There’s a strain of nastiness around people’s reaction to Tavernier that just doesn’t sit right. To be fair, you can disagree with his style or critcise individual moments. But the automatic booing, the online slaughtering and even abuse leaving Ibrox? That’s gone beyond honest opinion into something ugly.
Not the Villain
Look, nobody is saying he’s perfect. Fans will always pick faults — defending, positioning, whatever — and that’s part of being a supporter. But characterising Tav as the reason for ten years of misery is a crude shortcut. Plenty of players and managers have been on the receiving end of the same treatment, McCoist included. Singling him out ignores context and history.
Records and Reality
People point to what he’s achieved and shrug like it doesn’t matter. He’s been at the heart of trophy-winning sides and has milestones that most players never reach. Some fans will mention a UEFA team of the season nod, others the records he’s been part of. Whether you want to call those individual or collective, they are real contributions to Rangers’ success and should temper the bile thrown his way.
Fans Need Perspective
Supporters have every right to moan and to demand better. But there’s a difference between honest critiques and personal abuse. If you’d signed him today and he spent the next decade at Ibrox collecting medals, you’d be putting him up among the club’s more successful captains. That’s an uncomfortable thought for folk determined to make him public enemy number one.
At the end of the day I’m proud of what he’s done in a Rangers shirt. You don’t have to love every pass or tackle, but you can at least show some perspective and respect for the achievements. Stop treating him like a scapegoat and judge him on the whole picture.
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