Ibrox View: Calvin Bassey has made promising start to life at Rangers
Calvin Bassey is still a bit of an unknown quantity to many Rangers fans.
The young full-back signed from Leicester City on a free transfer earlier in the summer, but having never made a senior appearance for the Foxes, it was difficult to properly assess how much he could offer the Gers.
The 20-year-old made his competitive debut for Steven Gerrard’s men during the 3-0 win over St. Mirren, but having also appeared in a number of preseason friendlies, we’re starting to get a better idea of just how much quality he has.
The left-back has largely done okay since his arrival in Glasgow, and the stats would seemingly support his manager’s claim that he is a player to keep an eye on.
Since arriving at Ibrox, for instance, his cross accuracy rate has been 13.2% than Borna Barisic’s average from last season, while his general pass completion rate is 10.9% higher, as per Wyscout.
He has also made 4.5 more interceptions per match, and is still yet to lose an aerial duel, recording a success rate of 100%.
What’s particularly pleasing to see, however, is just how naturally he fulfils the role of a more advanced, attacking full-back.
Both Barisic and James Tavernier are renowned for the threat they add in the final third, and Bassey looks very much as if he is cut from the same mould.
Above is his heat map from his outing against St. Mirren.
You can see that he actually does most of his best work in the final third, rather than his own defensive area.
Clearly, that is also a reflection of the fact that he was up against a side who had just 28.11% possession, but nonetheless, it is promising.
In fact, if we directly compare that visual to Barisic’s equivalent map from that match, we can see the similarities quite clearly.
And for Gerrard, that can only be a good thing.
It will take an awful lot for Barisic to be displaced as his first-choice left-back, but knowing he has an exciting young talent waiting in the wings who can mimic the Croatian’s high-energy style of play is a real boost.
It might be a while before we see him genuinely worrying Barisic for a starting spot, but for now at least, we should just be pleased that the youngster has taken to life in Glasgow with such ease.
In other Rangers news, Darren Fletcher has backed this Gers talent for big season in 20/21 after impressive showing v Aberdeen.