GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 03: Rangers' Jack Butland and James Tavernier at full time during a UEFA Europa League Matchday Two League Phase match between Rangers and Olympique Lyonnais at Ibrox Stadium, on October 03, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
There was a moment of genuine shock at Ibrox last night just past the hour mark with Lyon leading 4-1.
As substitute Neraysho Kasanwirjo prepared to come on the board suddenly showed the number two!
Time up for Tav! The armband came off and suddenly the home side had no one to take the penalties, free kicks, corners and throw-ins.
Under five different managers the former Wigan ace has been undroppable, a fixture on the team sheet.
It had been a torrid hour for Captain Disappointed with Malick Fofana giving him the full Daizen Maeda treatment, turning him inside out as the Belgian winger threatened at will down the left wing.
2 minutes 20 seconds
QUESTION: It is rare to see James Tavernier come off the pitch, can you just explain a little bit of your thinking in terms of replacing him with half an hour to go.
CLEMENT: Yeah, that everyone can be replaced and Tav had already played a lot of games, not much to say about that and Nana showed also, last couple of weeks that he can be a really good replacement, and he is definitely very solid so those are normal things.
During the summer a massive effort went on to shift Tav from the wage bill but there wasn’t a sniff on interest from Turkey or Saudi Arabia, not even a favour from one of his former managers.
Before and after the match Jack Butland supplied the media cliches, attention is now on the team news for Sunday against St Johnstone and whether Captain Disappointed is in the Starting XI.
Whatever happens Tav will be sticking around for the remaining 20 paydays on his contract with plans for a glamour Testimonial for the start of next season at an advanced stage.
