Super Eagles forward Cyriel Dessers has, for the second time this week, faced criticism from a former Rangers player regarding his ability ahead of the Old Firm derby on Sunday.
Sunday’s game is literally a top-of-the-table clash, with Philippe Clement’s side currently just a point behind league leaders Celtic.
Earlier this week, Andy Halliday, a former Gers player tagged the 29-year-old as ‘frustrating'. Speaking on the Open Goal Podcast, Halliday shared his thoughts on Dessers' performance at the club.
Acknowledging Dessers' overall contribution to the team, Halliday pointed out his strengths in terms of energy, work-rate, and link-up play.
However, Halliday expressed reservations about Dessers' finishing ability, noting that he can sometimes appear awkward in front of goal and frequently gets caught offside.
Despite these criticisms, Halliday stressed that Dessers has made a significant impact on many games for Rangers.
“He’s done very well, but you [Si Ferry] made out he was going to be this brilliant signing,” Halliday said on the Open Goal Podcast, as quoted by Ibrox News.
“Although for me, he is Rangers’ best striker. Dessers’ all-round game is actually good – his energy, his work-rate, his link-up play. Just, at times, he looks a bit awkward in front of goal. One thing I will say, that I think is frustrating for a player and for watching, is he gets caught offside all the time. But he has had a big impact on a lot of games.”
The latest former Rangers player to share his thoughts on the Nigeria international is Derek Ferguson. The 56-year-old made 111 appearances for Rangers and scored seven goals.
Ferguson's assessment of Cyriel Dessers' ability
Commenting on Dessers' style of play, Ferguson expressed frustration with the striker's tendency to take extra touches in the box instead of opting for quick finishes, contrasting him with quality strikers who utilise one or two-touch finishes.
Despite this, Ferguson acknowledged Dessers' impressive goal tally in the Premiership and credited the manager for possibly alleviating any pressure Dessers may feel.
However, Ferguson admitted uncertainty about Dessers' role on the field, questioning whether he is a target man or a player who runs the channels.
He concluded by suggesting Dessers appears to need coaching to refine aspects of his game that should come naturally.
“He’s frustrating,” he said. “When you’ve played with some quality strikers you know if they get space in the box it’s one and two-touch finishes. But he always wants to take that third and fourth. He blows a bit hot and cold.
“But he’s still got 13 goals in the Premiership. I think the manager has got in his head. If he’s been feeling the pressure he’s not shown it too much and that’s probably down to the manager.
“But I’m still not sure exactly what Dessers is. Is he a target man? Does he run the channels? He’s certainly not an out-and-out finisher. Sometimes he makes runs and you wonder where he’s going. He’s a bit of a mixed bag.
“He looks like somebody who needs to be coached when it should be natural in his game,” Ferguson quipped.
How Cyriel Dessers has fared for Rangers despite the scrutiny
Dessers made a smooth transition to Rangers from Cremonense in Italy at the beginning of the season, for a reported fee of around £4.3 million.
He quickly adapted to the Scottish league and showcased his prowess by scoring his first goal for the club in only his second game. This memorable goal came during a UEFA Champions League qualifying match against Swiss outfit Servette.
Since joining Rangers, Dessers has made 44 appearances, scoring 17 goals, and providing seven assists to his teammates. This means that Dessers has a goal ratio of approximately 38.64%. He also has a goal contribution percentage of 54.55%.
Regardless of any scrutiny directed at Dessers' performance, his goal ratio and contribution percentage highlights his substantial impact on Rangers' attacking capabilities since his arrival.
