Despite getting back to winning ways against Hibernian, Rangers’ summer recruitment has once again come under fire after a focus on youth over experience, with former Scotland midfielder Michael Stewart not impressed by 49ers Enterprises so far.
Martin "grateful" for Rangers victory
Several rumours suggested that another poor result against Hibs would spell the end of Russell Martin’s Rangers tenure. The former Southampton manager has endured a disastrous few months in Scotland and felt the full force of Ibrox’s frustration last time out in the Scottish Premiership when fans called for his dismissal. One week on, however, Martin’s finally got the Gers back to winning ways.
There would have been a feeling of relief this time around Ibrox, as Rangers eased past Hibs and into the last four of the Scottish League Cup. Martin, likely among those relieved, expressed his gratitude after his side handed his tenure a glimmer of hope.
The Rangers boss told reporters: “I think I enjoyed it more than any other game this season – maybe the Plzen on. Just really pleased, really grateful. The players and the staff stuck together this week.
“Not easy circumstances, but it was a really good performance – a lot of good stuff against a good team and maybe could have scored a couple more.
“It was never going to be easy. We should have been better than we are and have been, but hopefully today they would have enjoyed the way we did it. I enjoyed the performance. It looked way more like the way I hope we are going to be. I thought the fans were brilliant, and I hope that, in time, they feel differently about me than they do now.”
There is still a lot more work to do though. Martin and others will be well aware that one victory does not solve the problems that the Gers have. It also doesn’t end the criticism that is still falling the way of the 49ers.
Stewart doesn't "understand" Rangers' recruitment decision
It was all change at Rangers in the summer. A total of 14 players arrived and only a handful – if that – have managed to impress at Ibrox. It has so far reflected incredibly poorly on the 49ers’ first summer at the club and Stewart has been particularly confused by their decision to sign Mikey Moore over the more proven Vaclav Cerny.
“This strikes me that the people who are making these decisions behind the scenes at the club don’t really recognise how difficult it would be for a youngster to come from England and have so much pressure (to perform).
“They made him out to be a world beater who was coming into a misfiring team to spearhead it. The guy is a youngster. I don’t really understand the strategy of spending mega bucks on loan fees to bring in really young, inexperienced guys for you then to develop other club’s talent.
“You would get greater value and productivity out of signing Vaclav Cerny who was a solid, already made starter who would have had an impact on the team.”
Stewart’s not wrong, either. Cerny enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Rangers last season – scoring 18 goals and assisting another nine in all competitions – but will ultimately go down as another one that got away. Moore, by comparison, has so far played 327 minutes for the Gers but is yet to find the back of the net.