Gary Keown tears into ‘Atrocious’ Rangers as he blasts Cyriel Dessers signing
Rangers’ first half against Servette in the Champions League qualifier was “atrocious” and all Gers outfielders still have to prove their worth, according to Gary Keown.
The journalist claimed in the Scottish Mail’s print edition (20 August, pg 113) that Rangers have not been performing at the levels expected so far this season considering their extensive transfer business this summer.
Keown singled out new forward signing Cyriel Dessers, noting how he needs to make an impact by increasing his goal output for Rangers if they want to improve their performances.
He said: “Having the better of the second half away from home and securing a 3-2 aggregate win after goalkeeper Jack Butland had kept them out of soup was nothing to write home about for Rangers. Particularly when the first half had been so atrocious.
“Every one of their outfield signings has a point to prove. Some have looked plain awful. And please spare us this rubbish, being heard from many quarters rather than just Ibrox, about the time it takes to gel players together and build new teams.
“You expect to see something, if not the whole picture, from new players. Look at Mika Biereth at Motherwell. Off the bench against Hibs, sets up a goal, scores the winner and bowls around the place like a wrecking ball.
“Cyriel Dessers take note. And Danilo, Sam Lammers and Abdallah Sima, in fairness.”
Harsh, but fair
Rangers fans will be growing more and more anxious with every uninspiring Gers performance in the run-up to their big clash against Celtic next month.
While Rangers have done enough to get across the line in all fixtures since their opening-day defeat to Kilmarnock, there has been very little to get excited about despite the influx of new attacking talent.
Keown is correct to identify Dessers specifically as a man who needs to up his game at Ibrox. He has scored twice across his five competitive appearances for the Gers so far this season, but one was a penalty against Morton in the Scottish Cup and his Servette goal looked more like an accident than a lethal finish.
However, Dessers and the rest knew what they were getting into when they joined Rangers. Regular criticism and demands for the best possible performance lurk before and after every game. Rangers fans demand the best from their players and they have not received it yet.
While Keown may be harsh in not allowing them more time to gel, the demand for results and success means these new players won’t have the luxury of that excuse much longer, if at all.
In other Rangers news, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has had his say on the Old Firm ticketing situation.