Celtic legend Martin O’Neill believes Rangers manager Russell Martin has already stumbled just weeks into his time at Ibrox.
Martin questioned his squad’s standards after some of their first matches this season, remarks that caught O’Neill’s attention.
Looking back at his own early days as a manager, O’Neill said he understood why a boss might try to win over supporters by calling out players who aren’t performing. But he warned this can cause problems, especially when the team has just come through tough matches.
He pointed to Rangers’ recent victories over Panathinaikos as a reason to hold back criticism, saying that speaking out so soon after those results could upset the dressing room instead of motivating it.
He said: (talkSPORT), “I started to think about myself of what did I do in my earlier stages of management, and did I become critical of players early on in an attempt to ingratiate myself with fans?
“Do you give them some time that and that’s a point you have to consider, or is that a point of saying, ‘Listen, let’s get this out in the open’.
“I think, from a distance, I don’t think I would have been that critical of a team that has just got through two difficult matches against Panathinaikos. I really wouldn’t have done that there.
“If you have plenty to say, say it to them in the dressing room. If this is what you want to do, if you want to get something out in the open and you want to tell you want to bring people in, then if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it early.”
O’Neill’s words show how the first weeks in charge can shape the rest of a season. In Glasgow, where every comment is picked apart, there’s very little room for mistakes.
Public criticism can come across as a warning to players, but it can also be seen as a sign of trouble early on.
The former Celtic manager knows how vital it is to keep the squad together, especially at the start of a campaign. Team spirit can be fragile, and once it’s damaged, it’s hard to put right.
Rangers’ opening under Martin has had a mix of positives and concerns. They’ve made progress in Europe, but questions remain over their performances.
How Martin balances straight talking with careful handling will decide how he’s viewed by both his players and the support.
For O’Neill, the point is simple: speak your mind, but choose the right time. Often, what’s said in private can have a far bigger impact than what ends up in the papers.
