Whatever Rangers’ performance was on Thursday, whatever the result, whatever fans felt and managers said in the press, one thing remained as consistent under the Ibrox floodlights on the 29th as it did all last season:
Kenny Miller remains Rangers’ most important asset, and in fact is growing in importance the older he gets.
Some in Scottish football might consider Rangers relying on a 37-year old striker to be a damning indictment of the squad at Pedro Caixinha’s disposal, but on the contrary – most sensible fans would consider it a truly astonishing achievement for one of the country’s greatest-ever pros.
Not in ability, perhaps – there have been better strikers than Kenny Miller to grace the Scottish (and English) game. But in attitude, professionalism and work ethic, Kenny Miller is among the best the nation has ever produced, and has no small ability anyway to compliment this astonishing focus.
The fact Miller is probably still a first pick is as much a reflection on his dedication to his sport, to his club, and to his body as it is anything else.
And the brutal reality is again he saved the day for Rangers, just like Dembele and Sinclair are wont to do for the green and white shower across the city. Just like Griffiths did for his country a week or two ago.
But this is not a bad thing. Too many Rangers fan think badly of the fact Rangers ‘rely’ on Kenny Miller – what the hell is wrong with relying on a player who can clearly still produce, whatever his age? Sure, maybe some want our star striker to be Alfredo Morelos, or someone younger with a more foreign sounding name.
But right now our star striker remains Kenny Miller – the silencer of the sheep, the tamer of the t*ms – over and over again. It does not matter if he is approaching the end of his career, he is playing like someone starting it.
And there is his incredible focus on his profession. Preparing for life after football by taking his coaching badges, coaching the youngsters at Ibrox, captaining the front of the team and leading by example – Kenny is a grand example of playing at the top of the game thanks to self-focus, dedication and love for his club.
He has gone as far as to pick up a touch or Portuguese and Spanish to help bed in the new Hispanic recruits, and that kind of work should not go unnoticed.
While Kranjcar’s brilliance picked him out, it was Miller’s pace, quick thinking and clinical finishing which showed why he is the best striker Rangers have, and while not the top-scoring, one of the best in the SPL.
Rangers are lucky to have this guy, lucky he was happy to sacrifice a cushy, well-paid gig in Canada to answer the call of his team – he came back when Rangers were still only League One – so Kenny has earned his way. He has certainly earned forgiveness for one or two indiscretions of the past – and then some.
If anyone has redeemed themselves, it is Kenny.
Forget a team of Davie We… forget those who truly tainted their legacy.
We all dream of a team of Kenny Millers.
Completely agree, if we're going to say "if you're good enough you're old enough" then surely it works the other way round. The thing that amazes me most is how he has managed to remain injury free, i can't ever remember him having a long time out. Is this just pure luck, good conditioning or genetics (probably all 3) but considering in his early days his game was based on explosive pace this is remarkable, he got his break roughly the same age as micheal owen and look how his career stalled. Kenny is a legend in his own right.
Nothing but respect for the guy, sure he played for the enemy although on studying his body language throughout that period I genuinely always got the distinct impression that he really regretted it from his first day at the piggery and is always much more naturally comfortable , rounded and content back home at at Ibrox.
Anyway – we all make mistakes and that particular one, these days, doesn't exactly amount to a hill of beans – does it?
Going forward I agree he will be vital this coming season, and very possibly beyond that, and feel that if we put an equally hard working, ambitious and productive proven scorer up there alongside him it would create a formidable attacking force, the likes of which we have not seen since McCoist & Hately while at the same time taking the unfair mental pressure off him and extending his playing career prospects which would be a very positive result all round
Unfortunately after midweek Euro tie the jury is still very much out as far as I am concerned re- if the ranks of the current squad, old & new, has such a striking partner amongst it as the incredible and ridiculous inclusion of Waggy in the starting 11 threw the balance potential of the team into the clyde as he ran about like it was a game doon the park and it became pathetically obvious that he was simply out his depth and basically reduced our number to 10 men
Why did Ped start him? – I can only logically conclude that it was a calculated and conscious decision on his part to finally assist Waggy in his suicide re- any future career at Ibrox & and if I am wrong and he included him on merit then we do have a serious problem folks
WATP
I severely hope that last line is not a dig at Davie Weir? You should hang your head in shame if that's the case.
The man was a fan favourite and captained rangers to our last major cup final all while pushing 40 years old.
Is it lost on you that this article is about a man being an important rangers player at the tail end of his 30's, when David Weir played on into his 40's with us?
If you want to forget, forget about last season and remember that the man is a legend at this club and nothing else.
I don't think that the writer has anything to hand his head for. He's got every right to feel that Davie Weir ultimately let us down. Anyone loses their 'legend' status in my eyes when you try to bring charges against your old club.
The way Weir conducted himself in the past year has been pretty diabolical imo. The fact he knew how th club operated and how he was held in such high regard only to flush it all away to go to Notts Forest tells you a lot about him. He wasn't even cut out for the job. Did you see our defence? He should have been able to get someone more out of them that that!
A team of Kenny Millers?
I'd wake up in a cold sweat. We'd have endeavour, effort and running around, but sod all goals.
He always gives 100% but until a manager uses him for what he is, a mid-attack workhorse, we will struggle upfront. He is simply not the answer to the lack of cutting edge we saw all last season. In short, he's not a striker, he's a "forward" and until such time as we play a striker, we will look the same.
I would tentatively suggest Kyle Lafferty will score more this season than Kenny and hope to be proved wrong. 🙂
Well said Ed. What a good article about all the merits of the one and only Kenny Miller, who is a world class trier. Kenny was a huge asset for us last year and started off this year with a spark of genius for the magical goal he and the classy Kranjcar conjured up for the quickly taken free kick that led to the decisive goal. Bravo Kenny Miller. Keep the good work up.
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