By Alistair Aird
A new era dawned at Ibrox this afternoon. Although he wasn’t the prime candidate for most of the supporters, Russell Martin took charge of Rangers for the first time. He is the man entrusted with bringing the glory days back to a club that has picked up only three major trophies since returning to the top flight in 2016.
Initially, cynicism and apathy accompanied the appointment. But that seemed to have subsided for the time being. Martin has spoken eloquently when outlining his blueprint and the former Scottish international has wasted little time in remoulding and reshaping the first team squad. The recruitment of Lyall Cameron, Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell, Emmanuel Fernandez and Thelo Aasgaard – a fusion of youth and experience – has whetted the appetite, and there will be more wheeling and dealing in the weeks ahead. There will likely be more going out than coming in, but the process will need to be accelerated with the first test of Martin’s credentials – the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos – only 16 days away.
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Martin’s first team selection was heavily biased towards players that would be in the proverbial ‘shop window’. For example, there were starts for Robin Propper – linked with a return to FC Twente Enschede – Leon King and Kieron Dowell. Dowell performed well on loan at Birmingham City last season where with the greatest respect, he found his level. Dowell netted five goals and claimed five assists in 23 appearances, but it would be a huge surprise if he, Propper and King were front and centre for an extended run in the first XI when the serious business gets underway.
The same can’t be said for another starter, Danilo.
With Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane yet to return to training and both being heavily linked with moves away from Ibrox, Danilo was handed an opportunity to stake a claim for the central striking role.
The Brazilian who reportedly cost £6 million has played only 1,981 minutes since he signed for Rangers. That equates to 48 appearances. He has only started 19 of those matches and completed 90 minutes in five of them. A knee injury and fractured cheekbone have resulted in extended spells on the sidelines, but when fit and firing, Danilo presents a proper goal threat.
Of the new recruits, only Max Aarons started. He took the right back berth with the corresponding role on the left going to Jefte. The fact that Aarons has taken over Ridvan Yilmaz’s number three jersey – the Turk will now wear 33 – suggests that Yilmaz will be one of those heading out through the doors that will revolve regularly over the next few weeks. He had played in fits and starts during his time at Rangers and his proneness to injury means that a move away will be beneficial for both parties.
Perhaps surprisingly Connor Barron was handed the captain’s armband. Many would have thought that would have gone to Nico Raskin given how influential the Belgian was last season. Nonetheless, Raskin took his place alongside Barron, the two of them sitting behind Dowell, Findlay Curtis and Oscar Cortes.
Another who has had his time at Ibrox blighted by injury, Cortes has now been acquired on a permanent basis for a fee just north of 5 million Euros. The sum of his minutes for season 2024/25 was 290 across 11 appearances. He rarely figured during the temporary tenure of Barry Ferguson – the Colombian only made three appearances amounting to 64 minutes on the grass – so it is safe to assume that he may well be another supping a drink in the last chance saloon when it comes to having a future at Rangers.
Typical of the Scottish summer, kick off was followed by a downpour. Not of the torrential variety, but that smurry rain that falls with frustrating regularity at this time of year. It served to slicken up an impressive looking playing surface and it was the visitors who started strongest, taking the lead after only 10 minutes. Liam Kelly did well to block the first effort, but the rebound fell to Hugo Vetlesen who steered his finish into the corner of the net.
And three minutes later, it was 2-0. The ball dropped to Ludovit Reis, and he let rip with a volley that roared into the top corner.
Rangers were ragged at this point. The intensity and high press that are synonymous with Russell Martin teams was lacking – understandable given it was the first game of the season – but the most alarming thing was at the heart of the defence. Propper and King were ropey, and it was easy to see why Martin has already identified centre back as an area of the team that he needs to shore up quickly. With Emmanual Fernandez already on board, mooted moves for Connor Coady and Nasser Djiga need to gain some traction. And John Souttar, who was ludicrously allowed to play for Scotland when he needed surgery, needs to find fitness too as a set up like this against Panathinaikos would bring the equivalent of a Greek tragedy.
In goal for Brugge was Simon Mignolet. The 37-year-old, who has Sunderland and Liverpool on his CV, was inactive for most of the opening 25 minutes, but the Belgian got down well to parry an effort from Raskin wide for a corner. It was the first statement of attacking intent from Rangers, but there was still a lethargy about their play and they almost fell three behind after 27 minutes when an effort from Brugge thudded against the post.
The scorer of that sensational second goal – Reis – was withdrawn injured after half an hour and replaced by Vince Osuji. One of his first involvements was to nick the ball off the toes of Danilo. The Rangers number 99 had been ineffectual up to this point. He was on the periphery of the play too often although he was short of any ammunition as Cortes and Dowell weren’t playing well either. Findlay Curtis had been bright in flashes but too often any attacking forays from Rangers had broken down before any damage could be inflicted.
There’s an argument that ring rustiness was a rationale for the insipid performance in the first half. So too was the fact that the XI was mostly comprised of players that have no future at Ibrox.
Changes were made at the interval. Butland, Tavernier, Rice, Diomande and Bajrami were introduced with Kelly, Propper, Barron, Raskin and Dowell making way. For Propper and Dowell you must feel that this would be the last time they would grace the grass at Ibrox. They simply aren’t Rangers-class.
Some enterprising play involving Curtis and Cortes carved out a chance for Danilo, but his effort was deflected wide for a corner. And moments later, the two-goal deficit had been halved. Cortes pounced on a loose ball and although his intended pass for Danilo was errant, the ball fell into the stride of Diomande who stroked a beautiful shot into the corner of the net.
The changes had injected some impetus into Rangers’ play. Max Aarons was coming more and more into the game and his run to the bye-line almost carved out an opening for Bajrami. Alas, the whistle of Dom Robertson put paid to that, the referee deeming that the Albanian had been a little too robust in his challenge. Those that have witnessed Bajrami’s time at Rangers – he has flattered to deceive and lacked physicality – will not take long to surmise that it was a rather strange call from Robertson.
Aarons looked to zip one into the top corner when he cut inside on to his left foot just shy of the hour mark. The ball skewed off the outside of his boot and into the Copland Stand, and not long after that, Nordin Jackers, who had replaced Mignolet at half time, pawed away a shot from Danilo. From the resulting corner, Tavernier headed Rice’s back post delivery into the side netting.
Before the corner was taken, Martin made a raft of substitutions. Alexander Hutton, Joshua Gentles and Emmanuel Fernandez made their debuts, with Aarons, Danilo and King making way. Ross McCausland and Ridvan Yilmaz were also introduced in place of Cortes and Jefte. This meant that after 65 minutes, the only player on the field that had started the match was Findlay Curtis.
Rangers carved out a couple of openings in the minutes that remained. Diomande fired wide from distance and threatened with a header from a set piece too. And although there wasn’t much in the way of clearcut chances, the second 45 minutes showed a vast improvement from the first. And just when the game looked to be petering out, the impressive Curtis capped a fine display when he calmly stroked a pass from Bajrami into the corner to make it 2-2.
The last time Rangers played on 6 July the Steven Gerrard era was launched with an emphatic 6-0 win over Bury. The man who delivered 55 was the personal choice for a second stint in the hotseat for many but for whatever reason, that didn’t happen. Perhaps the disappointment of missing out on Gerrard was at the forefront when it came to some of the early disdain surrounding the appointment of Martin. But there is a big difference from playing a lower league team from England and pitting your wits against a side that made the last 16 of the Champions League last season. Brugge have been back in training for three weeks too.
The knives that were out for Martin when he was announced as Head Coach had been put away after his initial press conferences and activity in the transfer market. But the fickle nature of football meant that at half time, some were starting to sharpen theirs once again. But the second half was much better. The passing was slicker and there was more attacking threat. All of that without the input of most of the new additions too.
Thus, those knives won’t be plunged in just yet. Martin has a little over two weeks to find a formula that works. He needs new faces too. On today’s evidence, our Head Coach needs a couple of centre backs and a centre forward as a minimum. Emmanuel Fernandez looks the part and Tavernier was solid enough, but neither of them will play every game this season at the heart of the defence. I don’t think many fans would want them too either, particularly Tavernier. And up front, Danilo didn’t do enough to convince those in attendance that he would spearhead the attack. With the futures of Dessers and Igamane uncertain, a move for someone like Dor Turgeman – who at the age of 21 has scored 32 goals in 109 appearances for Maccabi Tel Aviv – or Matija Frigan – 22 years old with 19 goals in 72 appearances for Westerlo – would be advisable. Indeed, if wages don’t prove to be a barrier, Martin could do worse than making a move for Jamie Vardy who could have a similar impact on the goalscoring charts that Jermain Defoe had under Gerrard.
This match achieved what it was supposed to. It got minutes in the legs against a very accomplished side. It also showed the Head Coach who he can and can’t rely on in the squad he inherited from Phillipe Clement. Not many of those that filled jerseys at the start of this game will do so for much longer.
From the get-go under Martin, player recruitment was going to be key. And today served to further reinforce that. Between now and the first leg against Panathinaikos more new faces are required in key positions while integrating the likes of Aasgard and Rothwell into the group. Both have track records that suggest they will make us better. And if we get all of that right then there is every possibility that the next few weeks and months can be filled with more pleasure than pain.