Ibrox View: Local journo is right, McLaughlin really is an ‘outstanding’ signing for Rangers
Rangers kept their summer rebuild going with a move for goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin on Tuesday.
The Gers announced a two-year deal for the Sunderland stopper on a free transfer, and it looks as if they have landed themselves a real bargain.
According to Sunderland Echo journalist Phil Smith, the 32-year-old is a “high quality, low maintenance” player, with the reporter even going as describing the deal as “outstanding” for Rangers.
Obviously, you would expect Allan McGregor to still be Steven Gerrard’s first choice at Ibrox next season, but at the very least this looks to be a really positive move to secure a quality deputy following the departure of Wes Foderingham.
And the stats reflect that.
Are they as good as McGregor’s? To be frank, no.
But are they still decent enough to suggest he can step up to the plate and potentially act as a replacement for the veteran number one one day? Absolutely.
This season, for example, McLaughlin has conceded 0.8 goals per game to McGregor’s 0.7, as per Wyscout.
He has, however, faced more shots – 3.03 to McGregor’s 2.77.
McLaughlin’s made more saves too, averaging 2.23 per match, although it is worth pointing out that McGregor has a reflex save rate that is 3.9% higher, which would suggest that the Ibrox favourite tends to make harder saves more often.
That’s not to say that McLaughlin doesn’t make difficult saves.
The shot map above was taken from Sunderland’s recent clash with Bristol Rovers, and shows an effort on goal with an xG of 0.62, meaning that more often than not, that shot would be expected to hit the back of the net.
A look at the save itself shows why too.
As you can see above, McLaughlin is at full stretch, and the shot is hit so well that he is almost having to reach behind himself to keep it out.
It’s a stunning save, and the most striking thing from watching the actual footage of the incident is the expectant roar that goes up from the home support as they get ready to celebrate, only to be stopped in their tracks by McLaughlin’s handiwork.
It’s no one-off either.
The shot map above is taken from a 3-1 win over Accrington Stanley in September.
Shots three and four both have an xG rating of 0.73, theoretically making them harder to stop than the save against Bristol Rovers.
One of those saves is pictured above.
Flicked on from point blank range, McLaughlin has no time to properly ready himself for the effort.
What we see instead, however, is the keeper making himself big, spreading himself to fill the goal.
It’s instrintive shot-stopping, but it’s effective, and with the willingness and bravery to just hurl himself into the path of danger, Stanley score – it’s that simple.
In short, Rangers have snapped up a fantastic goalkeeper here, and the fact that he cost them absolutely nothing is just the icing on the cake.
In other Rangers news, Livingston boss Holt denies any approach for Gers-linked hitman Dykes.