The underwhelming Rangers performance of James Tavernier against Aberdeen has been put down to a bout of flu – as critical fans begin to debate the captain’s future.
Rangers skipper Tavernier has been the subject of much debate all season with many Ibrox fans questioning poor performances and a lack of influence on the field.
Visibly uncomfortable ahead of the World Cup break despite an insistence that the player was fit, Rangers fans had hoped that any issue – alluded to in the aftermath of the Celtic hammering – would be resolved.
But as the Ibrox side took to the pitch against Aberdeen, James Tavernier looked a shadow of his former self and picked up where he’d left off ahead of the tournament in Qatar.
Clearly toiling with the physical side of the game, a lack of concentration was also evident whilst James Tavernier was nowhere near the influential attacking presence he has been previously for the club.
Rangers media partners quash post-Aberdeen James Tavernier debate
Such was the nature of the performance it had plenty questioning the Rangers captain’s position in the Ibrox squad with a debate launched over the player’s long-term status in the team.
But this has been somewhat quashed by claims from Ibrox media partner Four Lads Had a Dream, who believe that Rangers star James Tavernier was carrying a bout of flu heading into the clash with Aberdeen.
The situation was so bad that James Tavernier actually travelled to Pittodrie in his own car and that the captain played through the illness due to a lack of options in the squad.
”Bit of context to last night,” tweet Four Lads Had a Dream.
“James Tavernier is loaded with Flu, hasn’t trained much & is unwell. Drove up to the game and back by himself, got changed away from squad etc. Didn’t eat or stay with team.
“Determined to play through for club as so short on options.”
Call it reckless, call it poor judgement, call it counterproductive, but whatever the case at least now many will reserve judgement on the Rangers captain until he’s back to his best.
Rangers are without two left-backs in Croatian World Cup participant Borna Barisic and the injury Ridvan Yilmaz, with back-up right-back Adam Devine deputising in the position amid a range of defensive injuries.
It clearly presented James Tavernier with a dilemma against Aberdeen and given the club has come through the game with three points, Rangers’ decision to play him has been justified.
Meanwhile, one iconic former Rangers star has urged supporters to follow an age-old mantra for the rest of the season.
