'He is really good': Souness names the one Rangers star who would get in Celtic's XI
09/07/2024 05:30 AM
Rangers spent £15 million on ten new signings during the summer of 2024.
But, still, how many of Philippe Clement’s players would realistically force their way into Celtic’s starting XI if they were to swap the blue for green and white?
Despite a terrific start to the season, Cyriel Dessers still does not quite match up to the sky-high standards set by Kyogo Furuhashi; the chasm between the two forwards brutally highlighted during last week’s 3-0 defeat in the season’s first Old Firm derby.
The gap between James Tavernier – under fire after being given the runaround yet again by Daizen Maeda – and Alistair Johnston is closing rapidly.
Perhaps, with another few months on Premiership action on the board, Vaclav Cerny, Mohammed Diomande, Jefte and Robin Propper are being talked about amongst the finest footballers in the division.
But, as of right now, Ibrox icon Graeme Souness feels there is probably only one Rangers player who would start regularly under Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead.
Rangers ace Jack Butland would get in Celtic’s XI
"The goalkeeper does,” Souness tells the Three Up Front podcast, feeling that Jack Butland’s outstanding 2023/24 campaign sees him above Celtic newbie Kasper Schmeichel in the Premiership rankings.
“I feel he is a really good goalkeeper.”
Butland was Rangers’ Player of the Year in 2023/24. Comfortably the stand-out performer during Philippe Clement’s first few months in the dugout.
The former England glovesman was so impressive at times that a potential Three Lions recall became a topic of much discussion.
There have been a few mistakes creeping into the 31-year-old’s game of late, however, even if he is still capable of pulling off ‘world-class’ saves when Rangers need him most.
Adam Idah’s stoppage time winner in May’s Scottish Cup final is the obvious one that comes to mind, though Butland also came in for criticism after he was left flat-footed by Kyogo’s long-range finish last Sunday.
Goalkeeper hits back at critics after Old Firm defeat
"Pleased with my performance," a defensive Butland said at his post-Celtic press conference, via Rangers’ official YouTube channel. "Look, you never enjoy conceding goals. You always look back at everything.
“I looked at my positioning on the second one (Kyogo’s goal). I think I'm in a position which is suitable for where we were at in the game and being in possession of the ball.
"In giving the ball away, I'm trying to get back to my optimal position where I want to be in that moment and perhaps I didn't quite get back to where I wanted to get to, ideally."
"As I said, my optimal position was where I wanted to get back to. I didn't get the opportunity to get there I'll look at it again. Could I have been somewhere different to start with? Have I got after it as well as I possibly could do from the position I was in?
"My point of view I was in a position where I was supporting the play for us. Look, these things happen. Disappointed with it, I've tried to get after it, I've tried to make the save. Yeah I'm as disappointed as any other goal that goes in."
Butland’s remarkable consistency last term convinced Robby McCrorie to leave Glasgow in favour of a fresh start at Kilmarnock. Rangers then brought former Motherwell captain Liam Kelly back to familiar surroundings to act as the club’s new number two.
