Are the Glasgow Rangers players, new and old being utilised correctly and played to their strengths? Is this simply teething pains of a new team? Does Russell Martin (RM) actually need more time? Is the Rangers squad still not finished? IMHO the players look overloaded with data and have looked restricted.
They just cannot cope and implement what RM is asking them to do with any sort of confidence. We are insecure and fragile as a team. Particularly defensively. I also feel like he’s stifled Raskin’s form and trajectory from last season. Why put Raskin as a LCM? I mean I like Rothwell (a CAM) but Raskin is better at CDM by a country mile.
And what has happened to Dio? We have ruined him. A natural leftsided CM or more comfortable on the left, yeah let’s put him in at RCM 🤦â€�♂ï¸� (which was a Clement idea) or in at CDM, and also just leave him on when he can barely run. Before he joined us, he was a Left CAM, LCM and even deployed at LW if i’m not mistaken and was scoring and assisting most weeks.
Why did we take Djiga?, who BTW seems to be impervious to any criticism and we are told how he’s this great defender. 10 million they spent (hope they kept the receipt) I must seeing the game differently.
To not sign another LCB allowing John Souttar his favoured, best side as a RCB is just stupidity and we have all seen it before. He can’t play LCB not to the standard required, over on the right he’s fine and usually a standout. Personally would’ve given Big Leon one more year, until Manny was ready.
Why take Aarons and throw him in at LB only to totally obliterate any confidence a new player is coming with? I actually felt sorry for him. BTW Max Aarons is a very good footballer. Given time at RB he will be good for us. Hoping Jayden Meghoma will rectify that, but for now while we build Aarons back up, i’d play Tav at RB.
And then we have Dowell. A player ridiculed rightly or wrongly. When we are trailing and already in a battle, RM brings the one player off the bench that will get an immediate negative reaction from an already hostile crowd. Dowell reminds of the Lammers situation.
In fact so many similarities to the Michael Beale era it’s a little frightening (mainly stubbornness and sticking to a philosophy that hasn’t paid off yet). And the fact RM talks a good game makes me uneasy. I can only hope whilst hiding behind the couch every match, that this is the time we are all proven wrong. And he actually does have a plan and the players are learning from it.
I don’t think it’s all lost yet, but he needs to simplify roles, play players to their actual strengths. And we need to go buy a ST, LCB and LB. Then i’d be happier and at least be willing to see how we progress over the next few months. But I guess the next few games will probably determine our season and RM’s career, particularly the Old Firm.
And on a side note, I really hope we come good, not for RM’s sake, but for our club. We need success, it’s the only thing that keeps the fans onside. Winning the league should be our absolute main focus.