Jason Jones

Thu 4 June 2020 17:37, UK

As sad as it may be for Rangers fans, Allan McGregor can’t keep playing forever.

The veteran stopper is still a standout performer for the Gers, but at 38 he can’t have too many seasons left in him, and the reality is that a replacement will have to be found at some point in the relatively near future.

According to the Sunday Post, one man who could fit that bill at Ibrox is 29-year-old Vaclav Hladky.

And the Gers’ chances of landing him might well have received a significant boost with the news that the keeper has left St. Mirren, and is now a free agent.

The club confirmed the news earlier this week, stating that he will now look to pursue options “elsewhere”.

So should the Gers make the Czech a transfer priority this summer.

On paper, at least, he looks like a decent option.

Hladky has averaged 2.76 saves per game this term compared to McGregor’s 2.34, with a reflex save rate that is 4.1% better, as per Wyscout.

Of course, the volume of saves is affected by the fact that he has faced an average of 0.9 shots more per game, as is his goals conceded ratio, which is 0.47 worse than McGregor’s.

But nonetheless, Hladky looks to be an impressive enough talent.

In St. Mirren’s 2-1 win over Motherwell back in February, for instance, the Czech made five saves with a reflex rate of 100%.

In the image above, a Motherwell player has just met a dangerous free kick with a strong downwards header.

Hladky is well-positioned and on his toes – both of which make his job that bit easier – but the double save he pulls out next is top drawer.

Hladky gets across his line well, showing quick feet and good awareness.

The dive is fairly routine, granted, but the ball bounces just in front of him, adding an extra degree of difficulty that he copes with effortlessly.

The key here is that he manages to push the ball out wide and away from his goal too.

It’s a basic of shot stopping but is also one that is often overlooked and can lead to sloppy goals being conceded.

In this instance, however, Hladky’s defender is not alive enough to the threat, and a Motherwell player is still able to get a shot away from a tight angle.

The stopper does superbly to adjust his body and get himself back to enough of an upright position to be able to make the second save with his thigh.

One of the marks of a great goalkeeper isn’t necessarily the saves he makes, but rather the speed with which he is able to reset himself after a save in preparation for the next threat.

In this case, Hladky shows he has that talent in abundance, and while it might just be one example, there are countless others from across St. Mirren’s season when he has made himself the hero.

If he’s available on a free, we think the Gers should move swiftly to try and snap him up as an understudy and eventual replacement for McGregor.

In other Rangers news, Ibrox Exclusive: Bruce claims Rangers won’t be put off potential swoop for Lyle Taylor.