A leadership problem at Ibrox
With Rangers choosing our latest captain last weekend, fans would be forgiven for wondering who exactly the main choice is.
With Lee Wallace still currently unavailable for selection (he is fit again but some way off being match ready) the baton has been handed around the team like pass the parcel, with James Tavernier succeeding Jason Holt, following Kenny Miller, Bruno Alves and Danny Wilson.
In short, Graeme Murty needs to pick his ‘deputy’ to Lee Wallace and ensure it is someone who will play most matches.
Jason Holt simply is not good enough to start in a Rangers team with ambition, and nothing highlighted that more than his replacement Greg Docherty’s display at Somerset Park. Kenny Miller is likely to be a bit-part player, as my colleague Richard suggested, while Bruno Alves’ position at Ibrox is something of a mystery.
Last but not least Murty’s preferred choice Danny Wilson has obviously gone.
When Tavernier’s captaincy was reported pre-match, many fans reacted with congratulations and a ‘well deserved’ – and yes, he has improved colossally this season and has well and truly earned his new contract. But a captain we are doubtful he is, and long term he probably is not the right call.
The most obvious choice right now is Russell Martin. He might not be our player yet but he has barely put a foot wrong and has a gamut of experience in the role – the wily Scottish international is a born leader and the most valid choice of the current XI.
He might not ‘deserve’ it yet, but does that matter? Do we want to reward players for form or simply appoint the best man for the job? Our apologies if this in any way comes across as a slight on Tav – he has been electrifying at times this season and we have been made to look like fools for suggesting he was not good enough for the SPL and for Rangers. He has raised his game and his new deal is completely justified.
But we want a natural born leader to be our leader, and of the current selection, only Martin stands out. We certainly do not want Tavernier’s game to suffer with the burden of being captain, as arguably happened with Wallace.
So we will open it to you guys. Who would you appoint captain?