Rangers: ‘Absolutely outrageous’ James Tavernier shocks Peter Martin after fan criticism, Neil Lennon in total agreement

James Tavernier’s ever-growing record for Rangers is “absolutely outrageous” after he scored the goal which won the Viaplay Cup with his 115th strike for the club, according to Peter Martin.

The PLZ Soccer host said on The Football Show (18 December) that the Gers captain deserved “great praise” and despite some of the supporters not being “big fans” of the right-back he is the last person who should be criticised at Ibrox.

Neil Lennon backed that assessment after the 32-year-old proved to be the man for the big occasion with the winner against Aberdeen at Hampden, to add to his incredible record of goals and assists.

Martin said: “Great praise to, he’s a full-back Neil, James Tavernier, he’s scored 115 goals. It’s just absolutely outrageous.

“Some Rangers fans are not big fans of Tavernier. I on the other hand look at him and I think to myself, even when they were going through rough times, he was the last man you should be looking at for any kind of criticism.”

“I totally agree,” replied Lennon. “He’s come up again with another. I don’t know how many times he’s done it over the years, produced big performances and big goals, but that’s another big goal he’s scored for the club.

“He’s always available for selection, his injury record’s very good, his goal record, assists as well. There’s always been a question mark over him stepping up and his defending at times but what a great servant he’s been to the club. A big, big player on big occasions.”

Lightning rod

As the captain of Rangers Tavernier is always going to get more than his share of criticism during the tough times, even when other players of lesser profile may deserve it more.

Conversely he perhaps gets extra credit for success, but when he steps up as a defender to score yet another goal, from open play no less, that decided a tight final in difficult conditions and secures a trophy which was simply a must for the club it is hard to downplay that impact.

Full-backs who are excellent footballers but not outstanding at actual defending are a feature of modern football, and while that inevitably has its downsides it is impossible to argue with Tavernier’s contribution going forward.

He shouldn’t be immune from criticism when he is to blame at the back, and as the leader he takes responsibility for collective failure, of which there has been far too much, while there is surely an argument to rest him at least occasionally to develop his successor.

But at the same time the huge number of goals and assists he produces have become part of the furniture at Rangers during his time in Glasgow, so it is easy to take them for granted.

Sooner or later the time will come where they are gone and his significance will become clear, because without him it isn’t hard to conclude that the good times in recent years may never have happened and the bad times would have been far worse.

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