Gordon Dalziel and Kenny Miller have both wore the Rangers jersey and bore the brunt of its responsibility.
Having both played as strikers at Ibrox, the two might’ve contributed in different generations but they were tasked with finding the back of the net.
In order to do so effectively, the two needed the right service and there were creative names aplenty backing up their opportunities at Rangers.
But both Dalziel and Miller are in agreement that one Rangers star in Todd Cantwell needs to do more to contribute to the Ibrox club’s success.
It comes with both the ex-Rangers stars waxing lyrical about Cantwell’s double-assist match-winning performance against Hearts at Hampden.
’Selfish’ Cantwell had ‘best game for Rangers’ v Hearts
It’s fair to say that Gordon Dalziel’s opinion on Todd Cantwell is certainly mixed.
The former Rangers striker told Clyde Superscoreboard that whilst he isn’t always the attacking midfielder’s biggest fan, the 26-year-old stole the show v Hearts.
Giving Cantwell ‘all the credit in the world’, the former Rangers striker claims it makes a change from his often ‘selfish’ performances at Ibrox.
“I thought Cantwell (was the best player on the pitch v Hearts),” said Dalziel. “Sometimes I’m not a great fan of his. I think he plays for himself.
“He takes up positions that if you’re playing with him you would be very, very angry with him.
“He brings defenders because it’s all about him but I’ve got to say, I thought he was (brilliant).
“I know the goalscorer got Man of the Match but Cantwell (was excellent). I said it early on.
“I couldn’t understand why Hearts weren’t trying to stop the balls going into him. He was playing in between defence and midfield picking up some great positions.
“He set up Dessers for both goals, his work rate for the team I thought was brilliant so I’m going to give him all the credit in the world.
“Probably his best game in a Rangers jersey for me.”
| Todd Cantwell Premiership stats 23/24 | |
| Appearances (starts) | 26 (20) |
| Goals (xG) | 5 (4.29) |
| Assists (xA) | 4 (4.09) |
| FotMob rating | 7.35 |
| Successful passes (accuracy) | 733 (84%) |
| Chances created | 42 |
| Successful dribbles (%) | 29 (55.8%) |
| Duels won (%) | 104 (49.8%) |
| Fouls won | 43 |
’Influential’ Cantwell urged to be Rangers difference-maker
Kenny Miller was on co-punditry duties with Gordon Dalziel on Clyde and echoed the commentary on Rangers star Todd Cantwell.
Claiming that Hearts never got to grips with the midfielder, Miller suggested that Cantwell ‘got the run of Hampden’ in the 2-0 Rangers Scottish Cup victory.
Whilst Cyriel Dessers stole the headlines with a deadly double, both goals were assisted by the Rangers playmaker.
Now, ex-Rangers striker Miller has challenged Todd Cantwell to do this more consistently and fire the Ibrox team to glory in the final six games.
“Listen sometimes things come together,” said Miller. “I was there, I was at the game, and after three minutes you could see Cantwell was getting too much space.
“I am really surprised (Steven Naismith) never tweaked it to stop that because (Cantwell) must been on the ball 15 times in that area of the pitch and driving it.
“I actually thought he was, he was the most influential player on the pitch there’s no doubt about it.
“I expect Todd Cantwell to have done more with what he had in those moments.
“It’s between him and Balogun for me, (they) where the two best players along with obviously the goalscorer.
“Todd Cantwell was the most influential player in terms of he created two goals, he was a constant threat aided by Hearts’ inability to stop him.
“They tried to push Jorge Grant up beside Shankland to get pressure on the centre-backs and it never worked.
“Devlin and Baningime were left to deal with Lundstram and Diomande and Cantwell had the run of Hampden and he took full advantage of it.
“What he needs to do is he needs to maintain it. Not just with Todd Cantwell but with a lot of the Rangers team it’s been consistency.
“He now needs to at this stage of the season, he needs to be the one.
“When you’re thinking about creative players that maybe don’t create enough chances, he’s the one player that you think, he should be that player.
“It’s this time last year where he finished the season really strong so maybe he’s a player that he comes into his own at this stage of the season.”
Todd Cantwell joined Rangers on a £1.5m deal from Norwich City in January 2023 and has gone on to make 59 appearances for the club, scoring 11 goals and laying on a further 12.
But is it time for the midfielder to step up and fire the Ibrox side to title glory?
