Jack Butland | Make or Break

Big Season for Butland: How Is He Doing So Far?

This is a massive season for Jack Butland. Every Rangers fan knows it, the manager knows it, and Butland certainly knows it himself. The pressure is on for him to prove he is still the man to be our last line of defence. But has he shown that so far?

His first few months at Ibrox were outstanding. Composed, commanding, confident. Philippe Clement even called him “irreplaceable” and at the time nobody argued. He brought a presence to the back line we feared wouldn’t be there after McGregor. Even Gareth Southgate came to watch him in person. Maybe that is where things started to turn. Towards the end of that first season, a few mistakes crept in, including that one in the Scottish Cup final against Celtic, but he got away without too much stick.

Last season, the second half in particular was poor. Errors, hesitancy, confidence clearly shot. For a goalkeeper, mistakes do not just go on the highlight reel, they go straight on the scoreboard. And as we all know, that is fatal.

But here is the thing. Was it all on him?

If an outfield player dips in form, they get taken out of the team and given time to reset. Butland did not get that luxury. Week after week, no matter how shaky he looked, he was still in goal. Every slip was magnified. Every save he did not make became another stick to beat him with.

So why was there no competition? Why was he not taken out of the firing line? Liam Kelly was there, but let’s be honest, hardly anyone believed he was a genuine alternative. That is not Butland’s fault, that is on the club. Goalkeepers thrive on confidence, and Butland was asked to deliver while clearly struggling, with no backup to push him and no real chance to regroup.

Now, he is not above criticism. He made costly mistakes, looked unsure in games where he used to dominate, and so far this season he has still not fully convinced me he is back to his best. Yes, he made big saves against Panathinaikos, but I have yet to see the commanding Butland who owned his box in that first season. Super Jack, so far, is just not there yet.

Remember too, Butland is reportedly our highest paid player. His contract had to go to the board for approval after Michael Beale pushed hard for him. This is not someone we can just bench, and with no big offers likely, he is not going anywhere.

That is why Russell Martin has a big job on his hands. He has to get Butland firing again. That means giving him proper competition, a settled defence, and making it clear that his place is earned, the same as any other player.

There is also the question of whether he can play Martin’s style. He has not made any glaring errors with the ball at his feet yet, but plenty of fans still are not sure he has it in him. Time will tell.

Martin is here as a head coach. His job is to improve players and mould them to fit his system. With Butland, that job is double the challenge. Get his confidence and form back and make him the kind of keeper who can play the way this new Rangers team wants to play. Will Super Jack return? We all hope so!