Ibrox Noise noted defender John Souttar’s recent interview with the press, citing how he knows he has to perform at Rangers in order to secure a place with Scotland for this year’s Euros.

This interview highlighted a few things, and one of the most key ones is that, as far as we can tell, Souttar is competing with a bunch of players for what amounts to a single position in defence.

Once again we find ourselves amused by the immunity at the back – James Tavernier, Connor Goldson and Borna Barisic basically are, and have been, Rangers’ untouchable trio for the best part of 6 years now, 8 for when Tav joined on.

There was a comment on Ibrox Noise today about how it’s ‘time to rebuild Rangers’ defence’ and yet we cannot fathom any change happening there, because no matter who the manager is, of the last four bosses, they will always select Tav, Goldson and Barisic.

Ridvan had a recent cameo, but it was the shop window – he always wanted to leave, and he did enough to shine, and now gets his move.

Goldson:

292 appearances.

Tavernier:

435 appearances.

Barisic:

224 appearances.

By a complete mile these three top the appearances charts, and that appears to be the way it’ll stay.

Which does mean that Souttar, Davies, Balogun, Yfeko, Devine, potentially Sterling… are all vying to complete the quartet.

In short, what is the point of Rangers signing any defenders – they’re just going straight to the bench?

It’s a seemingly soft-centred defence, which, in fairness, has the best goals against in the country by a fair distance, so despite how stale it seems to actually be, it clearly works.

Which means Souttar, like Balogun et al, is just going to have to settle for that final single slot, and in all honesty, the Nigerian seems to be in pole position for that.

Do we think Souttar and Balogun is our best CB partnership?

Yes, but the goals against suggest Clement continues to be as happy as all previous managers with the defence as it is.

We can’t see it changing any time soon.