Monday, May 16, 2011

Opinion: Rangers won't miss Kenny Miller

In January, I had just started this blog and decided it was too early to post a piece relating to one of the Old Firm. However, I've now realised that there is no good time to write about the Old Firm, as muppets from either side of the divide will get wound up about it anyway!

The below is a piece I wrote just before Kenny Miller was sold to Bursaspor. It was crafted in response to the media and fan reaction to Miller's loss and argued that Rangers would be a better side without him.

I won't lie, if they hadn't just won the league, I may have been clicking "Delete" instead of post but instead, I am delighted to say I was right! Have a read...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another January transfer window and another Rangers striker out of contract in the summer is linked with a move away from the club. In 2010, it was Kris Boyd. This year, it's Kenny Miller. 

Ultimately Boyd left the club and it looks like Miller will now be doing the same. However, I am absolutely astounded by the ludicrous assertions on both occasions that somehow, Rangers would collapse as a club and that their title challenge would simply end if either of the players were to leave. 

Boyd stayed and barely hit the back of the net for 6 months - yet Rangers won the league at a canter. He's since gone to Middlesbrough he's remained the same waster that he always was - if he's not scoring goals, he's not interested in helping the team out.  He is now warming a struggling team's bench with a huge 5 goals in 23 games to his name.

In Miller's case, I think he brings a lot more to any team than Kris Boyd ever can - but I also don't think he quite brings as much as both the media and Rangers fans think he does. His leaving suits both Rangers and the player and while he has been a terrific signing for the club the second time round, recently his work-rate has take a serious nose-dive and he's looked increasingly like player whose head is elsewhere.

Pundits and journos alike, who for years have torn into Miller for being all work and no goals, are now rolling out all the old cliches that they did with Boyd. "If he goes, where will Rangers get their goals from?" 

Just like someone stepped up to the plate when Boyd left, in the form of Miller, I think the answer to these sensationalist imbeciles is quite obvious: Nikica Jelavic.

The big Croat was bought for £4m - the most Rangers have spent on a single player since they signed Mikel Arteta from Barcelona in 2002. A man who, when fit, is a certain starter for Slaven Bilic and the Croatian national team and who, prior to being injured earlier this season, looked very much the part.

Do people honestly think that Walter Smith & Ally McCoist would've spent that much cash on a single player if they hadn't planned for him to be the main man? He was brought in to be Rangers main man, and that's exactly what he'll turn out to be.

Losing Miller will also allow Steven Naismith - for me Rangers man of the season - to play up front alongside Jelavic and will also offer the likes of Kyle Lafferty (who, I know is a mentalist, but the boy has ability) a chance to prove himself in his favoured forward position.

Miller is having the best season of his career in terms of goals scored, but at 31 and suffering from chronic shin splints, he's unlikely to ever be able to recreate this form again.

Rangers on the other hand will continue on without him and, in my view, with a considerably better striker leading their line. 

No comments:

Post a Comment