Rangers fans warned to be careful what they wish for as pressure ramps up at Ibrox
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Former Rangers vice-captain Connor Goldson forged an unbreakable friendship with skipper James Tavernier whilst at Ibrox.
Whilst Gers captain Tav, 33, was at Rangers for three years before ex-Brighton star Goldson joined the club, the two were as thick as thieves during Connor's six-year stint in Glasgow.
But after Connor Goldson left Rangers in controversial circumstances this summer, James Tavernier has been left to shoulder the burden of expectation in Glasgow.
And it's something which hasn't been lost on now Aris Limassol defender Goldson, who insists that Tavernier knows how to deal with criticism as the Rangers fans unload on the skipper.
The former Rangers defender also claims that Tav is one of the last leaders in the Ibrox ranks and reckons fans will only know what they had when the captain is gone.
James Tavernier 'deserves Rangers respect'
"I feel sorry for Tav now because he's going through a difficult period with the team," Goldson told the Daily Record. "And he'll be the one who gets the most stick.
"Fair or unfair, that's what happens when you wear the armband. You're one of the main players, one of the biggest earners so you have to take it.
“The stars of the team always face the most criticism. So Tav has to take that on his shoulders, as he does every year.
"Is it difficult for him? Mentally, it must be because I've been there for six years. It's hard. But you have to take it and Tav has learnt to do that. The fact he carries on doing his best for the club – you can only admire that.
"If you look at the year we won the title in 2021, we had Allan McGregor, Steven Davis, Jermain Defoe and others.
"That's not including myself and Tav. I look now and you've probably got him, Jack Butland and John Souttar. I'm struggling to find any more.
"Sometimes we had bad games and those boys would tell us. If you let another one go in Tav, I just don't know who in there lets people know what Rangers is all about.
"I don't see Celtic getting rid of Callum McGregor or Scott Brown before him when they have a bad few months.
"They understand these boys know the culture and drive the new signings to who they become. It will only be when Tav leaves that he gets the respect he deserves."
Connor Goldson: Tav has been incredible
We're sure we don't have to tell Connor Goldson that the Celtic support might've reacted quite differently to their leadership had they flopped like Rangers in recent seasons.
But the point that the club have went through a monumental overhaul and need to retain the core of their leadership team is still a valid one.
Rangers have taken a new youthful approach in their recruitment and those new signings in the Ibrox ranks are finding out quickly what it means to play in Glasgow.
James Tavernier remains one of the Ibrox side's most important players and there can be no argument that the Rangers captain knows what it takes to play for the club.
But whilst the skipper's recent performances are under the microscope, Goldson insists that Tavernier's contribution to the Gers over the years has been 'incredible'.
"Tav has been absolutely amazing for Rangers," said Goldson. He plays every game and you don't realise how hard that is to replace.
"When you do that, you'll take the most criticism – because you're the player who will have the most bad games.
"If you play 60 games and have five bad ones, these five will be remembered. If you play 10 games and have one bad one, people think you're amazing.
"When you play every week, you're more prone to make mistakes. Everyone is human. Has Tav had bad games? Of course he has. But he's always there, available for every single game – even now.
"That's a massive credit to him. What he's done for that club is incredible."
