Allan McGregor’s antics have been well documented in recent times.
Since arriving at Ibrox, the Rangers goalkeeper has been in stellar form. He’s made vital saves to keep Rangers on track in Europe, and stopped them losing more points domestically.
This has, undoubtedly, come with a darker side to his game, however. In the first Old Firm game of the season, he aimed a needless kick at Kristoffer Ajer. The Rangers goalkeeper got off with it in controversial fashion, but it was needless.
On Sunday against Aberdeen, McGregor was at it again. This time, it was Gary Mackay-Steven who was flagged for offside. After attempting to take it round McGregor, the Gers goalkeeper then barged him to the ground in another needless act of aggression. He was also involved in a flash-point with Peter Hartley in the 3-3 draw with Motherwll at the start of the season.
Yet Nicholas, however, has been unfair on the Rangers keeper in an astonishing rant. Speaking in the Scottish Daily Star, Nicholas slammed the Gers number one.
“A fool”
“Allan McGregor is a fool to himself. You just get to the stage with him now and ask, will he get away with another one? He always seems to.
“Gary Mackay-Steven was hardly hurt by McGregor’s elbow but the intent was there. He has now been involved with Kristoffer Ajer and Peter Hartley and no further action has been taken.
“The Rangers keeper knows what he is doing. He wants to mess with people. You are not going to change him at this stage in his career. Even if he does eventually get banned I don’t think he will care. Just wait until the next Old Firm game, he will be at it again.”
Unfair on McGregor’s mentality
Everyone can debate whether McGregor should be getting away with these incidents. He’s certainly causing more flash-points than he did in his first spell at Ibrox.
Where Nicholas is unfair on McGregor, however, is his comments on his mentality. To state that the Rangers goalkeeper wouldn’t care if he got a ban is ridiculous. He’s been over the top on a few occasions, but there’s no denying his commitment to Rangers.
He’s a passionate player, and allows emotion to get the better of him at times. Should McGregor have had a ban or two this season? The answer there is yes, but to say he doesn’t care about it isn’t fair on a man who was part of Walter Smith’s three-in-row title winners. A man who’s secured eight clean sheets this season and is a huge part of Rangers’ squad.
Steven Gerrard will need to have a word with his number one goalkeeper regardless
. McGregor has been involved in too many situations he shouldn’t have been. It brings unnecessary spotlights on to the club, and eventually McGregor will be punished for it.
Nicholas, however, is far too dramatic and clearly has gotten carried away with himself. McGregor needs to tone it down, but to say he doesn’t care? Nonsense.
