Barry Ferguson urges Michael Beale to give Robby McCrorie Rangers opportunity after display v Celtic
Barry Ferguson believes goalkeeper Robby McCrorie should be given a chance to stake his claim to become Rangers No.1 after his impressive display against Celtic.
The 25-year-old shot-stopper was preferred to veteran Allan McGregor for the second game running and delivered a terrific performance in the 3-0 win over Ange Postecoglou’s side at Ibrox on Saturday [13 May].
The Gers are reportedly in advanced talks to sign Manchester United loanee Jack Butland this summer, but Michael Beale admitted that the Scottish shot-stopper is still in the frame for a long-term future with the first team. [Daily Record, 2 May]
And speaking to the Go Radio Football Show [15 May], Ferguson reckons he could be the man to take over from Allan McGregor instead of Rangers wasting money paying huge salary on an alternative.
“I think ‘Why not give him the chance?’ Is it because he’s Scottish? He’s shown enough to me that he can be Rangers’ number one. Do you go out and spend X amount on a keeper or do you get a really good keeper on a free transfer and pay a huge amount in salary?
“I think he’s shown in the two games he’s been in and previous games to that, let’s be fair to him, that he can be a top goalkeeper for Rangers. And he’s 25 years of age, he’s not a young kid. For me, it’s easy because he’s Scottish ‘Oh, we go and get someone else’. No, give him the opportunity because I think he deserves it.
“He’s been training alongside a guy who has handled pressure his full career, Allan McGregor. He’s learned from one of the best, no doubt about it. And he’s handled a big pressurised game at the weekend there. He has had a few injuries but I’m sure they’ve assessed it and he’s fine.
“If he’s injury free, give him the opportunity. I love seeing Scottish people being given the opportunity.”
Knocking on door
With Beale admitting that McGregor is set to leave Ibrox this summer, a glaring hole has suddenly appeared in the heart of Rangers’ squad for next season.
Without both McGregor and possibly McLaughlin in the first team beyond this summer, McCrorie is suddenly emerging to become Rangers no.1 even despite the club advancing in talks for Butland.
Certainly, Beale will need two goalkeepers he can rely on for next season and signing Butland makes a whole lot of sense, given his experience, age profile and free transfer but that does not automatically mean he’ll be guaranteed the no.1 Rangers jersey next season.
McCrorie more than staked his claim against Celtic on Saturday, putting in a superb and terrific individual display that would have had Beale drooling. Not only that, but he also impressed in the 1-0 win over Aberdeen too.
At 25 years old, McCrorie is at the perfect age to grow even further and become a future world-beater both for Rangers and potentially for Scotland too. Ferguson is right, it’s time more young Scottish talents get given more opportunities for the likes of Rangers and Celtic, and McCrorie is certainly in that bracket following his recent displays.
In other Rangers news, the Portugal manager has been raving about the talent of one Ibrox ace.