If Rangers have a few issues in terms of summer recruitment, the situation isn’t much better in terms of the decisions that Barry Ferguson has to make at this moment in time.
With Athletic Club visiting Ibrox for the quarter-finals of the Europa League, the current record-breaking run of form doesn’t make for pleasant reading.
At the heart of the problems for the interim Rangers manager is Jack Butland’s problematic form that has seen him at fault for a series of goals.
The pressure is ramping up at both ends of the park, however, the Rangers No.1 is now having his place in the team seriously questioned.
When the team news is announced, the first name on the team-sheet is going to be an immediate subject of debate with one Clyde Superscoreboard pundit suggesting that there could be a change.
Jack Butland is a ‘big issue’ for Rangers to solve
In response to a fan wanting to see Butland dropped, Gordon Dalziel believes that is a problem Ferguson has to solve on CSSB’s Tuesday April the 8th’s show:
“A big issue. I really do. I think it’s a big, big issue,” Dalziel said when asked about the No.1 situation.
“Either way. I know, listen, I understand Jim’s (Duffy) argument about, it doesn’t mean if you put Kelly in, it’s got to be any better. But Liam Kelly’s there.
“He’s waiting for his chance. He’s watching a goalkeeper make mistakes. He’s watching fans that probably don’t have a lot of confidence in him.
“Like, Jack Butland’s a good goalkeeper. We’re not getting away from that. He’s just lost his confidence.
“It happens in every walk of life. Kelly’s ready to step in. Every time he’s been in, he’s never let Rangers down.
“So, I would not be surprised if Barry Ferguson makes that call.”
The argument that ‘if it was any other position’ doesn’t really wash, it isn’t ‘any other position’.
Goalkeeper is unique, it is the one position where a mistake is punished in the cruelest fashion and with nobody to bail you out.
Should Ferguson put his faith in Butland?
Butland, in recent weeks, has had nowhere to hide.
What has made matters worse, is that his mistakes – and there have been many – have been alarming in their nature.
Dalziel is right, Butland is a good goalkeeper with a crisis of confidence.
Against Fenerbahce in the first leg, Butland was outstanding and proved just how high his level is, and for this alone, he deserves to keep his place.
His problems aren’t technical, there is nothing that he needs to fix despite Ferguson having a word with Butland.
A focussed, on form Butland, is Rangers No.1. And it’s not even close.
