Gerrard: Our players need ‘protection’ from within
Ibrox boss calls for in-house help after criticism of Tavernier’s programme notes
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has suggested that he and his players need greater “protection” from inside the Ibrox club.
The club’s domestic collapse – including the first back-toback losses of his 22-month tenure which have all but ended any realistic prospect of trophy success – have been compounded by disquiet over comments on the side’s fortitude made by Ryan Kent, James Tavernier, coach Michael Beale and the manager himself in recent weeks.
Tavernier’s programme notes from the home defeat by Hamilton in midweek where he stated “whenever anybody puts a bit of pressure on us in Scotland or gets in our face it seems to affect us too much” infuriated a Rangers support already dismayed by Kent’s earlier claim that Rangers have fared better in Europe because their “underdog” status “means there’s less tension in our play and less expectation”.
Meanwhile, in a Rangers TV interview last week first-team coach Michael Beale put the contrast between the team’s form on the continent and in Scotland down to the fact that in Europe “games are refereed in a certain way… are played more technically and less physically and that suits a lot of the players we have”.
As an adjunct, Gerrard has questioned his team’s mentality after some of the six domestic fixtures they have failed to win since the winter break.
The Ibrox manager believes there is a need for greater filtering of the club’s football personnel, in what might be seen as a curious criticism of Rangers’ in-house media. To that end, he intimated Tavernier’s programme notes should not have seen the light of day.
“Sometimes when you say
certain things, it’s got to be checked before it goes out at certain times,” Gerrard said. “You know that and I know that. I think James has maybe said something there that in hindsight he probably doesn’t mean, or it has been taken out of context, and he is getting a lot of criticism for it. Maybe it could have been avoided.
“From time to time, the players or myself or the staff are going to get things wrong, especially in the heat of the moment. We are human beings, we are not perfect, we don’t pretend to be perfect.
“The players in that dressing room are at stages of their career where they are all trying to improve and learn and grow and none of them think
they are there. So I think at times they are going to get things wrong and make mistakes.
“At the same time, we are at a club where we need protection at times. We need people to look out for us at times and help us.
“There are things that I have said during my career, since I have been manager here recently, that maybe I would have said a little bit different and maybe I regret saying certain things. But I am a human being, that is the way it is. Have you said everything perfect and right throughout your life?”
There have to be fall guys for the rubbling of Rangers’ season. Steven Gerrard yesterday maintained that Connor Goldson, despite his howler against Hamilton in midweek, would not be one of them. The Rangers manager delivered an altogether more opaque assessment of the short-term fate of other recent scapegoat James Tavernier.
The club captain, inset, is an injury doubt for tomorrow’s trip to Ross County with a knock he took in the latest bashing of his team’s crumbling confidence on Wednesday night.
If he doesn’t fall to a physical ailment for the Dingwall encounter in which another failing is unthinkable, though, Gerrard gives every indication the 28-year-old full-back will be pushed from the team for considerations of form and focus.
The former Liverpool captain acknowledges the disintegration of his team’s domestic competitiveness over the past 42 days – a period during whichtheyhavelostfourtimes and drawn twice – has left him in the most challenging position of his football career. He accepts he will have to rejig his team to meet that challenge. He gives little comfort to Tavernier that he see his club captain as being in the right place to deal with difficulties besetting the Ibrox team… either as a player or as the man entrusted with showing the leadership that his wearing of the armband imposes on him.
Goldson is a different story. “He is a strong character,” said Gerrard. “In situations when there has been a mistake, as a manager you have a chat with that individual and see how he is feeling. You ask for some honesty and go from there. But definitely in this situation with Connor, he is mentally strong and I don’t think it would affect him if he was selected to play against Ross County.” This backing for the centreback begged the question as to whether the Rangers manager could offer the same sort of endorsement for Tavernier. It was notably not forthcoming. “Again, in this situation I will speak to James. I have that daily contact and dialogue with him anyway and I will see where he is at,” he said. “Obviously the injury might make the decision for me if he is not available. But then we will go from there. If I feel anyone is not in the right place, whether it be to do with performances or from a mental point of view, I’ll do what I think is best in that situation.”
Gerrard then side-stepped an enquiry as to whether it was unfair to question Tavernier’s leadership qualities.
“Look when we came in, from the outside James was someone who was very robust, he was always available, his form was good from what I’d seen.
“We didn’t really know anyone in the dressing room personally. We added a lot of players and needed to start new relationships. James got the shout from there. I think he has done a lot of things right. Last year he posted numbers that were unique for a fullback. I think he would be the first to admit that since Christmas his form could be better. He has said that himself.
“He is doing a lot of things right. But, listen, when you
are the captain and leader of this club, when results don’t go as well as they should go, you are always going to be in the firing line. It was the same when I was the captain at Liverpool. If results were indifferent I’d always find that the heat came on me and Jamie Carragher more than most players. James accepts that.that’s the way it is.”
Most telling of all was Gerrard’s response when asked if he felt Tavernier should remain captain. “I think that should remain private between myself and James when we have the daily dialogue. He knows what I
demand from him on and off the pitch. So that’s all I want to say on that really.”
It said it all, really. As did his emphatic comeback to whether the situation Rangers find themselves in was where a manager finds out about the mentality of his players. “Definitely. As the manager, you are looking round to see who is pulling their sleeves up, who is on board. You only have to sit next to Jacko [Ryan Jack] to realise he is in. He is on board. He is someone who is going to roll the sleeves up and battle for you. You do look and you learn an awful lot more about people when times are tough.”