IN SAFE HANDS? OR McGREGOR’S LAST HURRAH? Jack a ‘doubt’ for second leg at Ibrox
Only one man can answer the questions over the goalkeeper’s future: himself
THE questions put to Steven Gerrard and the answers given by the Rangers manager have been similar all season. As has been the case at each juncture, it is Allan McGregor that will ultimately provide clarity on his situation in the coming weeks.
It was back in September after the win over Willem II that Gerrard was first asked about the contract status of his goalkeeper. On Thursday night, the time came for him to face the same query following another moment of magic in McGregor’s personal highlights reel this season.
His performance that night in Holland became something of a secondary issue given the
4-0 victory that took Rangers another step closer to the
Europa League group stages.
Yet his showing in Prague rightly became headline news as Gerrard’s side moved to within 90 minutes of a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
His post-match interview on BT Sport was typically deadpan but others would rightly talk up the save as he remarkably stopped a powerful Lukas Masopust header. It was an act that gets better with every viewing and the photographs show just his little finger on top of the ball as he got himself down low to his left in the blink of an eye and somehow smothered it on the line.
Filip Helander had scored a priceless away goal for Rangers, but McGregor’s lastminute heroics could be the turning point as Gerrard’s side look to overcome Slavia Prague at Ibrox next week.
The save that McGregor made against Werder Bremen on the run to the UEFA Cup final in 2008 is regularly held up as his finest for Rangers. Only the man himself will be able to definitively decide if the stop in Prague was better, but it was certainly just as exceptional and could prove to be just as important if Rangers can reach the last eight this term.
When Kemar Roofe scored from the halfway line during the win over Standard Liege, his skill and brilliance quickly went viral and became a talking point far beyond the living rooms of the Rangers fans that watched on in awe.
The save from McGregor deserved the same acclaim and the same treatment. It was further proof, not that any was needed, that at 39 he is still as good as ever and the loss of his services would be a huge blow to Gerrard should he decide to call it a day come the summer.
Given the manner in which Jon McLaughlin had started the campaign and proved himself as a more-than-able deputy during a period that McGregor spent on the sidelines, there were suggestions that the elder statesman of the goalkeeping department may not come straight back into the team when fully fit. That theory didn’t stand up to scrutiny then, and recent months have only reaffirmed why McGregor is rightly the first name on the team sheet at Ibrox.
As Gerrard himself pointed out post-match against Willem II, he couldn’t think of a game in his career where the keeper had been named Man of the Match after a 4-0 win. There was no fuss from McGregor, though, and he would take more satisfaction from the collective result than his individual performance.
“Listen, it is too early to discuss all of that,” Gerrard said when asked about a new contract for McGregor following the third qualifying round victory. “He has just recently signed a new extension, he is here for the season. We are all aware of his age but he is still rated and loved as much as he was when he was younger. We will take it month by month.
“Listen, if he is still in the same shape and he is still producing the same performances at the time that we need to discuss it, that will be a decision for Allan. But one thing is for sure, we will certainly want to keep him around the club.”
That desire will only have increased over the course of a campaign that has seen
McGregor lead by example in terms of his performances and his attitude. His importance to Gerrard is unquestionable, his status as the best keeper in Scotland unarguable.
The record of 20 clean sheets from 35 appearances speaks for itself and the standards he has set have spread throughout Gerrard’s squad. On and off the park, McGregor has been a pivotal influence on a side that now have Scottish Cup success and further European achievements in their sights following their crowning moment in the Premiership.
“I’ve spoken about it before, how much we rate Allan, how much we love him here, how much we want to carry on,” Gerrard said on Thursday evening, just minutes after McGregor had made the save that could be defining in the last 16 tie.“At the same time, I’ve told you guys I will respect him. He knows what’s on the table. He’s in discussions with the club and from where I’m sitting, I just hope we get it over the line and sign him up for another year because he is more than capable.
“I know that on a daily basis by working with him and watching him closely. The decision is going to be down to Allan, not us. Because we certainly want him.”
The call is ultimately in McGregor’s hands. As this season has proven once again, that is a very safe place and time will tell whether he wishes to go out on the high of a Premiership title win or have another crack at the Champions League.
McGregor has more than earned the right to make that call himself, but he has also shown that he need not hang up the gloves prematurely as he continues to shine brightly in the twilight of his career.
Gerrard has been asked the question repeatedly. Like Rangers fans, he now anxiously awaits an answer of his own.
I just hope we get it over the line and sign him up again
RYAN JACK faces a race against time to be fit for Rangers’ Europa League showdown with Slavia Prague on Thursday night.
The midfielder has not featured for Steven Gerrard’s side since the win over Dundee United at Ibrox last month and wasn’t risked for the first leg tie in the Czech Republic this week.
Striker Kemar Roofe did make his return to action as he replaced Joe Aribo for the final nine minutes of the 1-1 draw that leaves Gerrard’s side well placed as they bid for a last eight berth.
And Gerrard is keen to have Jack and captain James Tavernier fit and available as soon as possible as Rangers look for European progression and Scottish Cup success to add to their Premiership title triumph this term.
Gerrard said:
“I’d still say
Jack is a doubt at this stage. He’d have to have a real positive four or five days coming up to be available.
“It’s great to have Kemar back and a cameo will do him the world of good. If we can keep him here and get Jacko as soon we can, with James after that we’ll be in real good shape to finish the season as strongly as we can.”