Yesterday was a day to forget on all accounts for Rangers. The club had a great opportunity to climb into 2nd and stay ahead of their Glasgow rivals, Celtic with a win away at Livingston, however, it wasn’t to be as Steven Gerrard’s side couldn’t find a win. After the game, captain James Tavernier faced the media and he’s been slated by fans for his poor performance and lack of professionalism.
REACTION: James Tavernier spoke to @RangersTV after today’s match against Livingston. pic.twitter.com/oHHijEprBu
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) 30 September 2018
The Rangers fans were understandably fuming to have lost 1-0 to Dolly Menga’s first-half strike and the loss at Almondvale Stadium, which looked very winnable on paper, now looks like a great opportunity missed as they aim to try and keep up with early pace-setters, Hearts in the Scottish Premier League. Tavernier has taken a lot of stick in the aftermath of the game, and some of it is understandable given the way he took his post-match interview.
The fans were appalled to see their club captain nonchalantly answering questions from Rangers TV after the game as he chewed gum in his tracksuit. In response, the Gers have been questioning his captaincy and claiming that he doesn’t deserve to wear the armband if his conduct off the pitch is as laid back as it was after the Livingston defeat. You can somewhat understand the Bluenoses frustrations, but then again, Tavernier has been stellar all season bar yesterday’s defeat and the criticism may be a bit harsh on the defender.
Nevertheless, you can read the Gers’ thoughts on Tavernier here:
Never a captain. Never a defender.
— JJ Bird (@JJBRD_21) 30 September 2018
The chewing gum is doing my head in – but that’s just a symptom of something much bigger… Win-lose-or-draw I’ve had ‘exactly’ the same opinion every time he’s worn the armband: THAT GUY IS NO RANGERS CAPTAIN!
— Sneds (@Alex_Sneddon) 30 September 2018
No suit no tie no standards
— Tom Allan (@TomAlla01881853) September 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/jambop45/status/1046425371116228609
https://twitter.com/kevshenton/status/1046441928961789958
Talks a good game hides when in one. To think we have two good right footed players playing on the left (flannigan/Kent) to accommodate a non-tryer
— Tam Smib (@SmibTam) September 30, 2018
The fans will be keen to Tavernier respond after Sunday’s disappointing result and when Thursday comes around the fans will be expecting big things.
