WHEN Philippe Clement talks about his players writing their own stories, Lee McCulloch knows exactly what he means.
The former Rangers skipper was on the Ibrox books at time when Gers were penning a celebrated trilogy with three straight titles during Walter Smith's second stint as Light Blues boss.
Every instalment was a page turner, packed with drama and excitement as titanic tussles with Celtic went to the wire.
Yet, when it came to the final chapter of each edition, it was a member of the support cast who ended up stealing the scene from Smith's central characters.
Just when it appeared that the script had been written for the likes of Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller or Nikica Jelavic to claim the honour of firing Rangers to SPL glory, up would pop Kyle Lafferty as the Northern Irishman proved to be Rangers' unlikely leading man three years on the trot with title-winning strikes at Tannadice, Easter Road and Rugby Park.
While much was expected of the Enniskillen ace when he joined Gers in a £3million move from Burnley in 2008, his Ibrox tale was one of ups and downs, with those end-of-season high points often balanced out against underwhelming displays at other times.
It's a narrative that's similar to the love-hate plot Cyriel Dessers is currently playing out with the Ibrox faithful.
On the face of it, a tally of 16 goals and seven assists doesn't look a bad return on the £4.5m Rangers spent on the striker when they signed him last summer from Italian outfit Cremonese. But stats are a little bit like bikinis in that they don't reveal the whole story and a more truthful account of Dessers' Rangers record is that in spells he's looked like a man cast in the wrong movie, utterly out of his depth.
この記事は Daily Record の March 27, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Daily Record の March 27, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
LEIGHTON LET LOOSE
Clarkson loves Leven's shoot-on-sight rules
GOOD WILL HUNTING
Harry says Jags fans are willing team to victory and crazy win v Airdrie shows the Firhill spirit
HOME FROM ROME
MacIntyre hoping sight of Ryder Cup team-mates will fire him up for glory
10 years on from great escape and Hearts are beating faster than ever
The next decade should be exciting as Jambos progress
TAPAS OF THE LEAGUE
Critics forced to eat humble paella but McGregor knew during Spanish lunch that Rodgers would be Parkhead smash second time around
THERE IS NO GAP
When we both have full squads we're a match for Celtic... and we have one more point than them in last six months says Phil
I'm lucky ... I like doing the dark stuff
TV star Vicky is back for thrills in spooky Insomnia
Dad died doing what he loved
Hillwalker Freddie, 74, fell to his death moments after calling son
BUBBLE & SNEAK
Homeowner baffled as mystery woman uses his Jacuzzi at night.. then leaves her shorts and phone
HEAD CASE
Tyson Fury's dad butts rival's pal during pre-fight bust-up