Rangers: Gordon Duncan clashes with Gers fan as call made to axe James Tavernier v Celtic
Gordon Duncan clashed live on air with a Rangers fan who suggested James Tavernier should be dropped for the game against Celtic on Sunday (7 April).
The Gers supporter called Clyde 1 Superscoreboard on Tuesday (2 April) urging Philippe Clement to start Dujon Sterling ahead of the captain, who he believes gives away too many goals.
Duncan was stunned by the claim as he insisted the 32-year-old is never going to be dropped for the Old Firm clash because of the attacking threat he provides for the Light Blues side.
“If I were the manager, I would be dropping James Tavernier,” said the Rangers fan. “For one thing, he’s too soft in the tackle. You never see him sliding into a 50-50, he never wins a 50-50.
“He gives too many goals away and he runs about there, taking nothing away from his goals, but nine times out of 10, he’s not in the position that he should be. He looked back on Saturday to say to Goldson put the ball out, it’s his fault the goal went in. I would drop him for Dujon Sterling, 150 per cent.”
“Seriously?” asked Duncan. “You’d drop James Tavernier going into this game? I know there’s a thing that still, no matter what he does, he won’t win everyone over and that’s fine, everyone’s got their opinion.
“But on what planet are Rangers going to drop their free-scoring captain, who plays every game in this one? It’s never going to happen.”
“He can’t defend,” said the caller. “He can’t defend to save himself.”
“So you’d rather just play Dujon Sterling without any idea how he’s going to fare at right-back and take away Tavernier’s attacking threat?” asked Duncan.
“That’s Dujon Sterling’s position right-back,” replied the supporter. “I’d play him. You must have seen yourselves how many goals that James Tavernier has given away and he blames everybody else bar himself.”
James Tavernier instrumental to Rangers side
There is absolutely no way that Tavernier wouldn’t line up for Rangers against Celtic due to the influence he has on the side.
The right-back just broke the British goal-scoring record for a defender and has been in fine form once again in front of goal this season.
While there are sometimes question marks over his defensive work, what he provides going forward massively outweighs what he does in terms of protecting his own goal.
Clement knows the importance of the Englishman and it surely wouldn’t even be a consideration to drop his captain for such a big game.
If the Gers have any success in front of goal against the Hoops, then there is a good chance that Tavernier will be involved in that somewhere down the line.
In other Rangers news, a pundit has reacted to an accusation aimed at the SFA following an Old Firm development.
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