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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Jonathan McFarlane

'What do Rangers fans want - Cafu at right-back?' - James Tavernier defended by outspoken pundit

Alan Brazil reckons that Rangers fan's who are criticising James Tavernier and want him dropped from the team are well off the mark.

Tavernier has been one of the club's most consistent performers over the past few years but was at fault for both goals in Bern as Rangers fell to a 2-1 defeat to Young Boys .

The talkSPORT pundit is a huge fan of the swashbuckling right-back and thinks calls to drop the Rangers captain are self-defeating.

Writing in his Sunday Post column, he said: "There's no dressing it up, Tav had a shocker against Young Boys.

"The Rangers captain made errors that led to both the Swiss side's goals.

"But it's the fact that both were so glaring is what's really troubling some punters.

"I have no idea what James is thinking for Young Boys' first.

"Initially, he does well to win the ball on the touchline in a dangerous area, but there are no passes on.

"He should either fire the ball into row Z to give his side time to sort themselves out defensively or even turn inside and fire it up the park.

(Rangers/PA)

"Instead, he takes a terrible touch towards his own goal and is easily dispossessed, allowing a Young Boys cross that leads to the equaliser.

"It was schoolboys stuff.

"Then, in injury time, he misses with a lunging attempt to cut out a long ball, and Young Boys strike again - assisted by some poor goalkeeping by Allan McGregor .

"I understand Rangers fans being frustrated.

"I get that they think Tav is prone to these sort of defensive errors.

"But there is no way he should be dropped.

"I'll hold my hands up - I don't watch every Rangers game.

"But when I do watch them Tav is usually the Gers' best player"

Tavernier is at his best when rampaging forward, and Brazil wonders if he couldn't be accommodated in a position that better accentuates that talent.

"Maybe there's an argument he should be playing further up the park.

"But I still think Tavernier has done enough for Rangers over the years to be more than worth his place, whatever happens in Switzerland.

"What do Rangers fans want - Cafu at right-back?"

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