Marti Cifuentes appointed new manager

[MPH]

On 13/09/2025 at 14:43, dmayne7 said:

Today was an example of good management. Made some bold calls out half time, with some unconventional changes (Abdul going up top) and we were much the better side in that second half. If it wasn't for a poor refereeing decision, we'd probably be coming away with 2 more points.

 

I agree. He’s made some great subs and some great tactical changes.

 

 

but I would like to see a shift away from starting Soumarè and  Skipp when we have Winks twiddling his thumbs on the bench..

[Gamble92]

21 hours ago, Mike1983 said:

Those who wanted Russell Martin had clearly never watched Southampton aside from our games against them (and they were shit in these). He's like the Danny Ward of managers. 

 

For Rangers this season: 

A full pre-season

A two-horse league

A bigger budget than every other team in it bar one

14 new players brought in

And they are still absolute dogshit

This playing one way and sticking to it despite results bullshit is an absolute cancer to the game. Not to mention it's actually boring as **** to watch said style even when it's implemented properly. 

 

There will eventually be a complete pushback to this philosophy but unbelievably we still have plenty of owners, including ours who actively want it. 

 

Thankfully Marti seems far more pragmatic when needed and can change things up a bit. 

[JimJams]

We need him to do more with the fullbacks. You can't have an industrious midfield as well as industrious fullbacks. You need one of that equation to be adventurous. Either we have a solid midfield all about snuffing out the opposition winning the ball and getting it to those who do the damage, in which you need to include the fullbacks, or if you're gonna them sit at home as Hamza does then you need the midfield to be offering threat.

Winks and JJ might offer a bit of that. But Soumare and Skipp with Hamza at RB and Thomas at LB gives us nothing going forward. 

Edited 15 September 2025 by JimJams
Just editing to say the use of the word industrious is being generous...

[daddylonglegs]

Pretty sure Claudio played Kante on the wing & started the season with De Laet at RB over Simpson... 

 

I have faith Marti will figure out the midfield sooner rather than later. 

[LCFCCKEANO]

Played 70ish mins away at a notoriously stick and difficult to play team who drew 11v11 with a direct competitor at the top, that second half was very well managed. We have reached a point as a fan base that we are so used to the negativity it has become comfortable and any opportunity to have a go is taken. A lot is wrong with the club and as of yet Marti has not been one of them

[ClaphamFox]

13 hours ago, MPH said:

 

I agree. He’s made some great subs and some great tactical changes.

 

 

but I would like to see a shift away from starting Soumarè and  Skipp when we have Winks twiddling his thumbs on the bench..

It's pretty clear that Winks' head wasn't in the right place while the transfer window was open, hence Cifuentes left him on the bench. I suspect the only reason he didn't start on Saturday was because Skipp and Soumare did well against Birmingham and Marti felt they deserved another go. Now the window is shut and Winks' attitude seems to have improved, he'll be a regular starter again, very likely in partnership with James.

Edited 15 September 2025 by ClaphamFox

[MPH]

6 minutes ago, ClaphamFox said:

It's pretty clear that Winks' head wasn't in the right place while the transfer window was open, hence Cifuentes left him on the bench. I suspect the only reason he didn't start on Saturday was because Skipp and Soumare did well against Birmingham and Marti felt they deserved another go. Now the window is shut and Winks' attitude seems to have improved, he'll be a regular starter again, very likely in partnership with James.

 

even when winks came on as a sub, before the window closed, he changed games.

 

 

but yeah,  it’s a dangerous precedent to set to actively pick those who’s head has been turned as a nailed on starter

[DAS Boot]

42 minutes ago, daddylonglegs said:

Pretty sure Claudio played Kante on the wing & started the season with De Laet at RB over Simpson... 

 

I have faith Marti will figure out the midfield sooner rather than later. 

And Schlupp at LB over Fuchs.

 

It does take time and he does talk a very good game but even having said that, I can't help being slightly concerned that we haven't actually played particularly well yet.  I'm hoping that once he gets Ramsey and JJ into the team we'll see more of a blueprint as to what we can normally expect.

 

Having said that, the league does look to be pretty poor this year so perhaps we don't need to worry as much.  We do have a few players who are clearly above this level and those small pieces of quality will win us games.  It definitely wont be HMS Piss The League this year but I can't see a situation where we're not in the play offs.

[JimJams]

4 hours ago, daddylonglegs said:

Pretty sure Claudio played Kante on the wing & started the season with De Laet at RB over Simpson... 

 

I have faith Marti will figure out the midfield sooner rather than later. 

Imagine the scenes when we find out that Skipp is actually a 25 goals+ striker who we've been playing out of position!

[Jimmy]

17 hours ago, MPH said:

 

I agree. He’s made some great subs and some great tactical changes.

 

 

but I would like to see a shift away from starting Soumarè and  Skipp when we have Winks twiddling his thumbs on the bench..

I would expect Jordan James will come into the starting 11 but was away until late in the week, Winks I'm not so sure on, if his attitude it right then start him with James

[VG Fox]

4 hours ago, DAS Boot said:

And Schlupp at LB over Fuchs.

 

It does take time and he does talk a very good game but even having said that, I can't help being slightly concerned that we haven't actually played particularly well yet.  I'm hoping that once he gets Ramsey and JJ into the team we'll see more of a blueprint as to what we can normally expect.

 

Having said that, the league does look to be pretty poor this year so perhaps we don't need to worry as much.  We do have a few players who are clearly above this level and those small pieces of quality will win us games.  It definitely wont be HMS Piss The League this year but I can't see a situation where we're not in the play offs.

even with points deduction?? I suspect you are right, but I'm torn between stabilising for a year in the championship and getting the opportunity of going for immediate return to PL......my heart wants us up, but my head says wait, develop the kids, build a solid spine and let Marti install his blueprint....

Edited 15 September 2025 by VG Fox

[ClaphamFox]

3 minutes ago, VG Fox said:

even with points deduction?? I suspect you are right, but I'm torn between stabilising for a year in the championship and getting the opportunity of going for immediate return to PL......my heart wants us up, but my head says wait, develop the kids, build a solid spine and let Marti install his blueprint....

Every year we spend in the Championship it will be harder for us to get back up—the newly-relegated teams will have a massive advantage over us. We won't have the luxury of waiting and picking our time to be promoted again.

[HankMarvin]

5 hours ago, LCFCCKEANO said:

Played 70ish mins away at a notoriously stick and difficult to play team who drew 11v11 with a direct competitor at the top, that second half was very well managed. We have reached a point as a fan base that we are so used to the negativity it has become comfortable and any opportunity to have a go is taken. A lot is wrong with the club and as of yet Marti has not been one of them

Ok spin doctor

Let’s not blow it out of proportion it was Oxford away sitting in 22nd with a squad value of about £30m that had lost 3 of their first four 

[Lambert09]

6 minutes ago, ClaphamFox said:

Every year we spend in the Championship it will be harder for us to get back up—the newly-relegated teams will have a massive advantage over us. We won't have the luxury of waiting and picking our time to be promoted again.

Especially as there’s a good chance the promoted sides stay up this year.  If 2 more established sides come down next year could be incredibly tough 

[Jobyfox]

30 minutes ago, ClaphamFox said:

Every year we spend in the Championship it will be harder for us to get back up—the newly-relegated teams will have a massive advantage over us. We won't have the luxury of waiting and picking our time to be promoted again.

This is exactly right.

 

The mindset of spend a year or two in the Championship is one I just don’t understand. Every year in the division makes it harder to compete financially. 
 

If we develop our youngsters and stay in the Championship we will be developing them for Chelsea, Man City or even a lower end PL club like Forest to come and take them from us. 

[trooky]

18 hours ago, Gamble92 said:

This playing one way and sticking to it despite results bullshit is an absolute cancer to the game. Not to mention it's actually boring as **** to watch said style even when it's implemented properly. 

 

There will eventually be a complete pushback to this philosophy but unbelievably we still have plenty of owners, including ours who actively want it. 

 

Thankfully Marti seems far more pragmatic when needed and can change things up a bit. 

I don't think it's a cancer to the game, but if the owners / DOFs  have any sense they won't employ any of these  managers again. 

 

Russ Martin must be on his last job at Rangers when they eventually sack him. 

[whoareyaaa]

Just now, trooky said:

I don't think it's a cancer to the game, but if the owners / DOFs  have any sense they won't employ any of these  managers again. 

 

Russ Martin must be on his last job at Rangers when they eventually sack him. 

There is always clubs like Wrexham that will take him

[Chelmofox]

1 hour ago, Jobyfox said:

This is exactly right.

 

The mindset of spend a year or two in the Championship is one I just don’t understand. Every year in the division makes it harder to compete financially. 
 

If we develop our youngsters and stay in the Championship we will be developing them for Chelsea, Man City or even a lower end PL club like Forest to come and take them from us. 

We are developing them for Chelsea / Man City (and in Monga's case Madrid or Barcelona). The trick is we need to make sure we sell them at top banana. Thats easier when in the PL as well.

[Mike1983]

20 hours ago, Gamble92 said:

This playing one way and sticking to it despite results bullshit is an absolute cancer to the game. Not to mention it's actually boring as **** to watch said style even when it's implemented properly. 

 

There will eventually be a complete pushback to this philosophy but unbelievably we still have plenty of owners, including ours who actively want it. 

 

Thankfully Marti seems far more pragmatic when needed and can change things up a bit. 

Couldn’t be more cancerous if it tried. I’ve had to watch too much of Martin’s Saints thanks to my father-in-law. Last season they had, I think, the 2nd or 3rd highest possession, Jan Bednarek, their CB, had the 2nd most possession in the league, yet they had the fewest dangerous attacks and the most defensive errors leading to goals. That last one was actually a league record - broken a third of the way into the season. Just endless tippy-tappy between the CBs and keeper.

 

Worst football I've ever watched, yes worse than Cooper and RVN.

 

Amorim’s another die-on-the-sword philosophy manager.

[TJB-fox]

10 hours ago, daddylonglegs said:

Pretty sure Claudio played Kante on the wing & started the season with De Laet at RB over Simpson... 

 

I have faith Marti will figure out the midfield sooner rather than later. 

Had this exact thought earlier - RDL and Schlupp were starting.

 

Winks will be in the team soon and won't lose his place, he's the best we've got whether people like it or not.

[OntarioFox]

14 hours ago, JimJams said:

We need him to do more with the fullbacks. You can't have an industrious midfield as well as industrious fullbacks. You need one of that equation to be adventurous. Either we have a solid midfield all about snuffing out the opposition winning the ball and getting it to those who do the damage, in which you need to include the fullbacks, or if you're gonna them sit at home as Hamza does then you need the midfield to be offering threat.

Winks and JJ might offer a bit of that. But Soumare and Skipp with Hamza at RB and Thomas at LB gives us nothing going forward. 

Vestergaard makes sense in that equation as he's easily the best ball-playing CB we have and the only one with enough vision to bypass our garbage midfield with his balls out to the wide men. Issue is, between his non-existent pace and the collective brainfarts we get from Faes and Okoli, it doesn't really make it a worthwhile tradeoff. Our defence is still being split apart by the likes of Preston and Oxford.

One thing is for certain - Nelson needs trying. I'd like to see him partner Jannik at this point, see how they get on as a pairing.

[Tommy G]

On 15/09/2025 at 22:13, OntarioFox said:

Vestergaard makes sense in that equation as he's easily the best ball-playing CB we have and the only one with enough vision to bypass our garbage midfield with his balls out to the wide men. Issue is, between his non-existent pace and the collective brainfarts we get from Faes and Okoli, it doesn't really make it a worthwhile tradeoff. Our defence is still being split apart by the likes of Preston and Oxford.

One thing is for certain - Nelson needs trying. I'd like to see him partner Jannik at this point, see how they get on as a pairing.

With respect the last time he played he was a car crash and looks like giving away a pen every 10 mins, he looks too casual and almost seems more concerned on how he looks when he's playing than doing the basics right. 

 

That said, everyone can have a bad game and he needs a run of two or 3 games to see what he's made of, not again Cov as they have shown already they can be pretty ruthless in the final 3rd. 

[Phild]

On 15/09/2025 at 16:05, Lambert09 said:

Especially as there’s a good chance the promoted sides stay up this year.  If 2 more established sides come down next year could be incredibly tough 

I really dont think thats happening from what we've seen so far. Sunderland are making a fair start but I still see the 3 promoted sides coming straight back down. Its just how it is im afraid the the gap between the the Prem and Championship is just too much both in footballing terms and financially. 

[Muzzy_no7]

6 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

With respect the last time he played he was a car crash and looks like giving away a pen every 10 mins, he looks too casual and almost seems more concerned on how he looks when he's playing than doing the basics right. 

 

That said, everyone can have a bad game and he needs a run of two or 3 games to see what he's made of, not again Cov as they have shown already they can be pretty ruthless in the final 3rd. 

Nelson won’t likely get an opportunity until December and the FA Cup 3rd round. He’ll need to take those with both horns.

 

I came into this season wanting to see him play 40+ games and be part of the leadership group but it just hasn’t materialised. 

[Tommy G]

Just now, Muzzy_no7 said:

Nelson won’t likely get an opportunity until December and the FA Cup 3rd round. He’ll need to take those with both horns.

 

I came into this season wanting to see him play 40+ games and be part of the leadership group but it just hasn’t materialised. 

Agreed - we had some people calling him to be captain too. 

 

Hope it works out but he needs games and maybe a loan is the best option.