A question for much of the close season was about who would start the 2022/23 campaign as Rangers number one, Allan McGregor might have the number on his shirt but the style of play that Giovanni van Bronckhorst is trying to implement seems to suit Jon McLaughlin more.
With four games of the season played, it’s pretty obvious that the younger of the two stoppers has been preferred and, apart from in Belgium where he could have done better with Union Saint-Gilloise’s opener, he has been exactly what we need – quick off his line to sweep up behind his defence, clearing dangerous corners and set-pieces and has made a few decent saves on the rare occasions that he has been called upon.
McGregor is as good a back-up as you can get but former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie reckons that he will get his place back before the season is out, as told to Football Insider:
“McGregor at the moment, for me, I don’t think he’s done anything wrong.
“The manager is playing the younger guy but McGregor for me is number one.
“Good keepers are like fine wine you leave them and they get better and better so I would think McGregor will be back to number one.”
McGregor is a still an outstanding keeper but he has been on the decline. He made more individual errors last season than he had in his previous ten, to say that he has done “nothing wrong” is simply inaccurate.
The 40-year old will get game time at some point this season but, for now, McLaughlin has the gloves and is focussed on changing the minds of those who doubt he is good enough to take over from a genuine hall of famer.