Russell Martin was under attack straight after he watched his side draw their SPFL opener, 1-1 away to Motherwell.
The new hipster boss quickly won over the loyal bears who were initially horrified by his appointment, apparently the hostility was due to his tactics at Southampton rather than the fact that he is a vegan, Buddhist and a member of the Green Party.
All it took was a few media conferences, guidance from their fan media outlets and some incredible clips from the training ground to get the bears on board.
And then the football started.
Club Brugge and Middlesbrough outplayed Martin’s side in two pre-season friendlies at Ibrox, if Panathinaikos could have converted one chance in six Ibrox would be hosting a Europa League qualifier this week.
It seems that for many of the Ibrox squad beating Panathinaikos was all that mattered, a trip to face a Motherwell team filled with free agents and under their third manager of 2025 was below them.
Across the entire team tonight there wasn’t a single success story.
Jack Butland is starting to think that he is a £30m ‘keeper again with slackness in everything he does, Captain Disappointed is already going through the cliches with right-footed Max Aarons looking incredibly uncomfortable at left-back.
In midfield the golden boys of Nicky Raskin and Mohamed Diomande were given the runaround, outfought and out-passed by journeymen from the lowest reaches of the English game.
Luckily Motherwell opted not to risk Lennon Miller as they hold off for a club record transfer fee.
One of the biggest targets for the Ibrox boo boys is Kieran Dowell- and not just because of his first name.
Promoted into the leadership group the former Norwich star has started all three matches so far this season as a right winger, tonight he played for all 95 minutes.
Chris Sutton highlighted his Walking Football approach at Motherwell’s equaliser, as the inquest goes on among angry bears they’ll be looking for Dowell to be ditched or their hipster manager will be viewed as part of the problem rather than a solution.
🗣️ “When you just jog around, there’s a big problem”
🗣️ “Some of them have to drop their egos”
🗣️ Dessers “only one we’ve had a bid for” & he works so hardA 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 interview as Russell Martin cites a “mentality problem” at Rangers after their 1-1 draw ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/C5wznNbizZ
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 2, 2025
Martin told Sky Sports:
We were very lucky to get a point. I’m extremely disappointed and hurt by that.
They were braver than us, they were more aggressive than us, and I’ve said to the players, I’ve been really honest with them – there is a default here at this football club.
It’s not one person’s fault at all. The default is to revert to tight, which is when it’s going really well, everyone’s all in, it’s really good, but it’s not going well, you protect yourself a little bit, and the self-preservation stuff.
You can’t play for this club and enjoy the really good moments, and not when it gets tough. You have to be all in all the time, and we had two men on the pitch today that want to do what they want to do.
Martin added:
So, if you are playing with real intensity and courage, in your position that we coach you in, no problem. When you want to just jog around and do what you want to do, there’s a big problem.
Some of them have to drop their ego. I will look at us tactically and accept my responsibility in it, but today, it’s not really tactical, it’s a mentality problem.
And we got more than what we deserved, actually. If players aren’t ready to step up then they will be left behind.
🗣️ “It’s a bit desperate”
🗣️ “Same things that keep happening”
🗣️ “He must think they’re rank rotten”Chris Sutton and Kris Boyd react to Russell Martin calling out his players’ attitude after Rangers’ draw with Motherwell ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/hIBMHPXNGy
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 2, 2025
The managers ego seems like a bigger problem from the outside looking in. Playing players out of position and playing guys that were never good enough.
— Hoidy (@Hoidy) August 2, 2025
Lobbing the players under the bus after just one league game. A new record even for Russy.
— MainyJ10 (@MainyJ10) August 2, 2025
The dogs will bark the caravan keeps moving
— theneillennoncsc18 (@Neillennoncsc) August 2, 2025
— Celticfc1888 (@IrishCelts1888) August 2, 2025
Bonkers . Throws the players under a bus yet persists with Aaron’s out of position, Danilo up top despite praising Dessers and gives Dowall 94 mins….
Always next season
— Chris (@chris_mcd09) August 2, 2025
Bus thrower ooft
— kate dunbar (@katedunbar61) August 2, 2025
Bring back Beale 🤣
— Danny (@IrishCitizenDan) August 2, 2025
At least he’s telling the watching world the real story on any bids for their players never mind the SMSM arse lickers
— BOXER (@boxertoye) August 2, 2025
Only 1 bid and it was for Dessers
What about those offers for igamane and Raskin?
— Vandergraff (@Vandergraff88) August 2, 2025
Great interview, players already chucked under the bus 🚌 👌
— HallingsaLegend (@hallingsalegend) August 2, 2025
“Captain disappointed” will soon be out for a chat too!
— StevieMc1888 (@StevieMcI888) August 2, 2025
Hearing @paddypower have paid out on Celtic winning the league already without even playing their first game 😂😂😂.
— Dissolve The Union (@TObsessionists) August 2, 2025
😂😂😂😂😂😂
1 official bid
But Raskin, Igamane….. all worth £20m 😂😂😂
— Champions Again (@8trebles) August 2, 2025
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