'The myth' about Russell's tactics
Russell Martin struggled in the Premier League - but how much will that matter in Scotland? [PA Media]
What is the "myth" about new Rangers head coach Russell Martin's tactics?
Scottish coach and analyst John Walker feels there is a misconception with how people view former Swansea City and Southampton boss Martin's possession-based style, insisting it doesn't just mean the ball is just "passed about the back".
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"Martin's football is possession based, but it's attacking football," Walker said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"If he can get it forward in two passes, it's going forward in two passes.
"People keep coming at me with the same thing, 'he's never played against a low block'. He's played against a low block loads because teams were scared of how his teams were playing.
"If teams want to drop into a low block and fear Rangers, that suits Martin. That's what Martin wants. That's where Rangers will see a lot of goals being scored.
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"The flipside of that is there'll be a high defensive line, there'll be high risk, there'll be one-v-one defending at the back. And that's where you see Martin's horrendous goals against stats."
Do the Premier League struggles of Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou prove managerial performance in England and Scotland's top flights is incomparable?
Large numbers of Rangers fans appear to be underwhelmed at the appointment of former player Martin as their new head coach.
That is somewhat fuelled by the ex-Scotland defender's gruelling experience as a manager in England's top tier.
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Southampton won just once in 16 games before sacking Martin in December, but Walker feels the Premier League is "just not a comparable metric for how successful you can be in Scotland".
Despite winning the Europa League, Postecoglou, a hugely successful Celtic manager, oversaw Tottenham's worst ever Premier League season last term, with the team finishing 17th.
In the 2022-23 campaign, Celtic boss Rodgers had Leicester heading towards relegation when he departed in the April. The Foxes ultimately went down.
Rodgers' next move would be a return to Parkhead, where he has resumed cleaning up domestic prizes.
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"Martin's Southampton experience rubs people the wrong way," said Walker.
"Rodgers had good seasons in England, but he also had bad seasons. With Postecoglou, league wise, this is a terrible time at Tottenham.
"But he dominated and revolutionised Scottish football for two years, so there just is no comparison."
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