Ibrox View: Bypassed – The Rangers star who is quickly falling out of Gerrard masterplan
Rangers have taken a leap forward this season, with Steven Gerrard’s side looking to fight on two front – domestically and in Europe.
In order to achieve his goals, Gerrard has moved aggressively and decisively in the transfer market and is constantly looking to add quality to his squad. This has left the Gers with a large and fiercely competitive squad, which so far looks to have helped them get off to a flying start to the season.
However, with this kind of approach there are always likely to be casualties and increasingly Jermain Defoe looks to be one of them. Now aged 38, the former England striker has been a fine servant for the club since his arrival in 2019 and scored 17 goals in 32 appearances last season (via Transfermarkt). But in this new Rangers side, where intensity is increasingly developing into the cornerstone, he looks somewhat out of place.
So far this season, Defoe has struggled to match the output of his rivals Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe. Per match in the Scottish Premiership, they are taking 3.2 and 2.1 shots respectively, compared to Defoe on 1.5, while laying on 1.4 and 0.9 key passes on average. Defoe has managed just two all season (via WhoScored).
In terms of goals, the 38-year-old has been hampered by game time, and has a decent return of two goals from six appearances. However, he is increasingly looking as though he offers little other than his goals. On Sunday against Hamilton Academical, Rangers won 8-0 and Defoe struggled. Gerrard said that he was “desperate” to score after the game and it was evident.
Now this is not say to that Defoe cannot offer anything to the squad. With plenty of matches to play, his experience and nous will be important. When given the opportunities, he remains a good finisher and he will not lose those striking instincts. However, at 38 years of age, he cannot lead the line for Rangers in the majority of games and especially not in the most important ones. Gerrard recognised that over the summer and we are seeing the transition away from the former England man right in front of our eyes.
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