[Archived] Rhodes Wants To Leave

[thenodrog]

Players, or their agents, have all the power these days and contracts seem to mean nothing. Wouldn't it be nice if owners in the shape of Venkys won a player v. owners battle for once. Rovers could set a precedent for the rest of football.

Unfortunately it would rebound as agents wouldn't consider allowing their players to sign for us.

[Athlete]

I for one don't blame JR or Rudy for that matter the way the club is being run top to bottom is a disgrace we can't progress whilst these charlatans own the club and employ other charlatans to run the show or more so ruin the show

Venky's out

[thenodrog]

had me confused there den. I know it's odd but, although there's no o in Middlesbrough,

Yes there is.

I for one don't blame JR or Rudy for that matter the way the club is being run top to bottom is a disgrace we can't progress whilst these charlatans own the club and employ other charlatans to run the show or more so ruin the show

Venky's out

So effectively you mean Rhodes out and Gestede out.

[Athlete]

Yes there is.

So effectively you mean Rhodes out and Gestede out.

What I'm saying is I don't blame em wanting out

[JHRover]

What I'm saying is I don't blame em wanting out

There's a difference between not blaming a player for wanting out and then behaving in the way that we are seeing here.

At the end of the day we don't know what goes on down at Brockhall, so in terms of Rhodes wanting the move whilst it might appear odd that he wants to move to Mboro we don't know the ins and outs.

My gripe is the way things are being done. I fully expected Gestede to behave in the manner he has, but I am very surprised and disappointed in Rhodes' conduct when the club in question is Middlesbrough and not a step up or Premier League club.

Players feigning injury or being unavailable for pre-season (no doubt instructed to do so to avoid injury) whilst collecting their wage is unacceptable.

If they aren't prepared to put themselves on the line for BRFC then they should give their salaries to supporters or charity.

However, they are quite happy to pocket their income every week whilst refusing to play football and in the process make the manager's job even more difficult as he struggles to put a team out in pre-season games.

Quite why Venkys should be criticised for not backing down and agreeing to a quick sale to suit other clubs/the players I don't know. If the clubs in question want the players they will have to up their offers. Otherwise move on to other targets.

Sneaky behind the scenes manoeuvres to try and get the better of us and get the transfers done at prices to suit Mboro/Watford are disgraceful and should not be allowed to succeed.

[chris_h]

I didn't think it would be long before Rhodes's behaviour would see him lionised by the same sorts who did the same with that rat Chris Samba.

[den]

had me confused there den. I know it's odd but, although there's no o in Middlesbrough, the club are called Boro or usually The Boro. I know because I've written or chanted it often enough in my youth and childhood. My dad even trained our budgie to shout up the Boro! I was wondering who this guy Brough was.

MiddlesBROUGH Gumboots.

But ok, it'll be back to boro now.

[Dunnfc]

Rudy, Olsson and Williamson in court vs. The accused racist M'Boro fan - http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/live-blackburn-rovers-players-attend-9431671

[Stuart]

Rudy, Olsson and Williamson in court vs. The accused racist M'Boro fan - http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/live-blackburn-rovers-players-attend-9431671

Good timing what with the Rhodes saga.

Has anyone else seen this at every ground? Does this really happen in 2015?

[gumboots]

Are we sure they're not all there looking for transfers to an ambitious club?

[Biddy]

Good timing what with the Rhodes saga.

Has anyone else seen this at every ground? Does this really happen in 2015?

It's not the "monkey gesture" they say they see at every ground, it is the "rude gesture" which I presume is V's or w@nker maybe.

It's interesting that minute by minute update, a good read. Looks like the video evidence doesn't 100% support what our lads are saying although there was obviously intent in the snippet that is being shown to the court.

[Athlete]

It's not the "monkey gesture" they say they see at every ground, it is the "rude gesture" which I presume is V's or w@nker maybe.

It's interesting that minute by minute update, a good read. Looks like the video evidence doesn't 100% support what our lads are saying although there was obviously intent in the snippet that is being shown to the court.

Good read difficult case to prove

[RevidgeBlue]

Trying to keep two players who are desperate to leave the club is seriously undermining any pre-season planning or preparations that the manager and coaching staff want to do. They don't know if the players will be here, or if they are still here just how committed to a club they will be. If they do stay both are going to be a long way behind in terms of match fitness. Unless the players have a change of heart and come out and say they want to stay and want to play for Blackburn Rovers then I really don't see how this ends well for all concerned, but particularly the club.

Nonsense Parson. If the owners make it plain internally to Bowyer that R + G are going nowhere unless a massive upfront offer comes in from a Premiership Club that's the end of it. Until such time as either player are sold they should be an integral part of the squad and pre season preparations..

We'll be undermined a lot more definitely going into the season without them and I'm absolutely certain that that wouldn't end well either.

[Damien]

It's disappointing, but ultimately Rhodes is not a Rovers fan and has no affinity to the club beyond the hefty wage we give him. I assume that he now feels the owners are being unreasonable in their valuation of him and along with his agent is now trying to force the issue by using the old 'how to engineer a move' handbook.

Unfortunately for him there's no chapter on Venky's.

This is the curious thing about his valuation... From Rhodes' perspective the more he is worth the higher the wage he can receive.

It comes down to value in contract negotiations and surely Rhodes knows this!

[Feniscowles Blue]

I think PB is getting GB's excuses in already . This is ideal for Gaz then it can all be blamed on someone else

[RevidgeBlue]

I don't blame Venkys one bit. The only people undermining the manager's pre-season plans are those players who are unable/unwilling to play in pre-season games as they act in an unprofessional and disrespectful manner towards their employers as they collect their wages whilst attempting to manipulate moves to rival clubs.

He made his views clear last week. Unfortunately he should have thought about 'ambition' when he was signing his 2 year contract extension worth millions of pounds last summer, and

Venkys have rejected Middlesbrough's bid, so that should be the end of the matter. Why should they agree to talks by telephone? The offer made to them wasn't good enough so there is nothing else to talk about.

Nail, hammer, head.

I don't understand all this "we won't communicate with Boro" malarkey, trying to paint us as the bad guys in the scenario. Boro have already been told what the terms are to sell to them as we're not keen to sell to another Championship Club. As they're not willing to meet that (by quite some margin I'd imagine - the same applies to Watford to a lesser degree although they have not conducted their business in the same unprofessional manner) they should be told to **** off and stop wasting our time.

[Damien]

If it is true that Rhodes asked to sit out yesterday's friendly then that is shocking behaviour, and makes him no better than any other spoilt footballer trying to force through what he wants.

He made his views clear last week. Unfortunately he should have thought about 'ambition' when he was signing his 2 year contract extension worth millions of pounds last summer, and ought to realise that there are other factors beyond his personal interests at stake here.

I am also beginning to doubt the severity of the 'injury' he picked up at Accy Stanley. I'm speculating at this stage but it now appears to have been a very convenient injury to sustain in the clubs first pre-season game to get him out of harms way for a few weeks whilst he attempts to seal a transfer. Regardless of that, he should have been playing by now as it is 3 weeks almost since he got injured and the prognosis was for 7-10 days out.

Does anyone know if this is true? Has Rhodes requested not to play or is this speculation?

[JHRover]

Does anyone know if this is true? Has Rhodes requested not to play or is this speculation?

Speculation at this stage, though it is very suspicious that he has missed the last 3 friendlies against Tranmere, Oldham and Bury when he was only supposed to be out of action for 7-10 days and that was 20 days ago. I also now think in hindsight the injury at Stanley was very suspicious as it conveniently got him out of friendlies for a few weeks just before Middlesbrough came in with their offer.

It was also reported this morning that he had asked to miss the game last night and to speak to Mrs Desai to accelerate the transfer.

I also believe he has been seen training down at Brockhall over the last few days and looks fit.

[RevidgeBlue]

Does anyone know if this is true? Has Rhodes requested not to play or is this speculation?

It's in the Sun so it must be right.

I can believe he would go as far as to state his un happiness about not being allowed to talk to Boro. I find it a bit of a stretch to believe he'd refuse to play, even in a friendly. There may also be an innocent explanation that he genuinely doesn't feel he is fully recovered from his injury.

If however he has, the solution is a simple one, fine him 2 weeks wages and crack on on the assumption they'll both be here. You can't leave players out on the basis someone might meet our asking price/terms..

[Damien]

I see, doesn't bode well... If he does stay, he needs to get his head down and either get us promoted or entice another (preferably premiership) team to bid next year.

Going to Boro is still a risk and if it backfires he could be stuck in the championship indefinitely.

At least at Rovers he can have a shot at promotion AND if not promoted he may sway a few heads from elsewhere.

I really think the whole Boro affair stinks. They either pay up or shut up.

Venkys (for all their faults) are spot on here, there is no need to strengthen your direct competition!

It's in the Sun so it must be right.

I can believe he would go as far as to state his un happiness about not being allowed to talk to Boro. I find it a bit of a stretch to believe he'd refuse to play, even in a friendly. There may also be an innocent explanation that he genuinely doesn't feel he is fully recovered from his injury.

If however he has, the solution is a simple one, fine him 2 weeks wages and crack on on the assumption they'll both be here. You can't leave players out on the basis someone might meet our asking price/terms..

And bowyer shouldn't accept his refusal! Surely that is just common sense!

[Parsonblue]

Nonsense Parson. If the owners make it plain internally to Bowyer that R + G are going nowhere unless a massive upfront offer comes in from a Premiership Club that's the end of it. Until such time as either player are sold they should be an integral part of the squad and pre season preparations..

We'll be undermined a lot more definitely going into the season without them and I'm absolutely certain that that wouldn't end well either.

But they aren't part of pre-season Rev, that's the point. They clearly want out and seem happy to sit on the sidelines until they get their move. If we still have them in September then both players need to show a greater commitment to the club than they have done in pre-season.

[tomphil]

It's in the Sun so it must be right.

I can believe he would go as far as to state his un happiness about not being allowed to talk to Boro. I find it a bit of a stretch to believe he'd refuse to play, even in a friendly. There may also be an innocent explanation that he genuinely doesn't feel he is fully recovered from his injury.

If however he has, the solution is a simple one, fine him 2 weeks wages and crack on on the assumption they'll both be here. You can't leave players out on the basis someone might meet our asking price/terms..

Agree on the fine. Strong leadership inside the club would sniff out if he's messing about and tell him whilst your here get on with it. Not this bunch of wallflowers though who turn a blind eye to everything and even actively encourage players to seek a move. Minus 84k might make Rhodes get his head down again.

[AllRoverAsia]

But they aren't part of pre-season Rev, that's the point. They clearly want out and seem happy to sit on the sidelines until they get their move. If we still have them in September then both players need to show a greater commitment to the club than they have done in pre-season.

Are you saying that for fact both are not injured and are both therefore available for selection? If this is the case how long have they been 'uninjured'?

[RevidgeBlue]

But they aren't part of pre-season Rev, that's the point. They clearly want out and seem happy to sit on the sidelines until they get their move. If we still have them in September then both players need to show a greater commitment to the club than they have done in pre-season.

So basically, you want to sell the 2 players we can least afford to lose, at a price which is nowhere near what we want for them, just because it doesn't suit Boro or they can't afford it?

As regards the bit in bold, yes they will. It would help if the manager starts picking them though.

Edit: And a poster above makes a good point, we don't even know they aren't both still injured as far as I'm aware. There was a piece from the LT the other day from GB saying that if the pair are still here next season he's convinced they'll give nothing less than 100%. Surely you're not saying you don't believe GB are you?

[RevidgeBlue]

Yep. Not answering the phone is by no means "playing a blinder".

It all boils down to Rhodes and Gestede - and how determined they are to leave. Yes the owners can stand firm, but what use is it to us, to have two strikers here come the beginning of the season, who don't want to be here and won't give their all? No use, is the answer.

Someone - goodness knows who - needs to sit down with the two players, and sort the situation out, as best as is possible for all parties. I know what John Williams would have done in this situation. If the buying clubs were offering higher wages to the players, he would have tried to match those wages and if he couldn't do that, he would have let them go. He didn't believe in holding players back.

Well he might have done any of the above if he had any say in the matter. If the Walker Trust dictated a player had to be sold to balance the books that was the end of the matter. John Williams had no say in it.