“James Tavernier’s never a Rangers captain.”
How many times have you heard or read this since the skipper signed in 2015? That some fans. for long enough, didn’t even think he was good enough to be a Rangers player at all is another and entirely different story to get your head around but one that is equally as confusing.
We have seen, in last season and the one just past, that there are many ways in which a captain can lead, Connor Goldson is probably the closest we have to a “traditional” one in that he tends to be the organiser from the back and the player that we can hear most barking out orders, however, Tavernier is a modern leader, one who leads by example both on and off the pitch.
The Scottish Cup final was just a couple of weeks ago and after a season in which Rangers played some 60 games, he could have been forgiven for taking a break for a while – not Tavernier though.
There’s a reason he is one of the fittest and one of the fastest players around. In days gone by, hitting 30-years old would see many players written off, instead, the skipper is like a fine wine, getting better with age but it’s not through luck.
Pictures of Tavernier starting pre-season early shows exactly why he leads our club, other players will see this and know that they have to get their fingers out, there is a reason we were able to out-run our Europe League and domestic rivals when games went to extra-time.
If Rangers is all about setting and maintaining standards, then Tavernier is the perfect captain.
“Don’t be rusty, be ready.” – I couldn’t put it better myself.