- James Tavernier scored a stunning free-kick against Aberdeen on Saturday.
- It was the skipper’s 14th goal of the season but questions remain about his future.
- A look at the pro’s and con’s of keeping Tavernier and what could be a perfect end of the captain.
James Tavernier is entering the final-stretch of his tenth year at Rangers with the suggestion being that it will be the end of his time at Ibrox.
The 34-year-old is out of contract in the summer.
Despite the full back admitting “talks behind the scenes” it remains unclear whether he will remain at Ibrox.
Many supporters have said this should be the end for a player deemed to be on the decline, but his goal against Aberdeen was his 14th of the campaign.
Is Tavernier worth keeping around, particularly if Rangers lift the Premiership title, and is the decline as brutal as suggested?
The case for James Tavernier
Let’s start with what has always been the biggest positive of Tavernier’s game – his goal threat.
As mentioned, his goal on Saturday took him to 14 this term.
That amount is nine more than he netted in the whole of last season.
His assists admittedly are down, with six this season comparable to 13 last term – albeit with seven matches left to play.
Defensively his stats are solid too.
He ranks in the top 10% for his attempted tackles and top 18% for his attempted interceptions in comparison to other defenders in the league.
The case against Tav
However, there is one stat that is a damning outlier.
He is dribbled past constantly.
A winger has beaten Tavernier 20 times this season – with only 3% of defenders faring worse across the division.
This shows that while the skipper can still get up the park and contribute like he always has, he simply doesn’t have the legs to get back and keep up with opponents.
This is why he fails the eye-test and the possibility of the captain leaving Ibrox looms large.
Read Rangers analysis
Dujon Sterling’s fitness woes and the mediocre form of Max Aarons this season has kept him central to Rohl’s plans.
With Rangers three points behind Hearts and a post-split visit to Tynecastle looming, the skipper could yet leave on a high.
He could lead his side past the Jambos and into a Premiership-winning finish.
It would be a fitting farewell for a decade of service but Rangers, and Tavernier need to be at their best to get the title won.
That would finally give him the legacy he perhaps deserves but does not yet hold in the eyes of the support.
