Kris Boyd Was Right – Rangers Fans Stun with Verdict on Cyriel Dessers | OneFootball

Kris Boyd may have made a career out of strong opinions but one of his more recent ones has found surprising agreement from Rangers fans. When the former Ibrox striker claimed that Cyriel Dessers should be the club’s main front man next season and that the system should be built around him, many would have expected a backlash. Instead an Ibrox Noise poll revealed that roughly 75 percent of the Rangers support actually backed Boyd’s view. That number is significant given how divided opinion has been about the Nigerian forward over the past year.

Dessers’ Rangers spell has not been plain sailing. He arrived with questions over his suitability and endured a shaky start which brought with it fierce criticism. But somewhere between the groans and missed sitters he found a way to score goals and ended the season as the club’s top scorer. Fans may not have taken him to heart like an Alfredo Morelos or even a Kris Boyd but results speak loudly and Dessers delivered. That might explain why so many have decided to back him now as the man to lead the line under the next manager.

Boyd’s claim was that the team should be built around the former Cremonese striker. That is a big statement but not one entirely without merit. As explored in this article, Dessers does a lot of hard graft which often goes unappreciated. He links play well and his runs open space for midfielders to exploit. He may not be the most clinical or composed but he is consistent in application and commitment. That appears to have struck a chord with fans who are tired of passengers and want effort over ego.

What remains to be seen is whether the new regime agrees. If Rangers go into the market for another striker it could either be to complement or to replace Dessers. His stock has risen quietly and the fans have clearly taken notice. As previously noted, he has handled criticism with class and humility, something that has only further warmed some hearts.

Time will tell if he gets the system built around him. But for now he can take comfort that three quarters of the support see him as the man for the job.

More on Dessers’ stats and history can be found here.