We need to have a serious conversation about Tav

[RangersMedia 35,961]

We're demanding too much of him right now and from what Sterling has shown so far, he is absolutely miles off it attacking-wise. 

He's 32 in 2 months. We can't expect him to play in such a demanding formation against top opponents IMO, otherwise they will continually take advantage of it. 

We all know that historically Tav has never been the best defender - he upped his levels over the last few seasons and an element of this was masked by just how good he has been going forward - but last night we got absolutely nothing out of Tav apart from one foray forward. 

Don't think Devine is anywhere close to being good enough either, so this is definitely an area we need to look at. 

I wish that, instead of asking nonsense questions about points they can generate clickbait from, the media actually started challenging Beale on some of this stuff. The fan media should definitely be doing it (but they'd probably get banned). 

[peter huistra 1,740]

Unless a right back is brought in before the window shuts I don't see much cover for him, Sterling though can't possibly be judged on the little we've seen of him so far. 

[The Dude 20,026]

2 minutes ago, psb07158 said:

We're demanding too much of him right now and from what Sterling has shown so far, he is absolutely miles off it attacking-wise. 

He's 32 in 2 months. We can't expect him to play in such a demanding formation against top opponents IMO, otherwise they will continually take advantage of it. 

We all know that historically Tav has never been the best defender - he upped his levels over the last few seasons and an element of this was masked by just how good he has been going forward - but last night we got absolutely nothing out of Tav apart from one foray forward. 

Don't think Devine is anywhere close to being good enough either, so this is definitely an area we need to look at. 

I wish that, instead of asking nonsense questions about points they can generate clickbait from, the media actually started challenging Beale on some of this stuff. The fan media should definitely be doing it (but they'd probably get banned). 

Never going to happen unless in one-to-ones, which we only do with Sky. Even if they do, he's not going to turn around and say 'aye, my captain's finished but we've nothing to replace him with'.

With him turning 32 soon, I expect we'll look at seriously replacing him from next summer,  rather than bringing in guys who are clear back-ups (Zukowski, Sterling, Flanagan, Polster etc).

[OrangeRab 2,745]

Agreed going to be tough to ask him to be our main width provider over a season.

If we do I think we need to sign a new cdm. One with real legs that can chew up the ground and slot in when Tav is up the park. (Or maybe Cifuentes can fill that role)

All too often we get caught in the vacated full back hole. Partly Tav to blame but also Jack just doesn’t have the legs to do it anymore. And we kind of saw that for the first goal last night 

[MisterC 12,272]

His powers are on the wane, that's obvious. He also looks unfit and struggling to do a lot of the basics, not least the day job of defending.

We need to be looking at a proper replacement for him, but in the meantime we should rest him occasionally and give Sterling a chance to get some game time so he can develop.

[Smile 26,610]

The defence was a priority in the transfer window after the amount of easy goals we concede due to both fullbacks.

We brought in Sterling who cant get a game.

[SPWF 8,232]

He’s done physically as the player he was. At one point last night the ball got played to him the run, with his man coming at him. The Tav of a year or so ago would’ve knocked the ball past the guy and ran onto it. Last night Tav checked outside, stopped and tried to win the foul/throw in. He’s been doing stuff like this all season. 

[Zappa6995 3,645]

He was chronic last night.

[Loyal72 10,995]

He has never been able to defend, it's exposed again and again at the higher levels, or against quick pressing countering teams. 

[SeparateEntityMyArse 53,725]

Sterling played versus Morton and was poor. Needs to only come in again later in games when games are won.  Devine should start before him.

It's the same argument exists at both full backs, and arguably CH. I'm sure Beale would love the money to improve those positions but it couldn't all be done at once.

Our defence to him was stronger to live with / would bring in less money than our forward area and the sales we got from forwards. I've no doubt he'll be focusing on the defence next summer, if he's still here. Borna will be away for a start. It's work in progress and I hope Tav gets rested more this season.

[esquire8 42,756]

Would give Devine a go. At least have some sort of mobility on the right instead of having zero.

Serious conversation that should've happened 18 months ago. 

[bluenoz 30,843]

Incoming 50 pager...

[rossco87 691]

15 minutes ago, Smile said:

The defence was a priority in the transfer window after the amount of easy goals we concede due to both fullbacks.

We brought in Sterling who cant get a game.

Nonsense. Forward line was way more of a priority given Kent and Morelos had left, Beale obviously didn’t fancy Colak, Tillman move didn’t come off and I think everyone had pretty much given up on Matondo.

 

I’d even argue midfield (Arfield and Davies away and a lot of grumbles about Jack’s fitness and Lundstrum’s performances last year) and GK (McGregor leaving, McLaughlin not good enough) were more of a priority.

[Jimfanciesthedude 24,547]

If we dont have an attacking replacement for him, dont or cant get the midfield to cover him consistently, and we know he's lost the pace he used to get back with

Why the fuck are we playing a system that highlights these faults to the rest of the footballing world

Everyone knows my opinion on tav, i wont go over it again, but surely to fuck Beale must see the system he wants to play relies on players who cannot do the job anymore

[McEwan's Lager 30,524]

The way we set up is madness imo. Even some of the top full backs in the world would struggle with the demands being placed on Tav and Borna in this formation.

 

[The Dude 20,026]

3 minutes ago, Loyal72 said:

He has never been able to defend, it's exposed again and again at the higher levels, or against quick pressing countering teams. 

Funnily enough, he was identified by UEFA as one of the 'key features' of our CL campaign last year

https://uefatechnicalreports.com/pdf-ucl-2023

[Jimfanciesthedude 24,547]

1 minute ago, rossco87 said:

Nonsense. Forward line was way more of a priority given Kent and Morelos had left, Beale obviously didn’t fancy Colak, Tillman move didn’t come off and I think everyone had pretty much given up on Matondo.

 

I’d even argue midfield (Arfield and Davies away and a lot of grumbles about Jack’s fitness and Lundstrum’s performances last year) and GK (McGregor leaving, McLaughlin not good enough) were more of a priority.

But he signed lammers for a role we already had 3 players for nevermind him shoehorning sima in there at times 

[The Dude 20,026]

18 minutes ago, Smile said:

The defence was a priority in the transfer window after the amount of easy goals we concede due to both fullbacks.

We brought in Sterling who cant get a game.

No it wasn't. Replacing Kent, Morelos, Arfield, Colak and Sakala was.

[Jimfanciesthedude 24,547]

Just now, The Dude said:

Funnily enough, he was identified by UEFA as one of the 'key features' of our CL campaign last year

https://uefatechnicalreports.com/pdf-ucl-2023

In all honesty i wouldnt use any part of the CL last season to praise anyone, it talks about attacking fullback tav then goes on to say we had the worst GD ever in the CL group stages, oh and the lowest number of shots on goal 

(granted not all to do with tav, but you cant be praising an attacking fullback while saying you were shite in attack and the worst ever at the back) 

[Jimfanciesthedude 24,547]

1 minute ago, The Dude said:

No it wasn't. Replacing Kent, Morelos, Arfield, Colak and Sakala was.

Colak and sakala were still our players though? And in all honesty, do you see lammers giving the same numbers as either player this season? 

[Rowley Birkin 8,682]

 I've already said this should be his last season before he ruins the good memories fans have of him and we should absolutely be looking to bring in his replacement in the next window if not sooner

as it is he slows down the game by insisting he takes the throw ins, corner's and freekicks, take last night for example in the first 5/10 minutes we had them on the back foot and got a shy not far from the flag and i think it was cantwell who was looking to take a quick throw but got the call from tav to drop it so he could take it giving PSV time to get back and get organised 

and that's without talking about him being caught to high up and letting players in behind him

he seems a nice enough guy but he doesn't have the ruthlessness it takes to be a successful Rangers captain

[Clemdog 39,389]

Like @McEwan's Lager has said, we gave both fullbacks a hard grind last night. We left them exposed and open with no out-ball during any attacking threat. 

We can't line up like that next week. 

[Smile 26,610]

6 minutes ago, rossco87 said:

Nonsense. Forward line was way more of a priority given Kent and Morelos had left, Beale obviously didn’t fancy Colak, Tillman move didn’t come off and I think everyone had pretty much given up on Matondo.

 

I’d even argue midfield (Arfield and Davies away and a lot of grumbles about Jack’s fitness and Lundstrum’s performances last year) and GK (McGregor leaving, McLaughlin not good enough) were more of a priority.

Strong teams are built from the back you get a good spine and you win things it's the first thing most managers fix. 

[OhW 4,669]

3 minutes ago, Smile said:

Strong teams are built from the back you get a good spine and you win things it's the first thing most managers fix. 

Football is a simple game 

[bluenoz 30,843]

2 minutes ago, Smile said:

Strong teams are built from the back you get a good spine and you win things it's the first thing most managers fix. 

 

Full backs are not the spine, but building teams from the back is a good philosophy.