Lineup Leak, Boos, and Early Pressure: Russell Martin Already Under Fire

When Russell Martin walked through the doors at Ibrox this summer, the expectation was to win, and win quickly. Rangers is not a club that waits patiently for a project to take shape.

The new manager arrived with a healthy transfer budget and the goodwill of supporters who wanted a fresh start. Yet, only a few weeks into his tenure, the optimism of pre-season has been replaced by a different sort of energy, one charged with doubt and frustration, with a sense that the honeymoon period may already be over.

Lineup Leak and the First Signs of Trouble

The first real crack in the smooth facade came not from a bad performance, but from something more peculiar. Hours before Rangers’ crucial Champions League qualifier against Viktoria Plzen, the starting XI appeared online.

Rangers starting lineup was accurately posted on social media this morning https://t.co/LIKPmLyJ3V pic.twitter.com/eW3SeVcdlJ

— Scotland’s Coefficient (@scotlandscoeff1) August 5, 2025

In most football environments, such leaks are shrugged off; in Glasgow, they are treated like state secrets. For Martin, it was a test of temperament. He handled it with a cool head, suggesting there was no malice involved and hinting that it could have been an innocent slip from someone close to the squad.

The players responded on the pitch, cruising to a 3–0 win on the night and a 4–2 aggregate success. That result should have drawn a line under the matter, but the episode left an uneasy feeling with it being a reminder that even off-field details can become lightning rods in the Ibrox pressure cooker.

Boos, Substitutions, and Questions of Mentality

That pressure only grew in the next league game against Dundee. With the score locked at 1–1, Martin opted to replace Lyall Cameron and Mohamed Diomande with Kieran Dowell and Nicolas Raskin. The reaction from the stands was swift and unmistakable. A chorus of boos rolling down from the seats. It was a rare public rejection of a manager’s decision so early into his reign.

Speaking after the match, Martin admitted his side had lacked spark and that, in hindsight, he might have freshened things up from the start.

"There was just general lethargy and no speed in the first half. In hindsight, I should've made some changes to inject that energy in the team, but I explained my decision before the game and maybe I could've changed that now the game is finished.

"We're learning about the group all the time, so that's a lesson learnt today."

This wasn’t the first time he had spoken bluntly about his players. After a draw in the opening league match against Motherwell, he accused some in the squad of playing with “ego” and “self-preservation” when things weren’t going to plan.

"I think we were lucky to get a point. We were nowhere near where we need to be. And I'm extremely disappointed and hurt by that. They were braver than us. They were more aggressive than us."

For some supporters, that level of honesty was refreshing; for others, it risked creating friction in the dressing room.

🗣️ "Some of them have to drop their ego!"

Russell Martin feels his Rangers side were lucky to get a point against Motherwell as his side were booed at full-time 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/6DQk1FuIKY

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 3, 2025

Media Reaction, Injury Concerns, and a Tightrope Ahead

The reaction beyond the stands has been just as mixed. Kris Boyd, a former Rangers striker and now pundit, has warned that despite the summer overhaul, the team doesn’t look markedly better than last season. He argued that several new signings have yet to impose themselves and that the squad’s mentality still needs sharpening if Rangers are to seriously challenge on all fronts.

On the other side of the debate, Neil Lennon, no stranger to the Ibrox spotlight from his years at Celtic, has urged patience, describing the early criticism as “ridiculous.” He argued that cultural and tactical change takes time, and that snap judgments in August rarely reflect the full picture by May.

🔥 "They've got a problem with the culture in the dressing room."

🧠 "It's a mentality issue."

Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist discuss Rangers' poor start to the season and where the blame lies. pic.twitter.com/Kk74tYhx3N

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) August 11, 2025

Europe has brought its own mix of positives and headaches. The victory over Plzen ensured progress, but Martin lamented what he called “outrageous” mistakes in possession. He praised goalkeeper Jack Butland and defenders John Souttar and Nasser Djiga for their composure but made it clear the rest of the squad needs to raise its urgency and precision.

The potential injury to striker Cyriel Dessers could complicate matters further, leaving Rangers short of attacking options at a crucial stage.

The Season Ahead

For now, Martin walks a tightrope. The philosophy is there, the board’s backing is evident, but in Glasgow, momentum is everything. A strong run of results will push the early drama into the background.

Fail to find that rhythm and the boos, the leaks and the pointed questions could soon define his short time in charge.