Rangers player of the season a few weeks ago was a bit of a one-horse race, now though, it is an awful lot closer, but Jack Butland still gets the nod.
For most clubs, this might seem strange with a right back sitting on a goal every two games but the former England number one has brought more than just good numbers.
Every successful Rangers team has had a top class goalkeeper and if the manager is to continue his good start to life at Ibrox then Jack Butland will be key.
Rangers have won a watch with Jack Butland signing
There is a supporting cast ahead of him that would get a lot of votes if the decision was a public one.
Abdallah Sima has carried us at times and, the already mentioned, James Tavernier continues to defy logic with what he is doing.
Even if you take away the captain’s penalties, he is still contributing better than a goal every three games, from defence, at 32-years old.
In midfield, John Lundstram has had to contend with playing next to a different partner every week but still got the job done, under Philippe Clement he has been immense.
But, the Rangers squad’s best player so far this season is Jack Butland.
In 17 league games he has 11 clean sheets, not only that but he hasn’t been responsible for any of the eight goals that we have lost.
According to Opta, he has the highest save percentage in the league too.
So, when the defence does let an opponent get a shot on target, the chances are, over 80% of the time Butland will save it.
The numbers are great, however, he has brought so much more than this.
Corners are no longer swung under the cross bar because teams know that Butland will deal with it, opponents are having to play them further out, and it is the same with free-kicks.
This means that there is a lot less panic in the defence at set pieces and they can just concentrate on their job.
He also has a stature and reputation that immediately deserves respect.
Jack Butland might be a new signing for Rangers but he has become one of the leaders in the squad, when he talks, people listen.
You only have to watch his press conferences to see how intelligent he is.
The 30-year old has been as good a signing as the club has made and if his form continues as it has started, it won’t just be Rangers News half-term player of the season that he is winning.
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