MoodyBlue1872 62 Posted February 5, 2020 Share Posted February 5, 2020 Quote Rangers will be without the services of Filip Helander until at least the beginning of March after Steven Gerrard provided an update on the 26-year-old’s fitness. In his press conference on Tuesday morning prior to Wednesday night’s clash against Hibernian, the Light Blues manager said that he is hoping to have the Swedish defender back “in around 4/5 weeks”, the centre-back incurred a foot injury in the Betfred Cup final against Celtic two months ago and has been sidelined ever since. Helander had been enjoying a prolonged spell in Rangers’ starting XI prior to his foot injury, with the Betfred Cup final being his 11th start in a row in all competitions. During that spell, the ‘Gers won five Premiership games out of six and conceded only four league goals with him at centre-back. However, their defence has been breached just three times in the subsequent seven league games. The Swede’s injury layoff has seen Nikola Katic regain his place in the team alongside Connor Goldson, who still hasn’t missed a single minute of Premiership football all season. The Croatian finished 2019 in style after scoring the winner against Celtic but was pilloried by some ‘Gers fans on Saturday after being caught in possession during the 0-0 draw against Aberdeen, only for Sam Cosgrove to let him off the hook by failing to convert the resulting chance. Helander might not be as strong in the air as his Ibrox centre-back colleagues – his match average of 3.4 successful aerial duels is inferior to Katic’s six and Goldson’s 4.7 – but he is more composed on the ball than the other two, with his passing success rate of 83.7% better than Goldson’s 82% and Katic’s 66.7%. Gerrard also has the option of George Edmundson at centre-back but has rarely turned to the 22-year-old, who came into the side for the Scottish Cup win over Stranraer in January but has played just a single minute of Premiership football in the last four months. Rangers may be conceding fewer goals with Katic in the team in place of Helander, with the Croatian also providing a strong aerial presence alongside Goldson. However, the 23-year-old’s unconvincing display against Aberdeen could be a cause for concern for Gerrard, while having Edmundson (nine appearances all season) as the only other alternative is not the most ideal state of affairs. With nine matches to come in a 33-day period starting with the home clash against Hibernian, the ‘Gers boss could have done with Helander at least being available for selection, for injury or suspension to either Katic or Goldson would leave him very short on centre-back options. Not good nwes for Helander and while I really like Katic but would like to see Edmundson given a bit more of a chance. Katic reacently has to come into the underperforming category like most of the team but in particular Kamara & Flannagan; I'd probably include Kent in that too but possibly because we all expect that bit more or that bit of magic from him. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMAA 3,603 Posted February 5, 2020 Share Posted February 5, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, MoodyBlue1872 said: Helander might not be as strong in the air as his Ibrox centre-back colleagues – his match average of 3.4 successful aerial duels is inferior to Katic’s six and Goldson’s 4.7 A bit skeptical of that stat. Helander is our tallest defender and has always looked very comfortable in the air, more so than Katic for defensive aerial duels at least. It looks like this stat is about quantity only instead of % of aerial duels won. Edited February 5, 2020 by DMAA 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Moon 1,113 Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 I think Katic is much better in the air and prefer him to Helander. He has had some howlers recently and needs to be more consistent if he wants to maintain his place in the team. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaffer 1,665 Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 On 05/02/2020 at 16:40, DMAA said: A bit skeptical of that stat. Helander is our tallest defender and has always looked very comfortable in the air, more so than Katic for defensive aerial duels at least. It looks like this stat is about quantity only instead of % of aerial duels won. I remember Alex Ferguson selling Jaap Stam because he had the fewest tackles and the fewest headers won of any defender in the league. The stats team saw it as a clear sign that he was deteriorating so they cashed in on him. It was only later as the data analysis team evolved (and after he had left the club) that they realised that his marking and positioning was excellent and therefore did not need to tackle or head the ball as often. This is exactly the same for me with Helander. Helander is our best defender and we miss him. He man marks better than any of the others and knows when to get tight or when to drop off. It's therefore dangerous to look at individual stats as a means of assessing a player. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rousseau 9,370 Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 I'd say Goldson is our best defender, but I agree, we miss Helander; that's the strongest partnership, for me. Edmundson should be first back-up too. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 Sooner the better neither katic or Edmundson are as good. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERRAB 3,258 Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 2 hours ago, the gunslinger said: Sooner the better neither katic or Edmundson are as good. Helander is a left-sided CB whereas both Katic & Edmundson aren’t 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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