Latest news with #RusselMartin
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Are Rangers heading for an 'implosion' after stuttering start to season?
Former Scotland international Michael Stewart thinks Rangers could be nearing "implosion" if Russel Martin's side don't show signs of "marked improvement" following their draw with Dundee on were booed off the Ibrox pitch after the 1-1 draw to leave Martin with two points from his first two Premiership side had shown signs of promise against Viktoria Plzen last week but have often been unable to replicate their European displays in domestic to BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, Stewart said Rangers' struggle was down to Steven Pressley's side sitting in as opposed to the openness of Plzen."Because Plzen weren't sitting in trying to hold on to a result," Stewart pinpointed as the reason for the poor performance."Dundee were defensive, resilient and didn't look to open up their low block. They had three centre-halves who were just lapping up the balls into the box."As Russel Martin said last week, Rangers lacked intensity and pace in their play, which he isn't wrong about, but it makes you question what the message was before the also believes poor recruitment and a lack of leadership within the squad has been the consistent factor in their substandard domestic added: "I think it's about big characters and big leaders, which I just don't see in the Rangers team."I spoke last week about how they have been building on shifting sands since they went into administration. Maybe other than two years with [Steven] Gerrard but after the first wave of selling on players, there was nothing behind it."They didn't recruit well and changed managers constantly. It just seems like rinse and repeat, all these managers come in and say the right things but the actions belittle those words."If you're looking for intensity, desire and grit then you have to sign the appropriate players and it doesn't look like they've done that. "Where are the leaders in this Rangers team?"The concern at Ibrox is the fans' patience is virtually nil, and if they don't see marked improvement and quickly, there could be an implosion".
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Russell Martin facing Rangers festive fixture headache as four stars could miss Celtic clash
Russel Martin is facing a Rangers festive fixture headache as up to FOUR stars could be missing for the crunch run of games due to the African Cup of Nations. Cyriel Dessers, Mohamed Diomande, Hamza Igamane and Nasser Djiga might all be ruled out of massive away clashes at rivals Celtic, Hearts and Aberdeen. Traditionally, the African tournament has been played after the New Year over January and February. But this year, the finals in Morocco are being played a month earlier, beginning in December. READ MORE: Tavernier returns to Rangers fold but Raskin has point to prove in predicted XI vs Dundee READ MORE: Rangers are everything Celtic aren't right now as smart money is on the club that's throwing it about FIFA changed the dates because of the new-look Champions League format, which sees key knockout games played in January. Plans to stage the tournament this summer were scrapped due to the expansion of the Club World Cup. That has left the tournament to be scheduled around the festive period, which would be bad news for Rangers. As things stand, Dessers would play for Nigeria, Diomande would represent Ivory Coast, Igamane would be in the squad of hosts Morocco and Djiga would play for Burkina Faso at the tournament. All four countries have qualified. FIFA have yet to announce the minimum period that clubs have to release their players, but it could potentially lead to the quartet missing five league games and a Scottish Cup tie. And the bad news for Rangers is that they include arguably their three hardest away trips of the season - to Celtic, Aberdeen and Hearts, with the Old Firm game on January 3 at Parkhead. They would also be scheduled to miss home games against Motherwell and St Mirren, depending on how far the teams get in the tournament. Rangers could even have been missing five players had their move for Real Betis and Senegal defender Nobel Mendy gone ahead. It's the seventh African Cup of Nations in a row that has not gone ahead as originally scheduled due to a variety of reasons, including instability in Libya, an outbreak of Ebola in Guinea, delays in the construction of stadiums in Cameroon, Covid and the rainy season in the Ivory Coast. 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 and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also 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.
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Champions League play-off update for Rangers after first leg
The winner of the tie will likely play Rangers in the UCL play-off towards the end of the month. It was revealed on Monday that Russel Martin's side would face either of the teams in the final qualifying match of the tournament before the league phase commences should they get past Viktoria Plzen. The Ibrox side made short work of the Czech outfit last night, with a 3-0 win secured heading into next week's return leg. Two goals by Djeidi Gassama and a Cyriel Dessers penalty had the hosts on easy street, and a significant advantage heading into the second leg in Plzen, where it would take a catastrophic collapse not to progress through to the UCL play-off. Rangers are guaranteed league phase football in Europe this season, as if the Scottish Premiership side fail to advance then they would drop into the Europa League. While nothing is settled yet, with the game only at the halfway point over the two legs, the Belgian team have a one-goal advantage. They scored on 74 minutes through frontman Romeo Vermant to seal the 1-0 away win in Switzerland. It was the only goal of the game, with little between the teams. Rangers know that reaching the play-off will see them host the first leg at home on August 19/20 against Brugge or RB Salzburg, with the return match taking place on August 26/27.
The National
5 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Rangers' potential Champions League play-off opponent latest
The winner of the tie will likely play Rangers in the UCL play-off towards the end of the month. It was revealed on Monday that Russel Martin's side would face either of the teams in the final qualifying match of the tournament before the league phase commences should they get past Viktoria Plzen. The Ibrox side made short work of the Czech outfit last night, with a 3-0 win secured heading into next week's return leg. Two goals by Djeidi Gassama and a Cyriel Dessers penalty had the hosts on easy street, and a significant advantage heading into the second leg in Plzen, where it would take a catastrophic collapse not to progress through to the UCL play-off. Rangers are guaranteed league phase football in Europe this season, as if the Scottish Premiership side fail to advance then they would drop into the Europa League. While nothing is settled yet, with the game only at the halfway point over the two legs, the Belgian team have a one-goal advantage. Read more: They scored on 74 minutes through frontman Romeo Vermant to seal the 1-0 away win in Switzerland. It was the only goal of the game, with little between the teams. Rangers know that reaching the play-off will see them host the first leg at home on August 19/20 against Brugge or RB Salzburg, with the return match taking place on August 26/27.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Rangers' potential Champions League play-off opponent latest
It was revealed on Monday that Russel Martin's side would face either of the teams in the final qualifying match of the tournament before the league phase commences should they get past Viktoria Plzen. The Ibrox side made short work of the Czech outfit last night, with a 3-0 win secured heading into next week's return leg. Two goals by Djeidi Gassama and a Cyriel Dessers penalty had the hosts on easy street, and a significant advantage heading into the second leg in Plzen, where it would take a catastrophic collapse not to progress through to the UCL play-off. Rangers are guaranteed league phase football in Europe this season, as if the Scottish Premiership side fail to advance then they would drop into the Europa League. While nothing is settled yet, with the game only at the halfway point over the two legs, the Belgian team have a one-goal advantage. Read more: They scored on 74 minutes through frontman Romeo Vermant to seal the 1-0 away win in Switzerland. It was the only goal of the game, with little between the teams. Rangers know that reaching the play-off will see them host the first leg at home on August 19/20 against Brugge or RB Salzburg, with the return match taking place on August 26/27.
