As ever with a big Rangers defeat, there have been inquests and recriminations since Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup loss.
At least this time there was plenty to be encouraged about as the team showed they can match Celtic across a 90 minutes. Losing on penalties was heartbreaking but there is far more to take from it than a comfortable defeat.
One of the biggest talking points from a Gers point of view has been Cyriel Dessers’ failure to take a penalty in the shootout.
On Premier Sports’ TV coverage, Rangers striker Dessers was questioned for not hitting a spot kick and allowing goalkeeper Jack Butland and defender Ridvan Yilmaz to step up, the latter having his saved.
Rangers fans piled in on Dessers too and claimed it was ‘unforgivable’ for the team’s top scorer not to step forward when he was needed.
But manager Philippe Clement explained the thinking behind Dessers not being one of the first five takers.
But that hasn’t stopped more people having their say on his no-show.
Rangers striker Dessers accused of having no bottle
After the whys and wherefores of Dessers not taking a penalty were debated post-match, another pundit has carried on the discussion.
And Tam McManus puts it down to the Nigerian having an apparent lack of bottle.
A former striker himself, the ex-Hibs and Falkirk man insists that should always be a situation where a centre forward sees it as an opportunity to go and score.
And he understands supporters feeling let down.
Speaking PLZ Soccer’s Football Show, McManus said: “I think it shows a real lack of bottle for Dessers. That’s all it is.
“That’s what you do as a forward. You think to yourself, ‘It’s an opportunity to go and score.’
“You’ve obviously had more practice than defenders and particularly goalkeepers.
“So I was stunned at that, and I can understand a lot of Rangers supporters being really disappointed in Dessers.”
A Rangers defence of Dessers
To play devil’s advocate here, what would the same people handing out criticism be saying if Dessers had stepped forward and missed?
It is quite a simplistic view to think ‘centre forward equals penalty taker’.
As we all know, Dessers’ game isn’t necessarily about composure and nor does he often strike the ball that cleanly.
And if during practice Yilmaz and Butland were in the best five takers then what is the issue?
Butland didn’t cover himself in glory with Celtic’s kicks, but he actually took his pretty well.
And the only reason Yilmaz is being picked up on is because he was the unfortunate one to have his effort saved. The same could easily have happened to Dessers.
