Barry Ferguson hurt me with 'are you meant to be a f****** goalkeeper?' But that is where Butland and I part ways
“Mick! I thought you were meant to be a f****** goalkeeper.”
As shouts go, this was a sore one. Not only did it boom out and echo round an empty Murrayfield Stadium, it came from one of the best players Scotland has produced in the last 30 years. Barry Ferguson has always been able to spot a player… The Rangers legend was a ringer for the fitba’ writers team a few years back with yours truly between the sticks. It’s fair to say he wasn’t impressed. The SRU were trying to push their gaff back then as an alternative home to Scottish football, instead of Hampden. The bounce game was part of the PR drive. It didn’t go so well for this hack. Our team won fairly comfortably but we still conceded four goals and all of them were my fault. The memory of one in particular came to mind the other night like it was a monster coming out from under the bed.
It was also handy having loads of messages coming through to remind me when Jack Butland’s own goal at Old Trafford on Thursday was harshly described as “doing a Gannon”. Yep, punching the ball into your own net isn’t for everyone. Welcome to the club, Jack. The fitba’ writers team – apart from Barry who was raging – rolled about laughing but the keeper situation is no joking matter at Ibrox. There are plenty of punters who are starting to think Butland should suffer the same fate as me – getting the Spanish archer treatment.
But that’s where Jack and I should part ways. I deserved the El Bow while Butland has more than earned his shot at redemption. It’s true, it hasn’t been a great campaign for the former England cap. Even going back to the tail end of last term, there have been some big mistakes in high-profile matches.
Butland didn’t look too clever when he allowed Adam Idah to level in the 3-3 Old Firm derby draw that pretty much decided the title. He had another howler at Hampden to allow the same Celtic man to clinch the Scottish Cup.
There have been a fair few hairy moments this term and after the draw with Motherwell at Christmas, there were a fair few suggesting it was time for Liam Kelly to get his shot even before the Englishman got injured. He returned for Old Trafford only to produce another whoopsie.
Keepers are not really judged on their saves, they are scored by the frequency of their gaffes. The best in the business are the ones who slip up least. And that’s been an increasing problem for Butland.
Yet when it comes to the long list of issues that need to be addressed at Ibrox, the No.1 position should be way down the list. Butland is going through a ropey period but he’s still a top operator. For 90 per cent of last term he was outstanding.
Even the other night, take away his big boo-boo and there were a handful of superb saves that kept Rangers competitive. It’s tricky to ignore the whopper but it’s still important to look at the bigger picture.
This is not Butland reverting to type. It’s a dip in form rather than a persistent reliability problem. He hasn’t been helped by a constantly changing back four in front of him and occasional bouts of defending more slapstick than a Laurel and Hardy movie.
The Gers backline – especially away from home in Scotland – could give the ghost of Lev Yashin the heebie jeebies. Butland should be cut some slack. There will be major changes at Ibrox in the summer.
Players will go, some new ones will come in, and there’s still every chance there could also be a new manager in the dugout. But, unlike that day at Murrayfield, there’s no need for anyone to shout for a new No.1.
