Pitiful. Pathetic. Embarrassing. Just some of the words doing the rounds on social media as Rangers supporters try to come to terms with their team’s latest thrashing at Celtic Park.
After a crushing defeat of this nature, there is invariably so much focus on the gulf in quality that exists between the two Old Firm sides.
That’s understandable because, to put it bluntly, there isn’t a single Rangers player who would get into Celtic’s team right now. Not one.
To be quite honest, you’d be lucky if many of them even made the bench, never mind the starting XI.
However, to focus on the divide between both teams is to fundamentally miss the point of what unfolded in this match.
Rangers didn’t lose because of a lack of quality. They lost because of a lack of effort and application – and that’s absolutely unforgivable in this fixture.
Rangers first-team coach Alex Rae has words with Tavernier during the 3-0 defeat
Skipper Tavernier failed to get to grips with a busy Maeda throughout the derby
They lost because there is a glaring lack of leadership in this team – and the blame for that falls squarely on the shoulders of James Tavernier.
There was a moment early in the second half when Celtic played the ball in behind the full back, who wasn’t even paying attention as he was busy fixing his socks.
The ball was in play in his area of the pitch, and here’s the Rangers captain day-dreaming and messing about with his socks.
It was absolutely embarrassing and was emblematic not only of this game, but of why Rangers have toiled so badly in recent years against their rivals.
Not for the first time, Tavernier had a nightmare in an Old Firm match. He must have nightmares about Daizen Maeda when this fixture comes around.
Tavernier’s lack of leadership was in contrast to a fine display by Celtic skipper McGregor
The Rangers captain can’t hide his dismay during a humbling loss at Parkhead
Tavernier with rival bosses Clement, above left, and Rodgers after the Old Firm clash
Time and time again, Celtic got in behind down Tavernier’s channel and also down the left in behind Jefte.
As captain, however, it is Tavernier who has to carry the can for this.
For a Rangers captain to show such a basic lack of urgency and application against Celtic is, frankly, a disgrace.
Spare us all the nonsense about his goals and the stats about how he’s scored more goals than Sandy Jardine and the likes.
Tavernier shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath as genuine club legends such as Jardine. Anyone who puts him in that sort of esteemed company needs to give their head a wobble.
Rangers missed an opportunity when they did not get rid of Tavernier in their summer clear-out. Had they done so, it would have felt like more of a fresh start at the club.
But this team continue to be led by a captain who has failed repeatedly against Celtic over the years and has so much scar tissue.
Rangers started the match brightly yesterday, only to capitulate as soon as Celtic went 1-0 up. That comes down to a lack of leadership and good characters in the team.
Philippe Clement’s winless run in the Old Firm fixture now extends to five matches. The longer this goes on, the more pressure he will be under.
Clement continues to back Tavernier as skipper for reasons that are best known to himself because, on the evidence of the past few years, he is simply not up to the task.
People can talk about the gulf in quality between Celtic and Rangers all they want.
However, when even the Rangers captain shows such a basic lack of application and leadership, this team won’t move forward.
Some have suggested that Tavernier should have the armband taken off him. That also begs the question, who would Clement give it to?
This is a team completely devoid of leadership. In the bigger picture, that’s a far bigger problem than any lack of quality.
