Sometimes footballers should keep their thoughts to themselves, not because they aren’t entitled to their opinion, but because of things like what James Tavernier said as Rangers captain four years ago.
Every player is under a degree of pressure, but to openly admit that the team you are supposed to lead doesn’t fancy it when the going gets tough? He’s lucky he kept the armband for that alone.
It’s been the same old story over the last five games and James Tavernier, despite his individual accolades since joining Rangers, looks like he is reverting to type.
James Tavernier has a decision to make as Rangers captain
Football is a team game, however, Tavernier’s record at Ibrox of three major trophies since joining the club in 2015 is hardly awe inspiring.
The Hall of Fame is an individual award and his goals and assists record suggests that he has more than done his share, even if those around him have consistently not been good enough.
With Tavernier and Connor Goldson, in particular, coming in for some heavy criticim in recent weeks, a reminder of the captain’s programme notes in March 2000 during a similar run of games that cost us our place in the title race spring to mind:
“Whenever anybody puts a bit of pressure on us in Scotland or gets in our face it seems to affect us too much.
“At the start of the season when teams dropped off us and we were scoring four or fives goals, but now they smell blood straight away and it puts us under pressure.
“We are not good enough domestically at the minute to react to that.”
It’s still incredible that these thoughts were actually published.
Did nobody think to say, “Are you sure about this?”.
Does Tavernier still have what it takes to be captain?
Whenever either side of the Old Firm drops points, it is usually because the opposition have been aggressive and had a go, not because they have sat in and defended for 90 minutes.
Does a player ever lose that sort of mentality?
Tavernier was 28 at the time, a senior player and captain, he should have known better.
What is worrying is, is this the sort of thing that players like Tavernier and Goldson are saying in the dressing room?
TImes have changed, but I can’t imagine Terry Butcher, Richard Gough or Barry Ferguson saying something similar.
Next season Rangers need a fresh start under manager Philippe Clement.
A total overhaul of the squad is a no brainer with so many players out of contract but there also needs to be a change in mentality.
Sometimes, the sign of a good leader is knowing when your time is up.
