Ibrox View: Stats show Sutton criticism of Gerrard’s Rangers tenure is pure nonsense
With another Scottish Premiership season just around the corner, chances are that we’re going to hear more and more anti-Rangers drivel from Chris Sutton.
The ex-Celtic man is a constant cheerleader for the Hoops, and usually fulfils that role at the expense of the Gers.
But his latest comments on Steven Gerrard’s management really are something else.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, the ex-Parkhead man argued that the 40-year-old has not done a good job since taking over at Ibrox two years ago.
He said: “There’s a perception down south that Steven Gerrard has done a good job at Rangers.
“As far as I’m concerned, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Now’s the time to prove himself. He hasn’t won anything in the last two seasons.
“Neil Lennon is on record as saying if he was Celtic manager and hadn’t won anything for two seasons, he wouldn’t have kept his job.”
And while it’s undeniably true that Gerrard is yet to win anything for the Gers, to say that he hasn’t done a good job is pure nonsense.
If we look at the stats comparing this season’s Rangers side with their final campaign before Gerrard joined, the gulf in quality is huge.
This season, the Gers have recorded a higher pass completion rate, more possession per game, a higher shot accuracy rate, a higher percentage of duels won, and more attempts on goals per 90 minutes, as per Wyscout.
The most notable stats, however, refer to Rangers’ goals scored and conceded.
In 2017/18, the Gers scored 1.68 goals per game and conceded 1.34.
In 2019/20, those numbers fall and rise respectively to 2.17 and 0.62.
Gerrard has got this side scoring nearly half a goal more per game, and conceding less than half as many.
How Sutton can look at those numbers and claim that the boss isn’t doing a good job is, quite simply, beyond us.
In other Rangers news, Alfredo Morelos has commented on reports claiming he has agreement with Lille.