Rangers fans love a debate about the greats, but it’s the “underrated” conversation that usually tells the truth about how teams actually win things. For every superstar that gets the posters and the highlight reels, there’s a handful who quietly held standards, made others look better, or simply did their job at a level people only appreciated after they were gone.
A spine of players who rarely got the full credit
If you build an XI of overlooked Rangers men, it almost picks itself. Stefan Klos is the glamorous name in goal for a lot of supporters, but Ronald Waterreus deserves his place in these chats too. Not every keeper has to be “iconic” to be crucial.
At the back, you can make a case for a whole list without even trying: Steven Whittaker, David Weir, Craig Moore, Madjid Bougherra and Davie Robertson. That’s experience, leadership, and proper defending, not just “looking busy” for the cameras. Weir in particular was never about flash, but he read the game and organised like a captain even when he wasn’t wearing the armband.
Why Tav divides opinion more than he should
James Tavernier is a funny one. He’s not really underrated, he’s just a lightning rod. Truth is, you can see why some folk focus on the bits that annoy them, but he’s also a natural wing-back who has spent spells being asked to play as if he’s a traditional full-back in a back four. That’s a different job.
It doesn’t excuse every weakness, but it does explain a lot of the conversations around him. If you judge him like a conservative right-back, you’ll always be frustrated. If you judge him like an attacking outlet, you’ll understand why he’s been such a big part of the side for so long.
Midfield balance: not every “good player” fits
In midfield, the underrated tag gets complicated. Stuart McCall, for instance, probably isn’t “underrated” in the strict sense, but it’s easy to forget just how good he was when you’re busy naming the glamorous ones. Barry Ferguson gets spoken about constantly, and rightly so, but not every strong midfielder naturally clicks with another strong midfielder.
Tugay is a good shout for quality, yet sometimes two players want to operate in the same areas, and it can look like they’re stepping on each other’s toes. That’s not a criticism as much as it is a reminder that chemistry matters as much as talent.
The truly overlooked: Davie Robertson and the supporting forwards
Davie Robertson might be the best example of the whole idea. Only three Scotland caps, yet plenty of Rangers supporters will tell you he was right up there, and at least in the conversation with other respected Scottish left-backs of that period.
And up front, it’s usually the main men who get the songs. That’s why someone like Gordon Durie deserves a nod. He did the unselfish work alongside bigger names, linked play, ran channels, and more often than not gave you a performance you could rely on. He never let Rangers down, and that’s a compliment that lasts.
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