Cantwell crossed the manager and now he has it all to prove, but he can show his worth

No matter the walk of life, you can’t disobey the boss either unintentionally or not. If he gives you an instruction you follow it, even if you don’t agree, you certainly don’t push back and you certainly don’t argue.

That’s the same for everyone of us in every day life. I’d wager most of us have also felt that in our work place, the little verbal dressing down or for those in a managerial position would certainly have had to give it out at some point.

When a new boss comes in anywhere he will subconsciously or even consciously look for an opportunity to make his point known, you don’t follow instructions and you won’t succeed. Whether that means no bonus, no work trips, no work presentations, whatever it may be, the point will be made.

Football is no different and on Thursday night after 35mins Todd Cantwell found that out to his cost.

And now he has everything to prove.

Todd Cantwell was given a set of instructions to follow tactically, the manager has already explained, he wanted him to provide width and stay wide. The manager didn’t want him coming inside because as he explained post match, that’s exactly what Aris wanted. Stay wide, provide the width and that would bring Rangers joy.

Time and time again Cantwell chose to come inside and drive centrally with the ball. Time and time again Clement would come out his technical area and make his feelings clear, he could be seen pointing and telling Cantwell. But it continued and Cantwell drifted inside once more, lost the ball and one lofted pass later Rangers were behind.

Minutes later Cantwell would be off, shaking his head in disbelief or perhaps even at himself. Whatever way infront of a packed Ibrox he had been fired a warning shot he really can’t afford to dismiss.

You follow the instructions and do what the team needs, otherwise you won’t play.

So for context, Todd is not a right sided winger and I don’t think he is naturally that wide kind of player. If everyone is honest most will say they probably thought he was playing there to cut in and use Tavernier as an overlapping option, I certainly did.

The manager admitted he viewed Cantwell as a number ten or a player coming in from the left hand side. So for him to play him out there he clearly believed he could do a job for the team.

Cantwell can’t disobey that no matter how he feels about it.

Every single one of us, or almost every one of us, would rather he was central position because we have seen what he can do. I believe he suffered from Michael Beale’s management where he moved him around to the detriment of his form. To a lesser extent it’s happening here but no matter you still do a job for the team. He also picked up a nasty injury which kept him out a number of weeks, so I have some sympathy with Cantwell.

But now he’s fighting for his place in the team and he has to knuckle down and prove he really wants it.

I like Todd Cantwell not only as a player but a person. I’ve heard all the stories about him having an ‘attitude problem’ and being arrogant or whatever people call him.

I’ve never found him to be like that, in fact he is quiet and very pleasant whenever he is dealing with me, he’s one who always stops.

Those that have shared a dressing room say he is a brilliant teammate but still these rumours follow him probably because like most young lads these days, he enjoys social media. ‘He’s ‘TikTok Todd’.

Moments like Thursday won’t help those judgements.

I also think suggestions he’s an enigma or a ‘myth’ are extremely unfair also.

It hasn’t been plain sailing nor is he beyond reproach, he was also wrong on Thursday without question and now he has it all to prove.

But he’s more than capable.

Todd Cantwell can be a huge player for Rangers and can make his desired position his own, he has showed that and he has undoubted ability.

Only he can do it though.

If that means he digs in and is a right winger sometimes, a central midfielder the others then you do it and you prove yourself to this manager and his teammates. After Thursday rightly or wrongly all those questions are fair game.

Dig in, show your worth and prove yourself to the manager then go on to have a successful flourishing Rangers career.

Otherwise you’ll become another player we talk about who wasted a golden opportunity at our club and that list is extensive.

It’s up to you Todd.