There is no longer a debate about the biggest mistake of the summer, not signing a new, first-choice, younger, more dynamic and modern goalkeeper has cost us goals, particularly in the Champions League.
Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin have been fine servants to the club but it’s painfully obvious that they aren’t suitable for the role and one moment in particular against Napoli highlighted this.
This isn’t a specific dig at McGregor, just to clear that up, because the issue that I’m highlighting is one that has never been known to be particularly comfortable with, we know what his strengths are and – at his peak – he was as good as any between the sticks.
The two pictures below from The Rangers Review’s analysis of the game show McGregor’s start position for the second goal and where he is when contact is made. He has absolutely no chance with the finish but, a more aggressive keeper could have stopped it at source.
McGregor’s start position is fine, just a couple of yards inside his six-yard box, but his first instinct is to move back towards his goal when the ball is played – it ends up just four yards away from where he started with the outfield players making up ten yards to get to the ball.
In the Champions League, we need a keeper who will come for those crosses and sweep up behind the centre-halves, too often, we are seeing opposition attackers gather long balls in our box when they should be getting cleared into row Z long before they get there.
It’s the same domestically. We play a high line and always outnumber the attackers and yet we still cough up big chances, we don’t need to replace McGregor as a shot-stopper if we identify a keeper who has the mindset to intercept passes and crosses – a much easier remit that trying to fill the boots of one of our greatest of all time.