[Archived] Rhodes To Boro

[Pedro]

Had to come eventually I guess, really sad but hey ho onwards and upwards, Rhodes has been on a lean spell since PL arrived and before tbf (2 goals in 16 games prior to the last 2), just don't think he fit in with the system we played, wanted a move and didn't react to PLs requests. Funny how he started scoring again as the window came to a close.

We may end up regretting this, but I don't blame PL for this, if he could not get a player to get the ball to Rhodes feet in dangerous positions then cashing in now may be the best idea. You almost have to build a team around Rhodes, after all does not have the pace to run onto balls played behind the defense, not great with crosses, not the hardest working, not the best/strongest when it comes to holding the ball up, not the most creative (averages one assist in 10 games), not to good with his back to the goal but he is one of the best finishers going if the ball lands at his feet in or around the penalty area.

Very true, some just don't see it. All you need to do is look at the bench an think,"What can anyone on there do?" To realise that having one star player isn't working. We need depth and we need money to invest. We can't invest without selling and our most valuable player hasn't been performing,is part of the reason we are down where we are and he wants to go. It's a simple equation. Some say,"How are we going to replace his goals" He's only scored three league goals in three months or so, that can easily be replicated and someone else can bring much more energy and fight to the front line.

[Stuart]

This the seminal moment for PL

Completely.

Overnight we have gone from looking up, following some signings to be cautiously optimistic about, to looking down and not having a clue where our goals are going to come from.

We have to hope that Lambert can get some synergy out of the remaining parts because if the players are feeling like I am then we have just kicked the chair from under ourselves.

Lambert absolutely MUST spend the money on a quality player for our central midfield because I just don't see us bringing in another striker now.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Another tragic figure...ended up at bloody Charlton, when he was such a fine footballer. None of my Irish in laws remember him either....Can you have a Paddy come Lately?

Yeah, a David Dunn who could also tackle. Imagine going to Charlton then. He must look back now and think what a fool I was.

[Spankus Munky]

Rhodes goals to games ratio this season is not that hard to replace (1 in 2.5 games) Graham has a 1 in 2.9 ratio if you go by his Championship record so in theory not that much worse off as we are

[Stuart]

We'd have a bloody good argument to stay out of it shifting £40k a week off the wage bill AND bringing in £9m+ in fees. If the League still argue, ask them who 'Boro have to sell to fund buying Rhodes..

The landscape very much changes with Rhodes going. Not sure it's for the better.

Rhodes goals to games ratio this season is not that hard to replace (1 in 2.5 games) Graham has a 1 in 2.9 ratio if you go by his Championship record so in theory not that much worse off

Comparing Rhodes in the poorest form of his career to anyone will do that. But even in poor form he's scored 11 in 26 this season - in probably the worst team he's ever played in.

Whatever it takes to get you through this mate but if it's denial then don't be surprised later when Rhodes is banging them in for Boro as we slip into the bottom three.

That said, I really hope I'm wrong.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

He's not a £10m player and based on his performances this season his value was only going to drop. He hasn't contributed much at all in the last 3 months and he clearly doesn't fit into PL's plans. Much like his national team, when push comes to shove, you need someone who offers more than Rhodes.

As I mentioned in the transfer thread. I'd take Gestede over Rhodes.

It'll also be good to end this circus every transfer window.

[Stuart]

Really looking forward to "the ball being held up" now. Would have preferred it in the opposition goal though.

[Spankus Munky]

Poorest form or not the fact is that's the Rhodes that we are selling. Rhodes doesn't work in this team and we don't have the ability to change it without investment which will put us in FFP without sales, but you want us to risk it all with a player that doesn't want to be here?

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Not surprised at this news as Rhodes never seemed suited to the style of play that Lambert has used so far. Having failed to get much of a response from the players he has inherited it is understandable that he wants the cash to rebuild the squad to suit the method of play he wants to adopt. I doubt that Lambert would have taken the job without guarantees that money would be made available to him at some point. The key will be using the money wisely in the summer - and keeping us up this season of course. Somewhat ironic for me that we are playing Oxford tomorrow as it was in the same season that we got knocked out with Oxford that we sold Fred Pickering to Everton - now seeing Fred depart really was a hammer blow.

To be honest Parson nobody at Ewood has come up with a style of play that suits Rhodes and the other ten players out there. How many other strikers has he played with and failed to gell with as a unit ? It'll be interesting to see how he goes on at ' Boro.

You're right about selling Pickering. The start of our decline that took thirty years to remove.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

The landscape very much changes with Rhodes going. Not sure it's for the better.

Comparing Rhodes in the poorest form of his career to anyone will do that. But even in poor form he's scored 11 in 26 this season - in probably the worst team he's ever played in.

Whatever it takes to get you through this mate but if it's denial then don't be surprised later when Rhodes is banging them in for Boro as we slip into the bottom three.

That said, I really hope I'm wrong.

He'll score for fun at Boro, get promoted and then struggle in the PL. The timing is the biggest problem with this. we need somebody in by Tuesday to at least add some creativity.

[philipl]

Big thanks to Jordan for being just about the only bright spark in an otherwise thoroughly dismal time for being a Rovers supporter.

[Norbert Rassragr]

Hmmm. If we get all the money to spend, it may be good. Bring in Armstrong, Bradshaw and/or Sharp to replace Rhodes and get Adam, McGeady, Gibson and/or Ireland on a loan with a possible permanent deal and we're laughing.

If not, it could be difficult until next season.

[Stuart]

He'll score for fun at Boro, get promoted and then struggle in the PL. The timing is the biggest problem with this. we need somebody in by Tuesday to at least add some creativity.

100%. In the Summer there would have been a very different reaction to this.

But even worse in the final two days of the transfer window. We have arms full of cash, and desperation, and everyone knows it so we have no leverage when they start hiking their prices up.

Maybe the gamble is that there are three teams worse than us and we can save the money to spend in the Summer.

In the next 48 hours we will have a better idea how big a mistake this might be.

Poorest form or not the fact is that's the Rhodes that we are selling. Rhodes doesn't work in this team and we don't have the ability to change it without investment which will put us in FFP without sales, but you want us to risk it all with a player that doesn't want to be here?

Aye, lies, damned lies and all that. Choose your range for analysis.

All players have bad runs of form. If you are going to compare players goals per games you don't just pick the last dozen games - unless you are looking to measure form.

I've not checked but how do Graham's last dozen games compare?

#classispermanent

[Mike Graham]

I'll still be at Ewood when we play Fleetwood in League 1.

[Spankus Munky]

Well if you compare Danny Graham's last 27 Championship games he performs just as good as Rhodes last 27

Premier League form is irrelevant to the equation as you might as well compare a Leauge One player to Rhodes which would be unfair

[Ewood Spark]

Looking on the bright side .... it's going to make the Dingles promotion attempt that little bit harder!

[McClarky]

Just signed up to bet fair and put £20 on us to go down at 50/1. Knowing my track record this should save us from the drop. Really tough run of games coming up and with our record against top 8 teams over the last couple of years we should start worrying. This is a huge gamble.

[ABBEY]

Rhodes goals to games ratio this season is not that hard to replace (1 in 2.5 games) Graham has a 1 in 2.9 ratio if you go by his Championship record so in theory not that much worse off as we are

Aye ... Conveniently omitted his past .

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

If we're expecting a team that plays with a modern high tempo, pressing from the front, win the ball back high up the pitch style then Rhodes hasn't got the tools to be part of that style.

What team works harder than Barcelona at winning the ball back in their opponents half ?

We're far from being a hard working team and sometimes players need leading by example. Could some of our players be thinking " He's on three times what I'm on, I'll start grafting when he does " ?

[ABBEY]

I'll still be at Ewood when we play Fleetwood in League 1.

Me too ... Some new grounds .. Venkyscum out

[Bundesburn]

I've got a huge amount of respect for who I perceive to be a very professional footballer. The overwhelming majority of players would've had their heads turned every time a big club came in for him. We'll likely never know the exact circumstances of this move, but Rhodes gave us a long time to Make a push for promotion and for a significant chunk, he has performed unbelievably well, although he's been fairly ineffectual by his own standards this season. Can't begrudge him wanting to play in the Premier League and Boro look nailed on to do that, with a manager who may have the skills to keep them up there, too. I rarely wish leaving players well, but Rhodes is an exception.

Two things stand out to me, though. Firstly, I've always thought of Venky's resolve to keep Rhodes as an indicator of their commitment to the club (I accept that is a bit of a reach, but for the sake of brevity, let's call it that). You can't say for sure that they're wavering, but selling your centrepiece asset, the only big-money signing... I don't know. It's a little bit ominous in that respect.

Secondly, Lambert hasn't been able to get him firing, be it because of a lack of quality service or motivation, I don't honestly know. Nevertheless, as a still-fairly-new manager, I'd worry that Lambert is stoking the fires of disillusionment with a squad who don't - and truthfully, never have - seem to be especially mentally strong. This is a calculated risk on Lambert's part and that is what he's paid to do, admittedly. It will be fascinating to see the effect of this sale, though. It could - and likely will - come to define Lambert's spell here, for better or worse.

[OJRovers]

If we're expecting a team that plays with a modern high tempo, pressing from the front, win the ball back high up the pitch style then Rhodes hasn't got the tools to be part of that style.

What team works harder than Barcelona at winning the ball back in their opponents half ?

We're far from being a hard working team and sometimes players need leading by example. Could some of our players be thinking " He's on three times what I'm on, I'll start grafting when he does " ?

I did think that too

[Spankus Munky]

Aye ... Conveniently omitted his past .

Okay lets not omit his past, it drops to a 2.0 ratio.

So that's a 2.0 vs a 2.9* wow that Danny Graham is woeful

* (also includes games played out on the wing)

[Bucksrover]

Hope terms are agreed soon - running out of transfer window to get a replacement

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Though a brave move by PL - personally I do agree with the decision. Despite his goals - as a team we just aren't moving forward - and Rhodes (for whatever reason) doesn't seem to flourish under PLs tactics.

When you look at his goal record this season - and take away penalties - he has scored 8 goals. Given the deficiencies in other parts of his game - it is a poor return to justify the impact he has on the team as a whole - at the end of the day when he doesn't score he can be largely anonymous.

For me his first season was his best - when his goals to chances ratio was unbelievable. Since then I don't believe he has ever reached those heights - still a potent goal scorer - but for whatever reason - not converting as many chances as he possibly should do. Indeed this season he has had numerous reasonable chances that he has missed - not saying that other players would necessarily convert those chances - but given his other deficiencies he does have to have a better conversion ratio IMO.

So we move on - PL will find it difficult to replace his goal scoring - but hopefully he will bring in a more rounded striker and use the transfer money and saving on wages to bolster other parts of the team.

To Jordan - thanks for the memories - and all the best for the rest of your career (except when you play Rovers of course).

I've got a huge amount of respect for who I perceive to be a very professional footballer. The overwhelming majority of players would've had their heads turned every time a big club came in for him. We'll likely never know the exact circumstances of this move, but Rhodes gave us a long time to Make a push for promotion and for a significant chunk, he has performed unbelievably well, although he's been fairly ineffectual by his own standards this season. Can't begrudge him wanting to play in the Premier League and Boro look nailed on to do that, with a manager who may have the skills to keep them up there, too. I rarely wish leaving players well, but Rhodes is an exception.

Two things stand out to me, though. Firstly, I've always thought of Venky's resolve to keep Rhodes as an indicator of their commitment to the club (I accept that is a bit of a reach, but for the sake of brevity, let's call it that). You can't say for sure that they're wavering, but selling your centrepiece asset, the only big-money signing... I don't know. It's a little bit ominous in that respect.

Secondly, Lambert hasn't been able to get him firing, be it because of a lack of quality service or motivation, I don't honestly know. Nevertheless, as a still-fairly-new manager, I'd worry that Lambert is stoking the fires of disillusionment with a squad who don't - and truthfully, never have - seem to be especially mentally strong. This is a calculated risk on Lambert's part and that is what he's paid to do, admittedly. It will be fascinating to see the effect of this sale, though. It could - and likely will - come to define Lambert's spell here, for better or worse.

I under stand your comment about this possibly showing Venky's commitment wavering - but personally I see it as a hopeful sign that they are backing PL 100% as he reshapes the squad. Selling one of their limited success stories as owners represents a huge gamble - and I am hoping - commitment to a PL revolution. At the end of the day we rarely looked like getting promoted with Rhodes - so time for a change of approach perhaps ?