Miller tells new boys to watch their language
TWENTY years as a professional have taught Kenny Miller that footballers can’t simply rely on their feet to do the talking. The ability to articulate a clear message is key and the former Scotland striker believes communication must be a priority for manager Pedro Caixinha as he seeks to bed in a cosmopolitan group of new signings.
Thus far, the Portuguese coach has completed deals for five players. Four are compatriots of Caixinha (Bruno Alves, Fabio Cardoso, Daniel Candeias and Dalcio) with Ryan Jack the lone Scot in the new intake.
To their number will be added a Colombian (Alfredo Morelos) and two Mexicans (Eduardo Herrera and Carlos Pena) if visa applications are successful, while Graham Dorrans will add a Glaswegian accent to the mix if a fee can be agreed with Norwich City, and Jamie Walker an Edinburgh burr if Rangers up their offer to meet Hearts’ asking price.
The scale of change reflects the 39-point gap between Rangers and title winners Celtic last term; the rush of activity is necessitated by a brisk start to the new campaign.
Tomorrow, Rangers will find out the identity of their first opponents of the season when the draw is made for the first two qualifying rounds
of the Europa League.
Ten days later, Caixinha’s team will be thrown into their first competitive test of the season. There will be no scope for easing players into action with a half of football here and there, nor the luxury of the odd dodgy result like in a normal pre-season.
Rangers are a fortnight deep into their training-ground work but Miller, handed a new deal at 37 after finishing as the club’s top league scorer last season, knows there is a mountain of work to be done.
‘There’s a language barrier straight away, so getting a message across is an issue,’ reflected Miller. ‘Not from the manager, clearly, because he speaks their language.
‘But communication is key — control, organising, speaking to each other and demanding. That can be an issue needing to be addressed.
‘It makes it a lot easier if we’re all on the same page and there’s an understanding of what we’re trying to do. Some teams gel rapidly, with some it takes a longer period.
‘Is it ideal bringing 10 players in? No, it’s not. But if that’s what the manager feels is right at this time, then we’ve got to roll with it and make sure it works.’
With Alves competing with Portugal at the Confederations Cup, Miller has had a chance to make a team-mate’s judgment of Cardoso, Dalcio and Jack.
Formerly captain of Aberdeen, Jack, 25, is the known quantity among the new recruits.
Dalcio, a winger, has been brought in on loan from Benfica’s B team, but it is Cardoso who has impressed Miller most.
Signed for an undisclosed fee from Vitoria Setubal, the 23-year-old has been recruited to partner Alves in central defence and has already made an impression.
‘Fabio has come in and had a great 10 days,’ said Miller. ‘He speaks well, he leads, he demands and, for a young lad, he’s very vocal. Already we can all see the attributes he has.
‘Dal’s English isn’t as good as Fabio’s, so he’s finding it a wee bit harder to communicate with the lads. But as long as the manager gets the message across to him of what he expects, we should be okay. You can see his threat and the quality he’ll bring to the group.
‘We all know Ryan, we know what he’s about. He’s settled in pretty well. He’s still a young lad, so he’ll look to improve and kick on to the next level. I’m sure he has aspirations to play for the national team. Coming here and playing well for this club will definitely lead to that if he gets a starting slot.
‘It’s been very positive. Bruno is away playing at the Confederations Cup and I don’t think many people will have doubts about him.
‘He’s a well-known figure in football and should be a big signing for us — hopefully the other lads will be, too.’
The Portuguese/Mexican theme among the new arrivals illustrates just how invested former Santos Laguna coach Caixinha has been in the recruitment process.
Rangers had stated an intention to appoint a director of football to help the summer shopping spree, but news of Mark Allen’s proposed move from Manchester City to Ibrox didn’t break until after all nine deals had been set in motion.
Dorrans apart, Caixinha has decided to go with what he knows, and that carries risk.
Brendan Rodgers swept the board with Celtic and did so from a resoundingly Scottish base of players, something that didn’t go unnoticed by Miller.
‘If you look at the balance of the signings so far, it hasn’t really involved a Scottish core,’ he said. ‘We need to keep a level of British and Scottish players who know what’s required to play here. In saying that, they must be good enough.
‘There’s no doubt we need to improve the quality of the squad if we want to — and I hate the phrase — close the gap on Celtic.
‘There was a huge points difference last season, even to Aberdeen. So, for us to be far more competitive, we need better players.
‘Thankfully, it’s not my job. The manager has to assemble a squad which he thinks has the right balance and quality within it. We need the right characters to sustain a challenge.
‘But I think the level of player we’re after shows an awareness of what we need to take us back to a higher position.’
Miller is enjoying the prospect of a continental comeback, seven
It’s a whole lot easier if we are on the same page in what we are trying to do
years on from his last European experience.
Much has changed since the final whistle sounded on Rangers’ Champions League tie at Bursaspor in late 2010. Miller’s goal in the 1-1 draw helped seal a transfer to the Turkish club and, from there, he moved to Cardiff City and then Vancouver Whitecaps.
Rangers, meanwhile, would not be sighted in UEFA’s top competition again after descending into financial meltdown in 2012.
A European return will mark another milestone on the club’s journey back from oblivion but, with four two-legged rounds to negotiate, there is no guarantee of involvement in the Europa League proper.
‘It’s all part of the process,’ admitted Miller, ‘small steps in getting us back to where we want to be. We would love to do it in one huge step, but it’s going to take a bit of time.
‘When I knew there was a chance to come back to the club again, Europe was part of the thought process. I wanted to play in an Old Firm game. I’ve managed to do that. The next stage is Europe, win the league and be in the Champions League again — that’s where we want to be playing, but there’s a long way to go and a lot of hard work to achieve that all, starting with a Europa League qualifier.
‘We have to do it the hard way. I am not too sure about seedings and potential opponents, but we will just take it game by game. There’s been a quick turnaround, a feeling of two seasons rolled into one.
‘We must keep getting better. But, looking at the standard of player we are bringing in, we will definitely be better equipped this year.
‘The numbers we are getting in should help accommodate the number of games we will have this season — if we get through the qualifiers.
‘If we lose a pre-season friendly, let’s be honest, it doesn’t matter. These games, you need to win. You don’t get a second chance if you underperform or get a poor result. It’s important we are right on the ball and ready to go.’
Miller’s message couldn’t be louder or clearer. His new colleagues soon have their chance to deliver their response.
KENNY MILLER was speaking to promote Rangers Soccer Schools courses, which are open to kids aged between 5-14 years. For further info or to book a course e-mail Soccerschools@rangers.co.uk or dial 0871 702 1972 option 4 (calls cost 13p per minute plus network extras).