[Archived] Rhodes Wants To Leave

[ABBEY]

A striker who scores the goals he does is rare . Top scorer over the past few seasons . Yes he DOES hold the ball up .

wait for browny

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

A striker who scores the goals he does is rare . Top scorer over the past few seasons . Yes he DOES hold the ball up .

wait for browny

I disagree about him holding the ball up - best we can hope for is that one of his theatrical dives leads to a free kick. I have always been disappointed that, given his 6ft+ frame he doesn't seem able to shield the ball particularly well.

Sorry - your stubborn defence is making me sound like I am anti-Rhodes. He is without doubt the best finisher outside the Premiership (even if he wasn't as deadly last season as the one before) - in a strong team he is without doubt the icing on the cake (which is probably why Middlesborough are after him). But in a team like Rovers with so many deficiencies - both tactically and playing wise - his lack of pace and ability to hold the ball up has a considerable impact on the team as a whole. TBH the way we bought him was wrong - as IMO it was done without a clear understanding of how to get the best out of him - so we could work around his deficiencies and take advantage of his major attribute of scoring goals.

[G Somerset Rover]

A striker who scores the goals he does is rare . Top scorer over the past few seasons . Yes he DOES hold the ball up .

wait for browny

Don't worry, Browny and Delefouneso will bag loads of goals next season. Relax.

[roverandout]

Don't know why people are venting their anger at boro fans, its venkys we should be after

[ABBEY]

I disagree about him holding the ball up - best we can hope for is that one of his theatrical dives leads to a free kick. I have always been disappointed that, given his 6ft+ frame he doesn't seem able to shield the ball particularly well.

Sorry - your stubborn defence is making me sound like I am anti-Rhodes. He is without doubt the best finisher outside the Premiership (even if he wasn't as deadly last season as the one before) - in a strong team he is without doubt the icing on the cake (which is probably why Middlesborough are after him). But in a team like Rovers with so many deficiencies - both tactically and playing wise - his lack of pace and ability to hold the ball up has a considerable impact on the team as a whole. TBH the way we bought him was wrong - as IMO it was done without a clear understanding of how to get the best out of him - so we could work around his deficiencies and take advantage of his major attribute of scoring goals.

Not stubborn tho . Just saying he's only good thing venkys have done and in their credit even now trying to hold out on him . He's s talent we won't see again maybe in my lifetime but just gnarly me when we have a real goal scoring taken and he gets pelters .

[tomphil]

He might get his normal 20+. It's largely irrelevant. We are not called Jordan Rovers. His success can only be judged in the context of the team. He was part of our mid-table finish and underachievement as were all the rest of our squad. There were enough games he didn't score and others were he contributed little to nothing and his goal to chance ratio last year wasn't anywhere near as clinical as before. But I know I'm not really allowed to criticise him, or point this out. There's no I or U in team. Or Jordan.

Maybe Jordan can shine and be their blue eyed boy and fire them to 10th place as well. That would be amusing. They can copy us waxing 10 million on one player for continued mid-table mediocrity.

Liking how he is free from any grief for asking to leave as well. Quaint.

To the Boro fan. In your shoes I'd be after Gestede. He would slot straight in, would be easy to integrate and would contribute in both areas each week. Get Rhodes and you will be left scratching your head at how someone so clinical and assured in the box, top drawer, can lose the plot the minute he is more than 10 yards from goal. And then he scores. But your already 2-0 down. But Jordan scored, thats the only important bit.

Rovers fans don't struggle to appreciate what we've got at all. Unless you mean big Sam. We should be able to discuss Rhodes merits or otherwise without getting all precious about him. Stop conceeding two each week and our reliance on Rhodes diminishes anyway.

Your last sentence answers it all. Rhodes weaknesses wouldn't matter very much in a good solid team. Too many on here put the blame on his presence for the team and managers weaknesses. Bowyer doesn't play any different whether Rhodes is in or out, something the purists chose not to see. Unless it suits them of course when they are moaning about other players of Bowyer himself.

Fact is I would think overall results are better when he's been in the team rather than out so that in itself flys in the face of the critics. Never mind everytime Hanley loses his man from a set piece next season i'll remember to blame Rhodes.

[thenodrog]

Why on earth would you need to be sarcy about Jordan Rhodes talents' Theno? His goal record speaks for itself.

Description of him as an "accomplished finisher" covers that doesn't it?

I'm not convinced that Rhodes is going. Gestede I don't think will stay though

i'd rather believe it more the other way around. I don't think either will bring much to the party in the Prem. However Gestede's devastating power in the air just about tips it for me, even though he cannot trap a wet sandbag on the ground.

[Kamy100]

Situation is same as it was a few days ago.

Venky's haven't responded to Gibson's request to have direct talks. Boro not been back with another formal offer in the absence of direct talks with Mrs D.

[roverandout]

Venkys can go @#/? themselves

[tomphil]

Sounds like it's dead in the water now then. It's probably just because the four V's can't agree whether to sell so it just gets shelved like everything else to do with the club.

[chaddyrovers]

Dont see Venkys wanting sell Rhodes.

[roverandout]

Is that from your source?

[tomphil]

Dont see Venkys wanting sell Rhodes.

All they've ever needed to do is come out with a firm no to both Boro and the player or stick a 12 mill up front take it or leave it and set a time limit on it. Saves messing everyone around but as usual it'll be a circus sideshow behind the scenes. Anyone trying to set up a deal in the club without their say so should be sacked end of.

Like I said the most likely scenario is they are bickering between themselves and can't all decide the same outcome so it's bollux to everyone else. Not buying this 'don't want to sell' or trying to screw extra cash. It's just the usual cockhanded Venky way of doing things.

[Bucksrover]

Situation is same as it was a few days ago.

Venky's haven't responded to Gibson's request to have direct talks. Boro not been back with another formal offer in the absence of direct talks with Mrs D.

Venkys have got a lot wrong but I like how they don't get bullied in the transfer market. Boro tap up Rhodes and make a lot of noise but don't even get a conversation - funny

[Kamy100]

Doesn't mean that it is totally dead in the water, but it does appear as I had suspected that Rhodes going public hasn't swayed/pressurised them into selling him.

[riverside returns]

I agree buckshaw, why should we as a club and venkys as owners be bullied by boro and the general footballing world to accept less than his perceived worth.

[tomphil]

Whoever is advising Rhodes needs a kick in the shins, a daft thing to do, they should know by now how the owners operate i.e they just ignore everybody anyway except their 'line' manager. Putting himself at odds with some fans as well isn't wise, poor move lad !

[gumboots]

You'd think that having been at rovers a while now he'd have known that throwing your toys out of the pram rarely gets you what you want when you want it. Start learning Russian Jordan.

[JHRover]

Well done to Venkys I say.

Boro clearly now know the importance of getting direct communication with Mrs Desai as being a prerequisite to any kind of progress in a deal of this kind. Kean and Bowyer also knew the importance of this link and that is why they go to such lengths to maintain contact with her by way of travelling to India to pay homage to her.

Gibson's attempts to make telephone contact and go out to see her face to face are undoubtedly based on the penny dropping that the only chance he could possibly have of getting this deal done is to get the approval of the boss.

Unfortunately for Gibson and Boro they are dealing with a woman who has a very unique way of doing her business, which has been on the whole very detrimental to BRFC in the last 4 years, however in these rare circumstances it actually appears to be beneficial as she doesn't give cowboys like we are getting from Middlesbrough thinking they can come along and sign our better players without resistance.

The stunt of persuading Jordan to make unprofessional comments to an American sports network, whilst designed to be the icing on the Middlesbrough cake i.e. the point at which Rovers would have 'no alternative' but to sell, actually appears to have had zero affect on Venkys approach, in the same way Gestede's rumblings and series of fake injuries recently will not make them bow or lower their terms.

Good on them I say. They were criticised when stumping up £8 million for Rhodes, so I don't think it is fair to criticise them for doing their utmost to either keep him here or ensure they get what price they want.

[G Somerset Rover]

This was moving very quickly 48 hours ago according to Merce...

[niggit]

Thanks Kammy for the update. Doesn't mean he won't leave, but I just can't see it happening. There offer wasn't enough money upfront and let's be honest, Venkey's don't really do negotiating. You either pay it or don't bother trying.

[tomphil]

This was moving very quickly 48 hours ago according to Merce...

Has anyone seen or heard from Merce in the last 48 hrs ? Perhaps he's finally been got at

[Kamy100]

Thanks Kammy for the update. Doesn't mean he won't leave, but I just can't see it happening. There offer wasn't enough money upfront and let's be honest, Venkey's don't really do be negotiating. You either pay it or don't bother trying.

Yup this doesn't mean that it is dead in the water, just that at the moment Venky's aren't engaging in any conversation with Boro. I suspected that this would happen as soon as Rhodes went public. This is exactly the same as what happened with the likes of Samba and even Rudy during the January transfer window.

For the Boro fans posting stuff from here on your own forums - Venky's are not "normal" football owners. They have totally destroyed our football club, but if you do some reading up when it comes to negotiating transfers they are almost impossible to deal, especially when they have been annoyed. Just look back at transfers involving outgoing from Rovers over recent year, they refused to sell Phil Jones to Man United even though he had a £18 million transfer clause, they eventually got a performance based £22 million deal. They dug their heels in with Chris Samba, who moaned and moaned for 2 windows before they eventually shipped him off to Russia. They did the same with N'Zonzi, heck even last January Rudy went public about wanting to move to Crystal Palace and they said no. Whoever advised Rhodes to go public made a mistake and made any potential transfer very difficult.

[stpbrown]

He's gonna have to put a formal written transfer request in (Rhodes not Merce).

Probably won't help him but that's the obvious next step in this saga

[West Yorks Rover]

Well done to Venkys I say.

Boro clearly now know the importance of getting direct communication with Mrs Desai as being a prerequisite to any kind of progress in a deal of this kind. Kean and Bowyer also knew the importance of this link and that is why they go to such lengths to maintain contact with her by way of travelling to India to pay homage to her.

Gibson's attempts to make telephone contact and go out to see her face to face are undoubtedly based on the penny dropping that the only chance he could possibly have of getting this deal done is to get the approval of the boss.

Unfortunately for Gibson and Boro they are dealing with a woman who has a very unique way of doing her business, which has been on the whole very detrimental to BRFC in the last 4 years, however in these rare circumstances it actually appears to be beneficial as she doesn't give cowboys like we are getting from Middlesbrough thinking they can come along and sign our better players without resistance.

The stunt of persuading Jordan to make unprofessional comments to an American sports network, whilst designed to be the icing on the Middlesbrough cake i.e. the point at which Rovers would have 'no alternative' but to sell, actually appears to have had zero affect on Venkys approach, in the same way Gestede's rumblings and series of fake injuries recently will not make them bow or lower their terms.

Good on them I say. They were criticised when stumping up £8 million for Rhodes, so I don't think it is fair to criticise them for doing their utmost to either keep him here or ensure they get what price they want.

Strange thing is, when was the last time Bowyer went to India ?

Been in charge approx two and a quarter years and I can't remember him going there more than twice ?

Kean on the other hand seemed to be there every couple of months.