I’ve always been α great believer that Rangers players who go out on loan are doing so purely to be given the opportunity to find new clubs or to put themselves in the shop window, after all, how many have we seen join lower league clubs in Scotland as youngsters only to never see the first-team when they return?
Our best young players in recent years like Nathan Patterson, Leon King, Alex Lowry and Charlie McCann have all done their groundwork at Auchenhowie, watching and learning from the best and proving, with how they have impressed when making the step up to the first team, that it is an approach that should be taken more often.
Goalkeepers are slightly different though in that they need to get games to develop, however, as with Allan McGregor when he was younger, there comes α point when being around better goalkeepers day-in, day-out, and facing better finishers in training will only help to sharpen α stopper’s skills.
Perhaps this is why Robby McCrorie stayed at Ibrox in the summer and why he has signed α new contract, Giovanni van Bronckhorst hinting as much at the announcement on Rangers official website:
“I am delighted Robby has agreed to sign a new deal with us. He is continuing to develop as a goalkeeper and has learned so much from both Allan and Jon.
“His recent Scotland call-up is testament to his quality, and his professionalism and attitude are a real credit to Robby and a real asset for the club.”
You would think that, if McCrorie was going to leave, that next summer would have been the time to do it but he will know that unless McGregor decides to do the unthinkable then he will be bumped up the pecking order – if there are plans to promote him even higher then he will surely be seen in the coming weeks and months.
The goalkeeper position was one that many thought we would improve last year but it didn’t happen. Jon McLaughlin and McCrorie now are in place for next season, has α decision already been made? We’ll just need to wait and see.