If you had to judge Cyriel Dessers on his goal statistics alone, then it is hard to make a case that he hasn’t been a success at Rangers, on a personal level at least.
Unfortunately for the striker though, many fans and pundits have long since concluded that he has failed the eye test, and deemed him not good enough to lead the line for the Ibrox club.
After his well-taken finish against Celtic at the weekend, his 25th goal of the season in 51 appearances, there was a resignation about the Nigerian that no matter what he does, he will never convince some of his critics.
Not that he isn’t also self-aware, acknowledging there have been some bad misses along the way, and often at the most inopportune times in some of Rangers’ biggest games.
But there have been big goals too, and plenty of them, as he pointedly referenced when defending his record since coming to the club.
The subtext was clear – what more do you expect from me?
“I think if two years ago, the day I signed, you would tell the fans, ‘This striker is going to score 47 goals in two seasons’ I think everybody would have said, ‘Oh, yes, please’,” Dessers said.
“I'm just focusing on myself, helping my teammates out, helping the team out.
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“But I think, if you put it that way, I think in a team with a lot of ups and downs to score 25 goals, I think that's a good achievement, and I'm proud of that.”
Learning to live with the flak that comes his way on a regular basis, particularly the groans from large sections of his own support when he produces moments such as his fresh air swipe at a glorious chance in the second half of the weekend draw with Celtic, has been difficult for Dessers.
But he accepts it is part and parcel of life at a club with the stature and expectations of Rangers, and that is particularly intense in times such as these when those expectations aren’t being met.
“For me, I think that's part of football, and I love this club, and I love this group of players, so I will always try to go hard for them, and try to contribute,” he said.
“But for me, that can be with goals, but it can also be with hard work, press, with everything, but the goals are nice, obviously.
“There was a point where I wished I could turn it around, but if I see, for example, the criticism somebody like Tav [James Tavernier] sometimes gets, with the things he achieved at this club, then I think it's always going to be there.
“Which is okay, it's part of being at a big club like Rangers, and you can feel the hurt in the fans, and they always want more and better.
“But that's also what we want as players, and I know it's not always easy, but we all want to go in the same direction, together with the fans.”
Dessers knows he will never be everyone’s cup of tea, but he hopes to stay at Rangers next season as he continues in his quest to win over the hearts and minds of the Ibrox faithful.
There is some uncertainty within the playing squad with the takeover of the club by 49ers Enterprises promising a new direction and, almost certainly, major upheaval within the dressing room.
But when asked if he wanted to be a part of the American revolution at Rangers, he said: “Yeah, definitely.
“I have no idea about what's going to happen in the summer. Not in owners, not in players. I don't know who wants to stay, who wants to leave, who needs a resolve. I have no idea, so I cannot answer that.
“I hope it gives new energy to the club, and we can go to the next level. I hope, but I have no idea.”
