20 Aug 2025 18:55:42
Stig I will try and answer your questions.
1. Martin got into 1st place because he made an outstanding presentation of his vision and he interviewed well.
2. I believe now the appointment is disastrous due to not being able to see the vision materialise.
3. there were a few realistic options I thought were better but did not do as well during presentation.
4. Martin used his previous time at Rangers to better portray an understanding of the complexities of the undertaking.
I hope this is at the very least helpful.
20 Aug 2025 19:08:46
Asa those were my suspicions when he got the job as I thought the other names being mentioned seemed superior to him in every other way it had to be the interview that swung it. Sadly he can talk the talk, but has problems walking the walk.
I did not think it was possible for his time as a manger to be worse than his time as a player, but he proved ne wrong.
20 Aug 2025 19:09:01
Thanks Asa for your post and reply very much appreciated as always.
I fear for the season ahead if this continues
I also fear for the players especially the new players and how this could all unfold and how it affects there perception of the club and fans
But at same time we can't be held to ransom by being scared to change a manager so quickly to the detriment of our entire season and beyond.
20 Aug 2025 19:15:25
Asa, so he made such a strong presentation but the promises (?) made aren't coming to pass in the way or timescales he promised (assumptions with the last parts) . so have the new owners seen this already and do they then have plans to cut this short as they have been oversold (for want of a better word).
you may not be able to answer but felt that it was worth asking someone who is close to that ownership decision process.
20 Aug 2025 19:25:53
I wouldn't be surprised if the above is correct. My worry is that the American's have had their heads turned by some fancy PowerPoint.
But that doesn't really explain the Thelwell part in this. Are the signing we have made RM's or his or both? Aaron's? Recruitment is literally killing our club.
20 Aug 2025 19:37:56
So basically he talks a good game. Did anybody actually look at his actual track record, break it down, analyse it like we are doing with everything else now. Did they talk to anyone for the low down.
I do have a question for those in the know.
What's Thelwell track record like?
20 Aug 2025 19:53:33
Asa is there any proof the board actually spoke to or interviewed anyone else for the managers job other than martin, my suspicions are they did not, just proves the point that martin is a fannyman.
20 Aug 2025 20:00:15
Unfortunately I am unable to answer Angus.
What I will say is I believe the board will be decisive.
Ghazz I have no problem with the recruitment as our squad is the best in a decade.
Not every signing works but most have been good.
Regardless this team should be performing far better than they are currently.
20 Aug 2025 20:04:40
Is it not a bit early to see a vision when the club and team were a shambles that he took over? And if it's a "disastrous" appointment after 2 league games what does that say about the people doing their due diligence on him? This isn't a stranger walking into a normal interview and coming across well, his track record is there for all to see and there are connections you can speak to to get a fuller insight into him, his style, strengths, weaknesses etc so I'd be concerned about the quality of the people making the appointment if we got it so wrong.
20 Aug 2025 20:12:23
I'd be astounded if it took only one interview to select a manager. Knowing the way American companies work it usually takes multiple meetings. If that's not the case then surely some of those alternatives should have been able to get their pitches across over time.
Not defending RM, and I get some people 'interview' well but surely due diligence can see through more than a pretty presentation….
20 Aug 2025 20:16:39
Asa, if this appointment is indeed going sour quickly, I would also suspect the board will act decisively and quickly. if the recruitment has been good, as many feel overall (other than too many loan signings), would that indicate if the trigger is pulled we would aim for a more pragmatic coach? One who has a track record of 'working with what he has', as I doubt there's much time left to rework the squad.
20 Aug 2025 20:17:09
So as previous managers he's spoke his way into the role… absolute blagger. Shouldn't have been any where near the role.
20 Aug 2025 20:21:28
Alloa I agree and that is why I don't think the board will be looking to sack him in the near future. time will tell if they do act decisively but for the fans who don't want Martin I hope they do act in a way that shows the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively. as a fan who wants patience with at least one manager I would rather we didn't have this bickering between the fan base so hope for the same.
I feel however that they realise the issues the club had and the amount of work needed to bring it back on something approaching an even keel. If he does go then hopefully the board approach the next recruitment process in a more professional way by looking at track records of the clubs the prospective managers had previously been at. I agree that I have no confidence in them getting the next one right either.
20 Aug 2025 20:31:43
Asa - that's a bold statement when Aarons, Rowthwell, Djiga, Antman, Aasgard have it all to prove
The only quality signing so far has been Gassama.
20 Aug 2025 20:34:50
We should always look for a pragmatic individual. Let them decide what data to use and how to use it.
20 Aug 2025 20:36:35
Macnaughten where did he say there was only one interview?
They said they would be no honeymoon period so let's get him to France and save our season.
20 Aug 2025 20:41:42
Id have to say overall happy with most of the signings, personally don't think we needed Rothwell, Aarons looks like an amateur i'd hoped he would have shown some of the form leading to him being labelled the next golden boy of English footy but not a glimpse of that. Gassama has the makings of a legend for us Aasgaard looks promising and highly thought of same with Antman new LB showed sum promise last night tbf as for Djiga he's struggling and for me was totally at fault for 1st goal basic defending should have made sure that chance never happened. What concerns me is our defence has been a shambles for years and its STILL not being sorted until it does there will be no confidence throughout the whole team. Was prepared to give RM a chance and sum time but i expected us to be much better than we have been so really finding it difficult to stick to those thoughts.
20 Aug 2025 20:43:37
Think EHL has said that company brought in to select manager candidates narrowed it down to Ancelotti and Rohl. Martin was brought in by Thelwell and as Asa said appears to have interviewed the best. Unfortunately he can talk the talk but falls over when tries to walk the walk.
If Rohl was one of original two and he is available after leaving Wednesday not against getting him in.
20 Aug 2025 20:53:02
Storm, nowhere did it say one interview.
I simply said I'd be astounded if it did as the inference was that RM interviewed better, which I suspect came through over multiple.
So if as per usual you wish to attack another poster at least have the decency to read throughly.
20 Aug 2025 20:57:12
Was there not an element of having to pay considerably more wages to get one of the Germans in.
20 Aug 2025 21:09:53
Angus I'd be concerned if the board acted decisively and sacked him, what message would that send to any other potential manager we're looking at, drop some points in your first 2 league games and defenders make individual errors in a European tie and you're getting sacked! In a few weeks time we could be within a point of Celtic, put hibs out the cup and in the groups stages of Europa league, yeah what a total disaster that would be! Don't get me wrong it could also look very different and a lot worse by that time but jeezo what a self entitled bunch we've become, Starved of success for that long that we're giving managers 2 league games then talk of sacking him.
20 Aug 2025 21:12:12
Agree 100% Alloa.
Having a hard time reconciling the repeated contention that we have masterful businessmen at the helm of our club, but that they also royally screwed up the most important decision as their first order of business.
That these seasoned international businessmen were somehow misled by a whiff of BS from the mouth of a smooth talking Englishman. That they were so easily hoodwinked by a man whose track record and footballing philosophy is public domain.
I'm sorry, but if Martin fails here, it will leave an unsightly stain on the 49ers executive team as well.
20 Aug 2025 21:59:55
Like most clubs people who know very little about football make the appointments, asking others to do jobs they could never do themselves and have no understanding of the job involved .
I've listened to Stewart and Thelwell and I would prefer not to do it again, it's tough. But most clubs have these types and always have had. I can see how a gob skitter like Martin could convince them.
20 Aug 2025 22:13:22
Alloa we are in agreement and I don't think the board will act quickly as said; using the dictionary meaning of decisively (sorry can't help being a pedant) . they would look stupid if they act so quickly and also would have. difficult sell to any other manager of any quality. there will be the usual ones put forward and all will be out of a job no doubt.
20 Aug 2025 22:18:22
I ain't attacking you you posted utter bs so I asked where did he say one interview? You have explained it that's fine. You brought it up with no basis of it being true. It's pretty irrelevant what you said.
20 Aug 2025 22:19:26
It's not even been 2 months. I'll judge it by Christmas.
20 Aug 2025 22:19:27
Alloa have you watched us? That's not happening.
20 Aug 2025 22:38:57
Asa, do we have a plan B ready now if this continues? 3 win, 3 draw, 2 loss is not acceptable (even more so with the Alloa win being less than convincing) .
Teams should come to Ibrox and be nervous to play, yet for too long they have loved it.
20 Aug 2025 22:39:11
252 games as manager 39% win rate 361 goals conceded shouldn't even have got interview with those stats I'd be binning the clowns who hired him as well totally incompetent.
20 Aug 2025 23:03:50
Surely they would have done due diligence and asked past clubs etc what went wrong? Great info Asa and great to see you back on.
21 Aug 2025 05:15:33
So the new owners hasn't seen his vision in a couple of months cool.
21 Aug 2025 06:01:55
In other words marting got into first place because he used all the buisinessmen buzz words for football.
When it comes right down to it we have buisiness people making football decisions just like in workplaces its not always the best worker or even the smartest that gets the job its the one who can kiss the right ass and sound the most controllable.
21 Aug 2025 06:27:22
Asa my good friend, i'll ask you this and probably know roughly your answer anyway but i'll ask just the same mate. ?
1. Do you think we could get kjetil knutsen as our next manager? if nothing improves under Russell Martin
2. do you think even with our current squad at this moment in time, do you think knutsen would make / build a very good team from our current squad of players at our disposal? ?
I'm asking this because i actually do think we've signed some really good players ?.
21 Aug 2025 07:41:57
Not 1 single fan wanted Martin. It was always a near impossible task for him. Most want him sacked myself included and results will dictate this.
Within the next 5 games we could be out the champions league out the league cup and possibly 13 points behind in the league if we lose to St Mirren, Celtic and hearts as 2 of these are away from home.
I know it's all iffs and buts, but you get my point here. If this happens then Martin will surely be gone because this new team excuse is not washing with people.
I think anyone else would have been given a chance by the fans but Martin was so unpopular he's getting nothing.
21 Aug 2025 07:57:34
Yes totally agree Angus. Storm I know it looks unlikely but I see us improving the more that Gassama, Antman and Aasgaard can play together, I'm just saying we need to give him a chance. He's told us there'll be bumps along the road and that it would be a bit painful to begin with, if we weren't happy with that and demanded perfection from day 1 then we shouldn't have appointed him.
I don't think they're any great shakes across the city and I believe they'll drop more points this year as other teams in the league, I believe are getting stronger. I think we have the players to really challenge this year but we give it time.
21 Aug 2025 09:59:49
If someone has a pish interview, you don't offer them a second one, if someone has a good interview then they go onto the next round.
21 Aug 2025 10:00:38
Alex and they sack him and an interim comes in and loses then what's next?
21 Aug 2025 11:00:14
Although we're all talking about personal replacement manager's etc, i don't think our owners will get rid of Russell Martin this early, i truly don't and think they'll give him much more time?Of course things need to improve but imo he'll get the time until at least Christmas and well beyond, if we do start to see improvement ? Like i've said, i think we've signed good players.
21 Aug 2025 11:41:21
If he could at least sort out that barnet as it's clearly distracting him .
21 Aug 2025 12:39:13
I keep saying it but how can you say the signings are good and the best in a decade . Aarons, Djiga and Rothwell have been terrible so far, Fernandez can't even get a game even though Djiga has been hopeless and Antman has had one good game and now looks lost. Gassama has been a success and we haven't seen enough of Maghoma, Moore and Aasgaard to judge but two of them aren't even ours so if they have a good season it ultimately benefits other clubs .
Its far too early to make that statement and judge either way.
21 Aug 2025 12:41:23
Alberts- great post!
21 Aug 2025 18:54:08
When people say nobody wanted martin
Do the ones saying it like its a stick to bash folk over head with not stop and think there is a reason for that when you look at the mans record has not improved any team hea been at and i believe Rangers could eb the last stop on his career going downhill.
And before anyone says southampton they were always a yoyo team and he took them right back to where he found them.