Almost certainly James Tavernier would be disappointed by the reaction on X/Twitter to the announcement of his 500th game for the second biggest team in Glasgow.
Disappointed is of course the catchphrase of the Ibrox skipper, how he has made it through to 500 appearances says more about his employers than it does the player.
A journeyman from League One in England arrived in Scotland in the summer of 2015, applied himself, sussed out the opposition and his team-mates to make a very lucrative career out of very little talent.
He will end his career as the highest scoring defender in British football but describing Tavernier as a right-back is stretching things too far, he spends way too much time in the final third of the pitch chasing personal glory while Daizen Maeda and others run riot in the space vacated by the glory hunter.
It will be December at the earliest before the former Wigan man gets his hands on a fourth winners medal. That would be a winners medal from every 130 appearances.
In midweek Alistair Johnston made his 100th Celtic appearance, so far he has six winners medals, a seventh seems almost certain with the strong prospect of having eight winners medals to his name by the time he makes his 120th Celtic appearance.
©️ @James_Tavernier | 500 Appearances for Rangers 💙 pic.twitter.com/mSYOUwetCi
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) March 1, 2025
The mocking of Tav from Celtic fans is almost wholly good natured, he has rarely been viewed as a threat despite the freaky stats, as soon as his name is mentioned thoughts turn instantly to Maeda. Being thought of as harmless is probably the biggest insult that a sportsman can receive, it must be disappointing.
In a wicked coincidence, now that the Japanese forward is being deployed as a striker it just so happens that the injury situation at Ibrox has resulted in the club captain being switched into central defence…
To mark his landmark appearance there was a pre-match presentation from John Greig, the other Ibrox captain that watched Celtic win 9-in-a-row. Leading the teams out Tavernier had two of his kids with him, giving the match an end of season feel with a Bring Your Kids To Work theme.
Sure Maeda did likewise last month against Raith Rovers but he is in the form of his left and marked the occasion with a hat-trick.
For reasons unknown Barry Ferguson seems to be the latest Ibrox manager in awe of the captain that he has inherited.
Surely in private the interim boss and his coaches have a few choice words about their leader on the pitch. When Ferguson, Neil McCann and Billy Dodds were on the team-sheet Tavernier wouldn’t have got near the Reserve side.
With a contract running until May 2026 the one time Newcastle starlet will see off Ferguson and possibly his successor, the ultimate irony will come in August with an expected Testimonial Match, judging from the reaction and scenes yesterday buying a ticket for that game might just be breaking point for many of the Gullible & Deluded.
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Marked with a loss. Sums his entire career up. An absolute fucking loser.
— We welcome the chase 119 🏆 (@Hahahasevco1) March 1, 2025
— Celtic Curio (@Celticcurio) March 1, 2025
Can’t wait for his testimonial at Celtic Park. pic.twitter.com/4mJq3rOu1p
— Aim For The Head (@AimForTheHead88) March 1, 2025
It’s a milestone, yes, by far part of the worst period in our history, even i would get a game.
There’s nothing to celebrate— Joyful 🇬🇧🏴🇬🇧 (@weegie71) March 2, 2025
An obviously disappointed hall of famer
— Billyballoonhead (@Billyballoonhe2) March 1, 2025
Captain failure couldn’t even win on his 500th appearance. Biggest loser in the history of Scottish football
— Scott McIntyre (@scottMc85081322) March 1, 2025
Surly Tav’s the most successful loser in the history of the game
— Mike Smart (@MikeSma75672652) March 1, 2025
Sums up the last 10 years at Ibrox, he is all about individual stats, best goal scoring defender in Britain and what does he have 3 medals 🏅, wild
— Tony Griff (@Antsg3Griffiths) March 2, 2025
— Celtic, most successful club in Scotland 🏆🍀🇮🇪 (@CWN1967) March 2, 2025
Get this clown gone a massive part of the clubs ongoing never ending problems.
— easy money sniper (@StewartWri83127) March 2, 2025
And ironically it ended in disappointment for him!!!
— 4 seasons, 12 trophies, history makers!!! (@ClarkKe01956140) March 1, 2025
How has a medicore player like Tavernier managed to play for Rangers for 500 games?”
— Summers 🏴 (@Smell_TheGlove) March 1, 2025
