Russell Martin

[coalman]

13 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Has he done any cuddling yet?

I'm not sure cuddling is on the cards after throwing his players under the bus in the first league game.

[AlexLaw76]

When they go on a nice little run and hit another sticky patch, he will be his prickly self when the jeers start again

Never rated him

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, S-Clarke said:

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.

It's a great get-out-of-responsibility card.

He had a go at players not being patient enough in their final third. That they are too individualistic and not making any of the right decisions.

In defence, it will be individual errors undoing what he's asking them to do.

In every scenario, he can play it back and find fault. In everything except the way he has set them out and the consequences of resetting on every move.

[saintant]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

When they go on a nice little run and hit another sticky patch, he will be his prickly self when the jeers start again

Never rated him

Well he's clearly already got prickly with his own players.

[Gloucester Saint]

16 minutes ago, saintant said:

Well he's clearly already got prickly with his own players.

Having read the comments in full, they are worse than I’d thought. Opening league game as well!

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

[Holmes_and_Watson]

It took them until 87 minutes, but Celtic got a winner against St. Mirren. Martin no doubt hoping to be remain on equal points with them. 

Even had St Mirren (quite changed with some strong, smart recruits) held on, the reasons would have been quite different. Celtic hit the bar, and the post twice. They didn't just dominate the possession (76% to Rangers 65%), they dominated the game. Rangers managed 1 more shot in their game, but it was Motherwell who nearly got the points. While St Mirren had a couple of half chances, Celtic were the team hammering for a win.

That's what Old Firm fans, or any fans of clear favourites, expect to see. A big game already for Martin on Tuesday, as the club need as many Euro-pennies as they can get, in their long chase to get closer to Celtic.

[sockeye]

1 minute ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

It took them until 87 minutes, but Celtic got a winner against St. Mirren. Martin no doubt hoping to be remain on equal points with them. 

Even had St Mirren (quite changed with some strong, smart recruits) held on, the reasons would have been quite different. Celtic hit the bar, and the post twice. They didn't just dominate the possession (76% to Rangers 65%), they dominated the game. Rangers managed 1 more shot in their game, but it was Motherwell who nearly got the points. While St Mirren had a couple of half chances, Celtic were the team hammering for a win.

That's what Old Firm fans, or any fans of clear favourites, expect to see. A big game already for Martin on Tuesday, as the club need as many Euro-pennies as they can get, in their long chase to get closer to Celtic.

Celtic 11 points clear after match 1. RM must be fuming  

[Holmes_and_Watson]

13 minutes ago, sockeye said:

Celtic 11 points clear after match 1. RM must be fuming  

I first thought I'd made a typo there. 🙂

It seems ridiculous after a match. But with so many I portant European games, so early, for CL progression, he has to hit the ground running.

As for the league, there could be plenty of twists and turns. Celtic have by far the better players, and every dropped points is seen as a crisis. Fuelled by the media too.

Think La Marca with shortbread.

[Mystic Force]

9 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

It's a great get-out-of-responsibility card.

He had a go at players not being patient enough in their final third. That they are too individualistic and not making any of the right decisions.

In defence, it will be individual errors undoing what he's asking them to do.

In every scenario, he can play it back and find fault. In everything except the way he has set them out and the consequences of resetting on every move.

That sounds like my wife, whatever way you do something she can find a reason you did it wrong.

[chownie20]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/videos/cev2en81zpxo

 

Not brave enough!!!

[Saint_clark]

1 hour ago, chownie20 said:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/videos/cev2en81zpxo

 

Not brave enough!!!

Not brave enough = they didn't pass it along our own goal line with four opposition players sprinting at us from the penalty spot. He's a narcissistic prick. 

[kitch]

14 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

It took them until 87 minutes, but Celtic got a winner against St. Mirren. Martin no doubt hoping to be remain on equal points with them. 

Even had St Mirren (quite changed with some strong, smart recruits) held on, the reasons would have been quite different. Celtic hit the bar, and the post twice. They didn't just dominate the possession (76% to Rangers 65%), they dominated the game. Rangers managed 1 more shot in their game, but it was Motherwell who nearly got the points. While St Mirren had a couple of half chances, Celtic were the team hammering for a win.

That's what Old Firm fans, or any fans of clear favourites, expect to see. A big game already for Martin on Tuesday, as the club need as many Euro-pennies as they can get, in their long chase to get closer to Celtic.

I watched that game yesterday, St Mirren (my adopted Scottish team) were, at best, mid-L1 level (though they defended like lions). Anyone who says the PL is broken hasn't seen the SPL!

[Sunglasses Ron]

What an absolute @#&£!

Edited yesterday at 20:17 by Sunglasses Ron

[Saint Keef]

He spoke of players having problems with their ego's. Hey Russ, if you want to see what a real ego looks like, next time you're passing a mirror, stop and take a look. Actually he probably doesn't need much encouragement to do that.

[woodsaint1]

Tbf some of those Rangers players deserve to be called out. Celtic have won the title the last 4 years without breaking sweat (and equalled Rangers record for the number of league titles along the way)

Not sure doing it in the first game is a wise strategy though 😂😂

[Whitey Grandad]

22 minutes ago, Saint Keef said:

He spoke of players having problems with their ego's. Hey Russ, if you want to see what a real ego looks like, next time you're passing a mirror, stop and take a look. Actually he probably doesn't need much encouragement to do that.

I suspect he's incapable of passing a mirror without stopping.

[Osvaldorama]

On 03/08/2025 at 09:10, 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.

Fucking hell.  
 

Comical. Same mistakes. Same catch phrases. 
 

Feel so sorry for the Rangers fans. Thank god he’s not here anymore 

[notnowcato]

Seriously, let it go. 
 

I get that Russell being in charge of a successful Wembley trip must really boil a lot of posters piss but it happened, it’s in the past, move on. 

[LiberalCommunist]

If people want to discuss a ex manager on a football thread, I see no problem with that. If you want to let it go, I'd suggest a better plan would be not commenting on the thread in question. 

[Weston Super Saint]

3 hours ago, notnowcato said:

Seriously, let it go. 
 

I get that Russell being in charge of a successful Wembley trip must really boil a lot of posters piss but it happened, it’s in the past, move on. 

I guess you don't really excel at parties - your ability to read the room is staggeringly poor.

[trousers]

3 hours ago, notnowcato said:

Seriously, let it go. 
 

I get that Russell being in charge of a successful Wembley trip must really boil a lot of posters piss but it happened, it’s in the past, move on. 

House!

[notnowcato]

8 minutes ago, LiberalCommunist said:

If people want to discuss a ex manager on a football thread, I see no problem with that. If you want to let it go, I'd suggest a better plan would be not commenting on the thread in question. 

Not really a discussion though is it. Hate posts and back slapping on the hate posts. It’s interesting 🤔 

[notnowcato]

7 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

I guess you don't really excel at parties - your ability to read the room is staggeringly poor.

Trust me, this room is very fucking easy to read. 

[notnowcato]

6 minutes ago, trousers said:

House!

Fence!

[LiberalCommunist]

What hate? He's not hated, he's derided, and rightly so. 

[Weston Super Saint]

3 minutes ago, notnowcato said:

Trust me, this room is very fucking easy to read. 

And yet....

[notnowcato]

9 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

And yet....

Those two words carry the weight of a thousand contradictions. They live in the space between what is and what could be — a quiet rebellion against certainty.

It is your mind that creates this world.

Perhaps “and yet…” is the mind recognizing the cracks in its own constructions. If you’re open to sharing what stirred that thought, I’m happy to listen. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

22 minutes ago, notnowcato said:

Not really a discussion though is it. Hate posts and back slapping on the hate posts. It’s interesting 🤔 

Can't speak for others, but I'm interested to see how his system develops, assuming he gets the time, and call things as I see them. 

I can see the attractions to him of going there, but it brings a number of pressing challenges, he'd not have got at some other clubs.

Following his comments, the player reaction in an important European match is going to also be interesting. They are going to have to buy into how he wants things done, for it to work.

[tdmickey3]

4 hours ago, notnowcato said:

Seriously, let it go. 
 

I get that Russell being in charge of a successful Wembley trip must really boil a lot of posters piss but it happened, it’s in the past, move on. 

 

30 minutes ago, notnowcato said:

Not really a discussion though is it. Hate posts and back slapping on the hate posts. It’s interesting 🤔 

 

29 minutes ago, notnowcato said:

Trust me, this room is very fucking easy to read. 

 

29 minutes ago, notnowcato said:

Fence!

 

15 minutes ago, notnowcato said:

Those two words carry the weight of a thousand contradictions. They live in the space between what is and what could be — a quiet rebellion against certainty.

It is your mind that creates this world.

Perhaps “and yet…” is the mind recognizing the cracks in its own constructions. If you’re open to sharing what stirred that thought, I’m happy to listen. 

Seriously let it go... 

[egg]

42 minutes ago, LiberalCommunist said:

If people want to discuss a ex manager on a football thread, I see no problem with that. If you want to let it go, I'd suggest a better plan would be not commenting on the thread in question. 

It's utterly pointless though. He was here. He was shit. He's gone. He's now Rangers problem. The end. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 minute ago, egg said:

It's utterly pointless though. He was here. He was shit. He's gone. He's now Rangers problem. The end. 

Not sure how many posts would stand up to the pointlessness test. 🙂

Martin's distinctive approach is interesting to watch. Partly purely on footballing terms. But also to see the contrasts of how he does it at other clubs, to how it turned out here.

Pep has got in an assistant to make changes to his approach. Will, or can, Martin make adjustments? Can he make it work with different personnel? and on a tight budget, with big expectations?

Rangers will probably be on Sky a fair bit, making it easier to follow.

[badgerx16]

He always has his TV career to fall back on;

 

[trousers]

47 minutes ago, egg said:

It's utterly pointless though. He was here. He was shit. He's gone. He's now Rangers problem. The end. 

The universe is utterly pointless ergo we shouldn't discuss anything...?

[egg]

4 minutes ago, trousers said:

The universe is utterly pointless ergo we shouldn't discuss anything...?

Jesus wept!

RM has gone. Let it go! 

[trousers]

15 minutes ago, egg said:

Jesus wept!

RM has gone. Let it go! 

You let go asking people to let go first, then I'll think about it...

[badgerx16]

5 hours ago, notnowcato said:

Seriously, let it go. 
 

 

1 hour ago, tdmickey3 said:

...let it go... 

 

18 minutes ago, egg said:

Let it go! 

The cold never bothered me anyway.

[gio1saints]

I don’t think this thread is much about him anymore. It’s about the pain and shame many supporters felt last season. Currently personified in him. The anger can reside long after initial cause has passed.  

Today, this, (and the match day thread ) are an easily accessible meeting place for people to release / manage that anger ( or disgust/sense of betrayal/ hatred ) 
 

It is probably doing a good job. It’s not a technical critique thread as much as an emotional outlet thread for Martin-sufferers.

Martin= is still anger & shame for some, and those are very real and hurtful emotions even if he is long gone.  

And people like me, instead of attempting to deny the validity of those emotions by “ arguing” that he was not as bad as people make out, should really take a slice of humble pie and understand that is not the way to deal with iT. Denying the validity of people’s anger does nothing but further grievance and dig upset deeper. 

If posting on this thread makes people better able to cope then, wether it’s the invective aimed at Russell, the emoji derision or the ❤️backslapping of anger filled posts - or whatever it is - if it helps Saints fans reconcile to the present then as long as it’s legal - go ahead! 😇

[trousers]

13 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

I don’t think this thread is much about him anymore. It’s about the pain and shame many supporters felt last season. Currently personified in him. The anger can reside long after initial cause has passed.  

Today, this, (and the match day thread ) are an easily accessible meeting place for people to release / manage that anger ( or disgust/sense of betrayal/ hatred ) 
 

It is probably doing a good job. It’s not a technical critique thread as much as an emotional outlet thread for Martin-sufferers.

Martin= is still anger & shame for some, and those are very real and hurtful emotions even if he is long gone.  

And people like me, instead of attempting to deny the validity of those emotions by “ arguing” that he was not as bad as people make out, should really take a slice of humble pie and understand that is not the way to deal with iT. Denying the validity of people’s anger does nothing but further grievance and dig upset deeper. 

If posting on this thread makes people better able to cope then, wether it’s the invective aimed at Russell, the emoji derision or the ❤️backslapping of anger filled posts - or whatever it is - if it helps Saints fans reconcile to the present then as long as it’s legal - go ahead! 😇

Let it go (FFS)

[saintant]

Not everyone may like the fact but Russell Martin remains an interesting conversation topic and many fans will continue to follow how he gets on at Rangers. I don't rate him as a manager because he is not proactive and is welded to one way of playing. As a person I can't decide whether he's an egotist, a narcissist or a genuinely decent bloke - probably a bit of all three.

[Saint NL]

It's an interesting case study on how one person can keep falling upwards.

I predict this time next year, he'll be Barcelona manager and banging Sydney Sweeney.

Fair play to him 

[austsaint]

2 minutes ago, trousers said:

Let it go (FFS)

What should he let go of first though - the pop psychology or the love for Russell?

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

The universe is utterly pointless ergo we shouldn't discuss anything...?

What ?????

You might have told me this when I was younger.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

5 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

What ?????

You might have told me this when I was younger.

It was pointless to discuss it. 🙂

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

I don’t think this thread is much about him anymore. It’s about the pain and shame many supporters felt last season. Currently personified in him. The anger can reside long after initial cause has passed.  

Today, this, (and the match day thread ) are an easily accessible meeting place for people to release / manage that anger ( or disgust/sense of betrayal/ hatred ) 
 

It is probably doing a good job. It’s not a technical critique thread as much as an emotional outlet thread for Martin-sufferers.

Martin= is still anger & shame for some, and those are very real and hurtful emotions even if he is long gone.  

And people like me, instead of attempting to deny the validity of those emotions by “ arguing” that he was not as bad as people make out, should really take a slice of humble pie and understand that is not the way to deal with iT. Denying the validity of people’s anger does nothing but further grievance and dig upset deeper. 

If posting on this thread makes people better able to cope then, wether it’s the invective aimed at Russell, the emoji derision or the ❤️backslapping of anger filled posts - or whatever it is - if it helps Saints fans reconcile to the present then as long as it’s legal - go ahead! 😇

Thank you gio, for starting off our Scar Tissue Support Group. 

[gio1saints]

2 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Thank you gio, for starting off our Scar Tissue Support Group. 

Thank you @Holmes_and_Watson- I think my ( some consider pompous and self indulgent - others more kindly simply foolish) impulse to help others has its origin, like so many, in early formative years.  

Partly that - and partly an ever-on acute awareness of my neurodiversity and its manifestation by being very willing to spend time considering the alternates to the “status quo” position. 
 

Quite often that’s seen me espousing unpopular minority views and positions here.  Some might say being a saints fan is the perfect example of supporting an unpopular minority view - but the irony of other saints fans roasting a fellow supporter for same is quite probably lost on most! 
 

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

45 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Thank you @Holmes_and_Watson- I think my ( some consider pompous and self indulgent - others more kindly simply foolish) impulse to help others has its origin, like so many, in early formative years.  

Partly that - and partly an ever-on acute awareness of my neurodiversity and its manifestation by being very willing to spend time considering the alternates to the “status quo” position. 
 

Quite often that’s seen me espousing unpopular minority views and positions here.  Some might say being a saints fan is the perfect example of supporting an unpopular minority view - but the irony of other saints fans roasting a fellow supporter for same is quite probably lost on most! 
 

 

They might be smaller pitch forks and cheaper torches held by fewer people, but they are ours! 🙂

[Saint86]

6 hours ago, Saint NL said:

It's an interesting case study on how one person can keep falling upwards.

I predict this time next year, he'll be Barcelona manager and banging Sydney Sweeney.

Fair play to him 

Martin made it very clear he isn't one to separate football and politics - for that reason alone he's out of her league, poor girl 😐.

[Thereisonlyonemickychannon]

He will fail

[AlexLaw76]

And just like that, Rangers are on the BBC

Edited 4 hours ago by AlexLaw76

[Gloucester Saint]

7 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

And just like that, Ranger are on the BBC

#RylanTV