Rangers: 'Tavernier has been a great servant to the club but time waits for no man'

Things are a bit desperate at the moment for Rangers. The result and set-up at Aberdeen wasn't exactly unexpected given our form this season. Going nine points behind after 10 games in the league is a disgrace.

Everyone has to take their share of the blame for that: the board, the players and the management team. League-wise, I don't know where we go from here. We are scraping wins when we get them and when we go away from home we are liable to completely crumble at the first sign of any pressure.

So we trudged on to Sunday's League Cup semi-final and first half it was much the same performance - turgid, weak, clueless, boring. However, credit to them, the second half was much better. Vaclav Cerny, Connor Barron, Nicolas Raskin, and Nedim Bajrami all stood up. But we only started to dominate when James Tavernier and Cyriel Dessers departed. Yes, Dessers scored the equaliser but if you read this column with any kind of regularity you will know my thoughts on him and what he brings.

Tavernier is a different matter. I feel for him now. He's played 50 games a season for years and has been there in the biggest moments. He has been a great servant to the club but time waits for no man and unfortunately, both confidence-wise and physically he looks shattered. I say that with more than a tinge of sadness.

I will always appreciate what he has done in a Rangers shirt, but it appears the manager has stumbled upon his best XI with the team that ended the match at Hampden. Take Tavernier out of the firing line and give Dujon Sterling a run at right-back. It will only benefit the team and the captain further down the road.