Rangers’ captaincy has been settled for the campaign with James Tavernier the man who continues to lead the club.
But should it be Allan McGregor?
Today’s match against Dundee was a sore one for Rangers fans. They were critical when it came to everything about their side today, and no wonder. Coming off the back of a dreadful 1-0 home defeat to Aberdeen, the supporters wanted a reaction.
Instead, what they got was a half-hearted, woefully uneventful display from their charges. It was a bit of a disastrous result in terms of the league table too, with Celtic now having a game in hand that would put them five clear of Steven Gerrard’s side.
Interestingly, when things weren’t going Rangers’ way, which was for long spells, it was McGregor who was getting noticeably more and more angry. He wasn’t pleased with the slow nature of the Gers’ play, and wanted more in terms of creativity.
Whilst Tavernier was also trying to show some leadership and direction, he wasn’t as vocal or as animated as McGregor was. Therefore, given McGregor’s previous experience both at Rangers and in England, should he be the true Rangers captain?
Tavernier is a terrific representative of Rangers. He’s a fine man and player, and always comes across well in his interviews and press conferences. He understands the club and knows the tough times they’ve faced in recent years.
McGregor just knows what Rangers are all about
McGregor, however, knows what it takes to win at this club. Tavernier has never experienced a real winning Rangers side full of personality and character. Despite having performed tremendously well on a variety of occasions for the club, McGregor still has the better CV.
The Scotland number one is more vocal, animated, and knowledgeable when it comes to leadership. If he had the role of organising the team when on the pitch, Rangers could be better off than they currently are.
On the other side of the coin, there is the argument that changing captain would be detrimental to squad morale – in particular Tavernier’s. The truth is, however, that if Tavernier is the consummate professional we know he is, he’ll fully understand.
It’s also not a damning indictment of Tavernier’s performance as captain either. He shows plenty of heart and leadership on the field. McGregor, however, just has that bit more about him that makes him more worthy of the armband.
This is unlikely to happen, but McGregor has constantly looked to lead from his goal-line since arriving in the summer. He’s the captain in everything but name – so is it time to give him that name?
