It’s not often that a full-back comes into a new club and makes the sort impact that James Tavernier has made at Rangers!

The young Englishman has quite literally hit the ground running at Ibrox and at times has looked sensational and unplayable.

His performances from the right-back spot have had Gers supporters on their feet and cheering from the stands.

James has a style that seems to compare well with two recent former Rangers players, who operated in the same position.

Tavernier’s keen eye for a goal is reminiscent of Steven Whittaker. During his Gers career, Whittaker would score an impressive twenty-eight times in 209 club appearances. While the new signing from Wigan Athletic has already managed to bag four goals in six games.

The twenty-three year old’s attacking, marauding runs forward seem to take you back to 2008, when Alan Hutton’s form at right-back won him a £9m move to the English Premier League. Tavernier’s bursts forward keep the opposition on the back foot and creates plenty for his teammates too, just like Hutton’s.

As I’ve already mentioned James and his energetic performances have been well appreciated by the Gers support.

Another unexpected quality that the full-back has given his new club is that he seems to be a wizard at scoring from a freekick. Rangers fans love a set-piece expert, Jorg Albertz is still an Ibrox hero and his thunderbolt freekicks are stuff of legend in Govan,

In yesterday’s big Scottish Championship clash between Rangers and Hibs, the Glasgow side managed to maintain their 100% win record for this season due to a superb freekick from their new right-back. From a difficult angle on the lefthand side of Hibernian’s penalty area, Tavernier struck the ball sweetly and curled it sublimely into the top corner at the far post.

That cracking strike was the full-back’s second goal from a free-kick so far this term.

The player also seems decent at the defensive side of his game but at the moment he probably hasn’t been tested enough at the back to completely judge him on that front.

Mark Warburton’s system at Rangers seems to delight the fans and gets the best out of his full-backs, as both Tavernier and Lee Wallace have excelled so far this term. They offer the side plenty of pace and willingness from the flanks.

When James signed for the Ibrox club he stated his intent when he told the clubs website:

“It’s a massive club and it was an easy decision for me,”  

“The recognition you can get playing for Ranges is huge.”

“I like to get on the ball as much as I can, get forward and create goals.”

You can see that the player has joined with a hunger to settle in at a club and do well. He’s had quite a few different homes in his career (mainly loans) and now looks to have found his place at Ibrox.

He came to Rangers as a bit of an unknown but he has quickly made a name for himself and at the moment looks to be the best summer buy for the Scottish Championship side.

Posted on August 24th, 2015 by scott
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