Sam Lammers has played in every game for Rangers this season but has yet to live up to the billing that previous manager Michael Beale gave him on his arrival.
Talked up as a player who could contribute at the sharp end of the pitch, instead, the 26-year old has almost become a joke figure after a series of missed sitters.
Speaking on Clyde Superscoreboard, Andy Halliday thought that Sam Lammers did ok against his club Hearts on Saturday but that Rangers are right to expect more.
Sam Lammers still has a lot to prove for Rangers
With just two goals and two assists in 21 appearances, the £3m signing from Atalanta has yet to show any consistent indication that he is going to be worth the money.
What doesn’t help his cause is Tom Lawrence showing more intent and invention in 15 minutes than Sam Lammers managed in the previous 77 at Hampden for Rangers on his return from injury.
When asked about Lammers as a player, Mark Warburton signing Halliday said:
“I thought he did fine (vs Hearts in the Viaplay Cup).
“I think he has shown some lovely periods of play and some lovely touches but not affected the game enough.
“I think last week was his first goal in 16 appearances, you look at the plethora of chances he has had this season – you could make a YouTube compilation and it would last ten minutes.
“You then see that’s why he’s maybe only scored nine goals in the past four years.
“With the output of £3.5m that Rangers have paid you’re expecting a pretty hefty goal return by the end of the season but you’d certainly like to think there is more to come from him.”
Halliday is right.
Sometimes, as he did against Dundee for his goal and assist for fellow struggler Cyriel Dessers, he looks like he could be a player but then you remember the misses and think that maybe this is just who he is.
A player who will struggle in front of goal.
Previous coaches have spoken about how natural a finisher he was when he was younger to the extent that he drew comparisons with Ruud van Nistelrooy but that seems like a million miles away now.
One of the issues now could be that his height advantage continues to see him get the nod over Todd Cantwell who is a fans’ favourite and who always look like he is capable of doing something.
What the signing of Sam Lammers has done though, is again show how wasteful Rangers have been in recent years in spending decent money – for the same price, Luis Palma could have been signed and a goalscoring right winger is exactly what we need.
