Rangers faced off against Bayer Leverkusen yesterday in the UEFA Europa League. The match saw Steven Gerrard’s side lose the first leg of the tie 3-1 after Kai Havertz, Charles Aranguiz and Leon Bailey scored goals for the German outfit.
Gers fans were naturally disheartened after watching this game, despite the German team being in brilliant form – winning eight of their previous nine games heading into the match.
Despite Leverkusen’s obvious talents, some supporters expected better from their players. James Tavernier took a lot of heat from fans for his performance in particular. They reckon that he was miles off it, and not quite ready to make a full return to the starting lineup after missing the Ross County fixture with a knee injury.
Tav looks miles off it.
— Cambridge Ger (@camtrublue) March 12, 2020
Drive tavernier to the airport now
— Will Allardyce (@willallardyce18) March 12, 2020
Awful defending from Tavernier then Goldson lead to Edmundson making a mistake. Could have easily been avoided if dealt with in first place. It was a penalty.
— BMC Rangers Rants (@BMCRangersRants) March 12, 2020
Kent and Tavernier are diabolical.
— Teddy Bear (@RTIDTeddyBear) March 12, 2020
Tav wasn’t fit enough tonight. I know not everyone agrees but I’d have went with Polster for his pace, however, I’m not the manager.
— ??????? ???? (@BigRangersBear) March 12, 2020
Who should have started the match against Bayer Leverkusen?
James Tavernier
Nathan Patterson
Matt Polster
Some fans even criticised him for his involvement in Bayer Leverkusen’s second goal, where he flicked the ball back into a dangerous area.
I’d like to see it again but I don’t think there was a need for Tav to make that clearance.
— London Blue Nose (@londonbluenose) March 12, 2020
Tav ball is going out of play aye try a flick
— DAVID MASON ? (@masied81) March 12, 2020
What do we think?
It was a bold decision for Gerrard to bring Tavernier into a game so soon after facing an injury.
Despite this, Tavernier did put in the assisting cross into the box from the corner to assist George Edmundson’s goal.
While his performance was far from perfect, he did have a big role in the one positive takeaway from this match.