Charlie Mulgrew Praises Russell’s Thorough Approach

The searing heat in the Balearics contrasted with the lukewarm reception for the breaking news back in Scotland.

For all we know, Russell Martin’s imminent appointment as manager might well have satisfied a silent majority of Rangers supporters.

However, most of those who preferred to air their strident views in public weren’t willing to give the former Southampton boss the benefit of the doubt.

Two weeks after his unveiling, the 39-year-old’s reputation as a thoughtful and progressive football coach evidently still hasn’t cut the ice with all the light blue legions.

Those who would rather have seen a more exotic or experienced name given the nod appear disinclined to look beyond Saints’ disastrous return to the Premier League under Martin’s stewardship last season. 

The brand of possession-based football he plays has been used as a stick to beat him with.

From the other side of the Old Firm divide, Charlie Mulgrew might seem like an unlikely source of support for the new man at Ibrox. But the testimony of a former Scotland team-mate is compelling.

‘I actually met him in Palma the day before he took the job,’ said the former Celtic defender. I’m sitting in a coffee shop and he came walking in. He was flying back to take the job.

‘Having met the guy and spent time with him, I know he leaves no stone unturned. He’s absolutely brilliant at his job.

‘I know he sticks to his style and how he sees the game. I’ve always been impressed by that.

‘He tried to sign me when he was at MK Dons as well, so I got an insight into how he wants to play.

‘He was thorough. As a player that he was looking to sign, he sent me a profile on how he saw me playing — a PowerPoint presentation of what he saw and what I could bring to his team.

‘It was so impressive. I’d never been sent that before. Knowing him, I think he’s a great appointment for Rangers.’

Before he’s so much as taken charge of a single training session, Martin stands accused — by some — of advocating a style of football which is too easily countered.

Mulgrew believes that’s a gross misrepresentation of the reality.

‘No matter what happens, Celtic and Rangers need to be possession- based, because that’s what the fans demand,’ he said.

‘They can’t be at home at Ibrox and let Motherwell have 60-per- cent possession. The place would be booing.

‘They’re going to have possession. If you’ve got possession, you’ve got more chance of scoring a goal. The tricky bit for Celtic and Rangers has always been the final third. You need to have killers in that final third. I’m sure he’ll know that.’

Martin will also appreciate that certain fans will view him with scepticism purely on the basis that he’s Russell Martin.

A decent defender who rang every last drop out of his professional career is always going to be a hard sell to those more concerned with style than substance.

‘Listen, I’m not surprised because I know the mentality up here at Celtic and Rangers,’ said Mulgrew. ‘There’s a high standard and expectation in the names that were mentioned for the Rangers job. 

‘Jose Mourinho was mentioned at one stage and Carlo Ancelotti’s boy [Davide], who has coached at Real Madrid and has quite a high stock as well.

‘When you’ve not looked too much into Russell Martin, on the surface it can maybe disappoint people. But having been down to see him, having spent time with him, having played with him, I don’t see it like that.’

 Martin’s impending joust with former Norwich team-mate and now Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou makes for an intriguing opening day of the new Premiership season.

Hearts are also under new management in Derek McInnes. On the opening Monday, they face an Aberdeen side still basking in Scottish Cup glory.

Champions Celtic, who host St Mirren the previous day, will start as strong favourites to retain their crown.

There remains an air of invincibility, however, with the four league defeats suffered by Brendan Rodgers’ side last season all coming after the turn of the year.

With the benefit of hindsight, perhaps losing the cup final to Aberdeen at Hampden wasn’t quite such a seismic shock.

While his former club still enjoyed a successful season by claiming the League Cup on top of the Premiership crown, Mulgrew feels that one major disappointment will have festered.

‘I don’t think anybody gave Aberdeen a prayer in the game,’ he said. ‘It just shows you, though, what can happen if you don’t turn up and show the right attitude. First and foremost, you need to show up and compete.

‘I’m sure that’ll keep them on their toes this year. Brendan Rodgers, being the competitive winner that he is, will be fuming with the fact he never won the Treble, having come so close. It was Rodgers’ first final he’d been beaten in. So, every team needs that wee edge.’

With Jota sidelined for the foreseeable future and the void left by Kyogo Furuhashi still to be filled, Rodgers needs to get new faces in the door.

Mulgrew contends that the much-anticipated return of Kieran Tierney is pretty much the perfect starting point.

‘It’s brilliant,’ he said. ‘He’s somebody who’s probably coming into their prime in a few years. Celtic are lucky to have him back. He’s a brilliant, brilliant player. There are maybe question marks over injuries, but I’m sure they’ll manage him well in that way.’

Tierney’s been away from the madhouse for six years, but the changes in Scotland’s top tier in the past six weeks have been bewildering enough.

There are two new additions to the top flight in Falkirk and Livingston and new faces at the helm at Rangers, Motherwell, Hearts, Dundee and Kilmarnock.

Barring something extra-ordinary, the title will be a two-horse race as usual, although Mulgrew senses it might not quite be the canter most are expecting.

‘It’s going to be interesting to see how Rangers go this year,’ he said. ‘Celtic have been dominating for so long. Now Rangers have a new manager, Celtic will obviously have a bit of a wariness about what that’s going to bring.

‘Celtic need that challenge. They’re going to be wary of that. So, it’s interesting and exciting.’

Charlie Mulgrew appeared courtesy of William Hill and the Warm-Up, SPFL Title Sponsor.