Jason Jones

Thu 16 April 2020 10:30, UK

RANGERS OPINION

Rangers could be in line for one of their most transformative transfer windows of recent times this summer. 

Regardless of how the ongoing controversy surrounding SPFL’s dreadful handling of the Coronavirus pandemic plays out, it will take something miraculous for Steven Gerrard’s men to win the title this season.

And that essentially means that they will be left with one shot of preventing Celtic from winning 10-in-a-row.

But while the majority of focus, as is often the case, will be put on who the Gers can bring in to spruce up their squad, it could well be that they are just as busy – if not more so – when it comes to offloading players too.

And one man who could be exit-bound is Jon Flanagan.

The 27-year-old has struggled to establish himself as a first team regular since moving to Ibrox, and has registered just nine appearances in all competitions this term.

Furthermore, according to ex-Gers hero Alex Rae, his time in Glasgow is hanging by a thread.

Speaking to the Scottish Sun, he said: “I know Steven Gerrard obviously rates him because he worked with him at Liverpool but I think Jon may come into that bracket where he will look at it and think who can he get to offer versatility.

“I think it will be 50/50 whether he stays at Ibrox or not.”

So, does the full-back deserve to stay at the club beyond the end of this season?

The stats certainly don’t make for pleasant reading.

So far this season, he has averaged just 1.54 crosses and 1.07 dribbles per game, as per Wyscout, compared to 6.77 crosses and 3.59 dribbles per match from James Tavernier.

Similarly, Flanagan has won just 49.1% of his defensive duels this term, compared to Tavernier’s success rate of 61.5%.

A closer look at him in action doesn’t bode too well for his chances either.

Flanagan has not managed more than one successful cross in a match all season.

Against St. Mirren, at the back end of January, he had eight attempts, and still only found his man once.

In the example pictured above, he has plenty of time and space to compose himself, not to mention a number of teammates in the middle to be aiming at, and yet the right-back still gets it horribly, horribly wrong.

Notice how his head is down, almost as if he is crossing out of hope rather than any kind of intention of hitting a man in a blue shirt.

When it comes to the delivery, his connection is shockingly bad, especially bearing in mind the fact that he is looking at the ball, and he ends up dragging a feeble cross along the ground, hitting the second St. Mirren defender, pictured on the corner of the box.

His decision-making leaves a lot to be desired too.

Even when Flanagan could get a ball into the box in that match, his choice of delivery was poor.

In the example pictured above, with only Jermain Defoe to aim for at the front post, the ex-Liverpool man floats a high ball into the back stick, with absolutely nobody in a blue shirt anywhere near it.

It’s not good enough, and it’s a perfect illustration of why he has barely played this season.

In short, Rae may say that Flanagan’s future is 50/50, but in our view, it should be a lot more precarious than that.

In other Rangers news, Ally McCoist is bang on, something ‘absolutely stinks’ at Ibrox right now.