James Tavernier has achieved many things at Rangers during his time at the club, but for some, it still isn’t enough.
An incredible goal-scoring record, key assists, a Scottish Premiership title, a Scottish Cup and a historic European run are all on his CV from his time at Ibrox, but a section of the support still demand more from their skipper, with some even questioning his suitability for the leadership role.
The scrutiny that the Englishman faces is part and partial of playing for Rangers Football Club and former midfielder Scott Arfield witnessed first-hand the pressures that Tavernier comes under on a weekly basis when he was playing his football in Govan.
Arfield experienced some special times playing alongside Tavernier in Light Blue and he has urged the Rangers supporters to enjoy their captain while they can, before he possibly moves on to a new challenge further down the line.
Asked if Tav is underappreciated at the club, Arfield explained: “I agree. I do think he is underappreciated and undervalued for his numbers.
“Everyone always talks about the penalties, but you still have to put the ball in the back of the net. It is still a shot from 12 yards with major pressure.
“I think he is undervalued and underappreciated at times. He comes up trumps. The best thing you can say about Tav is his mentality. He is always in line to be shot at.
“He never hides away from anything, he has the bravery to be shot down.
“For me that is what a Rangers player is, you always have to be on the line to be shot at, instead of being somewhere else to make sure you are alright.”
Tavernier has the chance to lift another trophy this afternoon as Rangers face off against Aberdeen in the Viaplay League Cup Final at Hampden Park.
And Arfield believes that adding another trophy to Tavernier's collection could help to win round some of the doubters.
He continued: “It is Glasgow, isn’t it? Sometimes when you don’t play you become a better player. He is never out of the picture for that to happen to him.
“He is durable, he is always on the line, he is always available, he is fit. So I don’t think until he leaves the club that people will think back to how good he was.
“I always thought if you played a good or bad performance I never thought about the past.
“Even on a Thursday night when you’re scoring in the Europa League or no matter what it was, on the Saturday at 3pm I never got too high or too low.
“I think that’s a better way to be. If you think you’ve got credit in the bank then your performances come off, it’s not going to be sustainable to play for a club like Rangers for long.
“I would be buzzing for him and loads of others too if Rangers were to win the cup. I know what they have been through, I have been through it with them too.
“I would be delighted for most of them to be climbing those steps to lift another trophy. Trophies will help to win round the doubters too. It is the be all and end all. Sunday will be huge for that.”
Arfield also believes that a Hampden cup triumph could spur Rangers onto a hugely successful season, especially after qualification for the Europa League last 16 in midweek.
“It could be a watershed moment,” he said. They have had a bounce with the new manager coming in, no doubt about it.
“I think that will kick them on again on Sunday if they can win to more confidence. The manager will gain more respect once he has a trophy and it is a massive time to do that.
“You see how important it [winning the League Cup] has been for other teams in the past, it can kick you on, but Aberdeen will be thinking exactly the same thing, they will be looking to get away from the foot of the table.
“I don’t think their performances and results have replicated each other. They are a better team than what they have shown.
“At Ibrox they showed they are a good team. If you can get it up to the big fella Miovski they can play off him.
“It will be a decent game on Sunday and I think whoever wins the game will deserve to win it.”
Arfield is currently playing his football in North Carolina with MLS outfit Charlotte FC. As much as the former Falkirk man misses the pressures of playing for Rangers, he is thoroughly enjoying a new challenge, and one that saw him recently come up against the greatest of all time Lionel Messi.
He added: “It has been good. We have a new manager coming in this week, I’m not sure who that is going to be yet, but it should be interesting.
“That will be another manager to work with and you can try and learn from as much as possible. It will be exciting to return to pre-season.
“Coming up against Messi was good but torturous! He didn’t ask for my shirt afterwards, but I did get Busquets’ top.
“At that time their team was flying, the momentum they had the place was absolutely rocking.
“It was a League Cup match, Messi’s third or fourth game, there was so much hype surrounding him.
“I have really enjoyed the whole experience but it is totally different to playing your football in Scotland.”
