What does Rangers data say about Dessers' finishing?

Having already discussed what the overlying numbers say regarding the lack of goals scored by Philippe Clement’s side so far, what does the data tell us about individual performances?

The Rangers Review has cast an eye over some of the key performance metrics to find out more. All of the below data only considers players who’ve managed more than 300 minutes in the Scottish Premiership.

What does the xG say?

First, let's take a look at what matters - goals. Rangers aren’t scoring enough of them with just 1.45 per90 in the league. 16 goals in 11 games does not make for good reading even if that’s an underperformance on the 19.95xG fashioned by Clement’s men.

One of the biggest issues facing the Belgian boss is that only five players who’ve managed more than 300 league minutes for Rangers have found the back of the net. Vaclav Cerny and Cyriel Dessers (4), Tom Lawrence (3) and Mohamed Diomande and Nedim Bajrami (1). Danilo and Rabbi Matondo (1) are both under that minute threshold.

The xG/90 chart reaffirms that across the board, the Ibrox side have lacked a threat outside of Dessers. The Nigerian’s 0.56xG/90 is by far and away the squad’s highest and second-best total in the division. Lawrence’s place second in the table (0.35xG) likely shows why the Welshman was a consistent pick for Clement prior to his injury, offering a consistent goalthreat. Cerny and Bajrami are both averaging more shots than Dessers (2.69 and 2.39 to 2.53) but the forward’s proximity to goal makes his shots more valuable.

Across the board in the league, Dessers has underperformed his xG with four goals from 5.08xG. In the Europa League, including qualifiers, the No.9 has managed a goal from 2.01xG.

For context, across the board Rangers are taking around 6 fewer shots per90 in the Scottish Premiership this season compared to the last. Fewer shots is not necessarily a bad trend by any means. It’s likely something of a byproduct of Clement’s side attacking at a slightly slower pace, as opposed to always turning defences directly from the build-up.

Danilo averaged 5.19 shots/90 and Dessers 3.81 during the 2023/24 campaign. Indeed, the Brazilian forward during a small sample size racked up an impressive 0.80xG/90. When able to play consistent minutes the No.99 will provide Clement a welcome option. 

Who is creating opportunities?

To generate more opportunities you need creators and arguably at present, the lack of those profiles in the starting 11 is harming Rangers. xG assisted assigns a value to the direct chances a player fashions for a teammate that end in a shot. Note, that this does not include set-pieces.

Lawrence has been a greater goalthreat than chance creator, demonstrated by the fact that his xG assisted comes in at a marginal 0.10/90. Although Todd Cantwell was a less prolific striker of the ball the Englishman’s 0.23xG assisted/90 last season is just higher than the 0.22 that Vaclav Cerny is averaging this season.

James Tavernier has dropped marginally from 0.16 last season to 0.12 in the current campaign while Diomande’s total of 0.08/90 backs up claims that the Ivory Coast midfielder isn’t yet opening up defences enough from his midfield berth.

Rangers would undoubtedly look like a better-balanced team domestically with Bajrami in place of Diomande in the passing network below, a natural left-winger out wide, Nico Raskin at the base of midfield and one of Connor Barron or Diomande operating as a right-sided No.8. The numbers suggest there is a felt need for more creative profiles in Clement’s starting 11.

Pressing and ball-carrying

Dessers’ hard work at the top of the pitch sees the forward just ahead of Raskin in Rangers’ possession-adjusted pressures map (26.59 to 25.55).

However, the Belgian midfielder is winning the back more than any of his teammates, just as he was last season, with 4.37 pressure regains per90. Raskin’s 5.60 tackles and interceptions per90 is also the squad’s highest. It’s little wonder that Rangers have looked more secure and stable with the 23-year-old covering space as the No.6.

Alongside greater creativity, the lack of a pacey ball-carrier on the wing is another missing piece in Clement’s jigsaw. While Cerny leads the way just ahead of Bajrami with 3.90 attempted dribbles/90, only 1.21 of those are completed. It is Jefte's 1.8 dribbles/90 that come out on top at Ibrox, marginally stronger than Raskin’s 1.75. While this writer is not in favour of moving the 20-year-old forward from a role at left-back, Rangers could do with Jefte's ability to burst past markers more often in the opposition half.

The fact that Rabbi Matondo managed 2.38 successful dribbles/90 last season indicates that, even in a bit-part role, the Welshman’s pure speed witnessed to such effect against Ross County in a 6-0 win this August could be important for Clement moving forwards.