[Archived] Rhodes or Best?

[Neal]

The problem with Rhodes is he is a poor footballer who does not have the basic skills required of a modern striker. He is also not big and physical enough. He needs to put in alot of hard work in the gym and on the training field if he wants to make progress and play at the highest level.

Wow... Just wow. What are the basics of being a centre forward? Goals. I don't care what you play like.

Unless I'm missing some form of sarcasm.

[Waggy76]

When , I was a little boy Jim Fryatt was the best BRFC could offer ,,,,

In the following years Tony Field and Don Martin were the kings , Crawford came and went , the great Simon Garner appeared in our hour of need and the rest is history !

Jordan Rhodes puts the ball in the net , what more can you ask ?

Alan Shearer was the greatest footballer, I have ever seen or ever likely too in a Rovers shirt !

Give Rhodes a break he is a good un but no Shearer , if we can keep him and he keeps fit he could just be the man , to take us back up !

Best is unproven at least Rhodes has done the business for us , without him we could well be going down again !

[jim mk2]

Wow... Just wow. What are the basics of being a centre forward? Goals. I don't care what you play like.

Unless I'm missing some form of sarcasm.

Why did no Premier League club buy Rhodes before we forked out the ludicrous sum of £8m ? Rhodes can put the ball in the net but that's not enough at the top level. I might be wrong on this but unless he improves his all-round game I doubt if he will ever play in the Premier League.

[chris_h]

Why did no Premier League club buy Rhodes before we forked out the ludicrous sum of £8m ? Rhodes can put the ball in the net but that's not enough at the top level. I might be wrong on this but unless he improves his all-round game I doubt if he will ever play in the Premier League.

Nonsense.

How many players have gone straight from the third tier to the Premier League in recent years?

[Exiled_Rover]

Apart from the ludicrous signing of Conor Wickham I can't remember any Premiership side spending decent money on a 'proven' lower league striker.

As a finisher, Rhodes is very good, but there's nothing in his game that would worry Premiership defences. He's not got the pace to stretch them, the strength to bully them or the movement to tire them.

I'm glad we've got him, his goals have been invaluable but he's not going for a profit IMO. That's if there is the requisite interest in him.

Nothing in his game to worry Premiership defences?

How about his movement off the ball and the ability to turn a half chance into a goal? He's an incredible finisher. Put him in a team that creates chances and he'd score 20 in the Prem.

[the original david brent]

Rhodes has scored in the last 5 consecutive league games. Anybody know the player who has the record for longest run of scoring in consecutive rovers league games? I don't! Just wondering if he is perhaps approaching a record?

[Stuart]

Why did no Premier League club buy Rhodes before we forked out the ludicrous sum of £8m ? Rhodes can put the ball in the net but that's not enough at the top level. I might be wrong on this but unless he improves his all-round game I doubt if he will ever play in the Premier League.

That's not what you said first time around. You said poor footballer.

If you'd said poor Premier League footballer you could have been closer in your analysis.

I think he will come good. Prior to our recent upturn in form he has been our most consistent quality player. He's not going to continually shine without the service though. Even though his scoring record throughout our slump has still been very good.

You do wonder though, if we had brought him in last season whether he would have been our new Jon Stead.

[booth]

Some cringy comments on this thread. The guys pretty much had to make his own goals and at the rate he's scoring he could be on for being top league scorer.

If his all round play wasn't any better with a decent team around him some of these comments may be true but all things considered, playing in a bad team and a club in turmoil, he's done extremely well.

He was in League 1 last season ffs.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Why did no Premier League club buy Rhodes before we forked out the ludicrous sum of £8m ? Rhodes can put the ball in the net but that's not enough at the top level. I might be wrong on this but unless he improves his all-round game I doubt if he will ever play in the Premier League.

I agree he needs to improve his all round game - but sometimes I think this is partly down to how poor the service is to him. Not just in terms of creating chances - but how the ball is passed to him.

He is without doubt one of the coolest finishers I have seen - and his movement is unbelievable. We over paid at £8m - and atm would struggle to get that back - but I do think a Premiership club would take a gamble on him, how much they would be willing to pay is the big question. One thing to consider - even in the Championship his goals are rarely as a result of out running the defence - and he would get a little more protection in the Premiership when collecting the ball with his back to goal - his movement and finishing is just natural.

[youandwhosearmy]

Why did no Premier League club buy Rhodes before we forked out the ludicrous sum of £8m ? Rhodes can put the ball in the net but that's not enough at the top level. I might be wrong on this but unless he improves his all-round game I doubt if he will ever play in the Premier League.

This may just be the most idiotic comment I have ever seen on this forum... There is no doubt that he will play in the premier league! The fact he has scored so many when we have been terrible this season, should tell you about his ability...

[Sparky Marky]

Jim's correct. Many things missing for me....if we are talking the top level...Pace is his biggest weakness by far.

[Amo]

Wow... Just... wow.

[Mike E]

So he's no good enough for us, despite being our top scorer, because you don't think he'd be good enough in a league that we're not in? Some odd folk on here.

[roversfan99]

I don't think people are saying he isn't good enough for us. He's been our best player obviously.

He will need a better all round game to do well in the Premier League, especially as he will probably play up front on his own.

However I feel we can get away with also playing a Kazim or a Best next to him, many teams get away with 4-4-2 at this level, as long as the 4 doesn't have loads of number 10's stuck into it, Formica has gone, I wouldn't start playing Rochina or even Simon out wide, I would made that 4 more solid.

Rhodes should look at bulking up in order to start becoming more powerful and strong. That way his eye for a gaol can flourish further.

[Stuart]

Rhodes should look at bulking up in order to start becoming more powerful and strong. That way his eye for a gaol can flourish further.

You mean more like Goodwillie then?

Think about it...

[Amo]

I don't think people are saying he isn't good enough for us. He's been our best player obviously.

He will need a better all round game to do well in the Premier League, especially as he will probably play up front on his own.

Shouldn't we worry about that for when (if) we ever reach the PL?

To see people being so critical of such a prolific striker is astonishing - but indicative of this place at times.

[pick32]

Imagine how many he would score at a club like arsenal who create lots of chances but with no out an out striker to finish them.

[roversfan99]

Shouldn't we worry about that for when (if) we ever reach the PL?

To see people being so critical of such a prolific striker is astonishing - but indicative of this place at times.

I thought people were discussing if a Premier League club would want him, and would he be effective?

No one is criticizing him; at this level his amazing eye for a goal is good enough for him to be up there with the top scorers on a regular basis.

To perform consistently in the top league, which was what the discussion was about, ie would any Premier League team buy him at a profit, he needs to look to add to his game in terms of physicality.

[Stuart]

No one is criticizing him

Y'think...?

The problem with Rhodes is he is a poor footballer who does not have the basic skills required of a modern striker.

I'd hate to read criticism then!

[roversfan99]

He is not that good technically, but to say he is "a poor footballer" is obviously wrong. I didn't see that. I partly agree with the last bit, again it's a bit exaggerated but he doesn't have enough physicality for me.

He has got a skill that you don't teach which is what makes him so crucial to us.

[Tom]

Don't agree with Jims comment at all however it is totally fair to point out weaknesses in his game

He is a fantastic finisher but often doesn't contribute enough outiside of that, at the top level he wouldn't get away with that and would find himself dropped if he didn't score frequently enough.

The wolves game was a good example, he took his penalty perfectly but otherwise we would have been no worse off not having him on the pitch. Service or no service you need to constantly harass the defenders and work for the team. He did that much better against Brighton.

One thing is he has very little pace so adding strength and a bit of bulk isn't going to negatively impact on his best attributes

[Sverre]

Van Nistelroy scored nearly all of his goals within the box in the Premier league... Although it is a bit far fetched to draw comparisons between Rhodes and Van Nistelroy, they share some attributes..

A poster above mentioned adding bulk and strength, I think that would be a good idea. Players in the premier league are getting increasingly more athletic, that is for sure.

[roversfan99]

Van Nistelrooy had a turn of pace and some strength to be fair to him. Superb striker.

[joey_big_nose]

I imagine Rhodes will get a shot in the Premiership sooner or later. A Southampton/West Brom/Wigan etc. will eventually take a punt on him if we don't go up.

However I do agree that his all round game is not strong enough to really succeed in the top league. A bench player up there unless he can figure out how to link play effectively or get in behind the full backs.

[LDRover]

Would they pay 8 million though Joey?

Pretty sure they wouldn't so he'd be going at a loss which, if his goals don't get us promoted, makes his signing a poor piece of business.