Leaderboard

A wee general point...I get that many fans are disappointed by the pre-season developments as well as the last 3 years chaotic title challenges but can we start to show some patience? This continual and almost daily bi-polar reaction to everything Rangers is baffling for someone in their 50's. I fully understand that is the way the world works these days but let's all calm down. Let the manager build HIS team and do his job.

I think some fans have made their minds up on Dessers and no.matter he does from now on, it'll never be enough. He scored over 20 goals last season, people said he should have gotten 30 plus (he would have if he took pens). If he scores 30 goals this season, please will.say he should have gotten 40. The treatment he has and still receives from Rangers fans is shocking. However, it doesn't seem to affect him. He just gets on with it. Haters are gonna hate no matter what he does. I hope he keeps scoring, not much more the lad can do to be honest.

... and those 100 % were appreciated. If the 100 % a player has are not "enough", so be it. We are where we are. As with Dessers, the constant bashing of people who give all that they have is not helpful and just adds to the negativity that has become such a feature on the board. One does not need to portray anything as being rosy - and no-one is. But as we can see with Dessers and Wright, this negativity creates a momentum so that everything they do is being put under the microscope. The black and white mist descends and more often than not, with some players they become ever more shyte with every single misplaced pass (no matter the 15 good passes in-between), while others get away with "murder" (my go-to bashing victim Tavernier was caught up field quite a few times yesterday, but Barron and Co. pulled him out). So I am not free of that negativity either. Anyway, as a Union supporter told me back at the Alte Försterei, there is one rule they have there: never boo or badmouth the team if they give their all. Even if they get hammered. I concur with that.

I give you Erling Haaland.

Lawrence and Dessers are quite similar in that they do some stuff okay but overall, I just don't think they're what's required in their respective positions, particularly the way Clement sets the team up.

Its by no means the only issue, but I think this is one of the fundamental issues. Get a #10 who understands, when, how and where to press and it transforms the whole team

Good rule. I try, I really do. Fail too often.

I think a pressing #10 transforms this side, offensively and defensively. I still think a lot of the defensive issues are a result of poor pressing.

That goal showcases a whole sequence of defensive mistakes. Yilmaz losses possession, Barron goes in for a tackle when he should stay on his feet, Balogun gets caught in no-man's land, Souttar doesn't cover the front post with Balogun missing and Tavernier doesn't cover the back post. If Barron stays on his feet we don't concede. He'll learn.

FWIW Dessers is pretty poor in his general play. Would I sacrifice 5 goals a season from him if it meant he could pin defenders and make it stick? Aye, probably. I mentioned on another thread that Prso had a worse strike rate than him but let's be honest, teams wouldn't get out of there half with him as an outlet. It kills us because we can't sustain pressure.

Going for Dessers. Got the winner after a well-timed run, was unlucky with a header and his general hold up play was pretty good. Kudos to Jefte as he really gave the team energy.

He was a leader, a warrior and could also play a bit of football. One of my favourite players, loved watching him play the game.

It wasn't a great performance, and Kiev aren't as good as some made our after their demolition of Partizan. However, the team kept going til the very end and secured a good draw, keeping us well in the tie, perhaps favourites to progress. Cyriel Dessers - he takes some flak, but he puts the ball in the back of the net - when nobody else is chipping in. He may not be the perfect Rangers no9, but he deserves more credit than he gets IMO.

Igamane was in Poland with the first team squad yesterday.

I'm going to get accused of Haaland bashing now, aren't I. I think I'll blame Roy Keane.

Aye, the idea that he isn't a good footballer is mental. Sure he ain't gonna do 'baller' moves, but his game is all about power, speed and finishing. Gimme all 3 please.

I think that idea is nonsense tbh, he is extremely athletic, powerful runner. Great pace and holds the ball up far better than Dessers.

I wonder, is this CL tie the first that both teams haven't been able to play in their home stadium?. Can't have been many I'd imagine.

You've ruined a great post by mentioning Cousin 😀

One of my favourite all time Rangers players. Give me a Mark Hateley / Dado / Daniel Cousin / Jelavic for us modern day please.

The issue we have is currently the only player in our squad who looks capable of scoring goals on a regular basis is Dessers. Rather than replace that, we need to supplement it - other players, be it strikers, wide players , midfielders or defenders need to step up.

Decent result in the end - should be enough to get through

Judge him all you want, your assessment (or mine) of his quality and worth to the team won't decide if he is sold or if he's played as our No1 striker. Lets look at this another way. I think Ridvan is one of the worst players in our squad (how long has he been here again) - others think is prime Roberto Carlos. However, some players like Ridvan aren't allowed to be criticised for some reason - check back to your and others replies to my criticism of him if you don't believe me. Tonight Ridvan cost us a goal and Dessers scored a goal - whos getting criticised the most? Dessers has contributed more in 12 months than Ridvan has in over 2 years - who's getting the most criticism? Currently, our team is poorer if Dessers isn't in it - I think that can only really be said of Dessers, Butland, Balogun Barron and Diomande (new signings excluded as we've not seen enough of them).

I don't think anyone is accepting him as our No1 striker. We'd all like better quality, but at this time, he's all we've got. But there are other areas in the team that need to be improved on before Dessers. Full backs, #6, #10, another CB, experienced midfield players. No doubting we need more striking options given the alternatives to Dessers are a very unfit Danilo (recovering from injury) and Igamane who's anywhere between 4 days and 4 months away (basically.we don't know). So sell our only fit striker who's proven to score 20 goals?

If we had more players with the attitude and ethic of Dessers we'd a much better team

20 goals last season, ridiculed, booed, abused and the Big man just smiles and comes back for more.... Ends up on his arse on half-way line whilst linking the play and still gets into the box to score (in the final minute). And yet, Rangers fans want him sold - maybe, just maybe Dessers isn't the issue......

Welcome to the Glasgow goldfish bowl, or something like that

Not arsed if he won't graft.

Been out all afternoon, logged back in to read that Haaland is better than Dessers - who'd have guessed 🤷‍♂️😀

I just don't want him as a No.1 striker. He'd be okay as a back up.

Decent result if true.

Jefte been on 5 mins and already done more than wright has

All in all not much between the teams. We clearly lack someone to control the game and spring the passes about. What little comes from the back is pretty average. Souttar asleep for the goal, doubly frustrating as he looks at the guy and then concentrates on the ball. Lawrence the big anonymous guy on the field. He is doing very little, hardly ever comes back to collect the ball if it ain't comes to him, and is doing little pressing. One shot in 45 mins as your sole contribution is pretty poor.