As a person that reads and listens to a lot of opinions surrounding Celtic and Scottish football and how events around the game can affect the club, I like to think I have a decent grasp on the current opinions and events on the club. By no means do I have encyclopedic knowledge, but I think it’s decent all the same.
Which is why when I heard this claim from former Rangers striker, Kenny Miller, I just had to comment on it. Miller was asked on a radio phone-in show who he thought from the current Ibrox club could get into the current Celtic team.
Whilst Miller was hesitant to answer because of the number of new signings at his old club, he based his answer on what he witnessed from his former club’s players last season.
Miller said [Clyde 1 Superscoreboard], “At this moment in time, because there is so much uncertainty in relation to the amount of new signings Rangers have made, Tavernier goes in.
“I think [Nico] Raskin goes in alongside Callum McGregor. I think that there would be a case for Cantwell. Definitely, for the way he finished the end of the season.
“One of them [Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley] would miss out for I think Cantwell and Raskin. Maybe if you have Cantwell play in the middle or off on the side, but they would definitely get in the team.
“I think that would be a case in terms of the stature of [Jack] Butland, and the age he is at as well.
“There’s a lot of chat about Joe Hart about maybe moving him on and replacing him which I think is craziness at this moment in time. But for me, probably only those three that I would say pretty confidently.”
Where do I even start? Ok, let’s talk about Tavernier. Yes, his goal return for his club is very good for a right-back albeit the majority of them are from the penalty spot. And to be fair to him, he can hit a very good free kick once in a while.
But, defensively, he has been exposed time and again by Celtic over the years in the Glasgow Derby. A full-back’s job is to defend first and then support the teams attacking options.
That is something that Alistair Johnston and Anthony Ralston have done consistently well over the last two seasons (Johnston for his first few months). I would have both our right-backs in ahead of Tavernier every day of the week.
Miller says that Cantwell would ‘definitely’ get in the team for the way he finished the season last season. Let’s not forget, prior to the 3-0 defeat Celtic suffered at Ibrox in the final Glasgow Derby, Cantwell (and Raskin for that matter) were both anonymous in the two most vital Derbies of the season.
In the 3-2 Parkhead win over Rangers that effectively sealed the title, both players were posted missing. In the Scottish Cup semi-final win, Celtic controlled the midfield as the game passed both Rangers midfielders by.
And let’s not forget, Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley consistently performed for Celtic all season adding vital goals and assists throughout. They didn’t just turn it on when the league was done and dusted and the pressure was off. Both players were vital in Celtic securing not just the Treble last season, but also a double in their first.
I am not for one second saying that Raskin and Cantwell are bad players. Far from it, but when it comes to comparing them to Hatate and O’Riley and what they have achieved at Celtic, there is simply no contest here.
There are times in life when there are really no words. Whilst there are plenty from me in this matter, there are still, no words.
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