21 Sep 2025 21:38:03
EHL or anyone, can you explain to me:
1. Who in the club made the decision on the parameters alluded by Patrick Stewart in his statement and 2. What experience in Scottish football they have making this decision? Surely this should be made by people who have played or managed here?
Stewart claims the club, 'had been thorough in terms of references, interviews and data analysis'
and said the club's analysis:
'showed that possession-dominant teams are typically more successful in Scotland and across similar leagues throughout Europe. '
This analysis had shaped the search and ultimately led to Russell Martin's appointment' with Kevin Thelwell claiming, 'The intention is for Rangers to dominate both on and off the ball, creating more chances, better chances and ultimately success'.
21 Sep 2025 22:01:53
It wouldn't have been a decision on the parameters - the data and analysis would have highlighted that possession dominant sides typically win silverware.
It's important to call out that there are a number of ways to play possession dominant football - so it doesn't need to look like it has in the initial games under Martin - especially out of possession as it's very hard to implement a press in Scotland, so you need a different approach to recover the ball quickly.
21 Sep 2025 21:59:08
Think Sherlock Holmes was involved. Talk about stating the bloody obvious, who's won the majority of league titles and cups? Rangers and Celtic. Don't need previous managers or players from the league to tell you that Celtic and Rangers already dominate possession except against each other. Problem is Martin is a manager who focuses only on possession and not much else was the same whenever I watched Southampton in the Premier league and championship, under Clement we were having 60 to 70% possession and 20 plus shots on goal with us either missing/ hitting the woodwork and keepers having the game of their life against us.
21 Sep 2025 22:52:00
For me the analysis isn't wrong with both ange and Brenda playing possession dominated football. The difference between their version and our version is the speed it's carried out. They used a high press when out of possession and move the ball quickly while in possession. We have the players to do that but Martin would rather see 4 or 5 passes when 1 or 2 could do the job.
22 Sep 2025 06:10:46
100% Bellshill - Our passing and thought process seems extremely slow and laboured which may us allow to have "major possession" but no real impetus or end point- as we NOW have pace up front these guys want to utilise this quickly not waiting days until opposition get stall set up and give us a wall to run through - sometimes a quick diagonal or simple ball over the top does the trick - variety is the spice of life I was once told??.
22 Sep 2025 07:35:02
BF that may be as it was new to players and they are having to actually think when the ball comes to them before the 'remember' what the play is next to be. If that is the case then hopefully they will learn the patterns and it will become more instinctive.
If Ange's style was less complicated as is claimed of martin's then this might explain that point.
22 Sep 2025 09:48:48
I agree with all above. Lack of pace, variety. Even watching Game against Hibs. Players to safe. Defense splitting passes were on but chose to hold possession. To many touches on ball. The concept of a first time pass and also to miss a player out in the passing game really slows the game down. Our style of football only really works with pace. I get they are trying to draw players out and move them but only works if they take the bait.
22 Sep 2025 10:06:36
Alex Ferguson and souness had several meetings with gilligan Stewart and Thornton re direction of travel in relation to the football side.
22 Sep 2025 10:14:31
Data analysis in Scotland isn't really the way forward for that sort of thing when it's Celtic have won pretty much everything for years this sounds amateurish to say the least a blind mind could have told them this Jesus wept.
As some have said it's the speed you do it at not slow ponderous passing between two Chs for the majority of it.
22 Sep 2025 10:18:08
It will be interesting to watch, purely from a coaching perspective, to see how Martin adapts.
It's clear that his original system was built to two things.
- in possession, deliberate possession at the back to draw out the press and inverting roles to disrupt opposition
- out of possession, high press to recover the ball early.
Majority of teams won't press often, instead will remain in a mid to low block - so we end up knocking the ball about the backline repeatedly.
Majority of teams won't attempt to build from the back, so our pressing players end up wasting energy and our of shape.
The first half against Hearts was awful as Hearts didn't press and actually invited Rangers in to their half, knowing that they could then cause trouble by playing direct and only committing 2 or 3 players forward (think most teams will do this) .
Thankfully Hibs are set up to press in phases, so we could actually draw them out and play through them. I thought it was naive of Hibs, especially after they lost the first goal.
Watched the highlight of the Genk game and they didn't look great, so hopefully we can build on the Hibs result and performance.
My bigger worry is the Livi game.
22 Sep 2025 11:13:43
Thanks guys for the replies, and ED for refining my question, it is very confusing now a days, I remember when the game was simple when your defenders defended gave the ball to the midfielders (who were usually the most gifted players), who would then dribble past the opposition then play it out to the wingers who would either take on their defenders and shoot themselves or cross it to the striker who would put it in the net (it isn't rocket science)
22 Sep 2025 11:37:15
Jorg, It must have changed dramatically in the centre of the park as a number 6 was a disciplined role in the team and you certainly didn't cover every inch of the park.
22 Sep 2025 12:38:38
What storm said in Scotland it's speed of passing and more forward passes the better that's why ange was unstoppable here, where as all we do is sideways passing and mostly our out ball is passing back to butland, and to add to that we pass the ball so slow and ponderous is to ably the reason we hardly create any chances.
22 Sep 2025 17:02:17
I think Martin has over complicated things with his approach. He could learn a few things from watching games we were successful in last season then all he really needs to do is play our best players in their best positions. We aren't asking him to re-invent the wheel.
22 Sep 2025 18:05:16
The Australian international guy at Hibs showed again that pace is a real bonus especially thru the middle I think Chermiti looks fairly quick so hopefully the lad works out for us.
23 Sep 2025 14:53:49
I agree with storm to a degree i think the possesion thing is stupid rangera and Celtic are a class apart from rest of league if you concentrate on quality signings we will always dominate the ball.
And if possesion tippy tappy football is the way to go then why are we seeing arsenal and man city moving away from it.
Just watch how many times city are punting ball from keeper straight to haaland also watched spurs the other day who people are saying have drastically improoved under new way of playing and for me it looks like a simple get the ball in box as many times as possible and early as possible route nothing complicated creating so many chances for defendera to attack ball in box .
Think players need a basic outline how they play not overly rigid instructions.