With Nicolas Raskin expected to be announced as new Rangers captain in the coming months, Ibrox Noise wanted to look into his numbers.
That is, Raskin has come under some criticism from some quarters of the Rangers support. Purportedly for not putting in a shift this season.
After all, his grandfather admitted he’d been disappointed to miss out on a transfer away, and there have been accusations by many that he’s been ‘working his ticket’.
Ibrox Noise has been sceptical of Raskin ever since he confirmed Rangers were just a step in his career and he wanted the Premier League.
But Danny Rohl has confirmed, in effect, that Raskin is the Ibrox captain at present in all but title and armband.
So Ibrox Noise, as a fan site but factual reporting outlet, wanted the truth.
Is Raskin working his ticket, is he looking for an out, or is he putting a shift in after all.
Well the hard fact is Nico Raskin is the top-rated Rangers’ SPL player this season. That’s according to Sofascore and second top behind James Tavernier on whoscored.
He scores 7.5 on Sofascore and 7.23 on whoscored.
Let’s look at some of his contributions.
Tackles: 2nd top in the whole league, 81. Big chances created – 7th with 12. Accurate passes. 5th, with 1599.
He’s also the third top rated midfielder in the whole league behind Mark Leonard and Elliot Watt.
Ground duels won? 2nd behind Devlin. Total duels won? 6th.
In short while not top in any single metric, he is close to the top in a bunch that matter. That matter, specifically, for a hard-working midfielder.
So while many of us think his attitude has lacked, the numbers and metrics do not agree. Indeed they have him strongly committed out there.
Whether or not Raskin wants to leave, or wants to be captain, for those sceptical of his workrate, the numbers confirm he is one of the Premiership’s best-performing players.
He hasn’t been POTY material, but he has been a tonne better than some, including Ibrox Noise, probably gave him credit for.
Captain material?
We would rather not have Raskin as Rangers captain, a guy who insulted us once upon a time and clearly wanted to leave not that long ago.
But we can’t argue with his work on the pitch in itself.