Rangers Fans Rocked By Preseason Loss As Russell Martin Begins Action | OneFootball

There has been a bit of discussion on Ibrox Noise Towers about yesterday’s friendly loss to TNS at the Rangers Training Center. Most of the discussion has been reticence over that result, while there has been a sizable chunk with the predictable “it’s only a friendly” type responses.

Now there is an argument to be said that it is just a kickabout, it is just about getting minutes in the legs, but in reality it really isn’t. Friendlies are about as much to do with confidence as they are to do with fitness, and if there’s one thing that Rangers as a squad and system don’t have these days, it’s confidence.

If Rangers go around drawing and losing by force of habit, then the confidence to win isn’t there, the winning mentality isn’t there, and the acceptability of not winning is there. The biggest example we can give of a preseason that reflected the domestic season in a positive way was when preseason-wise it was nothing but wins, and that was back in season 2021. That was of course 55.

Yes, the one preseason that we’ve had in the last decade plus that has actually yielded good results has then led to an excellent domestic season. Every other time when Rangers are losing or drawing in preseason or at best very very mixed results, the consequent domestic campaign resulting in from that has been dire.

So we don’t agree that it’s only preseason FFS. The winning mentality is bred there. Yes, it is about fitness as well, but it’s about breeding the mentality of champions. It’s about learning how to win, it’s about knowing what it is to win, and it’s about having the confidence to win. It’s not about complacency, it’s not about expecting to win, but it’s about having the winner mentality.

In the first place, like Walter Smith used to drum into his players, they were always champions. But at the same time, we have to remember that it is a new regime and Russell Martin is an entirely rookie manager at this level.

But what does this all mean at the end of the day? Who is right? Is it the “give them time, it’s only a friendly” crowd? Or is it the ones who are demanding better results?

Well if you look at the squad that we had for TNS, Martin sent out the likes of Tavernier, Kelly, Dowell, Danilo and Jefte. There were a few more as well who would call themselves first-team squad members or players, and that loss to the Welsh champions?

TNS are no great shakes. They’re in the first round of Champions League qualifying. They are about as bottom-feeding, with all due respect to them, an opponent as Rangers could have had. And yes this was only closed doors and yes it didn’t strictly mean anything, but as we say, winning matches at all levels is what Rangers should be about. The mentality to breed success.

If we start again getting used to losing or drawing matches, the squad is not going to know how to win them.

So yeah, it could well be another damning preseason at Ibrox.