every time he says brave, I'm on my 5th liver

Edited Sunday at 06:26 by Convict Colony

[StrangelyBrown]

Ha ha. Looks like Martin has lost it already and the Rangers fans have already worked him out...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c6276r0v470o

You'd think he might have learned something from him time here, but apparently not.

[AlexLaw76]

Of course, Ranger will have plenty of games where they will be great to watch, and will go on unbeaten streaks.

However, playing the style Martin is wedded to could get them embarrassed against a well-drilled Celtic, or any other half decent European side

[Sarnia Cherie]

Childish, I suppose, to get some enjoyment out of seeing RM getting booed after his first game. I was unfortunate enough to turn on Sky Sports over the weekend to hear him bigging himself up. Some say he has lots to learn but not in his mind he doesn't. I had a chuckle when he said that his players had been brave. 😂 Now where have I heard him say that before?

[Weston Super Saint]

Just checking, but we've definitely stopped paying him now haven't we?

There's no chance he'll be bleeding more money from us in about 6 weeks once Rangers part ways?

[stknowle]

3 hours ago, Turkish said:

I guess the players still have some scar tissue and some aren’t good enough for Russball. It's not him it’s all the others 

 

Edited Sunday at 07:20 by stknowle
Just seen full interview posted above rendering my post pointless

[stknowle]

46 minutes ago, StrangelyBrown said:

Ha ha. Looks like Martin has lost it already and the Rangers fans have already worked him out...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c6276r0v470o

You'd think he might have learned something from him time here, but apparently not.

Kin ell you don’t often see Managers player-blaming like that this early on in their tenure, it’s normally reserved for the last couple of matches before the sack. 

[Midfield_General]

I see the Rangers fans have already started referring to Max Aarons playing at inverted LB as ‘shoehorn’.

You have to laugh really 

[Yorkshire Saint]

There was one comment on the Rangers forum which particularly tickled me...

When you try the exact short goal kick the same way 6 times in a row.....

You can work out the rest.

[coalman]

Luckily he had time to calm down and give a much more measured interview to Rangers TV after. Or perhaps not. Possibly a new record for going full Nathan Jones in front of the camera.

Oh man, wait until the crowd start sarcastically cheering when the 'keeper kicks it long.

Edited Sunday at 09:15 by coalman

[RedArmy]

Give it a few games and he’ll be blaming the fans. 
 

 

[AlexLaw76]

ummmm

Quote

I can’t and don’t think I ever will be able to deal with how open we are. Every time the other team attacks, they look like they will score. Our players all over the place and look lost. I understand it’s a new system etc but surely you tighten things up. It’s so clear to see how open we are so how the management can’t see that is beyond me. We are going to be on the end of a real doing sometime soon if we continue being so open.

 

[beatlesaint]

1 hour ago, coalman said:

Luckily he had time to calm down and give a much more measured interview to Rangers TV after. Or perhaps not. Possibly a new record for going full Nathan Jones in front of the camera.

Oh man, wait until the crowd start sarcastically cheering when the 'keeper kicks it long.

"too much ego, too much self preservation" oh the irony Russ 😂

and whats with this "if they arent prepared to run all the time"........i dont recall us running half the fkin time !!

Just wait til his fitness regime kicks in 😉

[RedArmy]

8 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

"too much ego, too much self preservation" oh the irony Russ 😂

and whats with this "if they arent prepared to run all the time"........i dont recall us running half the fkin time !!

Just wait til his fitness regime kicks in 😉

It already has, the dopey cunt just can’t see that’s why his players are jogging around so much. 
Maybe don’t spend pre season working on pretty little passing patterns that lead nowhere and giving them lots of days off and they’ll be able to run around for 90 minutes. 

[lambtiss]

I think it's going to be very entertaining watching Russell's progress at Rangers. I just feel sorry for the Rangers fans. Somehow, I can't see them being quite as reserved as the Saints fans in their criticism of Englishman Martin.

[S-Clarke]

2 hours ago, coalman said:

Luckily he had time to calm down and give a much more measured interview to Rangers TV after. Or perhaps not. Possibly a new record for going full Nathan Jones in front of the camera.

Oh man, wait until the crowd start sarcastically cheering when the 'keeper kicks it long.

It's all self preservation about him. Some people get suckered in by his ways, but he's the most egotistical person there is.

It's his way, no way, if you disagree under the bus you go to make way for my ego.

[LGTL]

It just boils down to one simple fact. He’s an incredibly poor, limited football manager. 

[coalman]

1 hour ago, lambtiss said:

I think it's going to be very entertaining watching Russell's progress at Rangers. I just feel sorry for the Rangers fans. Somehow, I can't see them being quite as reserved as the Saints fans in their criticism of Englishman Martin.

They're already booing after the first league game of the season so I believe that might be something of an understatement.

[Lord Duckhunter]

14 hours ago, Badger said:

Perhaps he’ll explain his ideas on being vegan and supporting Eddie Izzard as a Labour candidate in Glasgow for the locals at some point. That should go down well. 

Suzy Izzard you bigot…😡

Edited Sunday at 12:07 by Lord Duckhunter

[Badger]

12 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

MK Dons in League 1

Swansea in the Championship

Southampton in the PL

Rangers in the CL qualifiers.

Brand Martin won't feel he has to get it anytime soon. 🙂

Classic case of “falling upwards”

[tdmickey3]

2 hours ago, RedArmy said:

It already has, the dopey cunt just can’t see that’s why his players are jogging around so much. 
Maybe don’t spend pre season working on pretty little passing patterns that lead nowhere and giving them lots of days off and they’ll be able to run around for 90 minutes. 

Has he done any cuddling yet?