Rangers finished up at Ibrox for the season with a comfortable win over Dundee Utd with a familiar question being asked – is Cyriel Dessers good enough to lead the line next season?
The 29 goals and seven assists would suggest that he is, as would his place as the Scottish Premiership’s top goalscorer with one game left to play.
Can a striker do any more? The criticism of Dessers is his work around the box, sometimes, as it was against Utd, it is, other times, like the previous three games, it isn’t.
This is what frustrates fans, even if the six goals in five games suggest that they should be happy with what they’ve got.
The problem isn’t Cyriel Dessers, there is more than one for a start, with Rangers needing to look back at the 2020/21 title win for inspiration.
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Cyriel Dessers needs help if he is to be Rangers’ main man
Rangers don’t need a striker, given that all three are capable of scoring goals and of posting good numbers.
Danilo and Hamza Igamane have completely different skillsets to Dessers, but both have shown that they can contribute.
In terms of league goals, only Dessers, Igamane and Vaclav Cerny are in double figures with the next highest being Danilo on five.
There is no depth which means that when Dessers or whoever is leading the line is having an off day, the pressure on the defence is ramped up.
Compare and contrast to Celtic, and they have goals in midfield and strength in depth on the wing.
When Rangers won the league in 2020/21, they had Alfredo Morelos, Jermain Defoe, Kemar Roofe, Ryan Kent, Ianis Hagi, Joe Aribo, James Tavernier, Connor Goldson and Scott Arfield all posting good numbers.
Filling the gaps on the wings and in midfield has to be a summer priority, the goal difference on the Scottish Premiership table doesn’t lie.
Mixed emotions for Dessers as he hits key milestone
Dessers, after scoring his 50th Rangers goal in two seasons, was quick to thank Tavernier for stepping aside from penalty duties to hit a personal milestone that would have meant more if it wasn’t such a poor season:
“We spoke about it a little bit earlier in the week and I have to thank him for letting me take it.
“It’s a beautiful moment for me, the 50th goal and to score it here at Ibrox. That’s something I am very proud of and it’s a big milestone in my career.
“It’s been a season with a few bumps, maybe a little bit too many, but I think it was a nice moment after the game for everybody – the fans, the players and the staff.”
