One issue that Philippe Clement must sort out for next season is the number of soft goals conceded by Rangers, particularly against Celtic.
The manager has identified a few problems that need to be rectified on top of rebuilding a squad in desperate need of repair.
There is also the elephant in the room of James Tavernier’s form for Rangers, but has it really been that bad?
Unseen James Tavernier numbers that make him Rangers talisman
A full-back, by definition, is a defender.
Modern football has changed though, and they are now largely responsible for how teams attack.
In recent seasons, there has been a lot of talk about Rangers being too reliant on their skipper and, with over 60 goals, it would be hard not to agree.
In the last three seasons, he has contributed to 99 goals.
There are wingers and strikers that can’t produce that sort of number.
The problem is exactly that, Tavernier has scored more goals than all of Rangers wingers put together except for Abdallah Sima.
Even if you take away his penalties he still has more than Scott Wright, Ross McCausland and Rabbi Matondo.
And that is one of Clement’s primary concerns, getting wingers in who can add numbers like Sima – but stay fit for 50 to 60 games.
The high profile mistakes against Celtic haven’t helped Tavernier’s cause, however, it’s not just goals and assists that he makes up for this with.
He is FotMob.com’s highest rated player of the season with 8.17, Matt O’Riley is second with 8.04.
Tavernier is second in the Premiership on big chances created with 19 and leads the charts with total chances created on 115.
Danny Armstrong is second on 95.
The Gers skipper is top on expected assists and also expected assists per 90.
Rangers would be worse off without Tavernier
James Tavernier’s form in Old Firm derbies isn’t the reason Rangers lost the league, he’s the biggest reason Rangers were still in the title race at all.
Dujon Sterling is pressuring Tavernier more than at any time in his Ibrox career having put performance, after performance playing out of position.
His strongest asset is also Tavernier’s assumed weakest, defending.
But, this is 2024 and it is at the sharp end of the pitch where football is won and lost.
Tavernier scored in three out of four Champions League qualifiers.
Rangers would have dropped points in ten league games if it wasn’t for their captain bailing them out.
He also scored three out of Rangers four goals in the Viaplay Cup semi-final and final.
That, is leading from the front.
A captain’s performance at Hampden once again would go a long way in silencing the critics, for now.
