James Tavernier backed for private Russell Martin talks at Rangers – ‘You would get dropped’
The relationship between Russell Martin and Rangers fans has completely broken down.
Despite Rangers’ 2-1 win over Livingston on Sunday, supporters still chanted for Martin to be sacked straight after Max Aarons’ 94th-minute winner.
Andrew Cavenagh continues to back Martin, yet with fans starting to boycott matches at Ibrox, he may be forced to let the former Southampton manager go.
Martin has been in charge of some devastating defeats already this season, with James Tavernier and other senior figures of the Rangers dressing room being questioned for their lack of leadership.
James Tavernier must talk to Russell Martin about the crisis at Rangers
Tavernier has been at Ibrox since 2015 and has been part of some great Rangers teams.
Speaking on BBC Sportsound on 28 September, Stephen Craigan urged the leaders in the squad to speak to Martin about the poor start to the season and the tactics behind it.
He said: “See if I was a senior player in that dressing room like James Tavernier or John Souttar and you’re back in the next day and you’re back to the slow build-up, I would go and say ‘gaffer, can I have a word? Can you not see what’s made us successful?'”
Derek Ferguson replied with an immediate concern, saying: “You would get dropped out of the side. You wouldn’t be involved, because is that not what happened with Raskin?”
Craigan responded: “Do it in a private and respectful way to try and put your point across. Surely players have to have some sort of input.”
Tavernier was part of the 2021 title-winning side, whilst also playing a starring role under Giovanni van Bronckhorst as the Bears made it to the Europa League final in 2022.
Those times feel like ancient memories, though, as the future of Rangers under Martin looks bleak at the moment.
| Games managed | 14 |
| Wins | 4 |
| Draws | 5 |
| Losses | 5 |
| Win percentage | 28.57 |
The Light Blues have high standards that Martin is clearly not fulfilling, and a better relationship with his leaders could go a long way toward restoring some happiness in Govan.
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Russell Martin must be tactically flexible if Rangers are to improve
One of the biggest things Martin has been criticised for is his style of play.
What was advertised as fast-paced possession football has manifested into a team that is drab, uninspiring, and lacking in invention.
Defensively, Rangers are all over the shop, and it has gotten to the point where Tavernier, Souttar, or Jack Butland must step in and challenge some of the ideas that are being put forward.
Against Genk, Rangers were down to 10 men, yet the full-backs were still so high up the pitch, which left spaces for former Celtic striker Oh Hyeung-gyu to exploit.
It has been a constant theme of the Bears’ season, and if the leaders in the squad don’t step up, they’ll be playing under a new manager very, very soon.
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