LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 26: Russell Martin Manager of Southampton celebration after winning promotion to the English Premier League after beating Leeds United 1-0 during the Sky Bet Championship Play Final match between Leeds United and Southampton at Wembley Stadium on May 26, 2024 in London, England.(Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
On Tuesday morning not many outsiders would have put Ibrox fans down as the most knowledgeable and informed in Europe.
Football wise they have never seemed the smartest with ‘getintaethem’ about the sum of their tactical know how with that message preferably delivered by a Right Good Rainjurz man, someone like Barry Ferguson who gets it.
How wrong were we?
Turns out that they spent most of 2024 studying Southampton as they won promotion to the EPL through the play-offs then bombed spectacularly, narrowly avoiding Derby’s record as the worst team in the EPL. Managed by wee Billy Davies.
In charge until December 15 was Russell Marton, one tweet before noon from Fabrizio Romano provoked outrage from loyal bears to the news that the former Southampton boss was on the brink of succeeding Phil Clement at Ibrox.
— Tam sellic son (@TamseIIicsonIII) June 3, 2025
Rather than being assessed as right-wing knuckle-dragging morons it seems that the Ibrox fan-base are street wise tactical experts appalled at the brand of football that the bearded hipster will bring to their club, one that went more than three months without a win at Ibrox last season.
The reaction to Martin’s likely appointment has nothing to do with him being a vegan Buddhist that is an active member of the Green Party, or that he ignored Rishi Sunak when he visited St Mary’s to watch his beloved Southampton,
In 16 EPL matches under Martin Southampton won just one game, drew two and lost 13.
And that is the reason Ibrox fans went tonto yesterday on social media, nothing else.
Martin gained five EPL points, after he was sacked Southampton gained seven more with largely the same squad of players.
In season 23/24 Martin took Southampton to the EPL, beating the celebrated Leeds United in the Wembley final.
Another season in the Championship would probably have suited their squad and manager, often teams gain promotion that aren’t equipped for the demands of the EPL.
Kieran McKenna is one of the highest rated young managers in England, at Ipswich last season he won four matches with the club relegated with 22 points.
No doubt if he was linked with the Ibrox job their fans would dig up something trivial to object to over the man born in London but raised in County Fermanagh.
Martin’s tactics aren’t a million miles away from Brendanball. We could all be in a for a slow death next season, saddled to the horseshoe of doom. (See what I did there?)
… and if we can get a “stable” team we will do a lot “mare” than just a double.
Brilliant response!
Was just thinking the same thing Paddy
It will be shite to watch but will give Brendan a better chance of winning more than the one point outta nine that he took off Sevco in 2025 thus far…
Still very, very, very happy with the big prize and by the huge gap as well !
My first competitive game was in 1957…We played wi’ a Goalie…2 full backs…2 hauf backs …a centre hauf…2 wingers…2 inside men…and a centre forward…Bring that back Brendan and you’ll scoosh it…
TN I have being saying this for yonks. If 90% of teams play with 11 men behind the ball why do you even need a midfield. Have at least five forwards and pap the ball up to them. Simples.
How did MON accommodate Larsson, Sutton and Hartson and we have to choose between Idah or Maeda 0r Kenny.
Nonsense.
As someone else mentioned Martin sounds very like Rodgers, no plan B or any adjustment at all to the only system they know
A quick scan of the usual media monkeys , The Sun , Record etc this morning
They’ve been told listen you cunts better start getting behind this guy
They’re pathologically lying to you Harold…
Hope ya found it on a bus rather than keeping them in a job !
I think Kieran’s first name would have been a ‘Red Card’ moment for der hun.
“Shirley not”, Everyone, Anyone, Anybody ?
Who Are These People.
They’d have needed to re-name him.
Ted. Andy. Ally. Maybe just Billy.
The Scottish press are asking the huns to back Mr Martin and he isn’t even in the door yet. The video was very funny.
What next – Greta Thunberg as the assistant? The huns singing We shall overcome and Cumbaya MiLord instead of The Famine Song and Up tae wur knees in Fenian Blood?
Laughing already!