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ICYMI – Lahm, Kimmich, Tavernier? Gers skipper should be next to make big move

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Nathan Patterson’s recent form in the absence of James Tavernier has sparked a decent debate recently, what do we do when the skipper returns to action?

One of the questions being asked is “why not play both?”.

Now, this isn’t suggesting that we change formation to accommodate both full-backs similar to the way that the national team does for Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson, but putting a player with all the attributes required to be a success into a new position.

Tavernier has played in midfield for Rangers before, however, he also had Jason Holt and Andy Halliday et al alongside him, and Lee Hodson at right-back, not exactly the same quality that we have at present.

For those that might point to his age as being a barrier to moving inside, Philipp Lahm was exactly the same age when Pep Guardiola moved him in front of his back four rather than being a key part of it, Joshua Kimmich and David Alaba are also regularly played in midfield because their skillset allows it despite originally being full-backs.

As Trent Alexander-Arnold typifies, the modern full-back has invariably played in the middle of the park at some stage of their development, that there is talk of the Liverpool defender moving inside to get the best out of him is just the latest example of this.

Vital Rangers Player of the Year 2020/21

Allan McGregor

Allan McGregor

Connor Goldson

Connor Goldson

James Tavernier

James Tavernier

Steven Davis

Steven Davis

In Tavernier’s case, there is another reason why a positional change could benefit everyone – Ryan Jack. When Jack is fit, he is almost playing as a traditional full-back whilst Tavernier spends most of his time in the final third, his absence has been sorely felt in the Europa League and Old Firm derbies where we didn’t have our usual level of control, the captain could provide the cover that has been missing whilst giving the opportunity for Patterson to get valuable game time for Rangers.

Writing Jack off because he is struggling with injury just now would be harsh because he has been one of our best players, as would going into the transfer market to sign someone, once we wanted Tavernier to be played in midfield because his defensive skills were questioned, now, it’s because he is our best player and he could bring an energy and dynamism that has been missed in recent weeks.

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