Rangers pair at centre of box office Sky Sports disagreement ahead of Celtic Park trip

06/05/2024 20:43

It's not everyday you find James McFadden and Chris Sutton disagreeing on Rangers.

Both have their moments as pundits in Scottish football but even the most ardent Scottish football fan would struggle to deny their Celtic-leaning bias.

Ahead of next weekend's crunch Old Firm clash, Chris Sutton and James McFadden have however been disagreeing over Rangers pair Todd Cantwell and Tom Lawrence.

With Kris Boyd stuck in the middle, a box office debate over who should start for Philippe Clement's team at Celtic Park is bound to spark some conversation.

• READ MORE:Chris Sutton launches surprise defence of under fire Rangers star

McFadden: Lawrence has 'more quality' than Cantwell

Speaking after Rangers' thumping 4-1 win over Kilmarnock, James McFadden is adamant that Tom Lawrence has more 'quality' than Todd Cantwell.

The Welsh midfielder has toiled with injuries since joining the Gers in the summer of 2022 but came off the bench to net a worldie as Rangers earned a much needed win at Ibrox.

It's a moment which has sparked a debate about whether Philippe Clement should start Lawrence or teammate Todd Cantwell in the weekend's must-win Old Firm clash.

And when it comes to who is the better player, it's clear Chris Sutton and James McFadden disagree with the ex-Norwich City striker adamant it's the former Canary who has the 'edge' on the ex-Rams star.

"Tom Lawrence, you see that quality," said McFadden on Sky Sports. "He plays more as a 10, more as a support to the striker.

"He's got great technique and he wants to do things quick, like shift the ball and get a shot away, or shift the ball and get a pass.

"Todd Cantwell brings energy, he brings endeavour. He's got quality as well but he will go and press and work to unsettle opposition.

"He'll try and find the space to go and affect the game but it's not always in the centre, he'll drift wide and he tries from there and he brings a different energy.

"I think Tom Lawrence for me personally brings a bit more quality."

Chris Sutton responds: "Do you? See in terms of awareness and guile and somebody to see a pass, I think Cantwell just has the edge on Lawrence.

"I think over the course Lawrence is probably a better finisher than Cantwell."

Kris Boyd chimes in: "I think the difference is (Lawrence) is willing to shoot from outside the box.

"If you're in that middle, it does open up sometimes you've got to say, when you look at Lawrence the only thing on his mind is 'how can get myself a shot at goal here?'

"Whereas you look at Cantwell sometimes it's 'how can I make a pass?' And that might be the difference."

McFadden then adds: "I think that's direct from Lawrence, you look at his goal, he takes a touch forward, he knows what he's trying to do before he gets the ball.

"I think that he's got more quality than Todd Cantwell. It's not by far but I just think he's got more quality."

When asked if Clement could play them both, Sutton said: "Slightly different attributes. He won't, you can of course, it'll be Lundstram, Diomande and one other.

"It'll probably be similar (v Celtic). Cantwell will probably play an hour and Lawrence the last half an hour I suspect."

Rangers will need Cantwell & co to step up

Whilst James McFadden and Chris Sutton argue amongst themselves over Todd Cantwell and Tom Lawrence, Rangers fans really need to see more consistency from both.

Both players have different attributes and bring different things to the team but both players have not delivered consistently enough in the big moments across the season.

If Rangers are to be successful, they will need big contributions from both Lawrence and Cantwell and no matter who starts at Celtic Park, both will have a role to play.

Tom Lawrence's goal against Kilmarnock was a step in the right direction but the 30-year-old still has it all to prove at Rangers.

Todd Cantwell might have all the talent in the world, but can the 26-year-old put it together more consistently?