Martin said the other day that fans will criticise him for anything, including his hairstyle.
Add in his signings, his tactics, his team’s lack of urgency and hunger for chunks of games, their lack of shape, pedestrian football, shortage of physicality, absence of goal threat, desperate vulnerability in defence and the sense that Martin, despite his confident talk, is toiling horribly and you have a greater picture of his malaise.
In Paisley, it was no surprise. That was the thing. No eyebrows raised, no jaws dropped, no gobs smacked.
This unfolded in the way most people thought it would unfold. St Mirren had a winning record against Rangers last season – two wins, one draw, one loss – and in establishing their lead they bullied their visitors.
Their goal involved two passes from the edge of their own penalty area, hesitant defending from Rangers centre-backs and a brilliant finish. St Mirren deserved it.
Just as Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen said last week that he knew where the space would be against Rangers, Stephen Robinson knew precisely where and how to target them.
Frankly, Robinson, tough, relentless and over-achieving, would be a better fit for Rangers than Martin. But, of course, Robinson is not glamorous.
He hasn’t managed in the top flight in England, hasn’t done it on the continent. Sometimes – many times – Rangers overlook the option staring them in the face.
The goals and chances that Rangers have conceded this season, no matter the configuration of their defence, have been amateur hour.
Djiga getting himself sent off against Dundee, playing dead while Alloa broke away for a goal, and gifting the opener to Brugge last week.
John Souttar, a shadow of his former self, and Fernandez, a £3.5m Martin signing, incapable of dealing with a two-on-one with Jonah Ayunga. The St Mirren striker dealt with both with ease.
Weak and slapstick. They’re a defence that goes to pieces at the drop of a hat. A simple delivery from out wide or down the middle causes palpitations, defenders second-guessing each other, nobody taking command.
