Rangers fans have already been voting for their Player of the Year of the five officially-announced nominees, and can we just say that the choice isn’t even close.
To refresh your memory, the options are Jack Butland, James Tavernier, John Lundstram, Abdallah Sima and John Souttar, and Ibrox Noise readers have been picking their favourite.
Let’s just say the competition is completely non-existent.
In reverse, in 5th place it’s Abdallah Sima with 2% of the vote.
In joint third, with 3% it’s both John Lundstram and John Souttar.
And in second… yes, it’s James Tavernier with 12%.
Miles and miles and miles out in front, and with it the most overwhelming POTY vote we’ve ever seen, 80% award the gong to goalkeeper Jack Butland.
This was a foregone conclusion – despite Tavernier’s strong first 4+ months of the season, his level has notably dipped in 2024, with a reduction in goals and assists (7 goals 3 assists down from 14 + 6)) and a really stark drop in defence, where the first 4+ months had him among the SPL’s top 3. Now? He’s not even top 10 for most of the defensive areas.
But Butland, who is really only measured on his goalkeeping prowess, has shone like a beacon. Easily the best stopper in the SPL by a country mile, the 31-year-old easily overtook any chance Celtic counterpart Joe Hart had of being held in that esteem, and is comfortably not only Rangers’ POTY, but is in with a strong shout of the overall Scottish award too.
We do think Tavernier’s horrific Old Firm counted against him, and indeed his generally subpar Old Firms as a Rangers captain, which also seems to have caused a few Rangers fans to dismiss John Lundstram as well.
But Butland isn’t measured the same way, and despite many fans feeling he could have done a bit better at both Celtic open-play goals, he’s clearly shone massively this season and is vulnerable to the sale this summer.
But if he is to leave, Rangers nailing a domestic treble and his getting POTY for both club and the league would be quite the season for him…