Latest news with #KieranDowell
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Russell Martin fails to silence Rangers boo boys as Gassama penalty splits Monday Jury
Kieran Dowell was booed as he went on for Rangers. Does the Ibrox faithful need to show patience to Russell Martin and his team? KEITH JACKSON: Martin absolutely needs their patience but if the manager continues to make decisions which appear to the fans not to make any sense he'll test their tolerance to its limits. Persisting with Max Aarons at right back while leaving Nico Raskin on the bench isn't helping matters. MICHAEL GANNON: They are going to have to chill out a tad, accept it's going to be a bumpy ride for a while and hope Martin gets it right eventually. It's still early days and this desperation for it all to click immediately could be counter-productive. SCOTT BURNS: Russell Martin and his new team need time but that is the one thing you don't get in Glasgow. Regardless of it being a rebuild, you need to win games and they are not doing that in the Premiership. It needs to be addressed and quickly. READ MORE: Russell Martin may be delusional and Rangers will do well to fixate on a whole new rival – Keith Jackson READ MORE: 'My team have let me down again' admits hurting Rangers fan as unyielding Celtic dominance sets the Hotline on fire Rangers got a point against Dundee thanks to a late penalty. For you, was it a spot kick and a foul on Djeidi Gassama? KEITH: It was clever from Gassama who got his body across Drey Wright and caused a tangle of legs. There was enough contact to justify the award even if Wright did very little wrong. MICHAEL: Drey Wright got on the wrong side and tried a sneaky tug to pull Gassama back. The winger's theatrics didn't look great but by the letter of the law it was a penalty. SCOTT: I do think it was extremely soft. I thought Gassama went down looking for it. I can see why Dundee felt aggrieved. Is the clock ticking on Arne Engels' time at Celtic? The record signing has been on the bench for the first two games KEITH: No. On the contrary, the young Belgian has bags of time on his side. The question is, can he make the most of it when the chance comes along? There is certainly plenty of room for improvement. MICHAEL: It's certainly interesting with the record signing benched for the opening two games of the season. There were signs of a real player in Engels last term but he needs to step up this term and nail his place in the side. SCOTT: I do think he will be at the fore for the big games. I am sure he will have a big part to play over the course of the season. He is a player Brendan Rodgers' rates highly. Livingston have come up and made a storming start. They were amongst the favourites for the drop but who do you think will finish bottom of the Premiership? KEITH: This could be a tricky first campaign in the job for Stewart Kettlewell at Kilmarnock. Derek McInnes was always going to be a hard act to follow and Kettlewell will have his work cut out just keeping the club's top flight status intact. MICHAEL: It already looks a long haul for Falkirk unless they really tighten up at the back. The bottom six sides are fairly evenly matched though so no one will get cut off and it will turn into a proper dog fight. SCOTT: I do think Falkirk could really struggle. John McGlynn might need to break up his back-to-back promotion winners to make an impact in the Premiership. I thought they might come up with a real bounce but the defeat to Livingston will have been a sore one.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cyriel Dessers sends direct message to Rangers boo boys
Cyriel Dessers has called on the jittery Rangers support to cut Russell Martin's new-look Light Blues some slack. The stuttering Ibrox outfit have been booed off in both of their opening two Premiership fixtures after spilling points against both Motherwell and Dundee. There were moments of alarm in the stands during the clashes at Fir Park and Ibrox as Martin's ropey Rangers struggled to get to grips with the new high-risk possession game being introduced by the former Southampton gaffer. READ MORE: Russell Martin has Rangers dressing room convinced of one thing after Dundee disappointment READ MORE: Nasser Djiga out of Rangers vs Celtic as dreaded derby scenario unfolds after unwanted record Substitute Kieran Dowell was also targeted with jeers as the Ibrox fall guy was introduced during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Steven Pressley's Dark Blues. Dessers found himself in a similar situation to that last year but recovered to blast 28 goals. Now the Nigeria international has appealed to fans to show support as they work to fix the bugs in their new system and recreate the flowing football they displayed during the Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen. He said: "We're all we're all in this together. The team, the club, the fans, and we need each other as well. "It maybe sounds weird, but we need the fans to give us maybe not the patience or the time, but to help us when we give a difficult pass or we try to dribble or we try a shot, to encourage that and appreciate that, because we do it with a goal. "But yeah, it's also for us on a night, like we had during the week, it's nice to give something back to these fans, give a good performance, give a good win. "This is the only way that this can grow again. Ibrox was rocking this week. It's unbelievable, and we need to go to that place as well in the league games so that Ibrox is rocking as well." Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers page, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here. Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks
BBC News
05-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'The attack is tepid and lacking in quality'
After the Panathinkos tie, I was looking forward to the Motherwell game, especially as it was two new managers trying to implement their styles. Unfortunately for Rangers and Russell Martin, the Motherwell side looked far more comfortable and were worth more than the 1-1 alluded to players having to drop their ego and work harder, but that wasn't our only issue, especially in the second are several, let's call them teething problems, with the system. For example, Max Aarons has to come inside the pitch due to his lack of efficiency on his left foot. The midfield is far too open in transition, basically leaving the number six on their own when the two number eights are ahead of the possession, Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande are playing as the number eights so far and they look lost at points. They are having to cut inside to use their stronger feet and when they are having to play high and wider, they have to cross the ball on their weaker foot. It's not working for either so far, thus making us ineffectual in the final third. It's a situation that needs addressing by the management attack is tepid and lacking in quality. Well, that's unfair on Djeidi Gassama. He looks a threat and looks like a very useful I have some sympathy for Danilo. He's working hard and has yet to receive the support or a clear-cut chance in three matches.I'm leaving Kieran Dowell to last because he should never be near this Rangers side. He's not got the quality or the drive to be playing for this club, never mind on the right the signing of Mikey Moore and the arrival of Oliver Antman mean that Dowell will no longer occupy that position. Let's be honest, he should be out the door come the end of the transfer window, along with several shall see how the team reacts against Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox because we need a marked improvement from both players and the manager.
Daily Mail
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Rangers players needed to hear home truths from Martin, insists Dowell
KIERAN DOWELL has revealed that Russell Martin told his Rangers failures to take a long hard look in the mirror after blowing it at Fir Park — and admitted some harsh truths are maybe what some of them needed. The Ibrox side drew 1-1 at Motherwell after a James Tavernier opener was cancelled out three minutes from time by Emmanuel Longelo. Martin claimed his side didn't deserve a point given the standard of performance and lashed out over egos in the team as well as a lack of mentality and fighting spirit. Dowell didn't argue when told Martin had accused players of going into self-preservation mode and stopping looking for the ball when things get tough. Admitting similar was said in the dressing-room, he admitted: 'The manager's been here five or six weeks now and that's what he's noticed. It's not been a successful time for the club and maybe we needed those sort of home truths. 'It's not for me to say. It's the manager's opinion. He said to us: 'Look yourself in the mirror. If you think that was you, have a look at yourself'.' Asked about Martin feeling hurt by the display, Dowell replied: 'We all were, but he was right. We weren't good enough for this club. The quality of players we have, compared to (Motherwell), we shouldn't be throwing that game. 'We had a good start and then didn't put the game to bed. We almost sleepwalked into conceding that equaliser and probably deserved it in the end. 'They threw a lot more at it. They got a lot more aggressive in the second half and probably should have scored sooner. 'We didn't take the initiative to get that second goal. That's what we have to learn from, fast. 'It's not been the most successful period for the club and it's down to us as players. We've obviously had a few managers now and it's up to us to prove it.' Rangers fans were angry after the final whistle, but Dowell believes the team can bounce back. 'It's a long season, but I definitely understand the frustration. It's not to say we can't recover, definitely not. 'It's not a big blow. It's a reality check.'
STV News
03-08-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Kieran Dowell says opening day draw was a reality check for Rangers
Kieran Dowell described Rangers' 1-1 draw with Motherwell on Saturday as a 'reality check' after boss Russell Martin questioned the mentality of some players. It was not the start to the Premiership campaign that the new Gers boss or the travelling fans at Fir Park wanted, although it started positively when skipper James Tavernier headed in Joe Rothwell's 14th-minute corner. However, to the frustration of Martin and the Gers fans, the Ibrox side did not kick on and eventually succumbed to a spirited Well side in the 87th minute when Emmanuel Longelo drove in the equaliser. It is the third successive season that Rangers have failed to win their opening league game and afterwards Martin – who has to prepare his players for the first leg of the Champions League third qualifier against Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox on Tuesday night – lashed out at some players, talking about 'egos' and self-preservation'. Dowell, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Birmingham but who has started all three games under Martin, said: 'Not a big blow. It's a reality check. 'The first season I was here, we got beaten on the first day of the season 1-0 by Kilmarnock and it was in our hands by the end of the season. 'So it's a cliche, but it is a long season and there's plenty of time to catch up. 'But it's a few home truths (from Martin) I think. Obviously, we had a good start and then didn't put the game to bed. 'Almost sleep-walked into conceding that equaliser and probably deserved it in the end. 'I think the manager's been here five, six weeks now and that's what he's noticed. 'It's not been a successful time for the club and maybe we needed those sort of home truths, maybe some of the lads needed that. 'It's not for me to say. It's the manager's opinion and he said to us 'look yourself in the mirror'. 'And it's down to us, as players. We've obviously had a few managers now and it's up to us to prove it, if we want to be at this club going forward.' Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou, taking charge of his first game and a former team-mate of Martin at Norwich, was 'delighted' with his side's performance and believes it stands them in good stead for the future. He said: 'I think we already have confidence in what we're doing. I think we've been very effective with what we're doing, we want to be even more effective in terms of the chances we've created, but we've played some really good football in the pre-season. 'We've improved. We've played a very good (friendly) game against Hertha (Berlin) the other day, and this was a step up. 'It was a performance against a team and a club, who knows, might be in the Champions League in a couple of weeks from now. 'So we're really happy with the progress, with the confidence that there is in the team already, and for sure, this is going to push everyone in the right direction.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
