Tavernier tells Ibrox men only a win will do
JAMES TAVERNIER has warned the Rangers new boys that anything less than victory at Pittodrie today won’t be tolerated.
The domestic kick-off for the Steven Gerrard era is a searching away test at last season’s runners-up Aberdeen, where Rangers can always expect an inhospitable reception.
Tavernier was appointed captain by Gerrard ahead of the 26-year-old’s fourth season with the club.
And his opening address has left the Rangers debutants in no doubt that claiming a point from a tough fixture on opening day isn’t good enough.
‘This is a new team and it will be different surroundings for some of the lads, so it’s a tough first game,’ said Tavernier.
‘What we want to do is carry on the momentum we have built up over the friendlies and European games.
‘You always want to set the tone right from the first game.
‘I’m now the captain and know we just cannot afford to drop any points at Aberdeen.
‘We need to get off to a great start, get three points, and then we can push on into the season.
‘We know the fans will take nothing less than a win. That’s what we have to deliver to them and, obviously, to the gaffer.’
JAMES TAVERNIER will probably be the only Rangers player of the 14 who featured in their opening-day fixture against Hamilton Accies two years ago to start at Aberdeen today.
The Ibrox captain would be rather reluctant, however, to settle for being described as a survivor.
Because he’s not entirely sure he, or Rangers, are over that experience. He has certainly not forgotten it. The sense of let-down. The wrong tone established for Rangers returning to the top flight after a four-year absence.
That day against Hamilton ‘Going For 55’ was throttled at birth. The self-doubt crept in and never left.
Then manager Mark Warburton wondered aloud after that 1-1 draw if the sense of occasion might just have affected his personnel.
That an attack of stage fright had triggered a stuttering first step back in the big time.
Several stumbles followed. Draws against Kilmarnock and Ross County either side of 10-men — Philippe Senderos was sent off — being thrashed 5-1 at Celtic Park.
Then on to today’s venue, Pittodrie, to typically dominate the early proceedings before losing 2-1.
Tavernier wonders what damage that false start did to the hopes of Rangers rising.
Amid much pomp and sentiment, there was the unfurling of the
Ladbrokes Championship flag and debuts for high-profile signings Joey Barton and Niko Kranjcar.
Yet Accies’ Ali Crawford outshone them all to crack a stunning strike past Wes Foderingham for a half-time lead. Martyn Waghorn equalised, then hobbled off with a hamstring injury to leave Rangers with 10 men.
The memory of that game has remained in the mind of the new Rangers captain. He believes it is vital his team state an emphatic case that they are back for real this time.
That they are ready to handle a potentially seismic day — Steven Gerrard’s first top-flight game in charge of Rangers at the home of a sworn enemy on the opening weekend of a critical season.
If it’s fanfare that overwhelms Rangers players on such afternoons, then Tavernier will dread only trouble and failure again — but he doesn’t expect that to happen with this group at the dawn of a new Ibrox era.
‘You always want to set the tone right from the first game but I remember that draw against Hamilton at the start of the season two years ago,’ admitted the 26-year-old.
‘It has always stayed in the back of my mind. And it’s not a result or performance our fans want to see again. It wasn’t what we wanted to see either. So this time, we want to start with a good away win.
‘It’s the first game of the season against one of our biggest rivals. We look forward to hopefully putting in a good performance. Our record up there has been good. But this is a new team and it will be different surroundings for some of our lads, so it’s a tough first game.
‘I’m really excited for the season because we have real strength in depth, plus the manager and everything that has come with him. There are exciting times ahead. ‘We know the fans will take nothing less than a win — and that’s what we must deliver for them and, obviously, for the gaffer.’ Aberdeen fans will roll out the most venomous of receptions just to crank up the heat on the visitors.
A full-back’s day at Pittodrie can be a treacherous one, admits Tavernier, in the firing line for volleys of abuse or random missiles.
He added: ‘You do get stick up there. You don’t really want to entertain it, but I sort of actually enjoy it. The best feeling is to walk off the park having won.
‘Then going up to your own fans and celebrating. Pittodrie and Tynecastle are the two grounds where the fans are right up close.
‘I hear everything when I’m taking a throw-in, but not when I’m playing. I block out everything because I’m so focused on the job.
‘I can thrive off some of the stuff which is shouted at me during a game. It makes you push yourself even harder because, when you win up there, our fans are signing while their fans are silent.
‘There is no better feeling. I do get stopped by fans in the street in the run-up to the Aberdeen games. I know all about the feelings, the rivalry, but I would put it below the Celtic games.’ Twice Tavernier has walked off at Pittodrie lapping up the adulation of the travelling support, after victories. Jimmy Nicholl was in charge when Rangers made it an unbeaten season against the Dons with a 1-1 draw in May. So if Rangers could dominate Aberdeen in turbulent times, then Tavernier believes a far more solid-looking Ibrox outfit should have no fears about targeting a huge opening-day win under Gerrard. Swashbuckling full-back Tavernier was often the player exposed by defensive frailties in recent years. From Warburton hardly prioritising defensive strategies and trusting Rob Kiernan and Philippe Senderos. To Pedro Caixinha purchasing ill-suited Fabio Cardoso and injury- prone Bruno Alves. To Graeme Murty constantly having to change his partnerships and handing raw Ross McCrorie some unenviable gigs against rampant Celtic in his rookie season. Tavernier looks much more content with an arrangement that sees Nikola Katic, Connor Goldson and Jon Flanagan to his left. All after intense defensive work on the training ground. ‘As soon as the gaffer came in, he got in two centrebacks, which I think we needed,’ said Tavernier.
‘Niko and Connor have done really well. Flanno has great experience, having played with Liverpool. He’s done a great job at left-back. Ryan Jack has been very good just in front of us in the holding role.
‘We’re all playing a part trying to keep clean sheets and I have positive vibes that, at the back, we’ll do okay this season.’
Gerrard ignored the claims of any of his chosen signings, including old Ibrox favourite Allan McGregor and £3.5million signing Goldson, to appoint Tavernier his captain.
The right-back held the honour towards the end of last season following an unsatisfactory round of ‘pass the armband’ throughout season 2017-18.
Now he has officially been handed the responsibility from Lee Wallace, who is not yet fully fit and continues to be in dispute with the club over a contested fine from the aftermath of the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic.
It’s a role Tavernier relishes the thought of growing into, saying: ‘I now have more responsibilities off the pitch and I look forward to all of that. On the pitch, I’ve always tried to lead by example.’
You always like to set the tone right from the first game. We want a win