Rangers told to axe James Tavernier after humiliation
Rangers captain James Tavernier being substituted on the hour mark in their 4-1 Europa League defeat to Lyon ‘is not right’.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Celtic and Scotland striker Frank McAvennie believes Philippe Clement would have been better off resting the 32-year-old in the league game against St Johnstone rather than hooking him off against Lyon.
Tavernier didn’t win a single tackle before being replaced by Dujon Sterling as the French giants eased to victory thanks to braces from former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette and Malick Fofana.
The defeat sends Rangers down into 17th in the Europa League’s new league phase as they prepare for a home tie against Romanian side FCSB in their next game.
Rangers should rest James Tavernier
The right-back was better in their 2-0 win over St Johnstone, winning 100 per cent of his tackles and making five defensive actions.
The international break has allowed the defender to rest as he seeks to regain the form that saw him end last season on 24 goals across all competitions.
“They could have rested him against St Johnstone”, McAvennie told Football Insider.
“He was talking about resting Tavernier, rest him against St Johnstone, no disrespect to St Johnstone but they’ve got the players that can go out and beat them, especially at home.
“It made no sense to me taking him off (against Lyon) and then saying it’s just to give him a break.
“I don’t know who’d take the penalties, the freekicks, and corners.
“They’re talking about how the boy Sterling can play at right-back if he needs a rest.
“I know watching Callum McGregor, the captain at Celtic, he got a bad eye and was out for a few weeks and when he came back he was sharp as hell.
“Maybe he just needs a wee break because he’s been getting stick off the supporters and that’s never nice.
“He’ll keep his head down and plod away.
“So that’s a strange one for the captain to get so much thick, but the captain getting took off after 60 minutes. It’s not right. It’s not a good look.”
In other news, Rangers ready new Lawrence Shankland move after offer rejected.
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