Rangers Struggle Under Russell Martin's Leadership
Russell Martin's Rangers have yet to secure a victory in their first five Scottish Premiership matches, despite his aggressive attacking strategy, and suffered a heavy defeat in the Champions League qualifiers against Club Brugge.
Fans have expressed their discontent with Martin, calling for his dismissal both during and after matches, while analysts have questioned the approach taken by the former Swansea City and Southampton manager.
As Rangers prepared to face Genk at Ibrox in the Europa League on Thursday, the team was under scrutiny, sitting in a disappointing 11th place in the Scottish Premiership. BBC Sport has examined the early season performances to analyze Martin's tactics, the reasons behind their struggles, and how he is adapting his style for the first time in his career.
What is Martin Trying to Achieve?
At the onset of the season, Martin's Rangers resembled the teams he had previously managed. The league opener against Motherwell showcased flashes of promising play.
During Motherwell's goal-kicks, Rangers' forwards applied a high press, employing a man-to-man strategy that forced Motherwell captain Paul McGinn to concede a corner, from which Rangers scored.
In possession, Rangers set up in a 4-3-3 formation. As they built from the back, right-back James Tavernier shifted to a central defensive role, while left-back Max Aarons maintained his wide position.
As the ball progressed up the field, the full-backs moved into inverted positions in midfield, resulting in a single defensive midfielder and two attacking midfielders encouraged to advance.
Martin's teams typically aim to penetrate through the middle before finding wide players in space. The wingers are instructed to remain high and wide, seeking isolation against opposing full-backs. Historically, Martin's teams have thrived by allowing wingers to take on defenders in one-on-one situations, leading to either shots on goal or cut-backs.
His commitment to short build-up play was evident, with quick, often one-touch passes that allowed Rangers to bypass Motherwell's press. Although the match ended in a draw, it revealed some encouraging aspects of their play.
However, weaknesses apparent in this game have been magnified against stronger opposition.
Three Reasons Martin's System is Struggling
Rangers' difficulties can be attributed to three primary factors.
Firstly, they have frequently lost possession in central areas, with defenders and the holding midfielder often responsible for risky passes. Losing the ball centrally increases the likelihood of conceding from counter-attacks, whereas losing it in wide areas poses less immediate danger.
Secondly, the team's 'rest defense'—a term describing how many players remain behind the ball when in possession—has been inadequate. When Rangers push for an attacking pass, they often find themselves with only three players ready to defend. This leaves their central defenders and holding midfielder vulnerable, particularly when the ball is lost.
Lastly, Martin has struggled with the deployment of individual players within his squad. John Souttar has alternated between right and left center-back roles, while Aarons has played both full-back positions. Additionally, wingers Djeidi Gassama and Mikey Moore have switched sides, and Joe Rothwell has been utilized as a single defensive midfielder despite having experience alongside a holding midfielder at Leeds United last season.
While questions can be raised about his tactical decisions, Martin has had varying degrees of success with similar strategies in the past. The effectiveness of a tactical plan often hinges on the quality of the players available. They must be capable of executing the manager's instructions and be comfortable in their roles, which may necessitate adjustments from the coach.
Signs of adaptation were evident in last Saturday's match against Hibernian, which marked only Rangers' second domestic win. The full-backs positioned themselves wider, Gassama and Moore were deployed as wingers who could cut inside, and Nicolas Raskin was tasked with executing challenging central passes.
Has Martin Abandoned His Philosophy?
The 6-0 loss to Club Brugge marked a pivotal moment for Martin.
In the aftermath of that defeat, he faced Celtic and Hearts—currently the top two teams in the league—prompting him to alter his system for the first time in his managerial career. In his inaugural position at MK Dons, he lost his first four matches without deviating from his tactics.
In a 2023 interview with Coaches' Voice, he stated, "I told the [MK Dons] players from the start that we weren’t going to be outcome-based. We focused on every step, every game, moving closer to the team we wanted to be. Many managers expressed regret for changing their approach due to pressure when results faltered. If I was to be dismissed, I wanted it to be for adhering to my principles."
These remarks reflect a coach who has remained steadfast in his beliefs, even during challenging times.
Martin's recent shift away from his long-held philosophy suggests the mounting pressure he faces at Ibrox. In the last two league matches, he has implemented a 4-2-3-1 formation, sidelining summer signings Aarons and Rothwell. The midfield duo has adopted a more disciplined and industrious approach, contrasting with Martin's usual preference for attacking full-backs and midfielders.
While Tavernier continues to form a back three with the center-backs, there is now greater central support from the midfield, and both the goalkeeper and defenders have shown a willingness to clear the ball upfield. These changes appear to be pragmatic adjustments that deviate from his traditional style.