Peak Klopp meets Angeball- Kenny Miller gives his verdict on Beale’s stunning win over Hibs

It only took 10 days for Kenny Miller to shake off that horrible feeling of emptyness he experienced at Hampden as he watched Celtic lift the Viaplay Cup.

For three months it was Michael this and Michael that from the former Huddersfield assistant as he dreamed of seeing an end to Ange Postecoglou’s dominance of Scottish football.

Hampden was to be that day. Just 90 minutes from glory the man that used to arrange the bibs and cones for Gary McAllister suddenly got stage fright. This time it was for real, he wasn’t sharing soundbites to the nodding dogs invited to media conferences.

Faced with Celtic, up against a time served manner Beale ditched all his plans with Todd Raskin and Nicolas Cantwell left on the bench.

John Lundstram and Glen Kamara got the runaround before being withdrawn just past the hour mark, the new look midfield was unable to force a single save out of Joe Hart.

Fantastic Rangers romp was pure Liverpool and a glimpse of what a Michael Beale team can be | Kenny Miller https://t.co/0bhIVOeamY

— Daily Record Sport (@Record_Sport) March 12, 2023

Every Rangers fan would love a crystal ball to predict their team’s fortunes next season.

But the performance of Michael Beale’s side against Hibs on Wednesday night might just have given us a glimpse into the future. Listen, I don’t claim to know the manager inside out. But I’ve followed his career from being Steven Gerrard’s number two to taking over at QPR then returning to Ibrox.

And what I witnessed at Easter Road is exactly the type of display I’d expect from a Michael Beale team. It’s only one game, so no-one should get carried away. But make no mistake, that was the highest standard we’ve seen from Rangers this season. The ball speed, the tempo, the intensity – on and off the ball – was fantastic.

The pressure to regain possession high up the pitch and release forward players closer to Hibs’ box – which led to a couple of goals – was outstanding. Rangers were in total control of that game and Lee Johnson’s side couldn’t get near them. People talk about certain grounds in the Premiership as ‘hard places to go’ for Rangers.

But when you move the ball the way they did in midweek you remove that danger. Because teams like Hibs can’t get close when you’re in that form. Michael likes this system of a diamond-like midfield, with Ryan Kent at the tip of it and the two strikers playing a bit wider. It reminds me of Liverpool at their best when they had Roberto Firmino dropping off with Sadio Mane and Mo Salah at either side.

Kent has that ability to roam which led to such a free-flowing, wonderful team performance. Honestly, it was a really enjoyable watch. And dare I say it, that’s how I feel when I watch Celtic under Ange Postecoglou. It’s the other side of the city and I don’t want to be seeing it.

This coming from a guy who lasted only 4 months at Huddersfield then was sacked you do talk some rubbish Miller ????

— Gallowgate1954 (@gallowgate1954) March 12, 2023

In less that four weeks time Beale can inflict his new look side on Celtic with a trip across the city to open up the race for the SPFL title.

This week Miller will be sharing his exclusive thoughts with Radio Clyde, Go Radio, Radio Scotland and Sky Sports.