Ibrox View: Filip Helander can be a real asset for Rangers next season
It’s safe to say that Rangers haven’t seen the best out of Filip Helander yet.
The Sweden international arrived from Bologna last summer, but has been limited to just 17 first team appearances this term because of injury.
Despite a lack of game time, however, compatriot and former Ibrox man Joachim Bjorklund has argued that he can be a “big asset” for the Gers next season.
And you would have to say that Bjorklund looks to be right too.
With a pass completion rate of 92.6% – 5.6% higher than Connor Goldson’s, as per Wyscout – the 27-year-old is a player who isn’t afraid to put his foot on the ball and play a bit.
Given some of the shaky performances we have seen from Goldson this term, that composure would surely be greatly appreciated by the Gers as they look to chase Celtic down in the title race next term.
Defensively, his no nonsense approach could come in handy too.
This term, Helander has registered more successful aerial duel wins per game than Goldson, as well as winning a higher percentage of his defensive duels, and giving the ball away fewer times.
In short, he is a more full-blooded, reliable defender than Goldson in several respects.
And we have seen some glimpses of that this season.
The image above, for example, was taken during the 2-2 draw against Aberdeen back in December.
The ball has broken loose after a poor free-kick from James Tavernier and as it is booted clear, Helander is left facing a one-on-one situation.
In this instance, a lot of defenders would be in trouble.
Confronted with a pacy attacker and an empty defensive third, there would be some who missed their challenge, or perhaps even worse, took out their man – usually to the dim view of the officials.
Helander does neither, and instead shows his impressive physicality by stepping across his man at just the right time, creating a barrier between the attacker and the ball, and ushering him out of a threatening position.
He can then turn out comfortably and play a simple pass to his full-back.
It might seem like a really minor thing – and in a lot of ways it is – but you could argue that the true hallmark of a top defender is doing the easy stuff well time after time.
The anonymity that comes with that shouldn’t be seen for anything other than evidence of their success.
And that’s part of the reason why Helander goes in for so few slide tackles.
The graph above shows that he has committed just 0.5 per game this term, and often doesn’t even commit any.
But far from that being any kind of indictment of his defending, it shows a player who doesn’t get himself into situations where diving in is warranted.
Instead, Helander reads the game well, plays it at his own pace, and is a much better player for it.
If he can stay injury free, he will be an asset, we have no doubt about that.
In other Rangers news, Report – Rangers could face competition from Cardiff City for mooted target Dykes.