logo
How Russell Martin reshuffle will aid Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers

How Russell Martin reshuffle will aid Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers

However, Kris Boyd, who spent two spells at his boyhood heroes and knows just how demanding his fellow Light Blues fans can be, believes the criticism of the £4m centre forward has been unjustified.
Read more:
He is confident that new manager Martin can help the man who was the leading scorer in the Premiership last term despite often cutting an isolated figure up front by himself if he commits more men forward.
Speaking at a McDonald's Fun Football session at Hampden, Boyd said, 'Russell has said he is looking forward to seeing which members of his squad surprise him once pre-season starts – but I don't think Cyriel needs to surprise anyone.
(Image: SNS/SFA) 'He's scored over 50 goals during his two seasons at Rangers He is not the problem. There are other strikers in there who should be doing more and who cost a lot more money. Danilo should be doing more for me, there's no getting away from it.
'Hamza Igamane has shown what he is capable of in spells. He's come in and he's done well at times, but then his form hasn't been at the same level. But I get that. It was his first real season in this environment so you're probably going to get little spurts where he goes on a run and then times when he struggles.'
Read more:
He added, 'There's one thing about Dessers. He's always there. He's always available. He's like every other striker, he'll miss chances from time to time. But it doesn't seem to faze him. He'll always go back for more.
'So for me Russell has already got someone there who's shown he can score goals. In Scotland, we are quick to criticise people for virtually anything. But Cyriel always goes back for more when he misses.
'I think Russell will be looking to see if he can get players closer to Cyriel, to have players more in contact with him. If he can do that then you might see a better level of performance on a more consistent basis from Dessers.'
Boyd is hopeful the long-standing McDonald Fun Football programme will produce a few more players who are capable of following in his footsteps and leading the line for Rangers in the years to come.
'Programmes like McDonald's Fun Football are important for communities across Scotland,' he said. 'They give children a safe, positive place to just play the game and have fun.
'McDonald's are offering more free sessions this summer across Scotland and it's brilliant to see. I wish I had this when I was a youngster, I would've loved it. I'd encourage every parent to not miss out and to get their child signed up to their nearest free session.'
Kris Boyd was celebrating the latest free wave of McDonald's Fun Football sessions this Summer, available to all children aged 5-11 across the UK. You can sign up now for your nearest free session at mcdonalds.co.uk/football

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Celtic fans' Rangers fixture conspiracy fears are all well and good except for one thing
Celtic fans' Rangers fixture conspiracy fears are all well and good except for one thing

Daily Record

timean hour ago

  • Daily Record

Celtic fans' Rangers fixture conspiracy fears are all well and good except for one thing

It's just what we expected. The super computer the SPFL uses to sort out the fixtures has got it in for YOUR team. This American based AI machine clearly hates Celtic. Or Rangers. Or Aberdeen. Or maybe Falkirk. Maybe it's so biased it hates them all. Nothing is impossible in Scottish football. We've even got Hamilton Accies playing at Clyde's former Broadwood home – and Clyde setting up shop in New Douglas Park or whatever it's called these days. Releasing the fixtures into the wild tends to prompt the usual tin foil hat responses. Fans look for conspiracies, search for clues to prove league chiefs are determined to stick a spoke in their wheels. Here's a newsflash folks – everyone needs to play everyone else, the when shouldn't really matter. It does though, of course. And within minutes of the schedule coming out the grumbles started. Celtic punters are up in arms at the indignity of having Flag Day on the Sunday at half four, a full day after their old chums Rangers get up and running. It's all to give Russell Martin a leg up, of course, except Celts have only actually kicked off a title defence on a Saturday once in the last five. Meanwhile Gers supporters are already miffed they have a Saturday night job to start their season – and they have another one the following week, all in the middle of a European qualifying bid. Aberdeen, meanwhile, need to wait a full two days after being hit with a Monday night trek to Tynecastle. Fans love a gripe and the grumbles will only get worse when the penny drops that these fixtures are very much a rough draft. Depending on how our teams do in Europe there could be more shuffling than on barn dancing night at the Tannochside Miners Club. Let's be honest here, when it comes to priorities, the paying public are way down in the list. And it's been that way for a good while. Our clubs need the television revenue so broadcasters call the shots. We can't moan about not having enough games on the box and then whining when they get moved so they can be shown. Take the dough, suffer the hassle. Football clubs want supporters to pony up and get on with it. Buy the season tickets, snap up the replica shirts and scoff the pies and pipe down and pay the loyalty tax. It's exploitation of course it is, but that's the problem with unconditional love, people are powerless to resist. Despite the sinister cynicism, the opening day does still have a thrill about it. The majority of clubs will suffer mainly misery over the following nine months but right up until kick-off there's a blind optimism oozing out of every pore. This coming season will have plenty for folk to get their teeth into. How will Falkirk fare on their top flight return? There's a new gaffer at Motherwell in Jens Berthel Askou who seems interesting, let's see how Stuart Kettlewell gets on at Killie and keep an eye on Steven Pressley at Dundee, where big Elvis is either going to a soaraway success or a runaway train. Then there's Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen and Dundee United. Very rarely do all over our non-Glasgow city clubs all get their acts together at the same time. There's a weird ying and yang with that lot that dictates one or more has to be honking if any of the others are decent. Right now they all look promising, and for once the league title might actually look like some kind of natural order, unless that's a banned phrase. As for Rangers, Martin could really do with getting off to a flier at Fir Park. Gers fans are scarred from some opening days, like Hamilton Accies in the Going for 55 nightmare under Mark Warburton, the points dropped at Aberdeen and Hearts and the loss at Kilmarnock. The last thing the new boss needs is to be playing catch up right out of the traps. As for Celtic, St Mirren almost spoiled Trophy Day and now get the chance to wreck Flag Day. The SPFL AI might not have an agenda, but it does have a wicked sense of humour.

Dor Turgeman to Rangers on brink of collapse as escalating Israel-Iran conflict sees Maccabi rip up transfer rules
Dor Turgeman to Rangers on brink of collapse as escalating Israel-Iran conflict sees Maccabi rip up transfer rules

Daily Record

timean hour ago

  • Daily Record

Dor Turgeman to Rangers on brink of collapse as escalating Israel-Iran conflict sees Maccabi rip up transfer rules

The striker's club have reportedly changed their recruitment strategy due to the impact of the Middle East conflict A deal for top Rangers transfer target Dor Turgeman could be taken off the table by Maccabi Tel Aviv amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Record Sport first revealed the Maccabi Tel Aviv man is a target for the Light Blues as Russell Martin looks to strengthen ahead of a new era at Ibrox. ‌ Rangers ' new American owners 49ers Enterprises have been long-term admirers of the 21-year-old having previously attempted to bring the 21-year-old to Leeds United. ‌ And with Cyriel Dessers reportedly inching towards an exit for AEK this summer, a new striker is top of the agenda after Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers pledged a £20million investment into helping Martin and new sporting director Kevin Thelwell in the market. Record Sport revealed Rangers have been in talks over the deal for the £4m-rated Israeli international - but the picture appears to have changed amid Israel's rising conflict with Iran and the ongoing war in Gaza. Sport 5 report that the club understand that selling key players from Israel "would not be a smart move given the current situation" as the club know it will be difficult to attract players from overseas. It is claimed that Turgeman "certainly" will not be sold before the club's opening of the Champions League qualifiers next month as they prepare for the first leg against Cypriot side Pafos on July 22. It is also noted that Maccabi will "significantly raise the asking price" of players until they feel like they are in an "optimal" position to jump into the market again - with Turgeman among those who are unlikely to be shown the door. ‌ It leaves the new owners at the club with a decision to make over recruitment with their own crucial Champions League qualifier around the corner. Should last season's top scorer Dessers leave the club, new boss Martin could be left with Danilo and Hamza Igamane as his options up front as he attempts to navigate the tricky route to Europe's elite competition and a guaranteed £30m prize pot in the league phase with Panathinaikos up first. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers page, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here. Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.

Ianis Hagi confirms talks with Euro club after Rangers exit
Ianis Hagi confirms talks with Euro club after Rangers exit

The National

timean hour ago

  • The National

Ianis Hagi confirms talks with Euro club after Rangers exit

The former Rangers star left Ibrox this summer, but has yet to find a new club despite being linked with transfers to Genoa in Italy and Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany. He was even offered a deal by Romanian giants Steaua Bucharest, but made clear he wasn't interested in staying in his homeland. Now he's been handed the chance to link up with his old Romanian manager Edi Iordanescu, who is now Legia's boss. Hagi said: "I haven't made any decisions yet. Discussions are ongoing with Legia Warsaw and other clubs too. Read more: "I don't want to rush, because I want to be careful when making a decision. I hope to start the next season right and find the club and manager with whom I can continue to develop and play to my maximum ability. "I am aware of what I can do on the pitch and my potential for growth. I still have a lot to learn, I have not yet reached my maximum level. "I feel very good from a medical point of view. I recovered from the small injury I had. I am already training fully. I am healthy and I can't wait to start the next season. "As I said, various negotiations are underway. I am free from contract and my agents are very active during this period. At the right time, I will make the best decision."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store