Rangers’ £7m duo have been so poor they make Miovski and Chermiti look good

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl may still not know who his first-choice number nine is at Ibrox, despite nine matches into his Scottish Premiership reign.

Bojan Miovski looked to be that player after scoring three goals in two matches against Kilmarnock and Ferencvaros, including a spectacular overhead kick in the latter.

However, the Macedonian international then lost 11 of his 13 duels, according to Sofascore, against Hearts and journalist Joshua Barrie noted that Rohl was “frustrated” by his hold-up play in the match.

Who should be Rangers’ first choice striker

Youssef Chermiti came off the bench to score a late consolation goal against Hearts in the 2-1 defeat at Tynecastle, his second goal in all competitions this season.

The Portugal U21 international put himself in contention to return to the starting line-up against Motherwell with this strike, especially given Miovski’s poor hold-up play.

Despite that goal off the bench against Hearts, it still looks like the former Aberdeen centre-forward is Rohl’s best option as a first-choice number nine here and now.

As you can see in the table above, Miovski has been far more impressive in front of goal overall this season, with more than twice as many goals, but both strikers have failed to deliver consistent quality.

While Chermiti and Miovski have yet to prove themselves to be incredible signings due to their lack of goals, there is a Rangers duo signed this summer that makes them look good in comparison.

Rangers’ £7m flops that make Chermiti and Miovski look good

Former sporting director Kevin Thelwell was given the resources to complete Russell Martin’s squad overhaul in the summer transfer window, and £7 million was spent on a pair that have failed badly so far.

The Light Blues signed right winger Oliver Antman for a fee of at least £3.5 million from Go Ahead Eagles and attacking midfielder Thelo Aasgaard for a fee of £3.5 million from Luton Town.

For a combined spend of £7 million, Rangers were surely expecting an immediate impact, with goals and assists, from both attacking midfielders this season, but it has not turned out that way.

According to Sofascore, Aasgaard has produced one goal and two assists in 25 appearances in all competitions for Rangers. This is made even less impressive by the fact that his assists were a pass to Djeidi Gassama on the halfway line before his long-range strike against Kilmarnock and a long upfield clearance that Chermiti scored against Hearts.

Antman, meanwhile, has produced no goals and two assists in 20 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues. His only goal contribution in the Premiership so far was his cross for James Tavernier’s goal in the clip above.

This means the £7m duo have totaled just one goal and four assists in 45 games between them, which is a dismal return from two attacking players, especially given the nature of Aasgaard’s aforementioned assists.

As you can see in the table above, Chermiti and Miovski have combined for at least seven goals and two assists on the pitch this season for the Gers, seven times as many goals as Antman and Aasgaard have produced.

Although both strikers haven’t been incredible performers, given neither of them have provided consistently in front of goal, their combined production looks good compared to Thelwell’s other signings.

Antman was ruled out for eight weeks with a muscle injury earlier this month, meaning it will be some time before he can get back on the pitch to prove people wrong and show he was worth the £3.5million that was spent on him.

Aasgaard, meanwhile, needs to start showing an improvement in his performance level immediately, as the Norway international has not offered enough quality as an attacking midfielder.

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