Jack Butland ‘exempt’ as Rangers crisis worsens v Aberdeen – Sky Sports pundit
Jack Butland is “exempt” from any criticism after his excellent start to life at Rangers, according to Kenny Miller.
Writing for the Daily Record (1 October), the Sky Sports pundit was critical of Rangers’ other new additions who are yet to reach the standard expected of them but pointed to the goalkeeper as the outlier of the group.
Miller said that the poor recruitment is the responsibility of Michael Beale, with the likes of Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers earning a reputation as serial underperformers.
Miller wrote: “I get that managers live and die by their recruitment. And ever since winning title No.55, it hasn’t been great at all at Rangers. Ultimately it falls on the manager. That’s what Beale took on when Ross Wilson left the club and he said he’d sign his own players.
“He looked in their eyes and decided if they were good enough. Jack Butland is exempt from criticism because he’s been outstanding. But the rest? They simply haven’t lived up to what it takes to represent this club.”
Outlier
Of the eight permanent signings brought to Ibrox this summer, only Butland can hold his head up high. The jury is still out on the other seven players, but the shot-stopper must be frustrated that his frequent good performances can only do so much.
On paper, Butland was a no-brainer signing. Replacing the experienced Allan McGregor was no easy task, but securing a deal for Butland, a Premier League experienced and international goalkeeper as a free agent, has proved to be the best business of the summer.
Having conceded just five goals and earning the second-highest save percentage (76.2%) in the league this season, the Ibrox faithful would dread to think where their club would be in the table without him [FBRef]. Having played every possible minute this season too, these stats become more impressive.
The main point of contention for Rangers this season, as Miller makes clear, is the side’s lack of attacking threat. Against Aberdeen, for instance, the attacking options had plenty of big chances to put their side in front, but to no avail. Butland can’t do much about what happens on the other end of the pitch, and there’s only so much he can do about the susceptible defence in front of him.
Beale will count his lucky stars that his recruitment of Butland was on point, as without his goalkeeper he may have departed the club already.
In other Rangers news, a BBC pundit has shared a “long way back” verdict on Beale after a “really negative” loss against Aberdeen.