Rangers’ Striker Dilemma

Not since Alfredo Morelos have Rangers fans been truly convinced by their options up front. The Colombian was a livewire, hated him if you didn’t have him, loved him because you did. Equally capable of a superb goal as he was a dreadful tackle, in the memories of many fans he was banned more than he actually played. No matter they would argue, he is the kind of player that is a part of folklore.

Since he left however, Rangers have struggled to replace his presence up front. It isn’t that he just scored goals in the league, signings should expect to do that given their superiority over most teams in the league. He was also a player of European quality, something his successors haven’t quite been able to live up to.

There are been 5 central candidates who have attempted to take over since:

KEMAR ROOFE

Roofe had all the makings of a player set to become a top goalscorer for the club but his body has continued to let him down time and time again.

Having been an important member of Bielsa’s Leeds, he made his way to Anderlecht were his troubles began. Limited to just 16 appearances all season, Roofe struggled with calf and ankle injuries. Despite the problems he did manage to score 7 goals, enough for Steven Gerrard to take a punt.

His Rangers career could hardly have gone better as he won the league as the second highest goalscorer with 14 in 2020-21 as well as making his debut for Jamaica. His next season saw him put away 16 goals in all competitions, only two fewer than Morelos. However injuries saw him miss 12 games overall in what has since proved to be his longest spell fit for the club.

A devastating knee injury limited him to 6 appearances for the 2022/23 season where could only find the back of the net on two occasions. Things have improved this season, albeit slightly. He made a slow return back under then manager Michael Beale and scored the winner against Real Betis to send them top of their Europa League group before suffering yet another injury ruled that him out from end of December until he returned in the 5-0 win against Hearts on the 24th of February. Managing 72 appearances and and 34 goals in his first two seasons compared with 25 games and 4 goals in the last two is a sign of the impact his injuries have had.

However with Rangers suffering from injury problems themselves, his return is a timely one as the fixture list becomes congested. His record shows he can put them away, but the main question is whether he can rediscover that form from two seasons ago.

All in all, it is unlikely he will have a future with the club beyond this season as the club will look for a more reliable forward to fill his boots. He will leave with fans wondering what could have been if he had been able to stay fit.

ANTONIO COLAK

Signed by Giovanni van Bronkhorst in the summer of 2022 to provide alternative attacking options, gave a side that was becoming too dependant on an unreliable Morelos much needed firepower ahead of a potential Champions League campign.

A tremendous work rate and the ability to get into the right positions led to an explosive start to his Rangers career as he bagged 13 goals in 17 games, including the winner at PSV in the play-offs to send them through tp the Champions League for the first time since 2011.

However the goals began to dry up as he could only manage 1 in the following 8 before a calf injury ruled him out for over a month. He never managed to recover and in the end could only muster four more goals for the season as it became clear he was not part of Micheal Beale’s plans, having replaced van Bronkhorst after their dismal group stage challenge had them rock bottom. He was barely involved by the end of the season.

Beale would admit he didn’t envisage the Croatian as part of his squad next season and was subsequently sold to Parma.

Colak had shown he was a good striker but unfortunately needed consistency across the season and the confidence of a manager to show he could carry the mantle should an increasingly unsettled Morelos depart.

DANILO

Brazilian striker Danilo was brought in with high hopes by then manager Beale, who claimed to have been aware of him since his Ajax days.

Signed for a fee that could reach £6m, not a small price for Rangers, the striker has so far found life in Glasgow difficult.

Struggling in front of goal with just two goals in nine gmes, he managed to get on the end of a header to score against St Johnstone only to suffer a compound fracture in a collision with defender Liam Gordon in the process. Missing three games that prevented any kind of goal scoring run.

He looked as if Clement’s arrival would spark some life into him, scoring twice in his next 3 games, but he could not build on it as he went goalless in the next 5 (although managed two assists in the 3-1 cup win over Hearts) before a knee injury ended any chance of making himself the club’s top striker for the season. 

Danilo is not expected back before the end of the campaign and there’s a good chance that Clement will look to bring in a new striker in the summer. There is good player in there but Rangers is a pressure cooker of a club and the manager is unlikely to want to spend too much time helping him regain his confidence.

If he does manage any appearances before the season ends, it’s more like that it will at best be an opportunity to put himself in the shop window.

CYRIEL DESSERS

If nothing else, Cyriel Dessers deserves huge credit for persevering and turning his season around.

The striker admits that he found life at Rangers difficult to begin with as he managed just 3 goals in 15 appearances under Beale. However, the arrival of fellow Belgian Clement marked a rejuvenation for the striker. Hitting 13 in 26 is a much better return whilst chipping in with 4 assists. It would seem he just needed the confidence to get going.

Whilst not the most talented player the Ibrox faithful have ever seen, his work-rate and commitment is appreciated by fans. He continues to get in the right position and has even sent a couple of players incuding Jordan Obita, sliding with an impressive Cruyff turn.

Unfortunately for Dessers, when playing for Rangers, scoring in the league is expected. Being the dominant team means you will have at least 2 or 3 clear cut chances a game and the amount he has failed to put away has not convinced fans and analysts alike.

With expected participation in Europe year on year, the club will need a player who can deliver in the league but also demonstrate quality in the continental competitions and Dessers is unlikely to become that player.

FABIO SILVA

Silva was earmarked for a big career following his sale from Porto to Wolves for £35.6m. A big amount for most players let alone one who had at that point only played 12 professional games and scored 3 goals.

It seems obvious in hindsight that this was poor decision making from the Molyneux head office. He had loan spells at Anderlecht and PSV where he failed to kick on as hoped before a lack of playing time back at Wolves resulted in his loan move to Ibrox.

Silva has shown himself to be talented on the ball and never relents in trying to grab himself a goal. His strong combination play and technical ability is useful for a team used to dominating possession as Rangers are. His tally of 4 goals in 13 games is by no means poor either.

Unfortunately on the basis of his performances for the league leaders, he is not quite the striker they have been looking for. He is physically outmatched by defenders in a lone striker role and is not clinical enough to be trusted put chances away.

In the 2-0 victory against Hibs on Sunday, he showed himself to be a useful player. However this came from him starting on the left-wing. Silva has expressed a desire to stay at Rangers after his loan expires, but it might be the case that he will need to accept a role supporting the striker. If he can do that whilst building on his improving form, he could end up being a useful players for the Gers.