Barry Ferguson has paid tribute to present-day captain James Tavernier for overcoming adversity and doubt to lead Rangers to this season’s Scottish Premiership title.
The Rangers legend has spoke of the respect that Tavernier has earned in doing so, succeeding where plenty others before him have failed.
Ferguson commented recently in his Daily Record column:
“I spent a decade inside the Rangers first-team dressing room over two spells at Ibrox.”
“And during that time I witnessed countless players who were swallowed up by the pressure of playing for one half of the Old Firm.”
“It would be disrespectful of me to name names but there are plenty of examples and James Tavernier could easily have been added to that list.”
“Instead, he toughed it out and has gone down as a title-winning club captain.”
“This week he celebrated by signing a two-year contract extension and it gives me such a buzz to see someone defy their critics.”
Tavernier is one of very few remaining players from the difficult 2016/17 and 17/18 seasons.
Upon returning to the Scottish top flight, Celtic were just too strong for Rangers at that time and inflicted some deep wounds.
With the recent title triumph, that scar tissue is as good as gone – it is history.
Tavernier has had to respond to justified criticism from some quarters as well as the usual noise and over-reaction from others.
He has done that in the best possible way.
The Yorkshireman has grown as a player and as a leader – his influence is stamped all over this current Rangers side.
That improvement and recovery has been hard earned, as alluded to by Ferguson:
“It would have been easy for Tavernier to have gone back to England when he was coming in for criticism and the fact he didn’t is why I’ve so much respect for him.”
“I had sympathy for Tavernier when people were claiming he wasn’t up to the job of captain.”
“You have to give people time to grow into the role – it doesn’t happen overnight.”
“He stood tall and made himself available for every single game. It seems like a lifetime ago but after that home defeat by Hamilton just before lockdown plenty of people said he wasn’t fit to wear the armband.”
Mentality
“It didn’t help he admitted in the matchday programme they wilted under the pressure of domestic rivals getting in their faces.”
“It was an honest admission although Steven Gerrard was right to say at the time the club should have done more to protect him because as a player you get emotional during interviews.”
“The fact he came through that criticism shows the mentality he’s got. There aren’t many who can say they have done what he has.”
At the third time of asking, Gerrard has achieved glory at Ibrox.
Along the way there have been questions asked of his team, about their mental strength and capability to get over the line, similar points have been posed at the captain.
The definitive response will be delivered on 15th May when James Tavernier lifts the SPFL Premiership trophy high above his head.