James Tavernier criticism ‘not a big deal’ as Rangers star proves ‘nobody better in our game’ after Hearts win – pundit
There is “nobody better in our game” going forward than Rangers captain James Tavernier after his match-winning performance against Hearts, according to Alan Rough.
The pundit said on PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show on 6 November that the defender is “superb” after he scored twice in the 3-1 Viaplay Cup semi-final win at Hampden Park the day before.
Tavernier, 32, regularly finds himself the target of criticism but Rough believes it’s “not a big deal” when he contributes to so many goals for the Light Blues.
Rough said (2m 10s): “Free kicks in particular, superb, great technique. Penalty kicks, scores them 99% of the time. But all round, for the performances he puts in week in and week out going forward, there’s nobody better in our game.
“I know he gets criticised defensively but when you’re scoring that many goals, it’s not a big deal.”
Leading by example
Rangers were far better on Sunday than they were a week earlier but on one good day and one bad the pair of victories were essentially down to Tavernier.
His last-minute penalty at Ibrox in the SPFL comeback was quickly followed by a stoppage-time assist for Danilo’s winner, while he opened the scoring from the spot at Hampden in the cup and then made the game safe with his second from a free kick.
It is true that he can be got at defensively and at times that is a problem, but he might justifiably point to the fact that the likes of Dani Alves and Trent Alexander-Arnold have had the same sort of criticism levelled at them too.
As the captain of a Rangers side that has undoubtedly lacked the success that the club is accustomed to in recent years he has become the face of failure for some and a lightning rod for criticism at times.
Yet it is hard to argue that he hasn’t been a crucial part of what this side has achieved and arguably the key man throughout.
Any player with 231 combined goals and assists for the Gers [Transfermarkt] has had a major impact, but a defender contributing that heavily can surely claim to have been holding up his end of the bargain.
So, while he isn’t perfect, it is surely others who have been far less consistent who deserve a lot of the criticism that he ends up having directed his way.
In other Rangers news, the latest Light Blues controversy has been slammed as “genuinely pathetic” by Jonny McFarlane.