[Archived] Rhodes To Boro

[tomphil]

I imagine all those who have been critical of Rhodes will be in for a shock. Having a player who scores 20+ goals a season despite "doing nothing" is what kept us in the league the last few seasons. Now we get to see what average strikers are like. When we are missing the few chances we manage to create, we might just be wishing we had JR there to finish them off...

That is exactly what will happen but I'm sure they'll be 100% behind any striker who makes a run down a channel even if he does jack all else....

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Personally I think it would have made more sense to create more chances for Rhodes to finish off but never mind. I don't believe we've ever brought out the best in JR. I think he's always scored in spite of the dross behind him.

This season he has actually missed a fair few chances - even with what I would concede has been generally poor service.

[RibbleValleyRover]

I think it's best to reserve judgement, at the end of the day what happens between now and the end of the season will ultimately prove whether this was a wise move or not.

The only major gripe I have is that it has happened so late in the window, we should have looked to sort out this transfer deal as early as possible in order to give the manager time to sort through a list of possible replacements. We will have to bring someone in whether as a signing or loan as the current options are not good and with limited time to do that.

All the talk is about the club has caved in to selling him or that Lambert decided to get rid, but we are forgetting the player in question here. Maybe Rhodes behind the scenes pushed harder for a move, keep in mind for the past few transfer windows there have been rumblings of him wanting to move on. Whilst he hadn't gone public or put in a transfer request a player can be unhappy, perhaps it was the right time for both parties to move on. Keeping a player who doesn't want to be here isn't a good thing.

[Stuart]

For all of our "ah wells" and "we will be better off with 3 average strikers than one prolific one" or "his last few games have been poor", the view of him by Boro (and probably every other Championship club) is somewhat different.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/jordan-rhodes-talking-points-arise-10811527

[RevidgeBlue]

HI USA how are you?

Time will tell if I'm missing the point. What you state above is obviously a view point, I prefer the Mark Hughes philosophy of hanging onto your best players for grim death and improving the quality of the players round them by good scouting and astute purchases.

In years gone by when we've sold the likes of Field, Jones, Barker, it hasn't been in an attempt to improve the team, it was borne of financial necessity to pay the milkman.

In the post Jack era players like Shearer have been sold because they were hellbent on leaving. Again not with the thought of improving the team or for footballing reasons. I'm always sceptical of this idea most managers seem to have that they fancy themselves as a bit of a dab hand in the transfer market and they think they can get away with selling their star player when they don't absolutely have to, and somehow replace him with two or three players at less overall cost and still prosper.

Doesn't work imo.

[tomphil]

My mate who was about to get a half season ticket after spitting the dummy at the end of last season has just txt and said sod Rovers now I'm buying a new phone instead.

Be interesting to see the crowd next home game.

For all of our "ah wells" and "we will be better off with 3 average strikers than one prolific one" or "his last few games have been poor", the view of him by Boro (and probably every other Championship club) is somewhat different.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/jordan-rhodes-talking-points-arise-10811527

He's sure to be hero worshipped up there by a set of fans only one step up the scale of being more fickle than some of our own.

[ewood111]

Not going to say I'm glad he's going because his goals will be a big loss. But give some of the new guys a chance - people seem to have written them off before they've had a chance.

I thought Graham's general play was pretty good against Charlton and he brought other players into the game, though it's very hard to tell if he'll get goals himself. Jackson also caused trouble, and I think he could be great (even if it's just as a super sub). Maybe they'll see Rhodes' departure as an opportunity to step their game up?

I genuinely think central midfield has been letting us down recently - we had no option other than to play hoof ball. I remember several times last weekend when Akpan got the ball and aimlessly passed it forward to one of their centre backs and I can't remember much of Evans' contribution at all - there certainly wasn't much to shout about. At the moment we have two options: score from crosses or hoof it long and hope for a knock down. Well our crosses have been dire and we have been largely incapable of scoring from open play, even with Rhodes in the team.

If Lambert can't bring in a number 10, it's going to be an even longer second half of the season than we thought for.

[RevidgeBlue]

This season he has actually missed a fair few chances - even with what I would concede has been generally poor service.

If I was him I'd have been ground down by playing in front of our midfield long before now. I think he's done well to maintain his form as long as he has.

[tomphil]

Evans can be a tidy player on his day but creative wise he's no better than Williamson that's how non contributory he is. He hides a bit too much for my liking as well.

[Amo]

We've sold better strikers than Rhodes and lived to tell the tale.

Let's see what happens in the fullness of time before calling the Samaritans. If Rhodes had to be sacrificed for the greater good of Lambert's long-term ambitions then I'm willing to give the manager the benefit of the doubt on this one.

[ewood111]

Evans can be a tidy player on his day but creative wise he's no better than Williamson that's how non contributory he is. He hides a bit too much for my liking as well.

Totally agree that he can be a decent player on his day, but those days are far too rare. We desperately need a good central midfielder.

...It pains me to say it, but maybe we've been missing Lowe in CM this season?

[yorkblue]

Totally agree that he can be a decent player on his day, but those days are far too rare. We desperately need a good central midfielder.

...It pains me to say it, but maybe we've been missing Lowe in CM this season?

No we haven't . Players always get better when they are out for a long time injured.

[bluefred]

Yeah, because we'll obviously be buying the next Alan Shearer this time round.

RIP Blackburn Rovers Football Club. I believe this is a colossal mistake by Lambert and wonder if the owners have finally thrown in the towel and this is the final nail in our coffin. We have nearly always suffered in the past after selling a star player in the short to medium term and we have very little wiggle room to work with this season. Watt and Graham to replace Rhodes? It's an absolute joke imo.

You have to give Lambert the benefit of the doubt until he's bought his own players in, however I won't be cutting him much slack after this as on the face of it he's flogged our one worthwhile asset and brought in a load more dross.

You also have to wonder about the long term strategy of the owners. What was the point in going to the trouble of hiring an experienced manager with largely decent track record if you were just going to carry on signing yet more rubbish and sell our only worthwhile asset? Could have stuck with GB to do that.

a bit dramatic don't you think

[DE.]

Maybe having Graham who can hold the ball and Watt who can run at players and keep possesion will help the ball stay up top and give the midfield a bit of time to get further forward, make more chances. Rather than have the ball come straight back because Rhodes can't hold the ball or win headers against big center backs thats how. Surely you see some of the reason Rhodes was not so prolific was in part due to the fact we were no longer creating chances with Lamberts game.

I have no faith in Bowyer's men rising to the challenge. As for the players Lambert has brought in so far, I'm far from convinced. None of them have a very good recent scoring record which is obviously a concern when the team's top goalscorer (by a long, long stretch) is sold. If selling Rhodes and bringing in the likes of Bennett, Jackson, Graham and Watt is going to substantially change the way our team plays then so be it - but make no mistake, we will need to see a substantial change or we are in deep trouble.

[dingles staying down 4ever]

I'd go as far as saying that if I was PL I'd be looking to bring in a strong midfielder or two rather than a forward. If we could strengthen midfield maybe we could actual to start to dominate teams then chances would come.

Ironically this would have benefitted Rhodes but alas that is now history.

[aletheia]

The pros and cons of Rhodes have been discussed ad nauseam for long time now. The issue now is does this side, which was already in a precarious position, have enough to survive in this league this season? If no, then this decision (whoever made it) will be regarded as poor.

If yes, then judgement on Lambert should be reserved until say 12 games in next season, once he presumably has his clearout and brings in who he wants. Let’s hope his address book is a good as that of Hughes. (McCarthy, Bentley, Nelson, Warnock, Cruz, Samba totalled £7.9m. albeit we were in a higher league and had more pulling power.)

[Amo]

When we finished 10th in 2009/2010, our strikers managed a grand total of 8 goals between them. Our top goalscorer was Dunn on 9 goals. We don't necessarily need to go out and find a 15-20 goal a season hitman, but we could do with the whole becoming stronger than the sum of its parts.

[koi]

I hope he breaks both legs. I'm not bitter.

[Josh]

Charlie Nicholas didn't even use our name when talking about Rhodes on SSN just then hahaha. He said something along the lines of "I feel sorry for the other team"

[Spankus Munky]

Charlie Nicholas didn't even use our name when talking about Rhodes on SSN just then hahaha. He said something along the lines of "I feel sorry for the other team"

He was talking about the other clubs chasing promotion as he said he wanted boro to go up hence the "Sorry to the other teams" comment

[RevidgeBlue]

When we finished 10th in 2009/2010, our strikers managed a grand total of 8 goals between them. Our top goalscorer was Dunn on 9 goals. We don't necessarily need to go out and find a 15-20 goal a season hitman, but we could do with the whole becoming stronger than the sum of its parts.

You don't if you're only looking to come in mid table. You do generally if you're looking to win promotion imo.

[Josh]

He was talking about the other clubs chasing promotion as he said he wanted boro to go up hence the "Sorry to the other teams" comment

Then I apologize, I wasn't paying much attention, but due to his relationship with Kean I thought it made sense

[LDRover]

...It pains me to say it, but maybe we've been missing Lowe in CM this season?

Yeah fair point.

I've been wondering if we've missed his ability to not make a challenge, not close down shots from 25 yards, not find a team mate with a pass and to hide behind the centre halves when we're under the cosh.

[booth]

When we finished 10th in 2009/2010, our strikers managed a grand total of 8 goals between them. Our top goalscorer was Dunn on 9 goals. We don't necessarily need to go out and find a 15-20 goal a season hitman, but we could do with the whole becoming stronger than the sum of its parts.

Problem is the team looks pretty awful even with the new signings. Midfield is terrible, defence is better but still suspect, depth to the squad is depressing. Had Rhodes been sold at the end of the season is feel differently. Time to rebuild and all that.

Today's team sheet sent a feeling of dread through me with the only hopeful being Watt who I rate. Needs other players who can knock it in around him though.

[ewood111]

You don't if you're only looking to come in mid table. You do generally if you're looking to win promotion imo.

You cannot seriously be calling us a promotion chasing squad? At best ours is a relegation squad, and one way or another Rhodes wasn't going to stay a part of it - because of Venky's, because of what he wanted to do, and because Paul Lambert wanting the money to rebuild elsewhere.

We have an awful lot of rebuilding to do before we're anywhere close to a promotion chasing squad.

Yeah fair point.

I've been wondering if we've missed his ability to not make a challenge, not close down shots from 25 yards, not find a team mate with a pass and to hide behind the centre halves when we're under the cosh.

I was only joking - though I suppose the dire lack of quality we have in midfield isn't very funny!