Since pre-season there has been grumbles in the air, especially at Ibrox. Some fans had real doubts on our new front line, following a drab defeat to Kilmarnock. You might have thought a 2-1 win in the UCL qualifier vs Swiss outfit, Servette would dampen the complaints but you would have been wrong. Equally you may have expected a convincing 4-1 scoreline would settle the support, again you would have been wrong. Equally progression to the Playoff Round in the UCL and a Viaplay Cup win vs Greenock Morton did little to dampen fans fears. With the next four games already billed as season defining it’s going to be a big two weeks.
One thing that I’ve not seen many fans talking about or dissecting results in relation to is the Goalkeeper position. For many a new keeper was at least a season, if not two seasons, too late. McGregor was our undisputed number one for most of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’ rein and it was obvious age was catching up with him. Never great at commanding his box and not really known for playing out from the back, there was one massively redeeming feature about McGregor. He was an absolutely amazing shot stopper. From saving that Samaras penalty to the UEL run heroics we knew that despite his faults when we wanted someone to stop the ball hitting the net McGregor was the man.
Ex Rangers No1. Allan McGregor
In the summer following that ill fated Europa League final, fans were split on McGregor. Despite some age defying performances in Europe there was evidence domestically that his shot stopping ability was on the wane. McGregor signed up for another year but as the season kicked in properly it became apparent vna Bronckhorst had resigned him with the intention of him being back-up keeper to Jon McLaughlin. McLaughlin had only appeared fleetingly before that point, mainly in cup games but many fans were keen to see him given the chance and the manager duly obliged.
McLaughlin’s time as the starting keeper was brief as horror shows against domestic rivals, most notably against Celtic were matched by some disastrous performances in the Champions League. Clearly two goal providing errors in as many games was the last straw for van Bronckhorst who swiftly moved to install McGregor as No1 again. Relegated back to the bench McLaughlin has barely been seen since, to the relief of most.
McLaughlin was given his chance by GvB but failed to capitalise
McGregor continued as No1 for the remainder of van Bronckhorst’s time at the club and apart from a brief experiment by the incoming manager, Michael Beale, he remained as first pick until near the end of the season. Throughout this time McGregors performances were strewn with small errors, not quite reaching shots he would have saved a few years back and of course him shouting down defenders when the opposition scored. It became very apparent that despite heroics past, McGregor was no longer the answer.
This led to youth product Robbie McCrorie being given the gloves for the last few games, quite likely to allow new manager, Michael Beale to run the rule over him before the transfer window opened. McCrorie did well in the main, keeping multiple clean sheets but he didn’t have masses to do and there were a few times he seemed shaky, likely a result of a severe lack of game time over his career, especially in the last couple of years.
Regardless, McCrorie clearly didn’t do enough to win over Beale as he dipped into the transfermarket to bring free agent, Jack Butland to Ibrox. Signing Butland was a little like the Todd Cantwell signing. Everbody knows there was pedigree there, Butland even had England caps in his time down south, but down on their luck a bit and needing a break. In Butland’ case it was made even harder to see the light with him spending the entirety of last season keeping the Manchester United bench warm. Yes there is an argument he isn’t at United if he is bad but equally he didn’t even get a cup game there.
Regardless of what went before talks were completed with Butland rumoured to have taken a significant salary drop to come to Ibrox, his only desire was to play, rather than a pay day. Rumour has it that during that symbolic substitution in McGregor’ testimonial he spoke to Butland briefly to explain what an honour it was to be Rangers No1.
New keeper, no issue
Since then we’ve seen the other keepers get a few minutes here and there but it’s been obvious to all that Butland is the undisputed No1, even to the point McCrorie has now decided he wants to leave, expressing a desire to play games.
At Rangers being No1 is different from many clubs. In the vast majority of games you wont do much but in those split seconds when something does come your way you need to be alert and spring into action. Butland demonstrated exactly this in the recent 4-0 win over Livingston, making two really good saves in a few minutes with the score stuck at 1-0. He had next to nothing to do before that and little afterwards but if Livingston had scored that game would likely have finished very differently.
In between this he has also been far more proactive at controlling his box, coming for crosses, charging out to meet attackers and not being afraid to throw himself into the mix where needed. Despite a long spell on the sidelines Butland still looks very good and so far seems to have what he needs to make it longer term at Ibrox as No1.
There are also times where Butland has kept a struggling Rangers team in the game with some absolutely vital stops. He made two incredible saves vs Servette, in the second leg, which would have totally changed the complexion of the game had either gone in. Instead by keeping the Swiss side at bay, he gave the outfield players the platform to go and score, earning a draw on the night and a win overall. Just a few days later he was doing the same again with a crucial save with the game tied at one apiece. Coming out bravely he dived at the attackers feet, ensuring contact with the ball to avoid giving away a penalty. Again Rangers used this as a platform to go on and win the game with Danilo scoring the winner shortly afterwards.
Time to gel, not good enough or been here too long. All of these and more have been levelled at the outfield players whilst Butland has been calmy going about his business and ensuring the transition to new number one isn’t one of the things worrying fans.
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