Former Rangers captain Craig Moore hasn’t held back on Jack Butland. Speaking to the Daily Record, the ex-defender admitted Butland has the talent to pull off massive saves, but he’s increasingly worried about a fundamental flaw. The recent clanger against Hearts, where Butland let a Lawrence Shankland shot slip in at the near post from a tight angle, perfectly illustrated Moore’s point.
What did Craig Moore say about Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland?
The former skipper admitted he always has a nagging fear that Butland has a big mistake in him. In a tight title race with Celtic and Hearts, these individual errors turn a keeper into a liability. Moore argued that winning titles requires a keeper who earns you points, rather than someone who drops them through lapses in concentration. His view isn’t just punditry; it’s the perspective of a man who knows the pressure of winning at Ibrox.
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“We talk about you’ve got to be mad to be a goalkeeper and all sort of stuff – Jack doesn’t strike me as that.
“But it’s a position where, unfortunately, you make a mistake, and you’re picking it out at the back of your net.
“I feel, unfortunately, that as good a goalkeeper as he is and the saves that he’s made and what have you, I always have the feeling there’s a big mistake in him and that’s a big concern for me.
“What is important in our experience of winning things? A goalkeeper is an absolute must. Winning your points rather than losing your points.”
How has he performed in the 2025/26 season?
On the surface, Butland’s numbers look solid. In 22 league games this season, he has conceded 17 goals and kept nine clean sheets. He’s stopping 79.01% of the shots he faces, and his 7.0 average rating on Flashscore is actually a career-best at Rangers. However, stats don’t tell the full story. A high save percentage doesn’t matter if a goalkeeper’s rare mistakes happen at the worst possible times. In a title race, one howler can outweigh a dozen routine saves.
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Do Rangers actually need to replace him?
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MARCH 01: Jack Butland of Rangers applauds the fans following his team’s draw in the William Hill Premiership match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium on March 01, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
This is the big question. Butland is now 33, and his contract expires in 2027. With no extension talks yet, this summer is the last chance for the Rangers to get a decent fee for him. While he’s a great shot-stopper and a leader in the dressing room, his flaws are becoming harder to ignore. His footwork is shaky, and his positioning under pressure is inconsistent. Simply put, he doesn’t quite fit the sweeper-keeper style Danny Rohl wants to play.
Rangers should look to the future this summer. A younger, more mobile option like Nikolas Polster at Wolfsberger AC would be a smart, forward-thinking move. Replacing Butland with another veteran would just keep the cycle going. Moore is right to be concerned; when trophies are decided by fine margins, Rangers can’t afford a keeper who feels like a ticking time bomb.
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