Clement could be set to axe Rangers captain James Tavernier | OneFootball

The big question (well one of them anyway) is will Rangers manager Philippe Clement drop James Tavernier at last, following a truly awful display v Lyon (not that he was alone on that one).

The club captain has been 99% untouchable since he joined Rangers, only brief threats from Lee Hodson and Nathan Patterson undermined him a speck, but aside that he’s been mostly ever-present since 2016, which is a truly ridiculous state of affairs for a player who is well past his sell-by date.

Philippe Clement, like Michael Beale before him, like Giovanni van Bronckhorst before him and like Steven Gerrard before him simply will not drop James Tavernier, and after removing him v Lyon for the first time ‘tactically’, the captain probably stands his biggest chance of being ‘rested’ for the clash with St Johnstone this weekend.

That Tavernier has been this immune at a club which previously used to boast Alan Hutton and Gary Stevens at RB, to name just two, gives some idea of why Rangers sit with just three trophies since 2011.

The club has just tolerated having lesser players, a quality of personnel that mostly doesn’t come close to the old days.

Only ones that really did were Scotty, Davo, McGregor and a select few others.

Rangers’ standards have declined painfully, and now Tavernier sits untouchable with the armband at RB.

Or does he.

Will Philippe Clement finally drop him for Kasanwirjo, or some fans’ pick of Dujon Sterling (who is better used in midfield) or maybe Leon Balogun?

Is Tavernier finally to be benched because he’s just not good enough?

Can we really see Clement doing it?

Honestly…. no.

We’d be very surprised if Clement wields the axe on Tavernier, and benches him – but the captain’s face told a massive story on Thursday.

We’ll see what decision the boss takes tomorrow.