Jump to content

Russell Martin

LegalEagle

By LegalEagle
in The Saints

 Share

Recommended Posts

Gloucester Saint

Gloucester Saint

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, Saint86 said:

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 😐.

I can’t see her fancying a falafel burger any more than Russ enjoying her theories on Trump.

Midfield_General

Midfield_General

Posted
Posted (edited)

Gassama scores again for Rangers. 3 in 3 since they signed him. He’s instantly become easily their best player, brilliant bit of business at £2.2m. 

Edited by Midfield_General
  • Like 2
saintant

saintant

Posted
Posted

Rangers looking very good tonight so fair play to Russell Martin. Has the penny finally dropped? At last he's playing people in their correct positions so no square pegs in round holes and there's been zero suicidal playing out from the back particularly at goal kicks. He has always maintained he'll never compromise - well, tonight he has and Rangers look so much better for it. Question is, does he revert to type as he has at other clubs in the past.

  • Like 1
Holmes_and_Watson

Holmes_and_Watson

Posted
Posted

Tough one for Martin.

6 new signings on the pitch. He's trying to get his system across among all the changes for one of the club's most financially important ties of the season.

From Saturday, Dessers desperately needed, Cameron gets a deserved start and Aaron switches to the right.

Butland showing good range and Antman gets an immediate start. He balances out Gassama on the other flank nicely

Where it's going to lead to league frustration, Martin's patient approach kept things calm and controlled. 

When Martin joined us, I quite liked the pre September fixtures. We were raw, but offered more individuality. We also had JWP and Tella to make that work. 

This is a little like that. I hope Martin remembers the need for some balance. It's going to give Rangers more variety, and keep more fans on his side.

2-0 is a good reward for the half, where there weren't loads of chances.

They just have to stay out of their shells second half for more of the same, to keep or extend that lead.

Midfield_General

Midfield_General

Posted
Posted
53 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Gassama scores again for Rangers. 3 in 3 since they signed him. He’s instantly become easily their best player, brilliant bit of business at £2.2m. 

Gets a second. Rangers playing very well here, fair play. 

Holmes_and_Watson

Holmes_and_Watson

Posted
Posted

A nice direct goal, for the third. Antman offers some directness that Martin teams cry out for. Good to see options getting up to support him.

After the third the pace went out of the game. As we've seen often, momentum can switch and Martin teams can then get caught out at the back and have no plans to get back into it.

While 3-0 looked commanding, the Czech's were hopeful of getting something for the second leg.

Aaron's chose to fall over when getting caught out. There were a couple of other moments when Rangers were passing it about excessively having already drawn their opponents in.

On the plus side, Martin has got the midfield already well drilled to drop and collect.

As usual, he hasn't got anyone up front to do that yet. Dessers is his best option, but really should be the 8 doing it.

In the few moments of iffy passing, Soutter was smart and strong enough to be mopping up for his side.

A special shout for Rothwell. If he could execute all the things you see him trying, he'd be a great addition to lots of sides. But it's Rothwell. In between the good positioning, link up play and awareness you get the mistimed passes, and getting caught in possession. A mid 60 minute sub was a reward for all the good bits of his game, while realising it needed fresher legs. Martin's looking for a lot of roles for Rothwell to play this season, as his new Smallbone. Hopefully the other midfielders look to learn a lot from him.

A controlled, well worked lead to take into the second leg. An excellent result so early on in the rebuild. I'm looking forward to seeing RussBall in Europe, where I think it's well suited for his system.

  • Like 1
offsidetrap

offsidetrap

Posted
Posted

It’s getting hard to avoid RM up here between front page papers and now a lot of live games on terrestrial tv so have developed a reluctant rangers follower hobby while waiting for something to happen in the championship. It’s heartbreaking to see a team doing russball pretty well in only its second week of being told. Sure Saturday was a hiccup where a more determined side outplayed him but tonight was pretty ok and two attacking wingers is a great watch. 
 

whatever anyone says about the bloke he can charm pundits (as he did with linekar)

Saint_clark

Saint_clark

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, HKsaint said:

We were wrong about Russell Martin. We shouldn’t have sacked him. 

Nonsense. We were on course for, and I am certain would have ended up with, the lowest points total in Premier League history under him.

  • Like 2
St. Ciervo

St. Ciervo

Posted
Posted

He wins one game 3-0 and we have "made a mistake." I, for one, wish we made that "mistake" far earlier. I do not miss his style of play. I do not miss hearing about being brave. I do not miss watching tweedle-dee and tweedle-dumb play out from the back anymore (any players could be dee or dumb, idc). 

Good riddance. Now bust out the bacon in celebration. 

  • Like 2
Chez

Chez

Posted
Posted
12 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

Gassama scores again for Rangers. 3 in 3 since they signed him. He’s instantly become easily their best player, brilliant bit of business at £2.2m. 

He was suggested on the transfer thread. Do Rangers pay more than championship clubs? I'm guessing it depends which players and which clubs. Are they more attractive than championship clubs like us?

saintant

saintant

Posted
Posted

Rangers have signed some decent players particularly Antman and Gassama. These two would have been easily affordable for us and are proof that you don't have to wait until the final week of the transfer window to make good deals - ok, they may have been attracted to Rangers by the draw of European football but I'm fairly sure they are not the only two players of this level who could have been signed before the hectic transfer dealing starts.

offsidetrap

offsidetrap

Posted
Posted

It maybe so and feel free to start threads (which wouldn’t attract this level of comment for sure) but he’s certainly an enigma manager. Even today I’m not sure if he’s the best con man ever or a deep thinker let down by his players. 
 

apart from Hoddle there’s few saint managers who fit the cult leader mould so well. All he needs is a white suit and bare feet now. 

Holmes_and_Watson

Holmes_and_Watson

Posted
Posted
6 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I find it incredible this thread gets almost daily updates.

Where’s Mark Wotte’s thread? Or Alan Pardew’s? Or Ruben Selles’?

Come on guys! The bias is huge! 🤣

I guess I'm just more interested at the moment, to see how it works out for Martin. Rangers have been on a fair bit too.

I did catch Nathan's playoff games and some of Selles with Reading if it helps restore the balance a bit.

  • Like 3
StrangelyBrown

StrangelyBrown

Posted
Posted
On 06/08/2025 at 09:18, Willo of Whiteley said:

I find it incredible this thread gets almost daily updates.

Where’s Mark Wotte’s thread? Or Alan Pardew’s? Or Ruben Selles’?

Come on guys! The bias is huge! 🤣

Perhaps it's because of the excessive bellendery of Martin and his media lovies? Just like Liverpool - they get more than their share of hate because of the same thing.

  • Like 1
Harry_SFC

Harry_SFC

Posted
Posted

Looks like they snatched a point with a last minute penalty but their fans are already turning against him. I really don't think Martin will last long there if I'm honest.

Sunglasses Ron

Sunglasses Ron

Posted
Posted
On 06/08/2025 at 09:18, Willo of Whiteley said:

I find it incredible this thread gets almost daily updates.

Where’s Mark Wotte’s thread? Or Alan Pardew’s? Or Ruben Selles’?

Come on guys! The bias is huge! 🤣

We’re just trying to honour his memory by exhibiting huge possession.

  • Haha 1
Suhari

Suhari

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, Sunglasses Ron said:

We’re just trying to honour his memory by exhibiting huge possession.

Yep.

We've got to keep the xLHp stats up.

 

 

 

 

(Expected LegoHead Posts).

  • Haha 2
coalman

coalman

Posted
Posted

I think the Rangers fans need to be patient. Martin's brand of high risk no reward football doesn't happen overnight. Right now his players are probably too fit to play his system. They don't know when to turn back and recycle the ball or that they're not supposed to pick up runners from midfield but with patience it'll come. Trust the process.

  • Like 2
  • Haha 17
miserableoldgit

miserableoldgit

Posted
Posted
On 06/08/2025 at 09:18, Willo of Whiteley said:

I find it incredible this thread gets almost daily updates.

Where’s Mark Wotte’s thread? Or Alan Pardew’s? Or Ruben Selles’?

Come on guys! The bias is huge! 🤣

TBF he is responsible for our worst ever, most embarrassing season which finished only a matter of months ago. I think it only natatural that people are going to be interested in how he gets on in his new, quite high profile job, possible looking for a chunk of schadenfreude. Scar Tissue and all that.

  • Like 4
trousers

trousers

Posted
Posted (edited)
30 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

They are furious on the Rangers forum 

Not sure why... The unbeaten run world record is still very much on... ;)

#letitgo #moveon

Edited by trousers
  • Haha 4
Holmes_and_Watson

Holmes_and_Watson

Posted
Posted

A quick search will show no shortage of "Rangers worst ever starts since..." with any number of games in there to make a headline, and sell some papers/click bait. In every one of them Rangers fans are furious. A lot of those seasons are in the recent era. Either an indicator of the rise of click bait or just how poor a lot of Rangers sides have been. Very possibly a bit of both.

Two games in, is fairly early to be trotting it out. From the brief highlights, Rangers rescued it through a soft penalty, and could have been further behind on another day.

 

18 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

 

 

As they said immediately after that on

https://www.followfollow.com/forum/threads/martin-every-club-ive-been-a-bit-of-pain-and-when-you-get-through-it-its-worth-it.304843/

"He seriously needs to %^*& off.

MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton aren’t comparable to Rangers."

and

"You don’t have that luxury now. You’re at Rangers, not fucking Swansea."

Expectations are different there. His style of dominating possession without putting teams to the sword is, as expected, going to cause no shortage of league frustration. As mentioned, the whole league revolves around playing Rangers and Celtic. Points against them are cherished. A weaker Rangers with a very different system that allows teams to reset, against teams happy for a point or getting a break, is going to need resolutions he hasn't found before.

Holmes_and_Watson

Holmes_and_Watson

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, Andrew Watson said:

4 points dropped against two of the leagues weaker sides,the league will be over by christmas at this rate,maybe even sooner.

Rangers have punted managers in October and November.

Having thrown his players under the bus last week, I noticed him throw the club standards under it today. He spoke about the new expectations and culture he's instilling at the club, indicating that his predecessors oversaw a shambles.

Then, of course, said he wasn't making excuses.

gio1saints

gio1saints

Posted
Posted

I don’t think he will be given the time, unfortunately.
IF Rangers give him the time maybe they will be domestically competitive once more. The points they will drop getting to that stage ( like yesterday) may disqualify them from winning title this season but it’s not impossible they go on big unbeaten run so don’t write them - or him off yet. 
 

But they won’t give him that time. Out by Xmas most likely.
 

Getting Rangers to play Martinball must be one of the toughest gigs in football. Youve got a million Rangers fans screaming at you to attack attack attack get it forward. You think SMS was difficult. Man needs balls of steel to take up that job. I only wish him the best because I call it courage and principles - agree with it or not - not ego or stupidity in what he does and why he does it. 

  • Haha 5
Saint Gifford

Saint Gifford

Posted
Posted

Tbh, he’s gone thank god. But the only reason I’m commenting is watched his interview after the match. 

Word for word it’s the same crap he was spouting towards the end of his tenure with us, and he’s only preseason plus a couple of games with them. 

Has he learnt anything, I mean anything from his Saints experience. 

 

 

  • Like 1
Holmes_and_Watson

Holmes_and_Watson

Posted
Posted
19 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

I don’t think he will be given the time, unfortunately.
IF Rangers give him the time maybe they will be domestically competitive once more. The points they will drop getting to that stage ( like yesterday) may disqualify them from winning title this season but it’s not impossible they go on big unbeaten run so don’t write them - or him off yet. 
 

But they won’t give him that time. Out by Xmas most likely.
 

Getting Rangers to play Martinball must be one of the toughest gigs in football. Youve got a million Rangers fans screaming at you to attack attack attack get it forward. You think SMS was difficult. Man needs balls of steel to take up that job. I only wish him the best because I call it courage and principles - agree with it or not - not ego or stupidity in what he does and why he does it. 

I saw more extended highlights. Sadly, they never seem to include all the build up play, which is so key to Martin's system. But you'd see some outcomes such as a dozen passes for his layers not to get anywhere, as Dundee reset.

Like us, Martin will believe that we just don't understand what he's trying to do. In Rangers' case, it's simply that they were already dominating possession and wanted some decent signings to get closer to Celtic. They want to get back to attacking wins. Given their budget, they are well clear for second, but miles off Celtic.

The studio said, comparing it with the European game, that Rangers were Jeckyll and Hyde. That's not the case at all. Martin sets his side out to do exactly the same things in his philosophy. Against higher pressing European sides, who expect a win themselves, he gets joy. Like we had coming up against Leeds and Swansea. Some set ups are better suited for Martin to do well against. To do it in Europe so early on, is very much to his credit.

Martin himself said post match, that his side struggled to break down the low block teams that wouldn't be moved by his team shifting the ball from side to side.

It's the same issue he's always had, and he's yet to come up with readily successful alternatives that fit his philosophy. The fans can see that long road ahead watching opponents not budge and Rangers bounce off them. 

Considering the chances Dundee had. I thought Martin's side would have had the space to transition more. Rangers did have some chances, and Martin will look to finishing (and Dessers allowing himself to get half a yard offside at the death, to have his winner ruled out). Dundee attacked when their shape allowed, while it's too early for Martin's quick passing through the gaps to have taken effect. Assuming they have the players to actually do it. He's got the likes of Rothwell dropping deep to help the defence, but it stalls further up. Much like it often does for him. 

The Rangers board, financial rules allowing, can help through recruitment. They've got another 3 to play in the first team yet, I think. Hopefully, they are the players to give him the rounded team Martin needs for this to work.

The board should have known exactly what and who they were hiring. They've seen the benefits of it in Europe and will have to be patient in the league. Martin has to look at his system and get answers from it, in more difficult games when breaking teams down.

Doctoroncall

Doctoroncall

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

I don’t think he will be given the time, unfortunately.
IF Rangers give him the time maybe they will be domestically competitive once more. The points they will drop getting to that stage ( like yesterday) may disqualify them from winning title this season but it’s not impossible they go on big unbeaten run so don’t write them - or him off yet. 
 

But they won’t give him that time. Out by Xmas most likely.
 

Getting Rangers to play Martinball must be one of the toughest gigs in football. Youve got a million Rangers fans screaming at you to attack attack attack get it forward. You think SMS was difficult. Man needs balls of steel to take up that job. I only wish him the best because I call it courage and principles - agree with it or not - not ego or stupidity in what he does and why he does it. 

If he’s given to the end of the year, he’ll have time to implement his plans. 
It does seem like he’s fighting a battle with (some) of the players. Not the best way to do things unless he is able to change the personnel in this transfer window. 
 

Lord Duckhunter

Lord Duckhunter

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

I call it courage and principles - agree with it or not - not ego or stupidity in what he does and why he does it. 

Yeah, continuing with something that is failing isn’t in anyway stupid or egotistical, it’s actually highly intelligent & principled. 😂😂

 

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...