OFFICIAL Rangers appoint Russell Martin as head coach

[Sutton_blows_goats 6,516]

Just now, Rousseau said:

What specifically about this style suggests it won't work against a low block?

The possession based style where they try to hold the ball until they can find a spare man to play through. Teams in a low block will let us play in front of them all day. We seen it so many times under Gio and Beale.

 

You cant get past this if you don't move the ball quickly, or with urgency. All the reports I see reads as his teams move forward slowly. The Southampton reporter on the Rangers review yesterday stated he struggles against a low block, even when playing with a far superior quality of player than the opposition. 

 

I have seen a clip on YouTube from his time at Swansea highlighting some of his teams attacking play. It starts from the keeper, who needs to be able to pass, unlike anything we have now (and I've long stated we need a 'sweeper keeper' who can play the ball out and be an extra man for us at times, so I agree with RM on this one) It comes from games being wide open, teams pressing his team high. Look at where the back lines are.

 

His set pieces since the dedicated set piece coach he had at Saints left, have been abysmal. Said coach left to manage Lillestrom, then shortly after went to Man U to be set piece coach. Of course this can be easily mitigated by getting a good coach in to work on it. But I'm sceptical.

 

Its still possible for his style to work up here. It needs the right kind of player, high wide players who can beat defenders in 1-v-1's. Stronger more aggressive players than the opposition, getting bodies int he opponents box.

 

Can the recruitment team source players with pace who can move us up the park quickly, can we have a #9 that takes the ball into feet with his back to goal and bring other players into play. These are things that we don't currently have, and something I've seen many Everton supporters criticise Purdy for is recruiting lots of slow players, so there's a red flag.

 

I also watched this, from a Leicester City fan which outlined some pro's and cons. It states RM has learned that his teams need to be more aggressive off the ball, take more fouls to break up the game, get more yellow cards.  In recruitment RM said he needs to look for more physical players, which is a mindset that will serve him well up here if he sticks to it. Some of the supporters in the comments state he doesn't utilise wingers well, teams will pass all day with no purpose etc which set of alarm bells.

 

I just feel like the chances are low,  for all the things needed to enable his style to be successful to come together.

 

Out of interest, why do you think he will be so successful?

[Rousseau 12,131]

4 minutes ago, Sutton_blows_goats said:

The possession based style where they try to hold the ball until they can find a spare man to play through. Teams in a low block will let us play in front of them all day. We seen it so many times under Gio and Beale.

 

You cant get past this if you don't move the ball quickly, or with urgency. All the reports I see reads as his teams move forward slowly. The Southampton reporter on the Rangers review yesterday stated he struggles against a low block, even when playing with a far superior quality of player than the opposition. 

 

I have seen a clip on YouTube from his time at Swansea highlighting some of his teams attacking play. It starts from the keeper, who needs to be able to pass, unlike anything we have now (and I've long stated we need a 'sweeper keeper' who can play the ball out and be an extra man for us at times, so I agree with RM on this one) It comes from games being wide open, teams pressing his team high. Look at where the back lines are.

 

His set pieces since the dedicated set piece coach he had at Saints left, have been abysmal. Said coach left to manage Lillestrom, then shortly after went to Man U to be set piece coach. Of course this can be easily mitigated by getting a good coach in to work on it. But I'm sceptical.

 

Its still possible for his style to work up here. It needs the right kind of player, high wide players who can beat defenders in 1-v-1's. Stronger more aggressive players than the opposition, getting bodies int he opponents box.

 

Can the recruitment team source players with pace who can move us up the park quickly, can we have a #9 that takes the ball into feet with his back to goal and bring other players into play. These are things that we don't currently have, and something I've seen many Everton supporters criticise Purdy for is recruiting lots of slow players, so there's a red flag.

 

I also watched this, from a Leicester City fan which outlined some pro's and cons. It states RM has learned that his teams need to be more aggressive off the ball, take more fouls to break up the game, get more yellow cards.  In recruitment RM said he needs to look for more physical players, which is a mindset that will serve him well up here if he sticks to it. Some of the supporters in the comments state he doesn't utilise wingers well, teams will pass all day with no purpose etc which set of alarm bells.

 

I just feel like the chances are low,  for all the things needed to enable his style to be successful to come together.

 

Out of interest, why do you think he will be so successful?

Valid points, well expressed. 

 

I would suggest that keeping the ball, keeping a good rest defence, tiring teams out, etc. will be beneficial. Also, possession is not for possession's sake. His aim is to create chances. It's similar in style to Rodgers; positional play. 

 

I looked at the results in So'ton's championship season. Taking the sides that were at the bottom, or played 5-4-1-type formations, he had a 65% win rate. I think Martin's style will be more effective than Clement's direct style in beating the dross. 

 

I've never said I thought he'd be successful. I've said consistently that out of the most likely names mentioned, for me, Martin seemed the best. It's mainly down to the fact that we know what we'll get. He has a record of implementing a progressive style of play, and can develop and use players, which is what I think we need. 

[Sutton_blows_goats 6,516]

Another red flag. Stevie Naismith done an interview with 4Lads podcast a few weeks back. I've not seen it as its paywalled. But Stevie Clifford mentioned recently that Steven Naismith was talking about how good a coach Russel Martin is and how is style would fit up well in the SPFL..

 

Naismith is currently on Sky Sports new bigging up Russell Martin  

 

 

 

[Sutton_blows_goats 6,516]

3 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

I would suggest that keeping the ball, keeping a good rest defence, tiring teams out, etc. will be beneficial. Also, possession is not for possession's sake. His aim is to create chances. It's similar in style to Rodgers; positional play. 

This is the best case scenario about his style, if it goes well in theory we control the game overall and can suffocate opponents. It is reliant on us creating lots of quality chances and keeping clean sheets. I'm sceptical but all we can do is wait and see.

 

If they do hire him, they need to back him in the transfer market or he is doomed to failure.

 

 

[Scott7 6,949]

12 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

tiring teams out,

Teams don’t get tired out watching the ball passed about in front of thrm. 

[Frankie 9,003]

I'm still genuinely unsure who I'd prefer to be the new Rangers manager so I'm unsurprised those responsible for the appointment seem to be equally uncertain.

 

Perhaps this says more about the lack of quality candidates at this late stage than anything else?

 

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking loudly...

[Uilleam 6,626]

50 minutes ago, Sutton_blows_goats said:

Naismith is currently on Sky Sports new bigging up Russell Martin

Gies a job, like

[Scott7 6,949]

8 minutes ago, Frankie said:

Perhaps this says more about the lack of quality candidates at this late stage than anything else

I think that’s right.

[lenny3k 879]

23 minutes ago, Frankie said:

Perhaps this says more about the lack of quality candidates at this late stage than anything else?

 

At this point, I genuinely believe Russell Martin might be the only remaining candidate who’s 100% committed to taking the job. The other names linked all seem to have other options on the table, or are waiting on how other situations play out.
 

I don’t think Martin is/was the board’s first choice and that’s probably why this whole process has dragged on longer than expected.

[der Berliner 4,284]

1 hour ago, Rousseau said:

Valid points, well expressed. 

 

I would suggest that keeping the ball, keeping a good rest defence, tiring teams out, etc. will be beneficial. Also, possession is not for possession's sake. His aim is to create chances. It's similar in style to Rodgers; positional play. 

 

I looked at the results in So'ton's championship season. Taking the sides that were at the bottom, or played 5-4-1-type formations, he had a 65% win rate. I think Martin's style will be more effective than Clement's direct style in beating the dross. 

 

I've never said I thought he'd be successful. I've said consistently that out of the most likely names mentioned, for me, Martin seemed the best. It's mainly down to the fact that we know what we'll get. He has a record of implementing a progressive style of play, and can develop and use players, which is what I think we need. 

 

We will have and have had 50 to 70 % possession in nigh every game in Scotland, but that was in the defensive and middle third of the field. Our problem has been that the final third was under-manned with attackers, and not the least attackers unable to score enough goals. For the best part of a decade. Either you bring in (enough) people to do that, or you change the tactic. Playing three attackers against a brick wall, hoping that DMs/CMs will join up and fullbacks act as wingers is fine, but hasn't worked. At least with the player we had. And we didn't change it, just subbed similar inadequate players with those on the field.

If we get Sima for the left attack slot and Cerny for the right, it would be a start. And we would need people behind them in the team that would do nearly as well with the ball.

 

Edited Wednesday at 11:33 by der Berliner