Russell Martin's style WOULD suit Rangers and players would love working for him, says Steven Naismith.
The former Gers, Hearts and Everton star was a teammate of Martin's both both Norwich and Scotland and knows him very well having had regular chats about the game and how they see it.
With the sacked Southampton boss in the running for the Ibrox hotseat, some doubts have cropped up around his style of play and its suitability for Rangers.
Preferring an easy-on-the-eye style, 39-year-old's teams of the past have controlled games with large swathes of possession and a more patient build up.
Some feel a more aggressive attacking approach may be required against sides who are prepared to sit in a low block and allow you to have all the possession.
But Naismith insists Martin's style is a good fit for the club.
“As a starting point, that (Martin’s style) would give everyone an understanding of what they can expect from Russell," he told the Daily Record.
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“Look, Rangers predominantly play against teams in a low block, who sit in and are organised.
“The way Russell sets his teams up is to actually manufacture that in every game.
“To have teams deep and basically move the ball until the moment appears to take advantage.
“If you’re asking me, can his system work in Scotland? I think it certainly can.
“He can cause teams loads of problems. At his previous clubs, like MK Dons and Swansea, they’ve had between 70 and 80 percent possession.
“To have teams deep and basically move the ball until the moment appears to take advantage.
“If you’re asking me, can his system work in Scotland? I think it certainly can.
“He can cause teams loads of problems. At his previous clubs, like MK Dons and Swansea, they’ve had between 70 and 80 percent possession.
“He understands that you need to win at Rangers - and that’s all that matters.
“And I think Russell could implement it fairly quickly, I’m fairly sure of that.
“The best example of that is Ange Postecoglou doing it at Celtic.
“It took him three or four months but within that time, he had a well-oiled machine and players who understood exactly what they had to do and expect. So I think Russell can do it too.”
Naismith has also seen Martin work first hand on the training pitch after going along to watch while he was a training camp in Scotland with Southampton.
And he feels players would buy in to an enjoyable way of working.
He added: "It’s a very enjoyable way of working. I’ve seen it first hand. I’ve seen his training sessions and how he communicates.
“With players, he gets instant buy-in because it’s an enjoyable way of playing.
“The training and the way he gets the detail across is brilliant and it then becomes evident on the pitch."
