As the winter break is here, it’s time to assess each member of the Rangers squad’s contribution over the first few months of the season through our Half-Term Reports. The first player under the microscope is Allan McGregor.
The undisputed Gers no.1 since his return to the club, McGregor is showing no signs of his age.
Now 37, the veteran has been playing professionally for 18 years, but his decision to call time on his international career with Scotland in March appears to be paying dividends.
So far this season, Greegsy has successfully registered a stunning 18 clean sheets in 33 appearances in all competitions.
Across 2970 minutes of action, he’s conceded just 20 goals, at an average of one every 148.5 minutes [Transfermarkt].
Those are simply outstanding numbers.
McGregor has been between the sticks for all but four of the club’s fixtures up until the winter break, with his two Premiership absences against Kilmarnock and Ross County down to suspension and injury respectively.
He’s perhaps not been called upon quite as regularly as he was last season, suggesting a general improvement in Steven Gerrard’s side’s defending, but his shot-stopping has been razor-sharp when required, and he’ll be particularly content with European shutouts away at Legia Warsaw and at home against both Feyenoord and Porto.
He reserved perhaps his most important and impressive display for the final fixture before the break, though.
Flinging himself to his left to beat away a Ryan Christie penalty, his first-half stop provided a platform from which Rangers would go on to win away at Celtic for the first time in nine years. His diving stop from a well-struck Bolingoli effort later in the game was also a key intervention.
While the red mist does still descend every now and then, McGregor has only picked up one yellow card this campaign and is a linchpin in this side.
His consistency is remarkable and he’s barely put a foot wrong since the summer of 2018, never mind over the last few months.
