For almost two whole seasons now every Rangers fan has been united on one issue – we need to get a new goalkeeper in.
When Allan McGregor came off the bench in extra-time for Jon McLaughlin during the Scottish Cup final last season it seemed obvious that would be his swan song, however, he was offered – and signed – a new contract and since day one of the 2022/23 campaign Rangers have suffered the consequences with neither veteran stopper displaying the qualities needed to be first choice.
Alarmingly, Patrick Caskie, who has provided scouting and analysis for The Rangers Review, has provided a comparison between the two keepers and it does not make for attractive viewing. Basically, his visuals confirm everything that we already know and saw coming, which begs the question – why didn’t Ross Wilson and his recruitment team?
Basically, the blue marks periods where they are saving chances that have a better chance of going in so, they are benefitting the team. The red areas are where they are conceding more goals than they should with the chart measured over numbers of shots faced.
Patrick is very good at what he does and can point to several players that he has picked out for big moves who have gone on to fulfil their potential. Nicolas Raskin, as an example, being highlighted nearly two years ago as one that we should be keeping an eye on but the goalkeeper position doesn’t even need the depth of work that he has put in here. We can all see it with our own eyes.
McLaughlin never once let us down as McGregor’s understudy but, for whatever reason, he has struggled to make the position his own, whether this would have been different had the Gers legend not been around and lurking behind him is a point worth making.
What we know for certain is that it was lazy, a “that’ll do” job rather than paying attention to the data that suggested both were well on the decline and that action should have been taken. Michael Beale has told us all that a new keeper will be coming in the summer, unfortunately, it’s two summers too late.