Player Performance: Abdallah Sima vs Hibernian

Many Rangers fans probably wondered if the recent form of Abdallah Sima was just a purple patch. However, the Senegal international came off of the international break and put in, probably, his best performance of the season so far.

The 22-year-old has now scored seven goals in his last six starts for Rangers, which is incredible. His pace and power represent a constant threat and his finishing has been top class recently.

He had this to say to Rangers TV after the game;

I am very happy again to score here, for me it is really special to score at Ibrox for our fans. It is really important to score here but the most important thing is the three points, so I am very happy for me and for the team today as well.

For a long time I haven’t scored goals like that, I am very excited and very happy to be here. We have a big squad and big players, so they have helped my performances and my goals.

We know we have to score goals and work hard because we are Rangers, and we have to win every game. I stay focused on my performance, and I will keep doing that to score goals and help the team.

Abdallah Sima to Rangers TV

The Numbers

• 2 Goals (0.32 xG)
• 4 Successful Dribbles (most in the match)
• 6 Passes Into The Final Third
• 67% Tackles Won (4/6)
• 6 Recoveries
• 55% Ground Duels Won (11/22, most in the match)
• 100% Aerial Duels Won (2/2)

These are numbers and displays the fans are getting used to from Abdallah Sima. The winger looks likely to cause trouble every time he gets on the ball. He’s a threat with the ball at his feet and in behind the defence.

Defenders must hate seeing him run at them because they know he’s capable of just knocking it past them and getting onto it at the other end.

Sima must now be in close contention with Jack Butland to be the signing of the summer so far.

The Eye Test

The eye test tells you almost exactly what the numbers did from yesterday. He scored two incredible goals. The fact they were scored from an xG of just 0.32 shows how good they were.

I know that xG is a stat that some hate but it really does quantify the quality of Sima’s goals from yesterday.

He seems to be the perfect forward for Philippe Clement’s system. He presses well, gives 100% every time he’s on the pitch and is blessed with natural pace and power. The fact he’s around 6’2 and can move the way he does is incredible.

He showed that for the first goal. An absolutely incredible burst of pace took him beyond the defender. Then it was an excellent low driven finish into the far corner. A truly superb opening goal of the Clement era.

The second goal, in my opinion, is actually a better, or at least more difficult, finish. Good link up play between Lammers and Dessers led to the striker rounding the goalkeeper. He couldn’t find a way to put it in the net though. As the ball bounced Abdallah Sima hammered it home on the turn into the roof of the net.

Two goals and two incredible finishes from the big man. As the season has gone on he definitely seems more composed in front of goal.

He’s improving game by game and is becoming a crucial part of this Rangers side.

Abdallah Sima’s Season so Far

These are Sima’s numbers in the Scottish Premiership this season;

• 9 Appearances (4 Starts)
• 5 Goals
• 103mins Per Goal
• 21% Goal Conversion Rate
• 57% Successful Dribbles (1.9 per game)

His importance to the team has skyrocketed in the last month. He’s went from being branded as worse than Fashion Sakala to being the main goal threat in the side.

Those stats don’t include his goal against PSV, his two so far in the Europa League Group Stage and his double against Livingston in the League Cup.

The signing of Abdallah Sima now seems like a stroke of genius, well, partially anyway. It’s unfortunate that there isn’t a buy clause on the deal.

With the way he’s improving and the numbers he’s getting it wouldn’t be surprising if Brighton want to give him a chance next season. After all, he’ll still only be 23-years-old going into next season.

Conclusion

From one of the worst first half performances of the season against PSV to being the main man. It’s really been a pleasure to watch the rise in Abdallah Sima’s form.

As previously mentioned, the only bad thing about this deal is the lack of a buy option. Brighton will undoubtedly have their scouts keeping tabs on his progress at Rangers.

If he keeps developing as he has done in the last month, he’ll be way out of Rangers price range. Brighton have an incredibly intelligent recruitment team and it seems they picked the perfect loan move for the Senegal international.

How did you rate his performance yesterday? Are you surprised at how he’s developed in recent weeks?

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