Kris Commons tears into Rangers goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin
Kris Commons has suggested that Jon McLaughlin does not have the pedigree to play regularly for Rangers after the Gers lost 4-0 against Celtic on Saturday (03 September) at Parkhead.
It was a shocking performance from the goalkeeper who just gifted away a pass inside the box for the fourth goal and probably could have done better for the other three goals as well.
Commons, who works for Sky Sports, wrote in his column for the Scottish Daily Mail (5 September, page 78) that Allan McGregor is still the best keeper for the Gers.
“This isn’t a case of being wise after the event. Regardless of how Jon McLaughlin performed at Celtic Park, I’d have said exactly the same thing,” Commons wrote for the Scottish Daily Mail.
“The fact of the matter is that he doesn’t have the pedigree to be considered Rangers No 1. Allan McGregor may have made a couple of mistakes domestically last season but there is no way Rangers would have made it to the Europa League final without him.
“Even at the age of 40, he still produced saves that most keepers couldn’t dream of. Remember his display in the 3-0 game at Parkhead in February? Celtic could have been five or six ahead at half-time if it wasn’t for him. He’s made a career out of making saves that he has no right to get to.
“McLaughlin just doesn’t have the same aura and I’m truly astonished that he’s playing ahead of McGregor. Look, you might well question why Rangers didn’t try to sign a younger keeper in the summer but you can’t dispute that McGregor knows what it takes to fill that jersey.
“After the Scottish Cup final, it did seem like he was set to retire. But once you offer him a new contract, you have to play him. There was a moment after the fourth goal went in on Saturday when the camera panned to the Rangers dug-out.
“Although, as you can probably imagine, while Giovanni van Bronckhorst didn’t look too pleased, McGregor looked like he was chewing on a wasp. I’m not saying that he would definitely have saved all of the first three goals but he would certainly have had a chance. As for the fourth? Dear me.”
Questions
McLaughlin is a good keeper. But there is a difference between good and top-quality, and that is the main point of discussion here.
All top clubs in the world have world-class goalkeepers, as they lay the foundation of a team.
McGregor made some mistakes last season, but he was outstanding in the second half of the campaign. His heroics in the Europa League helped the Bears to reach the finals.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst wants to give McLaughlin a chance, and he is probably looking to use McGregor sparingly this season. It makes sense, considering his age.
However, Commons is spot on that McGregor is still the best keeper at the club.
The question that should be asked is why Van Bronckhorst didn’t sign a quality goalkeeper in the summer when he had the money and opportunity to do so.
Rangers have done some good business this summer, but this is one area they have overlooked.
In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart got stuck into one player after what he did in the past week