Gary Keown claims that James Tavernier’s career with the Rangers has reached a “tipping point.” The 32-year-old captain of the German team, who has drawn a lot of criticism this season, was benched by manager Philippe Clement shortly after the hour mark in Thursday’s 4-1 Europa League loss to Lyon.
Right-back Neraysho Kasanwirjo took Tavernier’s spot at Ibrox, and Scottish Daily Mail columnist Keown thinks it’s about time for the former Newcastle player to permanently depart the stadium. “James Tavernier, the captain, has left the club.
Keown stated on the Daily Mail website (6 October) that “he should have left in the summer.” These days, he nearly always gets destroyed when he confronts Daizen Maeda and Celtic.
His substitution for Neraysho Kasanwirjo in the second half of the Lyon match was long overdue, and for a man who is only a few weeks away from turning 33, that had to be a turning point.
Naturally, Kasanwirjo is a ready-made substitute, but what about Dujon Sterling? He had a right back contract. When Clement gave him a new long-term contract, he mentioned how he would gain by playing on the team more frequently.
“This is your opportunity to work with a 24-year-old who you are trying to develop into a sellable asset and who is now receiving higher wages.”
James Tavernier well past his sell-by date at Rangers
Let’s face it, Tavernier’s poor performances are hardly anything new.
He has never played right back; he is mostly a right winger with limited defensive ability. He has played at Ibrox for a very long time because the team has a history of winning penalties, and he has a history of scoring them. He’s also one of the best free-kick takers in modern Scottish football, and he can charge into the box from the right to score, so it would be dishonest to ignore that.
But aside from his goalscoring and crossing abilities, what else has Tavernier offered?
As Keown alludes to, it’s impossible to think about the right-back having a single good game against Celtic.
More often than not, he’s been run ragged by what are undoubtedly the best attackers in the league outside of Ibrox and on most occasions, he’s been torn to shreds by half-decent attackers in European competition.
It’s unclear how he managed to stay at Rangers. Furthermore, it’s almost criminal that he has never been tested on the wing and that a suitable right-back with defensive skills hasn’t been brought in.
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