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 3 hours ago 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.