Miller believes strikers can put themselves in shop window
FORLORNLY staring out of a closed transfer window has not been a good look for Old Firm top scorers Odsonne Edouard and Alfredo Morelos. Their employees have, on occasion, had sound reasons for feeling fatigued by the theme too.
For example, Neil Lennon’s revelation that Edouard (below) made it clear he saw his future away from Celtic explains plenty about the record signing’s patchy form over the past 12 months.
Firm interest from England and abroad in the Frenchman and Morelos (below) has come and gone for years without a deal sealed.
As time ticks down on another window of opportunity to end the latest bouts of speculation, there may be one last chance.
Summoning a performance akin to that produced by Daniel Cousin in the first Old Firm clash of 2008-09 could be the exit strategy worth following.
After a contribution of one minute as a substitute at Falkirk that season, Cousin started up front with Kenny Miller.
On approach to deadline day, Rangers manager Walter Smith threw caution to the wind.
Cousin’s colossal display in a 4-2 Parkhead victory suited all relevant parties. Less than 72 hours later, the Gabon striker secured the Premier League transfer he had pined for ever since a £3million Fulham bid was blocked by FIFA red tape earlier that year.
Hull City had the firm evidence needed to push ahead to capture the type of powerful forward manager Phil Brown desired.
Rangers, meanwhile, toasted the departure of an unsettled player who went out in a blaze of glory to land them three massive title race points.
Steven Gerrard and Ange Postecoglou may have dilemmas in advance of selection time if there are late bids in the offing.
As Miller recalls, giving the player the platform to push them over the line could prove a cute strategy.
He explained: ‘There are players in both camps who’ve been at the centre of so much speculation.
‘What a big performance in this game could do is, a few hours away from the window shutting, make someone press the button on a deal.
‘In 2008 with Daniel, I’d imagine something was going on in the background. But it might not have been right at the stage of getting done.
‘Whether it was the catalyst or it cemented the move, Daniel definitely didn’t do himself any harm with his performance. He was unplayable.
‘It was one of those masterstrokes Walter seemed to have in his locker. I’d arrived back that summer, Kris Boyd was still there. There was competition for places and lots of speculation surrounding Daniel.
‘It was well known he could leave for the Premier League and he’d been out in the cold. So when we turned up and the team was named it was, “Wow! That name’s been pulled out of the wilderness!”. I just think Walter thought, “This could be your last game, it’s massive, go and give everything you’ve got”. That’s what he did. Daniel was a quiet, calm character off the pitch — and obviously a really good player at 6ft 2in, big, powerful, could score right and left foot.
‘Those attributes make you a real handful at the top of your game. And he was that day, just at the right time.
‘His goal that put us ahead was typical Daniel — pace, power and a wonderful finish.’
Cousin bullied and dominated the Celtic defence before and after opening the scoring.
A late red card for the ex-Lens man failed to tarnish a match-winning display that still overshadowed Miller’s double on return to Celtic Park.
‘As good a centreforward performance in an Old Firm game as I’ve ever seen,’ was then assistant boss Ally McCoist’s description.
Miller recognises his former Rangers teammate Morelos and the £20million-rated Edouard are well capable of scaling similar heights on the big stage.
‘Edouard is still a young man,’ Miller said of the 23-year-old.
‘I don’t know his thoughts — but if he’s interested in going and it’s not happening, it can affect you.
‘As much as you’re a wonderful footballer and top scorer, he’s just not been at his best form.
‘He’ll move eventually and test himself at the top level. Same for Morelos, whose game has developed so much.
‘He’s such a handful and his goal return for Rangers is incredible for a young striker, who was only 20 when he arrived.
‘Whether it’s Edouard, Ryan Christie, Morelos or Ryan Kent, the transfer deadline is close.
‘A game of this magnitude is an opportunity to say, “I’m a good player who can play in these games, this is as big as it comes, so if you’re interested, you’ve 48 hours to come and get me”.
Miller, meanwhile, claims a packed Ibrox could rattle Celtic’s impressive new signings.
Joe Hart, Carl Starfelt, Kyogo Furuhashi and Liel Abada will all sample the Old Firm cauldron for the first time.
And defenders Anthony Ralston and Stephen Welsh have limited experience of the fixture at firstteam level.
Miller said: ‘Celtic probably go in playing a bit better, while Rangers aren’t back to their scintillating best of last season.
‘But Rangers’ starting team, depending on availability, could still have more Old Firm experience.
‘There might be five or six Celtic starters who haven’t been regulars, haven’t played the fixture. Rangers will look to put Celtic straight on the back foot and really assert pressure, get the fans behind them.
‘It’s an intimidation factor. Get on top of them and it will be interesting to see how those Celtic players react in front of 50,000.
‘And, looking at Celtic’s back line, even younger lads who’ve been at the club, the first Old Firm with fans for a while is going to be some affair.’