@IainMitchell17 I reckon more Groups 3rd place than expected will finish on 4 points or at worst -1 GD (A, B, D, F, G, L, K). But I'm pretty sure 3 points and -2 will qualify. That means not getting beaten by more than 2 goals v Brazil.
@GeorgeFoulkes@RFC_Michael_@IanMurrayMP@NaeBull You should ask the SPFL why Mr Doncaster has a 24 month notice period - unusual and unheard of in any industry - and follow up by asking who actively wanted him to have that specific, unique, guarantee. You’ll not be surprised.
@douglaspark92 Why listen to what is effectively celtic radio? Don't give them an audience. Put BBC 5 Live on and hear them tear the decision to pieces.
Jeez. I really can’t be bothered. Idiotic questions. When you were a footballer did the ball hit your head a lot? I wish in a virtual world you really could have your independence so I could watch you cope with the shitshow it would be on debt, borrowing, currency, and the massive austerity it would entail.
Here’s the thing though, almost everything you hit upon has only amplified in the past couple of years as Tav has gotten older.
He was never consistently talked about as our “worst player” against Celtic until he was up against Maeda on a regular basis because he had him beat for pace. Even then, Maeda wasn’t even that successful against him until the last couple of years when Tav’s legs went and Maeda improved. The opposite was true, Tav was the one player whom the honest Celtic fan worried about because he more than anyone actually created and scored goals against them.
This idea he can’t defend has also grown arms and legs in the last couple of years as he’s declined. Yes, it’s always been a fact he’s been a much greater attacking force than a defensive one. But for the majority of his career his pace and power meant he was a perfectly decent defender. He has been at times statistically the best defender in Europe. He led a defence that set a record for least goals conceded in the league ever. He has consistently been the best RB in the league based on his defensive stats alone, at one point being described as ‘perhaps the most dominant player in his position, in his league, anywhere in the world’.
To be clear, even citing all that I’m not making the case that he’s a defensive great, that’s never been his game. But this idea he “can’t defend” simply doesn’t stand up to scrutiny over the majority of his career.
Kompany was constantly mocked for being a weak link at City because of his injury issues. There’s a Reddit thread on r/ManchesterUtd from about 4 months ago asking if Fernandes is Man Utd’s worst ever captain for all the same reasons people ask the question of Tav.
To captain a club with a winning history during a period where they aren’t winning will always have that effect.
This idea Tav has lowered standards is just a non-starter. If truly removing all personal opinion and bias and simply looking at his individual achievements, they rank up there alongside almost any Rangers great. Almost 300 Goal Contributions in 11 years from any player is amazing. That’s an average of 27 per season. An average of 51 games played per season over the course is also outstanding, especially against the backdrop of injury problems we’ve had in recent years with key players. Tav is going to end his career as one of our all time appearance holders. Domestically, in Europe and overall.
Obviously there’s the run to Seville where he was Top Scorer in the Tournament, but not just that, he’s led a period of sustained European success for the club. Multiple other records he’s notched from previous great players, precisely because he’s been one of the few players who has maintained a Rangers standard despite what’s been around him.
The sad part is that these last two years especially have seen people fall into this trap of cascading his more recent issues across his career. Emphasising defensive frailties, focusing on the lack of team success. Through it all Tav has never hidden though. He is always there ready to put on the shirt. He hasn’t kicked off when dropped or spat his dummy. He’s just kept working. If he’s been here too long that’s on the club for not replacing him when they should have. Even this season he’s still scoring goals, still hitting his creative numbers… and still was statistically the best RB in the league for at least a period. Even at his worst he finds ways to contribute and he has helped save a number of key points in games this season.
His time at the club is winding down, and it will always be an * on his career that he didn’t win more trophies at a club that defines itself by trophies won. But in time people will look back on his career with gratitude and amazing memories. Because if one thing is undeniably true, almost every moment of major success we’ve had in the past decade, he’s invariably played a major part it in.
None of the title contenders are playing well or are going to win every game in the run in. Just like the players and manager, our support will need to have some balls and grit as it's going to be messy.