In terms of a pure footballing
level, Kenny Miller is one of the most controversial players associated with
Rangers in recent (and not-so-recent) times. Having been at Easter Road as a
youngster, during a fairly adequate spell, he made the move across the Central
Belt to Rangers aged 20, where his time in Govan was again adequate by the more
demanding expectations of the Rangers faithful.
Thereafter the-now Scotland
international established himself for five years at Wolverhampton Wanderers,
during an fairly prolific spell of one goal every three matches in the
Championship and Premiership, before the first big controversial move took
place.
Kenny Miller joined Celtic. It
must not be forgotten he was only there for a sole year, but we all know that
the man then left for Derby
before he made his second controversial move in 2008 by returning to Walter
Smith’s Rangers. This was arguably the most dramatic and least popular signing
in the past 15 years, with Miller’s Celtic past being held against him,
including by yours truly.
I deeply resented a fairly
unspectacular player who had been in the green and white returning to Rangers.
Especially given he had spent time at Ibrox already. I was not alone in feeling
this.
Now we know Miller, having been
released by Canadian outfit Vancouver Whitecaps is almost certainly rejoining
Rangers for a third spell, aged 34.
The big outrage among supporters
is that Andy Little, aged 24, has been released to make way for Miller. A lot
has been made of that age difference as an argument for condemning said course
of action, and I can understand that fans do not want to see washed-up players
replacing promising young ones.
However, as harsh as this is
going to sound, I stand by the following; Kenny Miller is a far better player at
34 than Andy Little will ever be. And I have the highest respect for Little –
conducted himself well on and off the pitch and was a credit to the club. He
stuck by the club during its darkest hour in 2012 and I will always be grateful
to him for that. He was also an integral part of our success in winning the
Third Division.
However, again, here comes the
nub – while Miller is no spring chicken any more, he has still been scoring at
a rate of around one in three since he left Rangers, at a higher level than the
SPL. At Rangers in the SPL he scored well over one in two.
Do we wish to stick with Little
who basically has never actually been particularly impressive in the 8 years he
was at Ibrox, or go with a player who is quite bluntly superior in the goals
department?
I am not defending Miller as a
man – I absolutely loathed his reasons for leaving during his second spell,
essentially saying Rangers could not afford him. I am simply weighing up the
football pros and cons of this course of events.
In his 8 years at Ibrox Little
amassed a mere 65 appearances. He scored 33 goals during them, a very good
return. However 22 of them were in the Third Division. This season past has
indicted him more, with him featuring in 29 matches (17 starts) but scoring
only 6 goals. Many may argue he was used more as a winger this season, and it
is a fair point, but how do they account for the zero goals he scored in 8
appearances up front for his country?
Furthermore, he said himself he
is versatile:
“I don’t really have a set position, I
have played upfront, right-back and in midfield, but I feel I am more
comfortable the further up the pitch I play.”
Anyway, the point is I do not
feel his departure is a huge loss, and I also feel his replacement is a better
model and more likely to score goals at a higher level than Little has
struggled with. It will equip us better for life in the Championship – indeed
Miller is superior to every striker Rangers currently have, and is the level we
need to get back to the SPL.
However I am also aware I am in a
total minority with this view, and fully accept that.