Russell Martin

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, coalman said:

You know that nobody wanted him there but he's proved people wrong wherever he's gone, right?

no.

[SaintsBarry74]

I’ve never seen that, score a winner and the whole crowd tell the manager to gtfo.

[trousers]

Perfect outcome. Keeps the board happy. Keeps the fans unhappy. Win win 😂

[The Kraken]

From the BBC report.

 

Rangers were disjointed, nobody knew the shape or the tactics but somehow they found a way to win the game. The big positive is they won a game out of nowhere but there's so many learnings in that second half of how you should manage the game. The manger has to question his subs and his tactical changes. 

Ges really lost the plot up there. With us, you at least always knew what his tactics were (as did the opposition). Seems he’s just winging it up there and can’t even get them playing Russball.

 

[beatlesaint]

I suspect Rangers fans didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when the final whistle went. Keeps him in a job a bit longer. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Well done Russ. Let down by that sending off during the week, but not giving up for the win today.

Lots to build and improve on. Only 7 points behind Celtic now, after they dropped two points yesterday.

And now up to 8th, only a point behind those on the other side of the stupid table split. 

[coalman]

1 minute ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Well done Russ. Let down by that sending off during the week, but not giving up for the win today.

Lots to build and improve on. Only 7 points behind Celtic now, after they dropped two points yesterday.

And now up to 8th, only a point behind those on the other side of the stupid table split. 

There's going to be a lot of teams in the SPL looking over their shoulders today after this result. The Martin train steams on.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 minute ago, coalman said:

There's going to be a lot of teams in the SPL looking over their shoulders today after this result. The Martin train steams on.

Just 2 points off 3rd. Trust the process, to deliver a side more capable of competing on a pittance in Europe (Brugge aside).

[skintsaint]

 

[SW5 SAINT]

Hey, they did it his way, and it paid off in the end….

[SuperSAINT]

7 minutes ago, SW5 SAINT said:

Hey, they did it his way, and it paid off in the end….

Hi Lucy Pinder.  Big fan of your work.

[Saint86]

Found one...

"The players could have easily chucked that game and thrown another manager under the bus. Yes, they need to do better and step up we can all see that.. may not be popular but I hope this can be a pivotal moment in the season for the manager.

A last minute winner no matter who it is against will give the group some belief and confidence.

We live in a time where it's easy to direct anger and hatred.. fair play to Martin for continuing to put himself out there and continuing to swing as it must be terrible on a personal level.

I am desperate for him to turn this around."

 

[Midfield_General]

On 26/09/2025 at 10:01, Turkish said:

Will he do what he did against Celtic and revert to more direct football to save his skin grinding out a result? Guy is full of shit, trust the process etc he doesn’t even trust it himself 

That is literally what happened.

When he really needed a result to save his skin he ditched his ‘principles’ yet again and just threw as much shit at the wall as he could. No shape, no structure, no tactics. And it’s what scraped him the 94th minute win against a newly promoted side. 

Astounding. 

[Turkish]

6 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

That is literally what happened.

When he really needed a result to save his skin he ditched his ‘principles’ yet again and just threw as much shit at the wall as he could. No shape, no structure, no tactics. And it’s what scraped him the 94th minute win against a newly promoted side. 

Astounding. 

So much for being brave, trusting the process etc

[Midfield_General]

4 minutes ago, Turkish said:

So much for being brave, trusting the process etc

You nailed it when you said that when it really comes down to it, he doesn’t even trust it himself. Everything he says is bullshit, and he knows it. 

It’s pure self-serving vanity for him and him alone, nothing else. Never seen anything like it. 

[rallyboy]

You guys are getting too obsessed with the league table, the results and shit like that - the real story is possession, the corner count and the sideways passing stats, and on all those metrics, the stuff that really matters to fans, he's right up there with Nathan Jones. Go Russ.

[BarberSaint]

7 hours ago, rallyboy said:

You guys are getting too obsessed with the league table, the results and shit like that - the real story is possession, the corner count and the sideways passing stats, and on all those metrics, the stuff that really matters to fans, he's right up there with Nathan Jones. Go Russ.

He's gone. Just not quite yet far enough. CBA to look, but would be interesting to see if there are still threads on him on the MKD and Swansea forums. If there are, he'll be over the moon to have made such a lasting impression.

[miserableoldgit]

 

Edited 30 September, 2025 by miserableoldgit

[Lord Duckhunter]

1 hour ago, BarberSaint said:

He's gone. Just not quite yet far enough. CBA to look, but would be interesting to see if there are still threads on him on the MKD and Swansea forums. If there are, he'll be over the moon to have made such a lasting impression.

It’s a bit different. At MK & Swansea he was a manager who did a middling job, not awful, but not particularly good. Like dozens of other Managers.
 

Here he gave us a dreadful embarrassing season, but there are also many debating points, which time and future achievements are a part of. There’s posters who blamed the players we had, the board, PSR, the gap between the leagues, implied that Ivan was as bad and promoted teams will struggle from now on. Lego’s record at Rangers and other promoted team’s attempts to stay up are valid discussion points, as is that horrendous season and pathetic effort we put in. If Ivan gets into the champions league, if Sunderland and others stay up, whilst Rangers continue to fuck up, it’ll show even more who the majority of the blame lies with….

Edited 29 September, 2025 by Lord Duckhunter

[Southner]

On 28/09/2025 at 19:56, SuperSAINT said:

Hi Lucy Pinder.  Big fan of your norks.

 

[Saint_clark]

Sturm Graz go one up from a Rangers throw in 😂😂😂

[Midfield_General]

1-0 down after 6 minutes

First shot on goal

[SaintsBarry74]

Rangers supporters hate him with a passion - nothing like the comfy tea club he got away with at Saints

[Saint_clark]

😂😂😂😂

[Midfield_General]

2-0

Whole team holding a high line to defend a free kick, one simple pass splits it in behind as they all stand and watch. 

Defensively they're a shambles, again. 

Edited 2 October, 2025 by Midfield_General

[SaintsBarry74]

[SambaMaverick]

Very similar goal to that diabolical first against Bournemouth last season, does this bloke do any defensive work at all?

[Give it to Ron]

1 minute ago, SambaMaverick said:

Very similar goal to that diabolical first against Bournemouth last season, does this bloke do any defensive work at all?

No

[Harry_SFC]

5 minutes ago, SambaMaverick said:

Very similar goal to that diabolical first against Bournemouth last season, does this bloke do any defensive work at all?

No because his idea is that his side will always have the ball, so don't need to defend.

[Midfield_General]

2-0 at HT. 

If they lose by 4 or more tonight I think he's done. 

They're probably on the phone to Potter as we speak. 

Edited 2 October, 2025 by Midfield_General

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

4 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

2-0 at HT. 

If they lose by 4 or more tonight I think he's done. 

They're probably on the phone to Potter as we speak. 

Hopefully he's given the opportunity to limp past Falkirk on Saturday first.

[Toussaint]

19 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

No because his idea is that his side will always have the ball, so don't need to defend.

It’s not his fault, if only the players believed in the process 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Got one back.

The players fighting for Russ.

[Midfield_General]

Great finish by Gassama to pull one back. 1-2. 

He's their best player by a mile. Everything good goes through him. An absolute steal for £2.2m and only 21. Should have been snapped up by a much better side in a proper league. 

Edited 2 October, 2025 by Midfield_General

[beatlesaint]

Lost again, Rangers fans as you would expect, man there’s some genuine hatred there 🤣

[Midfield_General]

FT. 1-2.

Much better second half but gave themselves too much to do after being so bad in the first. Finished the game with 5 forwards on the pitch, going shit or bust throwing everyone forward and leaving it wide open at the back. 

(Edit: Deleted an untruth about clean sheets.)

Edited 2 October, 2025 by Midfield_General

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 minute ago, Midfield_General said:

FT. 1-2. Much better second half but gave themselves too much to do after being so bad in the first. Finished the game with 5 forwards on the pitch, going shit or bust throwing everyone forward and leaving it wide open at the back. 

Oddly looking far more likely to get a result, when they jettison his set up.

[trousers]

1 minute ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Oddly looking far more likely to get a result, when they jettison his set up.

Why is that "odd"....?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

9 minutes ago, trousers said:

Why is that "odd"....?

Because if it was always more effective than how he starts games, then you'd have thought the penny would have dropped to adjust more towards it.

Also odd to see him stick unwaveringly to his philosophy, right up to the point he chucks it, hoping for the best rather than with much planning.

[Token Sniffer]

24 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

FT. 1-2.

Much better second half but gave themselves too much to do after being so bad in the first. Finished the game with 5 forwards on the pitch, going shit or bust throwing everyone forward and leaving it wide open at the back. 

22 games now without a clean sheet. 

I thought they drew 0-0 with Celtic the other week and beat Hibs 2-0 in the cup quarter final 10 days or so ago?! 😁

 

[Midfield_General]

5 minutes ago, Token Sniffer said:

I thought they drew 0-0 with Celtic the other week and beat Hibs 2-0 in the cup quarter final 10 days or so ago?! 😁

 

That's a very good point. I was going from what the fella on TNT (Kenny McLean?) said post-match, but he's wrong and you're absolutely right, they did. 

I owe Russ an apology 

Edited 2 October, 2025 by Midfield_General

[Turkish]

2 hours ago, Token Sniffer said:

I thought they drew 0-0 with Celtic the other week and beat Hibs 2-0 in the cup quarter final 10 days or so ago?! 😁

 

 

2 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

That's a very good point. I was going from what the fella on TNT (Kenny McLean?) said post-match, but he's wrong and you're absolutely right, they did. 

I owe Russ an apology 

It was 22 games away from home since they kept a clean sheet.

both the games v Celtic and hibs were at home 

[Midfield_General]

Post-match interview: 

“It’s not a tactical or technical issue, it’s the mentality of the players.”

Delivered with a trademark smirk of course.

His brazenness and refusal to accept any personal responsibility or show any humility at all really is breathtaking. You almost have to admire it at this point. Arrogance, deflection and delusion taken to the point where it’s almost performance art. 

[Dman]

Has a Russell Martin side ever beat a team where its a genuine 50/50 or they're slight underdogs? 

Other than Leeds last season, whom he clearly had the better of, I genuinely cant recall any.

Incredibly limited and arrogant manager and seemingly could say the same about him as a bloke as well.   

[Whitey Grandad]

56 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Post-match interview: 

“It’s not a tactical or technical issue, it’s the mentality of the players.”

Delivered with a trademark smirk of course.

His brazenness and refusal to accept any personal responsibility or show any humility at all really is breathtaking. You almost have to admire it at this point. Arrogance, deflection and delusion taken to the point where it’s almost performance art. 

If all else fails,  blame the players. 

[egg]

58 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Post-match interview: 

“It’s not a tactical or technical issue, it’s the mentality of the players.”

Delivered with a trademark smirk of course.

His brazenness and refusal to accept any personal responsibility or show any humility at all really is breathtaking. You almost have to admire it at this point. Arrogance, deflection and delusion taken to the point where it’s almost performance art. 

Absolutely, and only serving to negatively impact on the mentality of the players, which would have been better before they ever met the bloke. 

He's more of a scar tissue machine than a manager. 

[Midfield_General]

3 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

If all else fails,  blame the players. 

Or the fans, or the squad your predecessor left you, or the media, or the ref, or the weather... anything but admit a shred of responsibility yourself 

[Midfield_General]

2 minutes ago, egg said:

Absolutely, and only serving to negatively impact on the mentality of the players, which would have been better before they ever met the bloke. 

He's more of a scar tissue machine than a manager. 

A scar tissue and bullshit machine. He should go into manufacturing, he'd make millions in the medical and agricultural industries 

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Midfield_General said:

Or the fans, or the squad your predecessor left you, or the media, or the ref, or the weather... anything but admit a shred of responsibility yourself 

Time he admitted that it's his system that is wrong and will never work. He continues to believe he can coach a side to play perfect passing football and continues to prove that it is well beyond his capabilities. It would be better for him, Rangers and their fans if he tried something different because it might well work and give him a lot more credibility but he seems not to want to admit he's been wrong all this time so would rather keep proving it.

[jameslastfan]

Won’t forget the sarcastic overhead clap he did to the stadium when we cheered for a long clearance out of defence. He’d lost the crowd by then but proved he couldn’t read the room of opinion.