After the club’s 2-1 win against Motherwell, Steven Gerrard pleaded with fans to show their support for captain James Tavernier. The captain missed a penalty during the game but went on to assist the match’s winning goal, crossing the ball toward the head of Filip Helander from a corner (WhoScored.com).
“I would like the crowd to help him a bit more,” said Gerrard in his post-match interview (BBC).
But it seems fans have decided to go one step further, showing their support for the English captain on Twitter.
Getting on his case won’t help …get behind him please fellow supporters
— Jimmy Smith (@smirkey1872) October 27, 2019
Our captain
— Basherbo (@Blue0rder) October 27, 2019
Back our captain!
— stephen fox (@stephenfox3) October 27, 2019
A dip in form of late but I’m sure he’ll come back stronger & better. Back OUR captain.
— Iain Paton (@IainPaton7) October 28, 2019
Oh Captain, My Captain @James_Tavernier
— Das Farter (@DasFarter) October 28, 2019
Form is temporary, class is permanent
— Dunky (@mcphater12) October 27, 2019
One fan is confused at the instinct of other fans who choose to get on the back of players instead of showing them support.
What’s more concerning for me is the fashion to hate a player in your team
— SH (@Alfredo_1972s) October 27, 2019
Another fan suggests that while the captain should be backed, he should still be taken off penalty kick duties. That way, in his eyes, the player will have less to worry about on the field.
Take him off pens. Once less thing to worry about.
— Luceo (@1MAJAMA) October 28, 2019
What do we think?
In the same post-match interview, Gerrard said his lack of options at right-back was preventing him from resting the player or giving him a break (RangersTV). Should the fans in the stadium show the same kind of support as the fans on Twitter, Tavernier will have the crowd behind him for 90 minutes in his next game.