Big Interview: Kris Boyd offers early verdict on Rangers manager Russell Martin | OneFootball

Rangers ‘start under Russell Martin has certainly attracted attention, and former striker Kris Boyd had plenty to say on the state of affairs at Ibrox.

Speaking to Best Betting Sites and Ibrox Noise, he expanded significantly on the way things lie:

What would success look like for Rangers this season?

I think now they’ve obviously qualified at least for the Europa League, so you can put that to bed. They’ve still got a chance to get into the Champions League, and that’s going to be very difficult to secure. I don’t think Rangers can give up on that when the opportunity is still there.

There’s a two-legged tie coming up over the week against Viktoria Plzen, and you expect them to get through that. What’s certain is they’ll have to improve on their performance against Motherwell, and if they get through, there’s a play-off game. That’ll be tough.

Domestically, Rangers have to look to win every trophy going, it’s just the nature of the beast. At Rangers, you’re always under pressure to win trophies. It’s been a long time since they were serious contenders, and they started off the season with a setback already.

But you know what? It’s only one game in so far and there’s a long way to go. Silverware has to be top of the list for Russell Martin and the rest of Rangers.

What other positions do Rangers need to strengthen before the window shuts?

Having seen that performance at the weekend, there’s no doubt they still need players, probably four or five are needed to bring the standards up. The problem they’ve got though is that the squad is already bloated, and there are players that need to be moved on. I expect Antman to come in from Go Ahead Eagles.

Cyril Dessers and Igamane look like they will be moving away, so there’s plenty of comings and goings to be sorted at Ibrox. Conor Coady has decided to go to Wrexham, so you think they will be in the market for a centre-back at the very least. Max Aarons is playing at left-back, but he’s been brought in to play on the right, so they will need to bring in another left-back.

How should Rangers deal with this Hamza Igamane and Cyriel Dessers situation?

I think Hamza Igamane is the interesting one. He’s a young kid who got an opportunity, and he took that with both hands last season. But if they’re selling him, they’ve got to maximise the fee they’re getting from him. There’ve been rumours of a couple of French teams sniffing around for him.

For me, I think for Igamane, if you can get decent money for him, it makes sense to let him go. For Dessers, it does look like he will be leaving, but I wouldn’t want to let him go. Goalscorers are hard to find and he keeps hitting the back of the net for Rangers.

I know he might divide opinion, but Rangers could struggle to get someone in to match those numbers.

Are Celtic weaker than they were last season – and how close are Rangers to them?

Well, I think Rangers need to focus on themselves first and foremost. The weekend really wasn’t the best of starts, and European games are coming through, and the main thing there is the win, not the performance.

I think Celtic will still sign a few more players before the end of the transfer window, and both teams will look pretty different compared to how they are now. Brendan Rodgers is looking to get players in, and so is Russell Martin. I think we’ve got plenty of changes in the offing.

Because of that, it’s difficult to sit here and make a firm prediction, because they still have so much business to do.

In Russell Martin’s post match interview, who in particular do you think he could have been firing a message to?

He obviously called out two players without saying their names. I’m sure whoever it is will know behind closed doors. The worry is that Russell Martin won’t have done this if he hadn’t already asked for more in private.

Whether he gives more details to the press, I don’t know. Obviously there are some players who’ve been there for a while now, and they must be his targets, because he was saying they have reverted to type. That won’t be true of the new players who’ve arrived because they haven’t had a chance to make an impression yet.

I’m sure those it concerns will be aware, and the dressing room will know. It might show up in the next team selection.

Has the weekend changed your opinion on what Rangers need to do transfer wise? Of the players still at the club, who are candidates for exiting?

I think there’s no doubt that there will be more outgoings, there will have to be. McCausland went to Cyprus, but he won’t be the last. You can’t have a squad that is this big.

Yilmaz looks like he’ll be going back home, Robin Propper has already left.

Obviously Dessers and Igamane are linked with moves away, and there will be other bits of business.

The left-back area that still needs to be strengthened, because he’s got Max Aarons playing out of position there, but overall, there are some players who have to leave. Rangers have underperformed for years now, and they need to make room for fresh talent to move the club forward.

Can you see Rangers using their 49ers connection again to sign players from Leeds United or who have been with Leeds United such as Joe Rothwell?

I’m not sure there will be many players going in either direction, even if there’s a connection with the owners. The two teams play with totally different styles of football, and they’re going to be recruiting in entirely different player pools.

If there are players who have done well for Leeds, they won’t be suited for Rangers. I think the scouts and the analytics teams will be looking for different types. Leeds are huge in their own right, and they will be focused on acquitting themselves well in the Premier League and getting established there, so that is what they will be shopping for.

One option might be that players who do or did well for Leeds in the Championship might be handy, if they’re surplus to requirements. Rangers could have a look there, but that’s about it.

Your Sky Sports sparring partner Chris Sutton was shocked by Russell Martin’s criticism of his Rangers team after they drew 1-1 on the opening day at Motherwell. Do you think Martin will regret digging out his players like that so early or do you think it’s what this group needs to hear before a crucial Champions League qualifier on Tuesday night?

No, I don’t. Russell Martin has come to Rangers and he has to hit the ground running in terms of winning games and then winning trophies.

If there are players who he is already questioning, I don’t think he’s going to be bothered about upsetting them. Either you knuckle down, train hard and play properly, or you’ll get moved on. That’s more or less what Russell said. They’re going to need to make major changes, and the players can either improve and come with him, or they won’t be here much longer.

I think what this does now is put pressure on the players to perform, because this will already have been said behind closed doors. For him to come and say it publicly isn’t a surprise. Rangers players have got away with it for a long time, putting in mediocre performances against other teams in Scotland. So I’ve got absolutely nothing against it. It was a long time coming.

Do you think this Rangers dressing room needs some tough love?

If you’re Russell Martin and you look at Rangers’ performances from last year, their efforts in Europe have never really been the big concern. You can expect the players to turn up, just like they do against Celtic in most of the derbies.

The worrying thing is the performances they turn in against clubs like Motherwell. He’s not been able to change that yet. I know he’s only just arrived, and they’re learning a new style of play, but some of the performances on Saturday were not good enough.

In Europe, he’s going to get that reaction but that’s because they always turn up in Europe. It won’t surprise me if they find a way through to the next one. That next round will be tough, but there won’t be a problem with motivation. Ibrox is going to be bouncing for the match and the players will respond to that.

What kind of role will the Ibrox crowd play on Tuesday night?

The crowd play a huge part in Rangers’ successes and performances. It’s the same at Celtic Park, too. When you look at some of the top European names that come to either side in Scotland, they get spooked by the atmosphere and turned over.

It’ll be the same for Rangers on Tuesday, because they make it a daunting place to go to. There are clubs who have big crowds, but they can’t touch the Ibrox atmosphere. When you listen to top players around the world, they always say Celtic and Rangers produce something special. Glasgow Rangers fans will be looking to create that atmosphere again for the team, and they’ll get behind them.

Even with the disappointment from the weekend, you know that Rangers will come back and back the team against Viktoria Plzen.

What’s your message to this squad ahead of a vitally important clash for Rangers?

The players need to go and enjoy the occasion. But when they take it all in, they need to realise what is at stake. They’ve got a great opportunity of going through in this two-legged tie. They might be the better side, but they can’t pass up this opportunity.

I’ve been in the same position, where we managed to find a way to just fight our way through to the Champions League. I’ve also been there and lost, been knocked out at the early stages. It’s not something that lingers around the club if you don’t manage it. There won’t be shame if they give it their all and they come off second best against a better side.

But for this one, I think Rangers should have enough to go through and start building again. Two decent showings against Panathinaikos helps but the result on Saturday night is a concern. They need to get straight back at it.

Could Rangers fans turn on the side?

It could happen. On Sunday there were a lot of boos at the final whistle. That comes with the expectations of the fans. It comes with the anticipation of a new manager, with a fresh start, a new season, and everything that comes with it.

Then when it stalls, and the same performances are still happening, there’s a frustration that the Rangers fans have started to feel over the last few years. It’s not going to stop them supporting the team, though. They will still turn up, Ibrox will be packed again for the game. They will travel in Europe again next week. Rangers fans will always turn up in big numbers.

The financial rewards for Rangers to qualify for the Champions League are huge, and if they overcome Plzen, there is one more tricky two-legger to navigate. How big would it be for the club and for Russell Martin if he can guide the Gers into the Champions League proper?

It would be huge. I don’t think they showed just how good they could be the last time they were in it. It was a disappointing campaign with a few heavy defeats in the group stages.

This new format could benefit Rangers, just as it did Celtic. But there’s a long way to go before they get there, to that league format. I think Rangers need to focus on the domestic side of things. Right now, Europe is just a bonus.

I think that they need to focus on winning trophies, and right now they will only do that domestically. They’re already guaranteed Europa money, but the Champions League cash would be amazing for the club. The money would be wonderful, but Russell Martin and his squad need to start delivering trophies.

Can you give us a word on Rangers captain James Tavernier, who just keeps blasting in the goals. He’s got a couple more than you now for the Gers with a 131 – how impressive is his record considering his right back role?

There’s no doubt about it. He’s been contributing incredible numbers. James Tavernier has been an exceptional servant to Rangers for a decade now. His numbers are extraordinary over the years, and I feel sorry for him. He’s been Rangers captain during an exceptional period of Celtic dominance, and he’s become a whipping boy for Rangers.

But one thing about him is he always turns up. He has shown over a period of time that he’s a good footballer. Unfortunately for him over that period, Celtic have been the dominant team in Scotland and he’s going to have to deal with the criticism that comes his way.

People have a lot to say with him being the captain and having a go at that, which I do think is a little bit unfair. You look at James Tavernier, he turns up day in, day out, obviously, because he never misses any games.

But you do get the feeling that this might be the right time to move on when his contract is up at the end of the season. This could be his last. His time at Rangers hasn’t been littered with trophies, but he can look back at it with pride, and be pleased with what he’s done at the club, especially in terms of his goals.

He’s had some trophy wins, but he will always wish it was more.

Who is the best signing Russell Martin has made so far?

I think the lad from Sheffield Wednesday, Gassama, is the best of the lot so far. He’s shown in two European games already that he’s got something. Two goals, two great finishes. I think on Saturday you could tell that he needs games to develop, but he looks like a potential star signing for Rangers.

But there’s a long way to go for him, and the other signings too. Gassama would be the one who I think has a great future ahead of him if he stays focused.

Djiga, who came in from Wolves, has also impressed me a lot, so there are a couple of players who have already shown they have what it takes to be successful in a short period of time. But they’re going to be judged on winning trophies. They can be exceptional individual performers, but they need to help the team, and everyone will be judged at the end of the season on whether they actually won something.

Rangers have landed Tottenham wonderkid Mikey Moore. What kind of role do you think he’ll play this season?

I think it’s an interesting one. I mean, a lot of Spurs fans have got high hopes for Mikey Moore coming in. When you usually go on that first loan, it can be a little bit daunting and you might go to a team that you’re looking to just play in and get used to the men’s environment, because it is a big step up.

He’s shown in glimpses, coming off the bench, what he can do. But he’s going to be under pressure. Rangers are a huge football club with a different pressure to what Tottenham Hotspur are under and it will be good for him in the long run.

I think when you go back a couple of seasons, Amad Diallo, we never really saw the best of him at Rangers. He had a loan spell at Sunderland too, and those are two massive clubs. With Rangers they were chasing Europe and looking to progress in Europe. At Sunderland, they were pushing for promotion. He got to experience huge pressure at two giant clubs. That will have helped him in the long run.

For Rangers, they need to get Mikey Moore performing right away, and hope he is better than Amad, because they need more quality high up the pitch.

Most of Martin’s signings have been young players. Do you worry that his team may be lacking some experience?

I think obviously Joe Rothwell’s come in, and he’s got experience. There are players within that Rangers working environment that are experienced. But, I think you have to find that balance. But I think Rangers need to turn a profit in the transfer market, so they will be looking for younger players with less experience, to move them on in a couple of years.

You look at Antman arriving from Go Ahead Eagles, you’d imagine that he’ll be someone who they would like to come in for maybe a season, two seasons and try and move them on.

And Celtic have done that really well, in that bracket of players between 22 to 25, and get them in for a couple of seasons, get them European football and then move them on for big money. I think Rangers are trying to adopt that style, but it’s a lot easier to do it when you’re winning like Celtic.

Rangers do need experience in their team. Celtic have got that and the spine of a team has always been experienced. You look at Callum McGregor in the middle of the pitch, someone who drives standards every single day.

I think Rangers do need to have a few experienced players there, but also you can’t say you’re going to have a player trading model and then keep signing players at 29, 30, 31, because you do need to get some youngsters and if you’re going to go down that route.

Are you confident that Rangers would have the firepower to be competitive if either forward left? Is there a striker you would like to see your old club bring in?

If Igamane and Dessers both stay, even then, I think they need to get a striker in, regardless. Obviously Dessers is going to move on, and the fact that he’s not started any games this season suggests that Russell Martin has already come to terms with it.

Danilo has started a couple of games, but he came in for £5 million a couple of years back and I think he’s been a disappointment. He’s had a decent pre-season under his belt at last, which might help, but I am not convinced he can be the focal point for Rangers.

I think if Rangers can get behind defences and create opportunities for him then he’ll score. But the way Russell wants to play, your No. 9 needs to be linking the play and working with midfield runners. I don’t think Danilo is that type. For me, Rangers need another striker anyway, and if they lose any of Dessers, Igamane, and Danilo, then it’ll be a busy time in the market before it shuts.

For me, there’s a real dearth of goalscorers. I think that’s why Rangers will not be keen to let Dessers go. But if he does depart, then Rangers will need someone who can come in and hit the ground running.

It’s not happening in other areas of the pitch for Rangers so they can’t afford to weaken another position. They’ve been OK but the central role for Rangers is really missing someone who can make the shirt their own.

Russell will be looking at his players in training desperately trying to work out who will lead the line for him for the big matches, like on Tuesday. You need to know your first-choice striker and your first-choice keeper, those are the two most important positions on the pitch. Jack Butland has settled one of those questions, but the striker position is far from nailed on.