[Archived] Transfer Window - January 2016

[BlooBoy]

The argument about Rhodes being a hindrance to the team is an interesting one.

Even with someone who could hold the ball up and get others involved - would the likes of Akpan, Guthrie and Evans really contribute much in the way of goals?

Spot on. The problem isnt one player its actually three or four. People are very blinkered if they thik that a straight swap for Rhodes is suddenly going to ignite this team. Its simply not.

[beanie]

The argument about Rhodes being a hindrance to the team is an interesting one.

Even with someone who could hold the ball up and get others involved - would the likes of Akpan, Guthrie and Evans really contribute much in the way of goals?

No they would still add next to nothing if we could keep the ball and build up through the middle Rhodes may be able to help in the build up if the play was to feet with people closer to him.

The build up at the moment is hoof it long and look for set peice even if Rhodes was to hold it up the centre of the park is way to far away to link up with.

[chaddyrovers]

Difficult to tell if Lambert is intent on playing long ball. I think it is more to do with the lack of quality in the middle to do anything else. Worth remembering that the one 'tidy' midfield player we have (Evans) was given a new contract under Lambert.

Also telling that on Rovers website yesterday (Koita article), he sad how we had "done well achieving the results we have". To me that indicates that he doesn't rate much of the current squad.

I think he is more of a get the ball into their half directly - then play your football there manager - Similar to Dalglish. To do it though, you need to be able to hold up the ball and flood forward from midfield.

I think Evans and Akpan are our best midfielders atm but we need more quality centre midfielder to play with Evans in my view. I have suggestion Adam Forshaw from Boro would be the ideal man for me.

I dont he rates much of the squad. Maybe around 13 players and thats why we see the same 11 every week and a couple of subs.

[Baz]

Is Jordi Gomes at Sunderland injured, or just not being played?

If its the latter, he could be a decent loan option.

[beanie]

What's Adam Forshaw like not seen much of him and he does not seem to play much at Boro

[DE.]

Even with someone who could hold the ball up and get others involved - would the likes of Akpan, Guthrie and Evans really contribute much in the way of goals?

I think we all know the answer to that. The reason we have no choice but to build around a goalscorer like Rhodes is because we've got a team comprised of players who rarely if ever hit the back of the net (including our other strikers!). The two other players who contributed with any sort of regularity to the Goals For column were sold in the summer. Marshall can score when he's on form - or at least I think he can. It's been so long since he's been on form that it's hard to remember.

If we sold Rhodes then we would need to invest in at least three or four players who can score goals, not just one Holt/Benteke clone replacement. If we had more quality in the middle of the park I daresay Rhodes' overall game would massively improve too, but whether we can bring in that quality without selling him remains to be seen.

[Stuart]

Alf Ramsey had at his disposal one of the greatest goalscorers the English game has seen - Jimmy Greaves.- yet he dropped him for the workmanlike Roger Hunt, (and received alot of criticism from the southern press for doing so) - but Ramsey was vindicated as England won the World Cup, .

The point is, successful teams are never built around one player and the idea that Rovers should be set up to get the best of Rhodes is nonsense. I wouldn't mind if he converted every chance he gets but the fact is he doesn't - for every goal he scores he usually misses two.

A very unfair comparison. Does that mean that Spurs should have dropped Greaves on the back of what Ramsey thought were the priorities?

An eight game tournament requires different things than a 38 or 46 game league. Look at Benitez, a great tournament manager but not a great league one.

[roverandout]

Jimmy greaves was injured wasn't he up until the run up to the final? I doubt he would have started Geoff Hurst ahead of him otherwise.

[Tom]

The ideal for me would be bring in a striker to compliment him, a Kenwyne Jones type, and sell Marshall and bring in a pacey winger.

Easier said than done I know.

[jim mk2]

Ramsey changed tactics during the tournament when he dropped the likes of pure wingers like Connelly and switched to 4-4-2 with his "wingless wonders" and hard-working mobile forwards such as Hunt and Hurst.

Tottenham had players scoring goals from all over the pitch. They didn't depend only on goals from Greaves and would not have won so many honours in that period had they done so.

Very few successful teams are built around one player such as people are suggesting with Rhodes and it is why Lambert should consider getting rid because without his goals he contributes next to nothing. .

[Gav]

Alf Ramsey had at his disposal one of the greatest goalscorers the English game has seen - Jimmy Greaves.- yet he dropped him for the workmanlike Roger Hunt, (and received alot of criticism from the southern press for doing so) - but Ramsey was vindicated as England won the World Cup, .

The point is, successful teams are never built around one player and the idea that Rovers should be set up to get the best of Rhodes is nonsense. I wouldn't mind if he converted every chance he gets but the fact is he doesn't - for every goal he scores he usually misses two.

The very fact you had to go back so far tells us how rare it is and let's not forget Greaves was injured also in the lead up, so Hunt was always going to play.

Poor example really, but let's see what Lambert does, I think he'll try and keep Rhodes at all costs, he's a massive plus for a mid-table championship side.

[chaddyrovers]

What's Adam Forshaw like not seen much of him and he does not seem to play much at Boro

He is a centre midfielder who did very well at Brentford. Scored goals under Rosler and Warburton there.

Went Wigan for 6 months but after Rosler was sacked end going to Boro.

I was reading the local Boro Paper online yesterday were fans rated him highly but cant get in team due to the form of Clayton and Leadbitter.

If we do any deal with Boro for Rhodes then I hope(suggestion) we get Forshaw as part of any deal.

[Neal]

Is Jordi Gomes at Sunderland injured, or just not being played?

If its the latter, he could be a decent loan option.

Out of favour it seems, Bologna are interested but a decent shout.

[jim mk2]

The very fact you had to go back so far tells us how rare it is and let's not forget Greaves was injured also in the lead up, so Hunt was always going to play.

Poor example really, but let's see what Lambert does, I think he'll try and keep Rhodes at all costs, he's a massive plus for a mid-table championship side.

I could quote many examples from the modern era. The point about building teams around one player is the same.

[Stuart]

Ramsey changed tactics during the tournament when he dropped the likes of pure wingers like Connelly and switched to 4-4-2 with his "wingless wonders" and hard-working mobile forwards such as Hunt and Hurst.

Tottenham had players scoring goals from all over the pitch. They didn't depend only on goals from Greaves and would not have won so many honours in that period had they done so.

Very few successful teams are built around one player such as people are suggesting with Rhodes and it is why Lambert should consider getting rid because without his goals he contributes next to nothing. .

Greaves was a goal machine. You seem to be downplaying his major contribution to Spurs' successes in order to give credence to your argument about selling Rhodes.

Yet as you rightly point out, as well as Greaves' goals, Spurs had other contributors. This exactly what Rhodes and Rovers need.

[jim mk2]

Where am playing down Greaves ? People keep saying we should build a team around Rhodes because he scores goals. I'm saying it's wrong because historically successful teams don't do that. Tottenham were successful then because they had a good team - not because they had a prime goalscorer like Greaves.

[Damien]

Midfielder from Luton McGeehan!

Scored 7 so worth considering.

[Bucksrover]

The ideal for me would be bring in a striker to compliment him, a Kenwyne Jones type, and sell Marshall and bring in a pacey winger.

Easier said than done I know.

Marshall puzzles me. Get him playing like he has done at his best for us and you wouldn't sell him. Playing like he is now nobody would buy him.

If lambert gets him firing it would be great. Maybe he misses his mate and former neighbour Cairney.

[Gav]

I could quote many examples from the modern era. The point about building teams around one player is the same.

I'm not sure you could quote many mid-table championship sides that willingly sell a striker that scores 20+ goals a season to help 'improve the side' Jim.

But its getting boring this now, Lambert will do what he see's fit and I'll support his decision as he's the manager of Blackburn Rovers, not the butcher, bakers and candlestick makers on here.

[scotty_beam_me_up]

The problem isn't Rhodes. He will start scoring again. The issue is centre mid. We have 4 or 5 in there all bargain bin players. Evans apart we have nothing in there. Even Evans has shown very little of the form which helped get Hull promoted. Until we get a couple of players in there of genuine ability we will continue to struggle.

[AJW]

Where am playing down Greaves ? People keep saying we should build a team around Rhodes because he scores goals. I'm saying it's wrong because historically successful teams don't do that. Tottenham were successful then because they had a good team - not because they had a prime goalscorer like Greaves.

. Thought we did exactly that with Shearer didn't we

[roversfan99]

I'm guessing Lambert's tactics? Really, I've seen 5 out of 7 games and each time and direct style and in 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1(when Lawrence plays) but we have played the same way.

Under Lambert we havent change style once and I dont see him doing it for just for Rhodes. Do you see Lambert changing it for Rhodes cos I deffo dont. Do you?

Lambert current style and tactics dont suit Rhodes one bit. Thats clear to see surely?

Rhodes is our best player? Depends what you are basing that on and what attributes you are looking for.

Recommending inferior players? Really? Players like Gayle, Grabban, Crouch, Anichebe who are at Premier League clubs. Grabban was top scorer for Norwich last season when they got promote. Crouch has international caps for England.

Well there doesnt seem to be any plan to the direct play and it isnt suiting anyone, so why blindly persist with it.

He is the most consistent goalscorer in the league, he is by far our best player and most prized asset.

None of these have his goalscoring record do they.We need someone who can compliment Rhodes, he needs pace around him and clever players who can slip him in.

[Stuart]

Where am playing down Greaves ? People keep saying we should build a team around Rhodes because he scores goals. I'm saying it's wrong because historically successful teams don't do that. Tottenham were successful then because they had a good team - not because they had a prime goalscorer like Greaves.

Jimmy Greaves scored a phenomenal amount of goals in his time at Spurs. Phenomenal. He also had a good team around him. If he hadn't, early in his Tottenham days, would it have been the right move to get rid of him and bring in other to contribute instead of him or in support of him?

I say the latter. From your posts, on the comparison with Rhodes, I infer that you believe the former.

[Jim Royle]

Your better than Rhodes ?

Who do you play for ?

To be fair, that is the point. I'm sh1t.

Jordan, without goals is sh1t.

Jordan, with goals is an asset but are we going to see him back to his best at rovers?

I have serious doubts because from what I've witnessed lately Jordan isn't even going through the motions which suggests to me that either he has made his mind up and he is off, or he has it made for him.

Losing the Jordan of the last 3 mths is no loss, getting anything like £12m would be a godsend for a manager and let's be honest it is only for the Venkys that we haven't previously taken that option. Potentially they may have had their minds changed by Lambert or Rhodes.

Bolton was so horrific, that I am up for change, big change, cause just papering over the cracks ain't going to work.

[arbitro]

Does Crouch live around the Formby area close enough to arbitro's agent ?

It's getting really boring now mate. Your obsession with agents (and one in particular) is doing you no favours at all. You post like you know something - well if you do say it rather than come out with inane, cryptic comments.

In fact if you want I will ask Simon if you can contact him then you can hear it direct.