No one could argue if SPFL’s Player of the Year award had an all-Ibrox shortlist, but who would be the... PRIZE GUY
THE race for the Premiership title was over by Easter, with Rangers crowned champions for the first time in a decade.
But the contest to see who should be named Player of the Year is a far more hotly-contested battle.
Odsonne Edouard may lead the top-flight scoring charts with 16 but Celtic’s talented Frenchman has not hit the heights of previous campaigns and has often looked uninterested.
Kevin Nisbet deserves a mention for a breakthrough season in the top flight that has seen the Hibs frontman score 11 times and receive full Scotland recognition.
And St Johnstone’s outstanding midfielder Ali McCann was one of the star’s of his club’s Betfred Cup triumph.
But unbeaten Rangers have been, by a distance, the outstanding team in the Premiership and Sportsmail’s proposed shortlist is therefore an all-Ibrox affair.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: ALLAN McGREGOR
The Rangers keeper has had a terrific season, with Andy Goramesque performances in the last two Old Firm matches.
But his standout moment was a breathtaking save from Slavia Prague’s Lukas Masopust in the Europa League last-16 tie in the Czech Republic.
The 39-year-old’s influence on the team stretches much further than the odd wonder save. He demands high standards from all around him and has been a pivotal figure in the club’s first title in a decade.
Only two goalkeepers have been named PFA Scotland Player of the Year since its inauguration in 1977 — Theo Snelders in 1989 and Goram in 1993.
And only five have won the SFWA awards in its 57-year history — Ronnie Simpson (1967), Alan Rough (1981), Hamish McAlpine (1985), Goram (1993) and Craig Gordon (2006 and 2015).
McGregor should join their ranks. It’s just a pity he retired from Scotland duty and won’t be at Euro 2020... but Rangers have reaped the rewards of that decision.
STEVEN DAVIS
The midfielder endured a slow start to his second spell at Ibrox after returning in January 2019.
But the veteran has proven his worth this season — and then some. His outstanding performances in the engine room have been matched by incredible consistency across the campaign.
It has truly been a season to remember for Davis, who was in the last Rangers team to win the title in 2011 under Walter Smith.
The 36-year-old Northern Ireland midfielder also recently became Britain’s most-capped outfield international player, equalling and then surpassing ex-England keeper Peter Shilton’s record of 125 appearances.
CONNOR GOLDSON
The 28-year-old former Brighton centre-back has played every minute in the Premiership in a defence who have lost just ten league goals all season.
Four years ago, he feared he may never kick a ball again after undergoing open heart surgery.
That experience has left him desperate to never drop out of the team.
‘He wants to play every minute of every game and, given the size of Connor, I’m not sure I’m going to fall out with him,’ said Steven Gerrard after making wholesale changes for a League Cup tie at Falkirk in November with the exception of Goldson. ‘He feels like he’s making up for lost time because of what happened to him in the past.’
JAMES TAVERNIER
The defender faced a furious backlash for admitting in his programme notes before a 1-0 home defeat to Hamilton last March that Rangers players simply couldn’t handle the opposition getting in their faces.
His Ibrox career looked like it could be over, but Gerrard kept faith in him and he repaid it with interest — supplying 17 goals and 15 assists in all competitions this season.
But for his injury away to Royal Antwerp in mid-February, he could have rivalled McGregor for Sportsmail’s award. SPORTSMAIL’S WINNER: ALLAN McGREGOR.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR: STEVEN GERRARD
Few who watched the Rangers boss after a grim 1-0 Scottish Cup quarter-final loss at Hearts last February could have predicted the turnaround in fortunes that lay ahead.
Gerrard looked like a man on his way out but he remained in situ to oversee a team who became ruthless while Celtic crumbled under the weight of chasing ten in a row.
Now he’s an Ibrox icon after the earliest Premiership title win in history. He could yet win the double with Celtic visiting Govan in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.
CALLUM DAVIDSON
Succeeding Tommy Wright, the only manager previously to win silverware with St Johnstone, was akin to being handed the microphone by Frank Sinatra. But Davidson has more than got a tune out of the Perth side, steering Saints to their first League Cup triumph.
He followed that up with a top-six finish and Saints are well placed to progress in the Scottish Cup after being drawn at home to Clyde in the fourth round. All on a small budget. Not bad for his first season as a manager.
DAVID MARTINDALE
After replacing Gary Holt, Martindale took Livingston on a remarkable 14-match unbeaten run. The Lions reached the Betfred Cup final, losing narrowly to St Johnstone, and qualified for the top six.
Their form has tailed off recently but it’s still been a hugely successful season for a club on a modest budget. On a personal level, Martindale’s own journey from prison to dugout should inspire others to turn their broken lives around.
JIM GOODWIN
St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin may have ultimately failed on goal difference in his stated aim of finishing top six.
But if the Buddies can see off nearest rivals Dundee United to finish seventh, it would be their highest league finish since 1989; all done amid recurring Covid issues at the Paisley club.
A special mention for Jack Ross, who looks certain to steer Hibs to third place this season ahead of Aberdeen. But damaging losses to Hearts in the Scottish Cup semifinals and St Johnstone in the Betfred Cup last four are black marks for the Easter Road boss, albeit his side are still in the Scottish Cup.