Some players took places for granted last season - Kenny Miller

[bombaybadboy08 15,660]

MARK WARBURTON restored the fun factor to watching Rangers last season – now Kenny Miller revealed he has brought the fear.

The Light Blues boss revolutionised the playing style of recent seasons as his team swept to the Championship title and a return to the Scottish game’s top flight.

However, Miller candidly admitted too many players last season – including himself – had it too easy when it came to team selection because their boss and assistant Davie Weir were so short on options.

It looked as if Rangers could pay a heavy price midway through their season when they lost 3-2 at Hibs, their play suddenly became pedestrian and the romp to the title threatened to become a slog.

Ultimately, their 4-2 win over Elephant Man’s side at Ibrox on December 28 proved decisive as they won the league comfortably but the challenges will be greater in the coming months and Warburton has already tooled up.

He’s added eight new signings, with another couple in the pipeline, and Miller has welcomed the reinforcements as the Light Blues bid to put down a title challenge to Celt*c for the first time in five years.

Miller said: “It’s an exciting time. There’s a lot of competition for places which we didn’t have last year and that was not good for a club like this.

“We needed better numbers and we needed experienced numbers. Last year most people could probably have picked seven, eight or even nine guys who were going to play most weeks.

“In saying that the guys were playing well enough to hold on to the jerseys but those who were playing 95 per cent of games still needed pushed by others. You need to have that fear of being taken out of the team. If you have a bad game and then another you need to know there’s a guy to take your place.

“We have that now and the fact we have brought in these numbers will only make the lads who were already here even better.

“I felt there were a number of players who took their place for granted last season. They knew, no matter what happened, they‘d play. We’ve addressed that now.”

He expects more competition to come and said: “We’re at eight now and there will probably be more. It’s getting the balance right because you want players coming in to challenge for places, not just to make up numbers.”

Rangers fans have responded in near record numbers to the changes taking place on the field and off, with more than 40,000 season tickets sold already for the new campaign. The Ibrox club sold a best ever 43,500 in the summer of 2008, following the UEFA Cup Final and, by sheer coincidence, it was the time Miller returned for his second spell at the club in a £2million deal from Derby.

He said: “They must have sold all those tickets on the back of my signing, eh? Seriously, it’s an amazing number and it will be even more come the start of the season.

“The fans have shown fantastic backing. Like us they are optimistic about the challenges ahead in the new season. There’s nothing but excitement for it.”

Miller, who scored 21 goals from 31 starts last time out, is itching to get going again after admitting the agony of the Scottish Cup Final lingered all the way through his summer holidays in Florida.

Still, he showed his class in the controversial aftermath when he made his way to the Hibs dressing room to congratulate every one of their players and backroom staff for their last-gasp victory, a trip in the opposite direction Easter Road chairman Rod Petrie failed to make.

Miller said: “Look, I know Elephant Man well. I played with him and he did a fantastic job at Hibs and is going to be a huge loss to the Scottish game. He’s a really talented, ugly young manager and our game’s going to miss him.

“I know a few lads in that team – I went along to see Darren McGregor. As much as I was bitterly disappointed I was delighted for him.

“To be fair, although the Hibs boys were all jumping around celebrating at the time, they were quite hospitable when I went in.

“The pain of the defeat lingered over the summer and is still lingering now. At my age Scottish Cup finals might not come along again.”

[bombaybadboy08 15,660]

Getting a wee dig in at a few with that comment, I'm sure they will know who they are.

I like it.

[.Williamson. 82,177]

"a really talented, ugly young manager" 

[Hamie 4,842]

[Sket 13,610]

[Bears r us 30,793]

Fantastic edit  and good words from Kenny as usual. 

[blueretro 704]

Unfortunately all our players took winning the Scottish cup for granted. I'm still well pissed off with that. Tarnished what should have been a fantastic season............It did for me anyway.

[bluewhitevanman 1,619]

1 hour ago, blueretro said:

Unfortunately all our players took winning the Scottish cup for granted. I'm still well pissed off with that. Tarnished what should have been a fantastic season............It did for me anyway.

Absolutely I couldn't agree more, being behind early doors then getting a lead for halftime then losing the game is unacceptable at rangers I'm still bitter about that result. 

[Vwbear 399]

Who did miller play with stubbs at ? 

My guess is wolves ? 

[K.A.I 36,183]

I like his honesty 

kiernan, Wilson, holt, Halliday, tav 

they all knew they'd start every week 

they done a job but far from perfect the competition is what's needed and it flies in the face of the lean squad stuff and shows an obvious downside to it 

[KeyserSoze 14,531]

2021

"so Kenny it's been some season in charge of this great team, a treble at the first time of asking, what's your thoughts?"

"well since Sir Warburton left for Barcelona it's been a whirlwind,  but I knew the boys would trump this lot cos they are all shite like". 

[John Greig's Sideburns 177]

Hopefully this year gives them a kick up the arse when it comes to expecting to start.

[Jimfanciesthedude 24,540]

7 hours ago, Fabric said:

Absolutely I couldn't agree more, being behind early doors then getting a lead for halftime then losing the game is unacceptable at rangers I'm still bitter about that result. 

Lead for half time? What final did you watch? 

[bluewhitevanman 1,619]

8 hours ago, blueretro said:

 

 

21 minutes ago, Jimbeamjunior said:

Lead for half time? What final did you watch? 

Well spotted Jim ?lol I meant after half time. I was at the game maybe trying to forget abt it. The point still stands, we shouldn't have lost that game wether we got the lead b4 or after half time. 

[Clemdog 39,389]

Very well written Bombay.  

Like noted before, I like his honesty. 

[davis1986 996]

10 hours ago, Vwbear said:

Who did miller play with stubbs at ? 

My guess is wolves ? 

It would have been Derby mate 

[gmcf 34,152]

 

[scottyscott1963 18,293]

Aint going to be any players taking things for granted and knowing they will be in the team this season,of this I am certain. Really hope we pull this off as it will be the first time we have given these scummy cunts a challenge in 5 seasons as this will be the first time we have been in this particular league in 5 seasons. Should be no more free leagues at the very least for the asterisk champs. 

[googglebot 4,736]

On 02/07/2016 at 11:38 AM, bombaybadboy08 said:

 

Ultimately, their 4-2 win over Elephant Man’s side at Ibrox on December 28 proved decisive as they won the league comfortably but the challenges will be greater in the coming months and Warburton has already tooled up.

Well said Kenny