[Archived] Transfer Window - January 2016

[Mani]

Can see both side to the Rhodes' quandary. However, if Lambert wants to sell and Venkys yet again block the sale then that's up there with some of the worst things they have done. Lambert should be left to manage, if he isn't then we are heading for disaster again.

As Iv said many times I would keep him until the summer but I'm not the manager and I don't watch him every day.

I know that the previous regime would have sold him at the figures being quoted. They felt the TEAM could be improved with the money and a different type of striker. It appears Lambert feels the same. His lack of 'hands off' is proof imo. And his 'until another manager calls me' is further vindication plus Dunny's comments after spending some time with PL this week.

I think they'd be very brave to refuse Lambert if they were his wishes...

Either way I'm convinced that the Swansea story came off the back of Lamberts last interview. Whether the bid or the story is true.

[davulsukur]

Not a cat in hells chance i would be selling Rhodes. If used correctly he scores goals for fun. Lambert should be using his managerial know-how to get him back no the score sheet regularly.

[Damien]

Not a cat in hells chance i would be selling Rhodes. If used correctly he scores goals for fun. Lambert should be using his managerial know-how to get him back no the score sheet regularly.

Spot on! It baffles me how many people on here would cash in on Rhodes!

How do we replace him then?

With the money he brings in?

Surely Rhodes is the best option or the clubs looking at him would sign someone else!

Whoever we replace him with is not superior...

Lambert knows this and hopefully he can see the best chance we have is to supply Rhodes with chances in the manner Rhodes likes.

The goals will come and the risk is low!

Sell him... Then the is no guarantees and the risk is high!

[T J Hooker]

For me the biggest problem with rhodes has always been his wage, how can you build a harmonious team when you have one player getting paid more than 2/3/4 times that of everybody else in the squad

[Lancaster Rover]

I have listened back to the Lambert interview and didn't hear anything that any other manager wouldn't say about a clubs most saleable asset. I think its totally unreasonable for Lambert to be expected to say under no circumstances would we sell, there is the player to think about in all this as well. If a prem team comes in with a big money bid and it works for both parties I think Jordan has to be given the option as realistically our chances of playing in the prem in the next 18 months are slim to non existent, by which time Jordan is approaching 28 having never played in the prem and highly unlikely at that point any club would take a punt on him, given his complete lack of pace.

I think people are reading into the interview what they want to be there. 12 million quid could buy us 2 Charlie Austins a Henri Lansbury and still have change.

[Damien]

But if we sold Rhodes and replaced him with Austin and Lansbury... The wages combined would be much higher!

Surely it's better to keep the Jewel in the crown and build a hungry team around him!

He deserves his wage!

[chaddyrovers]

Spot on! It baffles me how many people on here would cash in on Rhodes!

How do we replace him then?

With the money he brings in?

Surely Rhodes is the best option or the clubs looking at him would sign someone else!

Whoever we replace him with is not superior...

Lambert knows this and hopefully he can see the best chance we have is to supply Rhodes with chances in the manner Rhodes likes.

The goals will come and the risk is low!

Sell him... Then the is no guarantees and the risk is high!

Lambert would find a striker who would score 15 goals a season. I suggestion who I would replacement him with.

Plus Lambert could improve other areas of the team like midfield playmaker, left back and right back

[Mani]

Spot on! It baffles me how many people on here would cash in on Rhodes!

How do we replace him then?

With the money he brings in?

Surely Rhodes is the best option or the clubs looking at him would sign someone else!

Whoever we replace him with is not superior...

Lambert knows this and hopefully he can see the best chance we have is to supply Rhodes with chances in the manner Rhodes likes.

The goals will come and the risk is low!

Sell him... Then the is no guarantees and the risk is high!

I can see your point. But I'm playing devils advocate here...if that is the case then how does any team stay up or be successful without a Jordan Rhodes? The answer is that they become more collective in their approach.

Fgs last season our front two scored 41 league goals and we finished 9th!! Goals on their own are not the key to success.

I would like to see Rhodes stay and play in a two with Graham though..

[Lancaster Rover]

But if we sold Rhodes and replaced him with Austin and Lansbury... The wages combined would be much higher!

Surely it's better to keep the Jewel in the crown and build a hungry team around him!

He deserves his wage!

I was using Austin and Lansbury as examples of the calibre of player we could get with that sort of money.

I'm not advocating a sale, just that if a club comes in and offers Jordan the chance of playing in the premier league and the figures meet our needs it would be churlish to hold the lad back.

[onlyonejackwalker]

If it was your cash would you seriously consider paying 12 million for Rhodes? I wouldn't, nor would I allow any manager of mine to be so short sighted or financially irresponsible.

We band about figures like 6 or 8 or 10 or 12 million like it's confetti. It's not its an absolute fortune which when added to a large salary makes Rhodes very expensive.

You would seriously think we are called Blackburn Rhoders the way some go on.

Having said that I have felt a tad sorry for him at times this season. Must have been good having Gestede up there occupying defenders for him.

[Lancaster Rover]

I certainly wouldn't dream of paying it, however I'm a sensible person and don't run a football club. It seems that all business logic and sense goes out of the window when it comes to football and in particular trading of the commodities known as players.

[Speedie Dived]

Spot on! It baffles me how many people on here would cash in on Rhodes!

How do we replace him then?

With the money he brings in?

Surely Rhodes is the best option or the clubs looking at him would sign someone else!

Whoever we replace him with is not superior...

Lambert knows this and hopefully he can see the best chance we have is to supply Rhodes with chances in the manner Rhodes likes.

The goals will come and the risk is low!

Sell him... Then the is no guarantees and the risk is high!

I can see both sides of the argument, but it certainly doesn't baffle me why some can see the sense in selling him.

The clubs looking at him have signed someone else. He has currently only been bought by us and Huddersfield and he was more or less booted out of Ipswich.

The aim is not to get 25 goals out of Rhodes, it's to get 70+ out of the team. I believe that his sale would help us get to that figure in a year or two.

[roverstdt]

Am I the only one who thinks it could be worth selling Rhodes for 12M, and then sign someone like Dwight Gayle or Gary Hooper on a permanent basis with the rest of the cash, and sign a creative midfielder?

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

If it was your cash would you seriously consider paying 12 million for Rhodes? I wouldn't, nor would I allow any manager of mine to be so short sighted or financially irresponsible.

We band about figures like 6 or 8 or 10 or 12 million like it's confetti. It's not its an absolute fortune which when added to a large salary makes Rhodes very expensive.

You would seriously think we are called Blackburn Rhoders the way some go on.

Having said that I have felt a tad sorry for him at times this season. Must have been good having Gestede up there occupying defenders for him.

Tough balancing act for any lower Premiership club. £12m is a lot - and personally would look elsewhere - however if he went on a goal scoring run (which he is well capable of - irrespective of other aspects of his game) and avoided a team being relegated - it would be worth far more than £12m to that club.

I hope he gets the opportunity at some point - as I am genuinely curious as to whether he would thrive with better service - or struggle against better, quicker defenders.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Has there been any hint as to who the 'no.10' is that Lambert said we have been tracking in the LT?

[J*B]

Not yet. I'm no detective, but I would suggest its relatively easy to track down. Look for former players, available on a free, with 6 months left on their contract or on loan with their name including either Elliott or Bennett.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Gotcha. I'm on it.

[K-Hod]

Am I the only one who thinks it could be worth selling Rhodes for 12M, and then sign someone like Dwight Gayle or Gary Hooper on a permanent basis with the rest of the cash, and sign a creative midfielder?

Theoretically this is a good idea, but I'd rather keep Rhodes.

We can't sign Gary Hooper though, he's just signed for Sheffield Wednesday!

[Neal]

Can Mcgeady play number 10? Hoolahan would be my guess, Lambert has been quite vocal of his admiration of him in the past and tried to sign him for Villa in 2014.

Note: his contract expires in the summer.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Can Mcgeady play number 10? Hoolahan would be my guess, Lambert has been quite vocal of his admiration of him in the past and tried to sign him for Villa in 2014.

McGeady, being a skilful winger should be able to play in the hole. I'd forgotten about him and Houlahan, possibly because I think either is very unlikely. Houlahan is regularly in and around the Norwich matchday squad and both would be on big wages.

Either would be a coup.

[Lancaster Rover]

I think McGeady is the more likely, although he's only played 45 minute of football this season against Barnsley. Hoolahan has been playing regularly for Norwich and whilst they have signed Naismith its not like they have quality attacking players coming out of their ears. I can't see them letting him go.

[Neal]

McGeady, being a skilful winger should be able to play in the hole. I'd forgotten about him and Houlahan, possibly because I think either is very unlikely. Houlahan is regularly in and around the Norwich matchday squad and both would be on big wages.

Either would be a coup.

Hoolahan being in the last 6 months of his contract at 33 years old seems a realistic target to me.

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Hoolahan being in the last 6 months of his contract at 33 years old seems a realistic target to me.

I hope you're right, I'd be really pleased with that. I think it's already been mentioned that we need a Berkovic. Would he fit the bill?

[J*B]

Hoolahan being in the last 6 months of his contract at 33 years old seems a realistic target to me.

To be fair he fits in with the rest of January's signings. Question is will Norwich give us him on a free/let him buy out his contract ala Graham, Ward, Bennett?

[Lancaster Rover]

I don't get what's in it for Norwich. They're threatened with relegation, letting him go serves them no purpose when he has been playing regularly. Yes he can go for nowt in summer but keeping him and maybe he pops up with a goal or an assist that gets them the points to stay up or contribute to that, its priceless.