6 days Ago By Jonathon Moar
FORMER Rangers star Connor Goldson reckons James Tavernier will only get the respect he deserves once he's left the club. And Tav's former defensive colleague reckons the Gers would be making a massive mistake if they let him leave. 3 James Tavernier and Connor Goldson celebrate at Rangers Credit: Willie Vass 3 Goldson moved to Aris Limassol in the summer 3 Goldson has pointed to how Celtic treat their captains as an example of the respect Tavernier deserves Credit: Kenny Ramsay Goldson left Rangers for Aris Limassol in Cyprus during the summer transfer window, ending a six-year stay at Ibrox.
Tavernier was heavily linked with an exit of his own, but ended up staying. Come the end of the season, the Gers skipper will have been at the club for 10 years. So often a talisman, Tavernier has come under fire this season for his performances.
READ MORE RANGERS STORIES YES WAY JOSE Rangers flop inspires club to shock title tilt as Beale prophecy rings true FREE BETS Deposit & Bet £10 to Get £60 in free bets for Scottish football at William Hill With Rangers trailing Celtic and Aberdeen by nine points amid an inconsistent start to the league campaign, plenty of fingers have been pointed towards the 33-year old captain. Tavernier has been twice left out of the starting line-up in recent weeks, but manager Philippe Clement has insisted it's simply because can't play every game . Many fans, however, have read into it more and reckon it could signal his time at the club is coming to an end.
Tavernier, a £200,000 signing from Wigan in 2015, is under contract at Rangers until 2026. Most read in Football KID GLOVES Joe Hart was my idol now he's keeping in contact as I bid to become Scotland No1 KRIS BOYD Doak has key quality that can take him to top, he just needs to convince Slot now Clash STOPPED Liverpool star in tears after Nations League medical emergency pauses clash CAUGHT OFFSIDE Andy Carroll caught sneaking back into £8.5m mansion by estranged wife For many years, Goldson was just as crucial to Rangers as Tavernier.
And he reckons the Light Blues would be making a massive mistake if they were to move him on. Rangers captain James Tavernier branded a -loser- by raging fan in foul-mouthed outburst Goldson, 31, reckons Tavernier's leadership is vital, especially in the current squad that has so many recent signings. He told the Sunday Mail : "I feel sorry for Tav now because he’s going through a difficult period with the team.
And he’ll be the one who gets the most stick. "Fair or unfair, that’s what happens when you wear the armband. You’re one of the main players, one of the biggest earners so you have to take it.
"The stars of the team always face the most criticism. So Tav has to take that on his shoulders, as he does every year Is it difficult for him? "Mentally, it must be because I’ve been there for six years. It’s hard.
But you have to take it and Tav has learnt to do that. The fact he carries on doing his best for the club - you can only admire that. "If you look at the year we won the title in 2021, we had Allan McGregor, Steven Davis, Jermain Defoe and others.
That’s not including myself and Tav. I look now and you’ve probably got him, Jack Butland and John Souttar. I’m struggling to find any more.
"Sometimes we had bad games and those boys would tell us. If you let another one go in Tav, I just don’t know who in there lets people know what Rangers is all about." Goldson insists Tavernier is simply going through a rough spell at the moment.
And he's pointed to the fact that rivals CELTIC have always stuck by their captains - namely Scott Brown and Callum McGregor - in recent years, even when the going got tougher. Goldson reckons it's that influence over the culture of the club that makes leaders like Tavernier so crucial. Read more on the Scottish Sun WANDER-FUL Idyllic 4.
5-mile walk between two of Scotland's most beautiful seaside villages UGLY SCENES Shock moment ultras clash on Glasgow street as fans chased into pub doorway He added: "I don’t see Celtic getting rid of Callum McGregor or Scott Brown before him when they have a bad few months. "They understand these boys know the culture and drive the new signings to who they become. It will only be when Tav leaves that he gets the respect he deserves.
" Keep up to date with ALL t h e latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page.
