Rangers captain James Tavernier finds himself at the centre of the fall-out from that devastating early season performance v Celtic.
Whilst Philippe Clement insists his charges were unlucky on the day against Brendan Rodgers’ athletically, technically and mentally superior side, these soundbites haven’t washed with frustrated supporters.
Rangers have overseen a substantial summer overhaul and cut the Ibrox wage bill but fans are yet to be convinced that this current squad are well-placed for a title fight.
James Tavernier – so often the matchwinner and inspiration for Rangers down the right-hand side – remains the only constant.
As frustrations boiled over come the full-time whistle, it was the club’s long-serving skipper who bore the brunt of criticism as one supporter let loose outside Ibrox.
But in the days and weeks proceeding the untimely defeat, the level of disrespect for the Rangers captain’s contribution has been misguided bordering on ludicrous.
James Tavernier a scapegoat for Rangers shortcomings
In a summer of scything change, James Tavernier is the only of the Ibrox old guard who has survived an almighty Glasgow cull.
Out have gone underachievers such as Borna Barisic, John Lundstram and Connor Goldson, all of whom talked the talk but, domestically at least, routinely failed to walk the walk.
Others who have propped up the squad despite long-standing injury problems have joined them, with Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe’s bitter Rangers stories exemplified by the fact that both are still without a club at the time of writing.
Throw the exits of Jon McLaughlin, Robby McCrorie, Sam Lammers, Jose Cifuentes, Scott Wright, Ben Davies and Todd Cantwell into the mix and suddenly the Ibrox dressing room takes on a completely different look.
Tavernier – who has taken his fair share of criticism throughout his Ibrox career and then some – stands as that dressing room’s figurehead.
Frustrated with both the standard and scale of this summer’s rebuild, where Rangers have taken a more youthful and international approach in the market, Tavernier is positioned as an easy target.
Yes there has been a downturn in form, yes Tavernier has cut a nervous figure without the normally relentless attacking returns, but the entire club is in a period of transition off and on the park.
The Rangers captain – who is only human – has seen his achievements tossed aside in the malaise of this frustration.
The club’s current predicament is seemingly easily solvable by the right-back’s legacy being torn to shreds and Tav being punted to Turkey.
Not only is it unfair, but it strikes of a lack of leadership at every level of Rangers Football Club that the captain has been left so exposed to this criticism
Clement wants patience with the squad but apathetic Rangers fans have not seen enough to provide it.
There are several glaring holes in the club’s set-up from the boardroom to the dressing room and painful uncertainty as to how and when they are going to be plugged.
In a sort of self-defeating anger, the notion that James Tavernier is somehow the root and branch cause of these issues is an excruciating example of the snowballing rage which is rocking Ibrox to its very foundations.
A failure to win at Tannadice on Sunday will see this revolt gather pace and quickly.
Only a moment of insanity will result in the Rangers captain missing this weekend’s trip to Dundee United.
Let’s hope that moment didn’t already happen outside Ibrox last weekend.
Rangers captain deserves more respect from Ibrox fans
The story of James Tavernier at Rangers is under threat of being rewritten amongst the rage of the Ibrox support.
The fact that so many are supporting the idea that the club’s captain – who scored 24 goals and laid on 12 assists last season – could be moved on after the transfer window is closed is a kind of madness which was once reserved to the deepest, darkest corners of the internet.
The notion that James Tavernier could leave against the backdrop of that disgraceful abuse should also nauseate Rangers supporters.
What message does it send to would-be signings? Come to Rangers, give your career, and we’ll haul you over the coals kicking and screaming anyway.
The right-back has given his best years to the Gers and achieved plenty which others, in the wake of 2012 especially, could only have dreamed of.
From lifting 55 to being the the top scorer in the Europa League on the run to Seville, Tavernier has become British football’s greatest defensive goalscorer and held each domestic trophy aloft.
He has penned his way into Rangers history and the club’s Hall of Fame and is deserving of more respect.
Whilst Tav’s commitment to Rangers means he’s been up front and centre at every failure, he’s also been at the centre of every success.
Could he have done more? Absolutely. But show us anyone at Ibrox who has gotten everything right recently.
The story of Rangers’ downturn over the last few seasons rests primarily at the top of the club who’ve failed to spend wisely and ultimately paid the price.
It is not Rangers class to scapegoat and victimise one man for the failures of the many and as the support reels from yet more disappointment these frustrations must be kept in check.
Let the scenes outside Ibrox be a reminder to every single Rangers fan that there is a way to protest and a way to support our team.
Tavernier has routinely struggled against Celtic, of that there is no argument, but the fact that consecutive Rangers managers continue to leave the right-back exposed to Celtic’s full-blown assault is a failure of the dug-out as much as it is on the pitch.
Lessons must be learned and things have got to change for sure.
But as for the captain’s armband, what are those dissenting voices trying to prove?
It’s a collective disgrace that James Tavernier has been positioned at the centre Rangers Football Club’s endemic failure in the wake of 55.
It’s collective psychosis that anyone of a blue persuasion could be convinced that letting the captain go right now would somehow help matters.
