[Archived] Jordan Rhodes

[Tom]

Whilst I agree with a lot of the posts and he has looked a poor player this year I do think if anyone he will be the hero Sunday (and then people will use it as proof he hasn't been in poor form)

If so then he can have whatever contract he wants!

[JBiz]

I'm not sure how many of you realise what could have happened if we hadn't had Jordan the past 2 seasons.

Going off goals and points, we would be nearer to the bottom of league 1 than the top. You can say someone else would have chipped in, or maybe we could have got X, Y or Z for less money but the plain simple statistical truth is, without Jordan Rhodes, we would be a division below at least.

Comparing him to shearer is lunacy. Comparing him to other top flight strikers at this point, is also quite daft. He may or may not be good enough for the top level.

One thing he is good enough for though (for me) is the championship. His record proves as such, and it is funny that fans have already decided to turn on him during his first drought.

It's all about opinions but you can't argue with facts. Even if you are Nodrog, with a strong anti-Rhodes agenda - You cannot argue with the impact he has had at Rovers, and any contract that keeps him here longer or gives us a better chance of achieving a big fee has to be welcomed.

[Tom]

I haven't seen folk turn on him as such just criticise him

For some reason folk seem to think he should be above that when at times it's warranted

[ABBEY]

44 goals in 80 ? Matches ... Works for me.

[McClarky]

There's no doubt that he's a good goalscorer and his record backs that up. Needs to be more mobile and do more off the ball and impose himself on games for me but considering some of the other players we have watched these last 3 years he's a rare example of someone who is good at something at least. Anyone in this league with a good team and a few quid to splash around should be looking to sign him as given the chances he'll score.

[Jimmy612]

I'm not sure how many of you realise what could have happened if we hadn't had Jordan the past 2 seasons.

Going off goals and points, we would be nearer to the bottom of league 1 than the top. You can say someone else would have chipped in, or maybe we could have got X, Y or Z for less money but the plain simple statistical truth is, without Jordan Rhodes, we would be a division below at least.

Comparing him to shearer is lunacy. Comparing him to other top flight strikers at this point, is also quite daft. He may or may not be good enough for the top level.

One thing he is good enough for though (for me) is the championship. His record proves as such, and it is funny that fans have already decided to turn on him during his first drought.

It's all about opinions but you can't argue with facts. Even if you are Nodrog, with a strong anti-Rhodes agenda - You cannot argue with the impact he has had at Rovers, and any contract that keeps him here longer or gives us a better chance of achieving a big fee has to be welcomed.

No agenda Bizzle, just an opinion formed having watched Rhodes for nigh on two years.

Like many of us, Drog has recognised the glaring weaknesses in Rhodes game, and just how ineffective he becomes when he isn't scoring goals. At the moment, having witnessed Rhodes recent performances, my personal opinion is that he isn't worth his place because he simply doesn't offer enough for the team. A shame because he CAN be clinical and win a game for you.

The lad has a talent in front of goal, but he wasn't, isn't and never will be worth £8m and £40k per week. I would be amazed if we get anywhere near what we paid for him, and if we don't achieve promotion whilst he's at the club then his fee and excessive salary cannot be justified.

We're playing a 4-4-2 to accommodate him at the moment and it's leaving our threadbare midfield with too much to deal with (as witnessed against Bolton). Couple that with the fact that he can't play as a lone front man, and we are struggling to find a place for him. We need to be seriously careful against Burnley because if we do play 4-4-2 there is a very real danger that we will be far too open and they will murder us. Begs a question as to whether he should start....

[JBiz]

I haven't seen folk turn on him as such just criticise him

For some reason folk seem to think he should be above that when at times it's warranted

Don't see where I said that Tom.

What I said though was true - without him we would be a lot worse off. People should be grateful.

[Jimmy612]

Don't see where I said that Tom.

What I said though was true - without him we would be a lot worse off. People should be grateful.

So should he

[JBiz]

No agenda Bizzle, just an opinion formed having watched Rhodes for nigh on two years.

Like many of us, Drog has recognised the glaring weaknesses in Rhodes game, and just how ineffective he becomes when he isn't scoring goals. At the moment, having witnessed Rhodes recent performances, my personal opinion is that he isn't worth his place because he simply doesn't offer enough for the team. A shame because he CAN be clinical and win a game for you.

The lad has a talent in front of goal, but he wasn't, isn't and never will be worth £8m and £40k per week. I would be amazed if we get anywhere near what we paid for him, and if we don't achieve promotion whilst he's at the club then his fee and excessive salary cannot be justified.

We're playing a 4-4-2 to accommodate him at the moment and it's leaving our threadbare midfield with too much to deal with (as witnessed against Bolton). Couple that with the fact that he can't play as a lone front man, and we are struggling to find a place for him. We need to be seriously careful against Burnley because if we do play 4-4-2 there is a very real danger that we will be far too open and they will murder us. Begs a question as to whether he should start....

I have watched him for two years also, and I have seen him score a goal every other game. Regardless of the formation we have played in he has either scored or not game after game.

Without him, we would have 50% less goals this season already. It doesnt take a boffin to tell you where this would leave us. Same last season.

The money element is a point well made, but what can we say/do about that?

In reality, no player is worth 35k a week - but considering Dixon and Leon are paid more a week than the guy who has score more than half our entire haul of goals for the past 20 months says it all.

[den]

Without him, we would have 50% less goals this season already.

Assuming we only played with ten men or hadn't spent that money on another 4-5 quality players. The Jordanettes© always disregard that point.

[JBiz]

Assuming we only played with ten men or hadn't spent that money on another 4-5 quality players. The Jordanettes© always disregard that point.

I'd love to see this other 30+ goal a season striker that we could have picked up for peanuts. Go on, show me!

[martonrover]

I have watched him for two years also, and I have seen him score a goal every other game. Regardless of the formation we have played in he has either scored or not game after game.

Without him, we would have 50% less goals this season already. It doesnt take a boffin to tell you where this would leave us. Same last season.

The money element is a point well made, but what can we say/do about that?

In reality, no player is worth 35k a week - but considering Dixon and Leon are paid more a week than the guy who has score more than half our entire haul of goals for the past 20 months says it all.

He's a bit like a batsmen who makes lots of runs but is hopeless at fielding, ie I would deduct a percentage of his goals for being unable to offer any physical presence / the ability to defend from the front or any pace.

Not having a go and I like the guy but having seen him game after game he simply isn't a top level player.

Good enough for us but not worthy of fawning and adulation.

[Tom]

How much did Ross McCormack and Danny Ings cost?

They are out there you just have to be a bit astute - Kean and Shebby were astute right?

[den]

I'd love to see this other 30+ goal a season striker that we could have picked up for peanuts. Go on, show me!

You don't need one. What you need to be is a good starting eleven, backed up with a decent bench. Best display and result of the season was the performance against City.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

I have watched him for two years also, and I have seen him score a goal every other game. Regardless of the formation we have played in he has either scored or not game after game.

Without him, we would have 50% less goals this season already. It doesnt take a boffin to tell you where this would leave us. Same last season.

The money element is a point well made, but what can we say/do about that?

In reality, no player is worth 35k a week - but considering Dixon and Leon are paid more a week than the guy who has score more than half our entire haul of goals for the past 20 months says it all.

My big concern with Rhodes - is that IMO his lack of pace and ability to hold the ball up impacts the team as a whole. Even though he is a good goal scorer - I have never quite made my mind up whether it makes up for the fact that the areas he lacks in impacts the team as a whole.

One thing is certain - if he had pace or better ability to hold the ball up - he would have gone straight to the Premiership from Huddersfield. My biggest disappointment - is that in nearly two years - I can't see any great improvment in either his overall play or our ability to get the best out of him.

[Neal]

Come the summer, I'd sell while his value is still high and re-invest in the squad. Not enough goals from other areas of the pitch, look at the season Cardiff went up, goals from absolutely everywhere. Jordan Rhodes can't get Blackburn Rovers promoted alone, it takes a good squad of players which don't quite have yet. I'd re-invest in a proper right back, decent centre half and 2 mobile forwards.

[M-K]

I'd love to see this other 30+ goal a season striker that we could have picked up for peanuts. Go on, show me!

Technically that's only ever happened to Rhodes once, and it was in the third division, playing against bin men and one-armed goalies.

Over the last five seasons he's scored 23, 22, 40(!), 29 (2 for Hudds) and 16 (so far).

[den]

Come the summer, I'd sell while his value is still high and re-invest in the squad. Not enough goals from other areas of the pitch, look at the season Cardiff went up, goals from absolutely everywhere. Jordan Rhodes can't get Blackburn Rovers promoted alone, it takes a good squad of players which don't quite have yet. I'd re-invest in a proper right back, decent centre half and 2 mobile forwards.

👍

[Neal]

I'd love to see this other 30+ goal a season striker that we could have picked up for peanuts. Go on, show me!

As the quality of these league not that great, you can find forwards for little money who can flourish in this league... Look at Vardy at Leicester. Bought from Fleetwood for peanuts and only 3 goals behind Rhodes.

[JBiz]

I don't think anyone can say that signing Jordan for 8 million was logical. Club record deal in attempt to appease fans after relegation?

Concentrating on the factors that are important to our team like performance and statistics make good reading for Jordan. M-K, I know I said 30+ but highlighting that out as incorrect is a little pedantic when he scored 29!

I know he doesn't offer what the likes of Dickov offered, or he isn't a battering ram or a workhorse. The simple thing he does so well though is scoring goals. No amount of investment in other areas of the team can guarantee goals as much as a striker who plops them in for fun! I agree that if he was fast, a Prem team would have snapped him up quick time.

I know he's had a drought, but natural finishers can do that. Let's hope he can come back with a bang.

[onlyonejackwalker]

It has been interesting watching the Rhodes debate develope. There was only two or three of us suggesting we might be better of as a team with a plan B that did not involve Rhodes way back then. Den has received so much stick highlighting this valid topic recognising how much we paid for Rhodes and how badly our team did last season. Some of those criticising have now seemingly toned their responses down, or stopped commenting of late as Rhodes goals have dried up.

There is no such thing as a one man team and Rhodes did not keep us up all on his lonesome. Silly to suggest otherwise. Baby-lining strikers need feeding and we have consistently created chances for him to finish.

Meanwhile as someone else mentioned at least Rhodes has been doing what we bought him for and has kept up a very steady goal return, even if his all round contribution has been badly lacking at times.

8 million was always way too much for Jordan Rhodes.

[Neal]

Thing is, people are trying to place their finger on whats not working and something obviously isn't working for us. I think Rhodes doesn't allow us to play in a way that a promotion chasing team should. Looking at this weekends games, Wigan against Forest had goals from everywhere, Leicester had goals from everywhere, when we got beat off Forest, goals from everywhere.

We're too obvious, too boring and we don't have enough quality elsewhere on the pitch. Putting pressure on the midfield to just supply Rhodes isn't allowing us to play as expansive as we need to be... That and playing 2 Anti-Footballers in midfield.

[M-K]

M-K, I know I said 30+ but highlighting that out as incorrect is a little pedantic when he scored 29!

Pedantry is the only reason anyone keeps or cares about sports statistics!

Anyway, it's March already and he's only on 16, so at the current rate his total for the season is going to be... 16.

[Leonard Venkhater]

Thing is, people are trying to place their finger on whats not working and something obviously isn't working for us. I think Rhodes doesn't allow us to play in a way that a promotion chasing team should. Looking at this weekends games, Wigan against Forest had goals from everywhere, Leicester had goals from everywhere, when we got beat off Forest, goals from everywhere.

We're too obvious, too boring and we don't have enough quality elsewhere on the pitch. Putting pressure on the midfield to just supply Rhodes isn't allowing us to play as expansive as we need to be... That and playing 2 Anti-Footballers in midfield.

Thanks. That explains why I have been bored s***less all season!

[thenodrog]

No agenda Bizzle, just an opinion formed having watched Rhodes for nigh on two years.

Like many of us, Drog has recognised the glaring weaknesses in Rhodes game, and just how ineffective he becomes when he isn't scoring goals. At the moment, having witnessed Rhodes recent performances, my personal opinion is that he isn't worth his place because he simply doesn't offer enough for the team. A shame because he CAN be clinical and win a game for you.

The lad has a talent in front of goal, but he wasn't, isn't and never will be worth £8m and £40k per week. I would be amazed if we get anywhere near what we paid for him, and if we don't achieve promotion whilst he's at the club then his fee and excessive salary cannot be justified.

We're playing a 4-4-2 to accommodate him at the moment and it's leaving our threadbare midfield with too much to deal with (as witnessed against Bolton). Couple that with the fact that he can't play as a lone front man, and we are struggling to find a place for him. We need to be seriously careful against Burnley because if we do play 4-4-2 there is a very real danger that we will be far too open and they will murder us. Begs a question as to whether he should start....

No question about it. To employ complete logic.

1. Injuries have rendered our defence woefully weak. No centre halves and two of the weakest full backs for years.

2. We must protect them by playing a 5 man midfield or Burnley will camp out in our half as Bolton did and with their form and strikers we'd get mullered and probably by a bigger score than last weeks Reebok dreadful capitulation.

3. That all means 1 up top. A target man who needs to be able to be just that and be able to hold the ball up, compete physically and aerially with Burnleys CH's and drag them around to create space for Dunny if he plays.

So....

Best lone target man we have is Gestede, second best from what little I saw at Bolton is Varney. Worst is you know who.