Despite a comfortable victory – in a game in which Allan McGregor didn’t have a save to make – there was still room for one Rangers player to be the target of social media abuse following the 1-0 win over St Mirren at Ibrox.
Jon Flanagan was preferred to Nathan Patterson at right-back to take the place of injured skipper, James Tavernier and after his stellar performance against Stranraer, the youngster would’ve had every right to feel aggrieved.
Steven Gerrard trusts his former Liverpool team-mate but has rarely been able to play him in his preferred right-back position such is the durability of Tavernier, it says it all that the captain is missing because of an appendix issue rather than a “proper” injury.
Flanagan is out of contract in the summer and is committed to doing everything in his power to stay at the club in the future, but he will have to do a lot more if he is to see this come to fruition.
Who would you prefer at right back in James Tavernier's absence?
Nathan Patterson
Jon Flanagan
Fans of the Ibrox club realised just how much they miss Tav after a less than impressive display, particularly in attack, by the scouser and took to Twitter to vent their frustrations at his performance.
Can’t remember the last time I hated a player so much. Just offers absolutely nothing.
— John (@JG93_) January 22, 2020
So who else is in agreement with me that Jon Flanagan is an absolutely horrendous footballer ?
— Croatian King 🇭🇷 (@BenRFC3) January 22, 2020
Jon Flanagan can not play on Sunday, offers nothing other than being relatively solid at the back. Glad we can put the ‘aye but he’s playing at left back’ argument to bed as well, simply not good enough.
— Michael Beale Loyal (@FraserMac94) January 22, 2020
Be as well scrapping the academy if they canny get a look in ahead of Jon Flanagan
— Shaun (@sh4unrutherford) January 22, 2020
Jon Flanagan should never play another professional game for Rangers ever again
— Mark Morrison (@Mark_Morrison10) January 22, 2020
Absolutely bang average. Hesitated crossing the ball when laid off! He had to kill the ball first then try swing a ball in. St Mirren defence had the extra 3 seconds to get in position. We need to be more urgent in the final third with balls into the box
— Chateau Ger (@ChateauGer) January 22, 2020
Flanagan is a useful member of the squad as he is able to play anywhere across the back-line, however, his appearance highlighted, once again, just how good and underrated Tavernier is and his importance to the Rangers attack whenever he is absent, hopefully he will be back sooner, rather than later for the benefit of Gers fans everywhere.