So James Tavernier is heading into testimonial territory and I can’t think of anyone more deserving than the Rangers skipper. It’s a huge boost for the whole club ahead of two huge games coming up against Hibs this weekend and PSV next week that Tav has penned a new contract, which should see him clock up a decade at Ibrox.
It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster ride for James during his time at the club and no doubt he’d prefer to have lifted a couple more trophies than the two he’s managed so far. But what’s impressed me about James is the way he’s come through those tough times he had.
Listen I know the scrutiny you face as captain of Rangers. There’s an expectation that you have to be this big inspirational figure but Tav doesn’t look to me like the type of guy who bawls and shouts. He has his own style and leads by example.
Just look at his numbers, 351 games over eight years, 85 goals. Those are freak stats for a full-back but his appearance count is also incredible.
He barely misses a game and usually turns it on for the big occasion. I’ve seen some talk about whether he’s now into club legend category but for me there’s no doubt he’s already a member of that club.
He’s a hall of famer in waiting - although he might be able to fast-track his application if he can help his side get the win we need against PSV next week to book a place in the Champions League. Tuesday’s 2-2 draw is a decent result for Gio van Bronckhorst and the boys but we’re going to need to go up another level or two to win in Holland.
I know from my experience in 1999 how difficult Eindhoven is as a venue. They had bags of quality at that time with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Luc Nilis up front but so did we.
We showed that year that we could take on the best after dumping out Parma in the qualifiers and more than matching Bayern Munich at Ibrox. I remember the stadium being a lot like Ibrox, only a little smaller.
The fans were right on top of you and the Dutch punters made a right racket. They were in about an hour before the game jumping up and down screaming and that lasted the whole 90 minutes. But we managed to shut them up with big Jorg Albertz getting the goal.
We were under a bit of pressure because we’d taken their manager and their captain the year before after bringing in Dick Advocaat and Arthur Numan and needed a result after taking only one point from our first two games. But Albertz came up with one his trademark hammer blows to nail down the victory.
The big man had a point to prove after being dropped by the manager for that game but responded in the best way possible with a fantastic goal. He pointed to the name on the back of his jersey as he celebrated and that was him sending a wee message to the gaffer.
He and Dick didn’t have the best relationship but the best way to show your boss is wrong is by going out and producing the goods and he did that. There’s no doubt a few boys in the current squad frustrated at not playing the other night.
Look it’s great Rangers have so many top players that they can now afford to leave the likes of Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara and Alfredo Morelos on the bench. But knowing the type of characters they are, they will be desperate to start games as big as Wednesday’s.
Competition is so fierce right now, just as it was during my time when I had to fight past guys like Jorg, Gio, Claudio Reyna and Tugay just to get a game and it’s similar these days. If you want to play, you have to turn it on and that will be Gio’s message no doubt this weekend when I expect him to fresh things up at Easter Road.
The guys coming in will only have one chance to prove they deserve the nod in Eindhoven so they have to take it. One man who I think has already justified his selection for the second leg is Antonio Colak.
He’s taken a bit of unfair stick if you ask me. I know patience is in scarce supply here in Glasgow but it’s unfair to be judging a guy two games in, especially when he was largely starved of service against Livi and over in Belgium in the game with Union Saint-Gilloise.
OK, he doesn’t link up to the same extent that Alfredo Morelos does but he’s a different kind of player and what he does do is put the ball in the back of the net. I’m delighted for the big man after the way he’s shut up a few of his critics.
The move that produced his goal the other night was slick and sublime but his first-time finish was just as good as the stuff Tom Lawrence, Steven Davis and James Tavernier produced in the build-up. I reckon he’s probably only had six proper chances since joining the club and he’s scored four of them.
He’s got Morelos breathing down his neck so he needs to keep it up but I’m so impressed by what he’s done so far. Obviously the team has had to adjust to his style as they’d have been so used to just banging the ball up to the Buffalo when they’re under pressure. Colak isn’t anywhere near as affective as an out ball in that sense so they will have to come up with a solution.
We had something similar during my time at the club. We had Mikey Mols, who was so good technically and would always take the ball in no matter how much pressure he was under.
But we also had Jonatan Johansson who wasn’t quite as good when it came to holding up play. But what he could do was turn defences and it was just about making sure we played to his strengths.
Gio’s side will have to do the same with Colak. They know he thrives on balls into the box so I’d be making sure first chance the guys get to deliver into the danger zone in Eindhoven they take it.
There’s too much at stake to be tentative over there. Let’s hope the team can turn the screw at the Philips Stadion like my old side did.
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