Kevin Hofland has confirmed that Rangers striker Sam Lammers is a 100% 9, a pure striker, and is best-placed up front and not behind another striker.
The former PSV defender coached Lammers for three years in Eindhoven, prior to the injury which spelled a horrible period in Lammers’ career, and as we all know, the forward was looking every inch a Dutch superstar in his earlier days.
But that injury and a loss of form at the Philips Stadion led to his sale to Atalanta and it was downhill from there.
But his old coach knows what he was:
“He’s an out-and-out striker. That’s his position. He can play as a No 10 but he’s a goalscorer.”
He can indeed fill in behind the front man, but his (former) best position is/was as leading striker.
Hofland went on:
“In terms of technical ability, I never saw anyone like him. There was no one at PSV who had any doubts that he would have a professional career. In the Netherlands, newspapers compared him to Ruud van Nistelrooy. But at the club we didn’t put him under that pressure.”
Lammers was a special talent 5+ years ago, he was expected to go on and be a truly great Dutch talent, much in the way Michael Mols back in the day did too, but both of them sustained horrific injuries and the form completely collapsed.
Lammers has been a journeyman ever since, and ex-manager Michael Beale reckoned the £3M was a brilliant gamble for someone who was ready to find a new home and his old form.
Unfortunately the first few months of his Rangers career have not shone too well, and he has just the two goals to his credit. Of course, his CV over the past 4+ years have shown that to be predictable, just 9 goals since mid-2019 show the killer instinct which saw 16 goals at loan club Heerenveen in 31 plus 5 assists isn’t there these days, so naturally we question Beale’s wisdom.
But Clement is sticking with Lammers.
And why?
Versus Dundee, he managed 5 shots, 3 on target, an assist, a goal, 2 dribbles, a key pass, and a couple of aerial wins.
That’s contribution, whether fans like it or not.
Sam Lammers isn’t going to give up, he’s not that type of player, and unfortunately supporters just don’t like him.
We don’t particularly rate him either, but if Clement does we shut up and watch and support on. Unlike some players in the past, Lammers has never hidden.
And he’s not about to start.
Looks like a clean slate from PC, so here’s hoping Lammers can earn it. As you note, the numbers against Dundee were good, long may they continue
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