Why Tavernier Still Starts at Right-Back

There’s a time for a more cautious right-back, but most weeks Rangers need chance creation more than extra safety. For me, that still points straight to James Tavernier.

I keep hearing the debate about whether Rangers should move away from James Tavernier at right-back, and I get why it comes up. But if you’re asking who should start most weeks in the SPFL, I’m still picking the captain.

For all the noise that surrounds him, Rangers have been solid at the back and Tavernier has been a mainstay there for most of the season. That matters. Continuity matters. And when you’ve got a player who can help keep clean sheets while also chipping in at the other end, you don’t ditch that lightly.

It’s not just defending, it’s how we win games

Truth is, Rangers aren’t spending most Saturdays hanging on. The majority of domestic games are about breaking teams down, getting the first goal, then forcing the match into our rhythm. That’s where Tavernier’s value is obvious. He gives you width, an extra runner, and a constant threat that pins teams back.

And it’s not only open play. His delivery from dead balls is a real weapon. Set pieces are a massive part of Scottish football, especially when sides sit deep and you’re trying to find a clean way through. Having a right-back who can consistently put it into the right area is a proper advantage, and it’s one Rangers use again and again.

Aberdeen showed the point

The Aberdeen match was a decent example of what Tavernier brings. Barron and Raskin spoke highly of him afterwards and, in your own dressing room, that tells you plenty. Players know who makes things happen.

You had that free-kick that dropped right onto Raskin’s head in front of goal, and on another day it’s a straightforward third. That’s the kind of moment that swings games quietly. No fuss. Just quality in the right area.

There’s a place for Sterling, but not as first choice

To be fair, I can see the argument for a more defensive right-back in certain matches. Away at Celtic, for example, you might want that extra security, fewer risks, a bit more conservatism in your shape. That’s normal.

But most of the time Rangers need to be proactive, not reactive. You want the full-back who helps you dominate territory and keeps teams penned in.

And on the leadership side, it’s hard to look past Tavernier’s professionalism over the years. If you’re talking armbands and standards, that stuff counts. A captain sets the tone, and you don’t hand that out lightly.

Written by RohlWithCheese: 8 January 2026