NUMBERS PROVE CLASS OF ’21 ARE SIMPLY THE BEST

2.39

Gerrard’s side score 2.39 goals per game, a rate only beaten by McLeish’s treble winners and Symons’ side

The 2020/21 defence has conceded just 0.29 goals a game – twice as good as Advocaat’s Ibrox side in 2000/01

THE title success achieved by breached the 90-points barrier since Steven Gerrard and his players this 1994, we can see that the current season was always going to be a crop are up there with the best ever big one, regardless of how the seen in Glasgow’s south side. men from Ibrox actually Gerrard’s side haven’t quite went about getting over the matched the free-scoring finishing line. Given the achievements of Dick trophy drought in Govan Advocaat’s team from over the last 10 years – and 1999/2000, for example, who the position of dominance averaged more goals per game Celtic found themselves in than any of the other great post-2012 – it would have Rangers sides of the past with been understandable if this 2.67, but they aren’t far off. particular Premiership crown This term, Rangers score 2.39 paled in comparison to other goals per game – a superior rate than historic campaigns. all their illustrious predecessors, bar

The emotional argument was three: Advocaat’s side from the turn always going to outweigh the logical of the century, Alex McLeish’s one; sure, this is a title but it is also treble-winning team from 2002/03 so much more. It’s the reward for (2.66) and the 1963/64 side led by supporters who have patiently stood Scot Symons. by and supported their club as When we examine the amount of they’ve been dragged through the goals conceded per game by each of ringer. It’s a changing of the guard at these famous sides, none come close the summit of the Scottish game; a to holding a candle to the resolute titan on the rise as their rivals defence that has been a hallmark of across the city have faltered. Gerrard’s side this season. They

0.29

And perhaps most importantly concede just 0.29 goals per game of all, it sealed Rangers’ – that’s twice as good as the restoration as our nation’s next best defence, Advocaat’s top dog. 1999/2000 side that shipped

But away from the 0.58 goals per game. sentimentality of it all, even This is the area of the park when we soberly examine the where the class of ’21 can be facts in the naked light of day considered truly exceptional and it and strip away all their context, could be some time before we see we’re still left with one of – if not any team in Scotland finish a the – most brilliant Rangers sides campaign posting such impressive there has ever been. numbers at the back. A strong defence

Comparing teams from different has been the foundation on which eras is never easy, particularly when Gerrard has built a team of champions you dive back to the time of two – and leaves a credible argument that points for a win, while the this title win is Rangers’ best-ever, intransigent nature of the fixture purely in terms of results. schedule doesn’t exactly facilitate Obviously, there are still games matters either. Some of the greatest left to be played between now and teams to ever wear the famous light the end of the season but if Rangers blue jerseys played in top-flight can maintain their current form, seasons just 30 games long; others they will break the 100-points took part in a 44-match slog. barrier. No manager of the Ibrox To get around this, we need club has ever accrued a tripledigits

2.74 to examine how the class of points tally over the

’21 fare against other great course of the season.

Rangers sides of the past by Not only that, but when we examining their average examine the points per game output over the course of 90 (PPG) of each of these great minutes. We can fiddle with Rangers sides of yesteryear, league tables from before Gerrard’s team are once again 1994 and award three points comfortably leading the way, for a win, rather than the bringing home a PPG of 2.74 on customary two – it’s not a perfect average. McLeish’s treble winners in workaround, but it does level the 2002/03 had a PPG of 2.55 (and are statistical playing field to a pint the closest challengers to the current where a comparison is worthwhile. crop) but most of the other great

What we see is that the current Rangers teams had a PPG of iteration of the Ibrox side are up between 2.2 and 2.3. there with some of the best attacking There are only three words to sides Rangers have ever produced. some up this latest iteration of

When we compare them to every Rangers: Simply The Best. side to have won a domestic treble or

Rangers racked up an astonishing 2.74 PPG this term. Most great Ibrox sides managed between 2.2 and 2.3