Tavernier: I’m tough enough to handle critics
Rangers skipper draws strength from the past to defy his doubters
RAISED on a council estate by a singleparent mother, James Tavernier discovered that the world can be a tough old place.
Bramley in Leeds has a reputation for taking no prisoners. Just four years old when his mum and dad split up, the future captain of Rangers learned to look after himself. It was never a matter of choice.
Mother Bernie encouraged an independent spirit and never sought to insulate her sons from the harsh realities of life. When their father left, James and young brother Marcus — now playing for Bournemouth in the English Premier League — were expected to sink or swim.
Bramley proved a decent preparation for nine years in Glasgow. Since moving to Rangers in 2015, Tavernier has divided opinion. For every supporter who admires his remarkable tally of goals and assists from right-back, there’s another who thinks he should have won more than three major trophies in nine years.
His leadership came under question yet again after dropped points against Ross County and Dundee. His defending for Celtic’s opening goal in the recent 3-3 draw was savaged.
At the age of 32, Tavernier accepts this stuff comes with the territory and, from time to time, he accepts that the criticism is valid.
Named on a four-man shortlist for PFA Scotland Player of the Year with team-mate Jack Butland, Celtic’s Matt O’Riley and Lawrence Shankland of Hearts, the Yorkshireman admits: ‘I’m never happy. I’m always critical of myself.
‘I remember when I was young, my mum was always critical of me and I’ve inherited that.
‘I’ve always been critical of myself and looked to try and improve each season.
‘There is no one who can say anything about me that’s more critical of how I criticise myself.
‘This is a landmark season for myself with 24 goals, which beats my previous record. But next season, I want to get more, and I want to get more assists.’
Tavernier is one of the great enigmas of Scottish football, and the prospect of another season at Rangers will delight some and depress others.
While he could finish this campaign as a Treble-winning captain — after picking up the Viaplay Cup earlier in the season — it’s just as possible the league trophy will finish up draped in green and white ribbons yet again, with the Scottish Cup final offering a last chance for redemption. In the goldfish bowl of Glasgow, the journey from hero to zero — and back — can be quick and unpredictable.
‘I think, in modern-day football, there are a lot of opinions,’ says Tavernier. ‘Compared to how it was, if you look back in the day before social media, there are a lot more opinions out there now.
‘Having that responsibility as the club captain, you have to have big shoulders and accept whatever is going to come your way.
‘For me, I have always been strong-minded with a strong character and I feel I can take everything on.
‘It won’t affect me because I know where I need to be at. I can take the criticism on and keep pushing myself because I’ll never shy away from anything.
‘I will always try and make myself better. If I can take all the criticism for the team, I’m fine with that so the other lads can fully focus on the job.
‘Everyone deals with it in their own way but, as I say, I’ve always been strong-minded and I can accept it.’
Where some players steer clear of social media for the good of their mental health, Tavernier goes where others fear to tread. For a player routinely accused of mental weakness, he could be described as a glutton for punishment.
He added: ‘I think it’s just the upbringing that I’ve had. I had a strong upbringing.
‘A single mum, coming from a rough council estate in Leeds, it always brings out that fire in you and gives you more independence and makes you level-headed about what you need to be.
‘I’m not saying that’s not there in other ways of being brought up, but it’s made me really strong mentally from when I was young, and that has carried me right through to being an adult — working on that and just bettering myself.
‘I always want to show what I’m capable of, and sometimes that might not please everyone.
‘You can be the DJ in the changing room and you can’t please everyone with one song, so you just try to do your best, and that is what I always try to do for myself.
‘I try to lead by example, and try to play my best and be the best version of myself on the pitch and off the pitch.’
The recognition of fellow professionals from PFA Scotland comes after a season in which Tavernier has scored 24 goals so far.
While the exclusion of Aberdeen’s Bojan Miovski will raise eyebrows in some quarters, the Rangers skipper can point to the fact that he has scored more than the predatory striker from right-back. Even if a sizeable number are penalties.
‘It obviously means a lot coming from your fellow professionals who you play against week in, week out,’ he added.
‘It’s a huge honour and it’s testament to how I want to keep pushing myself to be the best version of myself that I can possibly be. But it also comes down to my team-mates as well.’
There was time yesterday to spare a thought for one team-mate in particular. Connor Goldson collected the John Greig Achievement Award at the Rangers Player of the Year dinner on Sunday night after losing his place in Philippe Clement’s starting XI. While Tavernier is talking to Rangers about a testimonial, Goldson’s future looks less certain.
Speaking from experience, Tavernier observes: ‘You’re always going to get the harshest criticism when you’ve been at Rangers for so long, but he’s been an absolutely great servant and a great team-mate.
‘We’ve had such a great defensive record this season and that can’t be overshadowed.
‘Yeah, some results might go against you but, for the whole package of what Connor’s done for the team, he’s been outstanding for us and I couldn’t ask for a better centre-back to play beside.’
I’ve always looked to improve with each season