Under-fire Rangers boss Russell Martin brutally branded a ‘shallow Pep Guardiola imposter’ after nightmare season continues with home defeat to Hearts

Martin is facing intense pressure after being described as a "shallow Pep Guardiola imposter" whose philosophy is unsuited for the Ibrox club. The damning assessment came from pundits on talkSPORT amid a disastrous start to the season which has seen Rangers slump to 10th in the Scottish Premiership, winless in their last five league matches, culminating in a recent 2-0 home defeat to Hearts.

The criticism centres on Martin's perceived tactical inflexibility and stubborn commitment to a possession-based style. Pundit Max Scott accused the Rangers boss of being a "fashionable manager" who has been found out. 

"I just get the feeling there’s something shallow about Russell Martin’s approach," Scott said. "I get the feeling Russell Martin is maybe cut from this cloth of managers that are essentially average imitators of Pep Guardiola - not even average because they’re imposters. There’s no proof in the pudding and there comes a time when a manager needs more than one weapon in his arsenal."

Fellow commentator Jack Cunningham reinforced the critique, pointing out that even Martin’s promotion-winning season with Southampton contained warning signs, including heavy defeats like a 5-0 loss to Sunderland. 

"In all those games it was style over substance," Cunningham stated, arguing that Martin is failing to grasp the unique demands of managing Rangers. "Rangers are expected to win 90 per cent of their games. They’re expected to do well in Europe so to lose 9-1 on aggregate is shambolic. They won’t take it, it’s as simple as that.”

With the atmosphere at Ibrox described as "toxic," Martin's position appears increasingly precarious. After overseeing a successful Championship campaign with Southampton, he was sacked last December after a woeful start to their Premier League return, having won one of their 16 matches. He has since failed to win over a skeptical fanbase since arriving in Glasgow, and the team's dire league position and humiliating 9-1 aggregate exit from European competition have left him with little credit. Pundits suggest that unless he shows a willingness to adapt his approach, his tenure could be short-lived.