Following his wonder display against Villarreal, Allan McGregor has been taking all the plaudits this week.
It’s been well-deserved too.
The Rangers and Scotland goalie might be 36, but he just seems to be getting better with age. Like a fine wine, the likeable character is full bodied and certainly brings immense value to the table. Steven Gerrard clearly appreciates him.
He was tremendous against Villarreal. Truth be told, he’s been tremendous all season. Particularly in Europe. Vocal, commanding and reliable. He also has a penchant for seemingly impossible reflex saves with any and every appendage.
But is the man they call Shagger the greatest Rangers goalkeeper of all time?
He certainly gets a mention. The Diego save en route to the UEFA Cup Final, palming away Georgios Samaras in a title winning penalty stop, all of the trophies, moments, last-ditch saves and laughs along the way. This season already.
McGregor has always been a top goalie. He even won Hull’s Player of the Year last season. But at Ibrox, he has this passion for Rangers that lifts his game by 10% and makes him unstoppable.
It makes us absolutely love him as well.
Gerrard described McGregor’s saves on Thursday as world class. They were. Comparing him to the catlike Stefan Klos, or the eternally solid Rangers diehard Andy Goram, or even the revolution sparking Chris Woods, is difficult.
For someone who didn’t get to see the Rangers goalkeepers of yesteryear, it’s also not my place to say. What are the parameters? On trophies alone it’d have to be McGregor (11). Goram has 10, Klos 9 and Woods 8.
But I do know one thing.
Allan McGregor certainly sits in that company, there’s no doubt about that.
