Rangers captain James Tavernier is having a pretty mixed season so far to date.
On one side, Tav has captained the club to the Europa League group stages for the second year in a row, also matching Celtic domestically so far.
On the other, his stats have slid, there’s a growing nervousness in his game as the stakes have got higher, and he continues to make high-profile mistakes.
The penalty miss v Feyenoord, the match-defining errors against Young Boys and that woeful stooping header against Hearts all stand out.
But what’s perhaps more worrying than the defensive side of his game being so exposed is Tavernier’s reaction to it.
When he’s made a mistake or is not playing well, Tav (traditionally to his credit) puffs out his chest and keeps playing.
But after these mistakes, it has visibly impacted his performance with his normally on-the-ball crossing struggling to beat the first man and his set-pieces getting wilder and wilder.
His primary offensive assets are being affected.
It was summed up by that last-minute free-kick against Hearts which sailed into the keeper’s hands.
Part of the responsibility of being captain is being able to delegate when you’re not up to it – there’s a bit of an issue with pride there.
So what’s the solution? Gerrard – as if this would ever be any different – seems to think it’s in loyalty, in sticking by his captain and giving him his backing and support.
That’s all well and good, until the next mistake.
So how about a formation change? A 3-5-2 of sorts with Tav and Barisic on the flanks with less defensive responsibility.
It may also be the solution to the stuttering form of Sheyi Ojo or even the ongoing defensive dilemma over which of our four in-form centre-halves to pick.
Or are we all being too dramatic with the dip in form from our captain?
