John Souttar being offered a new contract at Rangers just feels like one of those decisions that makes sense on and off the park. For me, it is a move that rewards a proper defender who fits the way we want to play, and it also keeps a Scottish core in the squad, which still matters at Ibrox.
A Defender Who Still Loves the Basics
I have followed Souttar since he first broke through at Dundee United, and what stands out is that, even as his game has developed, he has never lost that appetite for the basics of defending. He wins plenty of his headers, he throws his body in front of shots, and he is willing to take a sore one for the team. You can see he reads the game well more often than not.
Like any centre-half, he is not perfect. He will have the odd mistake in him, and supporters remember those moments more than the quiet afternoons where he just does his job. But over a season you tend to notice how often he is in the right area, how often he clears his lines, and how comfortable he looks when teams try to go direct against us.
The Underrated Side: His Passing
Where Souttar is really underappreciated is on the ball. He is a better passer than he gets credit for, especially with those short, simple passes that keep the tempo up. If you watch him closely, most of his 5 to 10 yard passes are played in front of his team-mate, not behind them.
It sounds like a tiny detail, but it makes a huge difference to how we move the ball. When the pass is in front, the player can step onto it, stay on the half-turn and keep the attack flowing. When it is played behind, everything slows down, the touch has to go backwards and the opposition can reset. Souttar tends to play the right weight, the right angle and it keeps us on the front foot.
That is exactly what you want from a modern Rangers centre-back: someone who can defend his box and still be trusted to start attacks without taking silly risks.
Scottish Core and Squad Building
There is also the simple point that having Souttar as one of four main defenders, and being Scottish as well, helps with the balance of the squad. It ticks the homegrown box, but it is more than just a rule. Supporters like seeing Scottish players play big roles in successful Rangers teams, and he has the ability to be one of those figures if he stays fit and keeps his levels up.
So if this new deal gets signed off, I will be more than happy. You keep a committed defender, with a smart passing game, who knows the club and the league. Hard to argue against that.
Related Articles
About Rangers News Views
Rangers News Views offers daily Glasgow Rangers coverage including match reaction, transfer analysis, SPFL context, tactical breakdowns and opinion-led articles written by supporters for supporters.
