Russell Martin is set to be appointed new Rangers Manager.

[Swans Jack]

I see that being said about Martin a lot, but I can't say I've seen that at all. Perhaps it's like that on X, but on the forums the views of him are almost universally negative, with a few, such as myself, offering a somewhat half hearted defence.

Again no mention of Duff. If we were shit a lot of the time under Martin, we were even shittier under Duff. I can't help but think that his dour, northern working class persona is the reason he gets a free ride. Harder to hate than Martin's persona (although ironically Martin had a very tough working class upbringing).

Duff doesn't get free pass. Martin thought he was bigger than the club and acted like it. Duff was far from perfect with his comments, just go look at what he said with Cardiff. The difference is Martin shouts from the roof he is the best thing going and couldn't back it up. I could spend all day ranting, but I won't

 

[Swanjaxs]

Here’s a contrary opinion, even though I’d love to see him play Gnome football up there as he’d be ridiculed. They will have the second best team in the league and the rest are parks standard. Soton went forward a lot quicker in the chumpionshit as they some of the best players. Should have been 7 up at half time against us at the Lib. It’s when he hasn’t got superior players in the league he does his turgid self indulgent crap and gets found out.

They’ll batter most of the teams they’ll play, whatever he does, so it’ll come down to the Celtic games and he’s good at derbies.

It may not be that clear cut that he’ll fail miserably. A mediocre manager in a shite league can look good.

Brendan will be windmilling his old bhoy, it's the worst possible appointment they could have made
Put money on Hibs for second spot next season Mon! Money in the bank

 

[Swanjaxs]

You don't have to go on Fotmob to work out that two seasons in 15th and 10th places averages out at 12.5, exactly mid table.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

I see that being said about Martin a lot, but I can't say I've seen that at all. Perhaps it's like that on X, but on the forums the views of him are almost universally negative, with a few, such as myself, offering a somewhat half hearted defence.

Again no mention of Duff. If we were shit a lot of the time under Martin, we were even shittier under Duff. I can't help but think that his dour, northern working class persona is the reason he gets a free ride. Harder to hate than Martin's persona (although ironically Martin had a very tough working class upbringing).

I didn’t say it was a big following. It’s small, but they are completely devoted and smitten.

For clarity, Duff was also terrible. But at least he doesn’t have delusions of grandeur.

 

[bytholwyn]

I didn’t say it was a big following. It’s small, but they are completely devoted and smitten.

For clarity, Duff was also terrible. But at least he doesn’t have delusions of grandeur.

Your last sentence nails it. Martin came across as full of himself, a cardinal sin, whereas Duff didn't.

 

[Dr. Winston]

He showed he could adapt when the pressure to get a result became too much so he had to change to get a few wins. Once that was done he would immediately revert to his usual uber tedious game plan (such as it was) amd we’d be straight back to nonsense again.

The fact that he very obviously knew that his system was fucking stupid and we could almost immediately improve by abandoning it yet continually returned to his preferred style is probably the main reason I detest him so much.

Two years of time and money wasted all so one colossal ego could fail time and again whilst blaming anyone and anything other than himself.

 

[JackSomething]

Brendan will be windmilling his old bhoy, it's the worst possible appointment they could have made
Put money on Hibs for second spot next season Mon! Money in the bank

Thanks for the image of Brendan windmilling his old bhoy about. Please no one try and get an AI generated image of that particular mental picture.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

Your last sentence nails it. Martin came across as full of himself, a cardinal sin, whereas Duff didn't.

Yup. Only part where I differ there is that it’s not just an impression Martin gives off. He actually believes his own hype.

 

[bytholwyn]

Yup. Only part where I differ there is that it’s not just an impression Martin gives off. He actually believes his own hype.

He certainly has very strong convictions as to how to play the game. Which would be fine if they consistently worked. Even if it wasn't consistently working, it would be forgiveable if it was fun to watch. Bielsa is a case in point. His teams win by a hatful one week and lose by a similar margin the next, because he refuses to be pragmatic when it comes to defending. Infuriating and exhilarating at the same time. Martin was certainly the former a lot of the time, but rarely the latter.

 

[Cooperman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1930357288012861691

 

[100percentjack]

Very one eyed. He showed he could adapt in that 7 wins and 2 draw streak at the end of the second season. Plus in the double double we didn't just beat Cardiff, we took them to the cleaners.

Of course, there was a lot of turgid, boring stuff as well. But if I had to pick between Martin and Duff, I wouldn't hesitate in saying Martin was the least bad. Hardly a ringing endorsement, but Duff's tenure certainly put Martin's into a bit of perspective.

Oh come on Byth, do you really believe that?
Taking that lot apart over 2 seasons was great fun, but as for the rest of it goes, it just looked like a lucky streak. Lots of teams get them at some point. The guy was clueless. Couldn’t adapt or change tactics. Head in sand.

 

[Pentyrchjack]

I'm sure the Gers fans will appreciate he's the new protestant footballing messiah....

 

[Swans Jack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1930357288012861691

Brilliant thank perked me up

 

[Curtis]

Poor Rangers. Martin’s style of football should be prescribed on the NHS as a prescription for insomnia. Fcuking shite. Play / pass out from the back regardless. Absolutely clueless manager, devoid of in game management.

 

[Dr. Winston]

Oh come on Byth, do you really believe that?
Taking that lot apart over 2 seasons was great fun, but as for the rest of it goes, it just looked like a lucky streak. Lots of teams get them at some point. The guy was clueless. Couldn’t adapt or change tactics. Head in sand.

Wouldn't adapt or change. Not couldn't. He knew all along that he could get better performances out of the players he had by ditching his "process". He just chose not to.

People point at that late run like it was him turning the corner as a coach. I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that we'd have started any future season under him the exact same way as we normally played once the pressure was off. Just like he played the same way at Southampton. There's an ego fed desire in there to prove himself right against a Mt Everest of evidence to the contrary.

A clip of his interview with Lineker is doing the rounds somewhere where he insists that he wasn't expecting to get the sack at Southampton because they were "doing good things". That's the level of mentality that he has.