Skip to content
The Todd Cantwell Rangers quality exciting Barry Ferguson as he brands him Ryan Kent ‘upgrade’
Barry Ferguson admits he was worried about who would replace Ryan Kent – but reckons Rangers have already managed to do it with Todd Cantwell already.
And the former Norwich man has a ‘swagger’ about him that is exciting Cantwell and he can’t wait to see what he does in a Rangers shirt next season. Cantwell has four goals in his last four games for the Ibrox side after netting the equaliser against Hearts on Wednesday night and that alone is more goals than Kent managed in the rest of the campaign despite playing much more regularly.
The former Liverpool youngster won’t play for Rangers again after injury ruined his chance of an Ibrox send off in the same way Alfredo Morelos, Scott Arfield and Allan McGregor got in the midweek clash. Ferguson is a huge fan of Kent as a player and insists he’s not criticising him, but he reckons Cantwell is already taking Rangers to the next level.
And that’s why he’s excited for what Michael Beale does in the summer window having already brought Cantwell’s former Norwich team-mate Kieran Dowell in for the summer window. Cantwell is already someone who appears to be getting treatment from the opposition while rivals fans have also been taking aim at him, and Ferguson reckons that is further proof of what he’s doing on the pitch for Rangers.
In his Daily Record column, he said: “For some time now there’s been a huge question mark hanging over Ibrox. If Ryan Kent is on his way out of the club, then how can Michael Beale possibly replace a player of £7m quality this summer? And I’m starting to reach the conclusion that he may have done it already. For absolute washers. Yes, it was emotional seeing Kent, Allan McGregor, Alfredo Morelos, Scotty Arfield and big Filip Helander all being given a guard of honour after the final home game of the season against Hearts.
“And you could see it in Kent’s face as the fans sent him off with a chorus of his very own theme tune. But the more I see of this team the more it’s becoming clear that if there’s a Rangers player who is going to tear anyone apart from now on then it’s not Kent. It’s Todd. Todd Cantwell may not have arrived In Glasgow with the same kind of huge price tag or massive fanfare but he looks tailor made to take on Kent’s responsibilities as the creative talisman of this team.
“As a matter of fact, he’s starting to look as if he might be an upgrade. With four goals in his last four games Cantwell has certainly added the kind of clinical finishing that Kent was often criticised for lacking.
“Don’t get me wrong. This is not about having a pop at a player who I rated very highly and enjoyed watching perform in a Rangers shirt. I consider myself a Ryan Kent fan.
“But I do see similarities between what Kent and Cantwell bring to the team and, from what I’ve seen over the last few weeks in particular, the new man compares favourably. Kent is naturally more of an out and out winger but, in Beale’s system, he was deployed more as old fashioned inside left.
“He was also allowed the freedom from there to go roaming and play in areas that could hurt opposing sides. That’s where Cantwell operated regularly at Norwich and it’s where I see him playing in Beale’s new look team.
“Like Kent, he has a terrific work ethic and is more than prepared to do the hard years for the good of the team. Kent has come in for some stick this season but even when he’s not been at the top of the game, he was always prepared to do the hard work. No-one could accuse him of not putting in a shift.
“Cantwell is now showing that he is every bit as willing to go back the way as well as forward. But it’s in the final third where he is emerging a real game changer – a player who can create chances and take them when they come his way.
“Let’s not forget either it was only a couple of years ago that a number of Premiership clubs were being linked with him at around the £40m price mark. He was even knocking on the door of the England squad.
“If anything, his credentials were better than Kent’s were at that time so it does seem as if Beale knew all along that Cantwell could comfortably take on that kind of mantle. Things stalled a bit for Cantwell at Norwich but these things can happen.
“Sometimes a player just needs a fresh start and a new challenge and he looks as if he’s thriving on the pressure of wearing that blue shirt. He’s also getting under people’s skin and that’s another thing I’m fully in favour of.
“OK, when he first arrived I was a little bit worried that he might be saying a bit too much for his own good. But now he’s doing his talking on the pitch as well and playing with a confident swagger. That annoys some people. But I love to see it.
“This is Rangers Football Club we’re talking about. It’s a place that demands character. And Cantwell is full of it. I like that side of his game. Put it this way, when you’re winding up opponents or fans of other teams then you know you’re doing something right and it’s interesting to note that his former Norwich team mate, Kieran Dowell, is another player with a bit about him.
“Like Cantwell, Dowell is also an attack minded midfielder and if he can hit the ground in the same fashion next season then Rangers are going to be a very entertaining side to watch under Beale. But, while there’s a lot to get excited about in terms of the future, now is also a moment to reflect on the contributions of those players whose time at the club is now at an end. Kent should go with the best wishes of the fans because he provided them with so many special moments during his time. Same goes for Alfredo Morelos.
“Had it been down to me Arfield would have been given another year, even though he might have struggled for game time. He leaves, in my eyes, as a proper Ranger.
“Helander might not have played at all this season but he was a huge contributor throughout the title winning campaign and these things are never forgotten. But as for my old pal, Greegsy, it’s hard to put into words how much he means to this club or evaluate the scale of his achievements.
“But, as Greegsy knows, life goes on and the time is right to give this Rangers a major refresh. If the future is Todd Cantwell then there may be a lot to look forward to for the old guys like us.”
