Tavernier being dropped proved one thing to Rangers fans | OneFootball

As Rangers fans noted at Rugby Park, captain James Tavernier was (seemingly) dropped for more or less the first time since the days of Nathan Patterson on a tactical basis, even if there are some theories that his replacement Kasanwirjo has to have a certain number of appearances as part of his loan conditions, hence Philippe Clement had no choice.

That was potentially affirmed when the Dutchman kept his place v the Dons with Jefte benched.

That said, the on-loan Feyenoord man has definitely impressed so far, so perhaps it was on merit?

Either way, while he was restored at Pittodrie, the sight of Tavernier on the bench in Ayr was a staggering event to behold, and one thing we can safely say is his presence nor absence affects the team at all.

Rangers are so poor that Tavernier’s place or otherwise in the first team has no impact on how well the side plays.

Whether or not he starts in the XI at Hampden on Sunday afternoon bears little impact on the result, so we could definitely make a point that Rangers’ results this past few months are not all on him, as much as some fans like to scapegoat him.

He is easily the poorest captain Rangers have ever had, and he’s been at Rangers’ RB slot for an absurd amount of time, none of these are untrue.

But his place on the bench in Ayr rather proves that with him in the side or without him, Rangers are poor, and that hints that goals conceded is not just down to him, and that the problems run a lot deeper than just a guy who couldn’t get a game for Wigan.

We’ve never been big Tav fans on Ibrox Noise, good for the Championship but a shambles compared to other FBs Rangers have typically had in the top flight, and yet he’s kept his place more or less unchallenged for almost a decade.

But he is not the single reason Rangers are bad, it’s a lot more than that. He is a symbol of where we are, he’s a symbol of the level we’re at, but that a host of managers have struggled with this club cannot all be pinned on him.

And besides, he’ll surely be in the XI in Mount Florida anyway…