Rangers' James Tavernier, Ryan Kent and Kemar Roofe analysed

Over the next few weeks, the Rangers Review will be presenting and analysing some of the most impressive and insightful numbers clocked up by the squad in the title-winning campaign of 2020/21, using StatsBomb radars.

Today, we put Ryan Kent, James Tavernier and Kemar Roofe’s performances under the microscope.

All comparisons are made with the league average and numbers are only taken from the 38 Scottish Premiership matches.

What are radars?

Radars allow us to visualize a high number of statistics in a relevant context. They are more visually appealing than a list of numbers and as such, easier to analyse and make sense of.

If you want to know more about the Rangers Review’s partnership with StatsBomb, you can here.

The radar measures the value of an action per 90 minutes and then ranks it by giving it a percentile, which is dictated by the entire population of output at that position. That means it is ranked in comparison to other players in the same position and league.

James Tavernier:

Until his injury, I would argue Tavernier was comfortably the best player in the Scottish Premiership last season. He scored 12 goals and made nine assists as he captained Rangers to 55.

By December 2020, he had clocked 11 goals and made eight assists, thereafter recording just one of each. His injury in the Europa League in February was unfortunate and took away the momentum built up throughout the first months of the season. Nonetheless, his numbers from the first half of the season are extremely impressive in isolation.

Tavernier’s role in this Rangers team is no secret. He is the width from the right, responsible often for helping to carry possession into the final third and provide creativity from the wing.

His xGbuildup is given a percentile rating of 98. xGbuildup is a model that attributes the xG value of the final shot to all players involved in the entire possession. The buildup version omits xG and xG Assisted to focus on possession work prior to the end of the chain.

True, no full-back in the division is quite as attack-minded as the 29-year-old. Regardless, this demonstrates how important he is in Rangers’ offensive build-up play. Often making runs behind the defence and providing creativity.

Notable also are his deep progressions, the passes and dribbles which are carried into the final third of the pitch, with StatsBomb ranking his percentile at 96. Think here of the number of times he carries his team up the park or breaks the defensive line by beating his man one-on-one.

Ryan Kent:

A lot of the discussion around Kent since he arrived in Scotland has been based on his ‘numbers’. His ability has never been in question and when he plays to the level he is capable of there is no better player in the country.

Last season in the Scottish Premiership he scored 10 goals and made eight assists. I’d say Kent would have been relatively happy with this number come the end of the season. 18 direct goal involvements in 38 league games is a pretty good return.

In my opinion, Kent’s radar demonstrates that there are still elements of his game that can be simplified and refined. Next season, I’d like to see a continuation of the type of goal he scored against Hibs or Aberdeen at home, which showed an incisive streak that has been developed throughout his time at Ibrox.

Notably from his radar, his turnovers are low. Defined as how often a player loses the ball via a miscontrol or a failed dribble per 90 minutes.

His increasing goal threat involvement is shown by the number of touches he is taking in the opposition box. In 2018/19 his value was at 4.25, compared to 7.46 in 20/21. His xG per 90 has also risen, from being valued at 0.27 last season compared to 0.18 in season 19/20.

Kemar Roofe:

Taking into consideration the injuries he had to contend with, Roofe had a really impressive first season at Ibrox, scoring 14 times in the league and making three assists. I’d hasten a guess that he will be Rangers' top scorer in 21/22 if he remains fit all season.

In terms of his xG, xG/shot and involvement in the penalty area he is at the very top of the division.

His numbers certify what we’re seeing on the pitch. His presence in the front three as a goal scorer improves Rangers’ ability to break teams down and pose a constant threat in the box.

Despite often starting from the right of a front three he is by all measurements a finisher. This is most keenly felt when Alfredo Morelos drops into midfield or the half-spaces to turn and receive.

Whereas prior, Rangers didn’t have a player that could play alongside the Colombian and compliment his strengths, Roofe’s game intelligence and ability to retain Rangers’ offensive depth has been an important development in their evolution as a team.