93% of Rangers fans polled agree with Russell Martin decision | OneFootball

Rangers fans have been voting on captain James Tavernier’s merits following the massive call to drop him to the bench to face Victoria Plzen. Ibrox Noise have an answer on that one.

Around 1000 votes, and the sentiment was heavily in favour of it being the right call. 93% endorsed the decision. Just 7% believed he should have been kept in.

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It’s pretty damning. Tavernier is a player who has had his day, and hasn’t been able to deliver for some time now.

His stats as a defender are surprisingly not that horrible. His passing is still quite solid, he gets in blocks and tackles and is by no means a wasted shirt.

But Rangers need more in that position and at 33, Tavernier is enjoying a £34,000pw wage. This is for a job he can’t do as well any more.

Max Aarons was by no means incredible v Plzen, we’d need to see more of him in his correct slot before judging him, but his ‘assist’ for Antman’s assist was absolutely stunning.

As for Tavernier, time catches up with us all. He still has a goal already this season, the only Rangers player to score in the league, but there is a real sense that it’s time, finally, about three seasons too late, to move on.

The fans seem to know it too, which is perhaps the most telling part. For all sentiment attached to Tavernier, when the majority publicly agree it’s time to step aside, the writing’s on the wall.

The standard has changed, the expectations have shifted and Rangers simply cannot carry passengers anymore, no matter how decorated.

That’s not to ignore what he’s done – the numbers, the goals, 55, the Europa League final – but football moves fast and sentiment doesn’t win titles. The system now demands energy and athleticism, and right-back is not the place to coast through on legacy.

No one lasts forever.