Kenny Miller can see the sense in Rangers bringing back Leon Balogun - as one fan told the former striker it had killed his pre-season buzz.
An injury to academy graduate Leon King has made boss Michael Beale act quick to sign his seventh player of the Ibrox rebuild this summer, Nigerian international Balogun penning a one-year deal. He left Glasgow a year ago and joined QPR, where Beale also signed him. The veteran has arrived to jostle for a central defensive spot with Connor Goldson and co but one punter isn't pleased.
Miller was on Clyde 1 punditry duties as an angry Rangers fan called in to express their disappointment at the news that they felt was rooted in sentimentality. They ranted: "Absolutely dreadful. It's actually put me on a downer at the start of the season. We held onto deadwood in your Kent and Morelos, gave new contacts to Steven Davis, Scott Arfield, who were great servants but were finished. We are continuing to hold on to the past and we are not evolving. We are going back to someone who for me, who is not a good defender, his decision making is shocking, he is full of mistakes and has no pace. I can't fathom why we are going back the way, I think it's a dreadful decision. He's not even been that successful with Rangers."
The fan was then reminded Balogun had won the league at Ibrox and helped Rangers to a Europa League final. Miller chimed in: "He was never a regular in his first spell. You need a capable squad to fight on four fronts.
"Michael Beale has earned the trust of the Rangers fans at the moment in my opinion when you look at his signings and recruitment, when you look at his first two signings in Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin. He deserves a bit of leeway to see how it goes as for me, Leon is a good signing to come back into the team when required as I don't think Michael has brought him in to be first choice.
"He is very quick so I would take that out but you have to respect the opinions. They need strength in depth so you need capable cover and I know they don't feel he's capable, but I would slightly disagree."
The caller then asked that he wanted a 'fresher' and 'a bit younger' alternative to Balogun and Miller responded with a contrast to Dujon Sterling, the full-back who can also be deployed elsewhere in defence just like former player Calvin Bassey.
He explained: "Could Dujon Sterling be that guy? Could he be the younger one that they would hope has the same type of impact that as what a Calvin Bassey did?"
The caller's response was 'possibly but for me it's a marker and a negative right away' and Miller was quick to point out it was the seventh signing and they have recruited in 'areas of real importance.' The debate continued, and lasted several minutes all in, as talk around Rangers' new signing turned spicy.
