With new-signing Lee Hodson confirmed among the ranks at Ibrox, Mark Warburton has taken his impressive summer business up to eight, and we have only barely made it into July.
The work to recruit and strengthen Rangers’ already decent squad has ramped up significantly, and the Govan side go into next season in near perfect shape to tackle the new campaign and the step up in quality.
However, with aforementioned new signing Hodson on the books now, where does his capture leave James Tavernier?
For those slightly less familiar with the former MK Dons defender, Northern Irish international Hodson is a right back but quite capable on the left, and is technically what one would describe as a versatile full back.
Initially described by some as cover, the truth is it is very rare to sign an internationalist with well over a dozen caps and leave him to languish on the bench. Meanwhile Tavernier undeniably struggled as the season wore on, with admittedly impressive attacking being disappointingly punctuated with abysmal defending.
Nothing summed up his failures at the back more than how easily he was beaten in the air by Hibs’ David Gray which lost Rangers the Scottish Cup final. Obviously I am not blaming Tavernier for the entire result, but his inability to defend certainly contributed to it, on top of the multitude of other inadequacies throughout the team that day.
Ergo, does Mark Warburton see his new signing as competition for Tavernier, or a replacement? Rangers could do a lot worse than a double-digits capped fullback regularly in the side, in a defence which saw more than its fair share of calamities over the campaign, and having one quality international on one side with another his counterpart would certainly be a pretty decent spine to build from.
I am not advocating the dropping of Tavernier, he deserves better than to be dismissed off hand, and I am absolutely sure he will be working hook and by crook on his defending this summer, but I do wonder why Warburton went for such a lavish player as ‘cover’ if that was the intention.
Of course, Hodson is no Roberto Carlos, but he is a step up from the kind of ‘quality’ Rangers have had in that position in recent years, and arguably is a step up too from Tavernier too.
But it may be literal – that Hodson really has been signed as cover and will be content with fitting in as and when needed. That would be an intriguing situation but maybe the spade on this occasion can quite bluntly called a spade.
There is, naturally, one other possibility, however; that Hodson will replace Tavernier at RB and the Englishman will shift further up the pitch, where he is arguably more effective. Of course that forces the conclusion of where to fit the Forresters, O’Hallorans, Windasses and other attacking options Rangers have plentiful resources in, but that is the kind of selection problem I am sure their manager will be thriving on.
Things are certainly moving in the right direction.
The only way I see Tav being replaced is if he moves to right mid which I think is more suited to his game. Won't be happening now with all the midfield players we've just signed though.
Sick hearing/reading Tav should be moved to right mid.The guy is a defender whether you rate him there or not.People over rated him at the start of last season,he'll never be top notch,that's the reason we got him for nothing/coappers from Wigan.As for being out jumped by Gray he shouldn't have been marking him anyway and Fod should have come for the cross but its in the past.I expect Hodson to claim the right back slot purely because he's a stronger defender.
I wouldnt read too much into it. We have 3 good players available for 2 positions and that is still pretty lean. Most clubs whould have a backup for either side but rather than having two sat on the bench for weeks and months we have went for one who can play either and therefore get more games. When they are all fit I guess it will come down to form and performance in training/games.
20 min in to cup final tavs got injured wanted to come off but was told no,so dont judge him on that game he wasn't right,he didn't get down the right wing like he was doing in the old firm game,Lee hodson will be back up,tavs is class
It leaves him in the same spot as the majority of last seasons squad- having to prove again that he deserves to start and also having to cut out the mistakes – how it should be playing for our club. Big season ahead and i see more players being used as other teams are gonna be coming at us hard resulting in more injuries.
The lack of loyalty on this site is unbelievable.Everybody from last season is to be replaced every time a signing is made .People are signed to boost the squad especially at full back when there was no cover and the two guys played every match.Tav will start as man in possession after a brilliant season .He will probably have to defend more this season but lets see if he has more cover or is asked to play deeper before writing him off .You haven`t even seen Hodson ffs. As for getting out jumped at the cup final ,it was disappointing but it happens to everyone at some point and by your reckoning that should put Kiernan and Foderingham for the first goal and Halliday for the second goal under pressure .Mistakes were made ,it happened , get over it.
Spot on…
Tav is a complete waste of space as a defender – never mind Gray's header – remember how Tav stepped aside to let Stokes in for a goal after 60 seconds?
That was actually Kiernan who let Stokes in for the first goal, albeit he was covering for Tavernier, who was caught up the park, but it was Kiernan who wouldn't commit to a challenge on Stokes and just ushered him down the channel.
I've said this so many times in the past. Rangers learned a harsh but important lesson against St Johnstone. There after every player, including Tav had outstanding games against the Premier league teams.
Tav seemed to be a target for the boo boys, this must stop now.
Finally I see Tav as the first choice right back.
Iain
You really rate this Hodson fella highly dont you? He might well be decent but despite his 12 caps for Norn Iron he never stood out playing in one of the worst SPFL defences last season.
I welcome the signing but dont think hodson is any more than a squad man
Tav will undoubtedly start as first choice right back and well deserved at that, in the main he made an outstanding contribution last season. No one knows of his defensive deficiencies better than Warburton and I'm sure this is being addressed pre-season and if not he has someone breathing down his neck, just the way it should be…
Tav will be ok, I think Warbs will be looking to rotate, as Kenny Miller said a lot of them were in the team by default as they just didnt have the cover, now we have a lot more players we can rest a few & try a few out in other positions, Dont forget we dont just wanna win this league we wanna win cups as well so hopefully all players will get games. roll on the season , Cant wait
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