Rangers were given a bit of scare against Hamilton, but they prevailed though to ensure three points which keeps them right on the heels of Celtic in the title race. Some individual brilliance from Ryan Kent for the second goal helped Rangers continue their juggernaut and win games like this which are often detrimental towards mounting a title challenge.
One player who again seemed to be off colour was club captain James Tavernier. The right-back was impressive while moving forward but defensively he was stretched and found wanting. Former Rangers striker and Scotland international Ally McCoist criticised the defender on air.
McCoist criticises Tavernier
McCoist was quoted as saying (BT Sport Broadcast 24/11, 14:20), ”Do you know the really disappointing thing about Tavernier? We’re having this conversation every second or third week. He’s a right-back, your initial job as a right-back is to defend
“I love him going forward; I think he’s brilliant going forward, I think he’s great from dead-balls. He can score goals from free-kicks. He’s a right-back. Your first job as a right-back is to defend, and he’s not good enough at that at this moment in time.”
It’s fair to say that the last few weeks have been tough for the English defender, and he didn’t cover himself in glory with his defensive performance against Hamilton.
What can Gerrard do?
Rangers don’t seem to trust anyone else at right-back apart from Tavernier. Matt Polster was signed in January, but he doesn’t even come close to challenging Tav for the first-team spot. Jon Flanagan is a plausible option but Rangers’ attacking play could suffer with the former Liverpool defender at right back. Nevertheless, we think that Gerrard shouldn’t keep Tavernier as one of the undroppable in the squad and his poor showing should give someone like Flanagan a chance to play.
But one also needs to think from Gerrard’s point of view as well. It’s largely viewed that a fullback’s main job is to defend but gone are those days as fullbacks are primarily seen as attacking option. Rangers control and dominate most of their games in the Premiership and in games like those, one would need an attacking right-back who would provide the width and deliver dangerous crosses from the flanks.
Maybe Gerrard can selectively choose to play Flanagan against teams where Rangers would be expected to do more defensive work. The manager needs to make it clear to Tavernier and everyone that nobody is undroppable in the squad. This is not the first time that the fullback has come under criticism for his defensive frailties and maybe its time for Gerrard to give Flanagan some starts especially against sides where Rangers could be troubled defensively.
