Ibrox View: Rangers ace McLaughlin still has some way to go to become Scotland number one
Rangers goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin perhaps could have felt a little aggrieved for not being given the nod in Scotland’s recent UEFA Nations League double-header.
The 32-year-old has been in flawless form for the Gers of late and is still yet concede a goal since joining the club this summer and assuming first-team duties in place of the injured Allan McGregor.
But even with that superb recent record behind him, McLaughlin was still shunned in favour of David Marshall against Israel and the Czech Republic over the past week.
And while Steve Clarke’s decision might have stung at first, if we’re being completely honest, it was vindicated.
Marshall was brilliant in those two matches, and it just goes to highlight that McLaughlin still has a little way to go before he can confidently claim that number one jersey for his country.
The Gers stopper may have conceded no goals this term, but he has done so from an xCG of just 0.37, as per Wyscout.
That really is testament to just how incredible our backline has been so far this season.
But by contrast, Marshall conceded 0.96 goals per 90 minutes over the international break from an xCG of 1.79.
That gives him a vastly superior xCG surplus of 0.83.
Similarly, Marshall faced 2.02 more shots per game than McLaughlin has this term.
Against Czech Republic alone he faced an xG of 2.27.
Aside from the goal that he conceded, Marshall faced three other shots, with the minimum xG coming in at 0.31.
The other two efforts had an xG of 0.55 each and drew fantastic saves from the stopper, including a low dive to his left in the 68th minute to prevent a certain goal and preserve Scotland’s lead.
Of course, goalkeeping isn’t just about shot-stopping, but even in other areas, Marshall managed to outstrip the red hot McLaughlin.
So far this term, the Rangers man has had a short pass distribution success rate of 98.5% – a ridiculously high total.
In the past week, Marshall managed a success rate of 100%.
Quite frankly, that is a major signifier of his quality, and there is no shame in McLaughlin playing second fiddle to somebody who is performing at such a high level right now.
That’s not to say that the Rangers man couldn’t stop the same shots or make the same passes if given the opportunity, but it does suggest that it’s going to take something pretty special to displace Marshall for the foreseeable future.
In other Rangers news, McLeish claims Ryan Jack is becoming ‘more and more confident’ for the Gers.