BBC pundit delivers ‘could be a lot worse verdict’ on Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland
Former Rangers goalkeeper Cammy Bell has hailed the club’s signing of Jack Butland, claiming the situation at the club could be a lot worse without his performances.
Bell, now a BBC pundit, stated that Butland’s international experience, as well as his exposure playing for top clubs such as Manchester United and Crystal Palace in the Premier League, has allowed him to slot straight into the team with high-class performances.
Some of Butland’s teammates, meanwhile, have made poor starts to the season, leading to pressure ramping up on Michael Beale’s job. Bell claims the boss will be thankful for his goalkeeper’s performances.
Speaking to Record Sport on 12 September, Bell stated: “It’s been a difficult start for Michael Beale and I’m pretty sure he will be thankful that Jack Butland has turned up and put in the performances they were expecting when he signed.
“For me, he ticks a lot of boxes. With Allan McGregor retiring Rangers were losing a very experienced keeper who’d proved he can handle big occasions but Butland was someone who matched that.
“He’s been at big clubs, he’s an internationalist, he’s handled big occasions. He’s had a little bit of adversity in his career but that’s only made him into a strong character like Greegsy. It’s been a really good bit of recruitment for Rangers and I’m not surprised by the way he’s started the season.
“You have to take your hat off to him as he’s come in and done that [produced top performances], making big saves in games against Servette, PSV and even against Celtic last week.
“Things could be a lot worse without those saves. But he’s going to have to continuously do that as a Rangers goalkeeper.”
A positive start to his Ibrox career
As stated previously, Butland has enjoyed a positive start to his career in Glasgow despite the overall performances of his team, and the disappointing displays from several of his new teammates, which have allowed pressure to build on Beale’s job.
Butland was probably the most high-profile and well-known player to arrive in the summer, and with that came high expectations, but he has managed to match and possibly even better the demands put on his shoulders by an expecting fanbase.
His performances in the Premier League and with England will have lined him up nicely to deal with high-pressure situations and the weight of expectation. He has proven to be a perfect replacement for the ever-reliable Allan McGregor.
Upon his arrival at the club, the former England international admitted to being impressed with the size of the club and the fanbase and pledged himself to them. He is already delivering on that promise.
In other Rangers news, one international player has spoken out over a failed transfer move.