It seems that four matches into the new season many Ibrox fans have given up on Micky Beale’s new look strike force.
Around £14m was spent to bring in Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers and Danilo but last night against Servette they had James Tavernier to thank as the defender rescued a draw after some comic book finishing from the new recruits.
Danilo’s first half sitter brought comparisons to Peter van Vossen but there was a much more humiliating name being mentioned last night by nostalgic bears. Alfredo Morelos.
A year ago the chubby Colombian missed the third round Champions League qualifier against USB through injury then was left out of the return leg against PSV Eindhoven for multi-disciplinary issues,
Morelos was a shambles in his rare Champions League group stage appearances, looking badly out of shape and unable to find a barn door when the few chances did fall his way.
Van Bronckhorst was sacked soon after the final group match, Beale inherited the problems in November and quickly started yapping about needing ‘number nines’.
He duly got them in Lammers, Dessers and Danilo but it seems that none of then carry the goal threat of Morelos or have the physical presence, even last season’s 12 goal version.
All three look to be in need of a club where they can find their feet and hopefully get their careers on track, a bit like Rabbi Matondo and Ben Davies a year ago.
Just a fortnight ago most bears had their new look Galacticos sitting on nine SPFL points and safely through to the Champions League group stage by the time that they host Celtic on September 3.
Reality is that they will have six points at most going into the derby match and requiring more than their usual share of good fortune to get past PSV Eindhoven for the second season running.
If there is another slip up this month all eyes will be on Beale and his star signings, three forwards that were relegated last season (Dessers, Lammers and Abdallah Sima) while Danilo moved from Ajax to Feyenoord 12 months ago as a free agent.
Relying on Tavernier or goalkeeping disasters from PSV doesn’t seem the soundest strategy.
NOTE: To the surprise of no-one paying attention Morelos remains a free agent almost three months on from his emotional Ibrox farewell.
