Rangers need better than either Butland or Kelly | OneFootball

Rangers are grappling with a significant issue: their goalkeeping situation is a clear weakness that needs urgent and strategic action. Jack Butland and Liam Kelly, both professionals, don’t muster the sense of security that makes you really believe Rangers could become the Champions League forces they aspire to be, or even the sheer Scottish Premiership top dogs they want to be. At a glance, their stats don’t make for pretty reading, and, at best, they have been mixed bags of fortune helming the net.

Butland, who at one point seemed like he might be England’s next great goalkeeper, hasn’t been able to regain the form that got him to that point. His struggles with injuries and a lack of consistent playing time are partly to blame. Even when healthy, his positioning and decision-making have left a lot to be desired. And when tasked with serving as the stalwart between the posts, he’s been underwhelming. Kelly, meanwhile, hasn’t shown much that would suggest he’s ready to be the No. 1 at a club with big ambitions. Can you really trust them with something as important as the last line of defense?

A financial call and a strategic plan to get the right kind of goalkeeper are needed right now. Rangers require a goalie who can pull off the kind of stops that not only win matches but also keep the men in front of him sane. Depending on the series of events that are still to unfold, a goalie who can’t make the saves when it matters most could lead to the kind of team meltdown that would see the defense, and by extension the offense, wither away. And a goalie who can’t lead by example will make his defense falter, for sure.

Rangers needs a keeper who can help win those in-tight battles not only in the Scottish Premiership but also in Europe, and the current two options just don’t meet the critical requirements.

What Rangers needs is a goalkeeper with acknowledged experience on the world stage, a relentless presence in their area, and a shot-stopping ability that few forwards can find a way past. It’s precisely the kind of “crucial-saves” making that inspires confidence in their defenders and an ability to marshal the backline that allows the defense to function properly. Worse, a weak keeper just invites pressure on every corner, every set piece, and that’s not something Rangers can afford with the aspirations they have. They’re making that much at least clear for all to see.

Rangers’ leadership must face reality and remedy their deficiency in goal with world-class quality. All those tasked with scouting, recruiting, and ultimately sanctioning the acquisition of a new goalkeeper must carry out their jobs diligently. Rangers are at a crucial juncture in their history, having recently overcome the challenges of administration and liquidation. Now, with the prospect of a golden future before them, the time has come for the decision-makers at Ibrox to be bold, ambitious, and decisive in their recruitment of a number one.