[Archived] Rhodes To Boro

[den]

"The club can confirm that we have held talks with Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes over the weekend but have failed to agree terms."

That statement suggests that they failed to agree terms with Rovers on the fee, and not with Rhodes himself. Odd, considering that he was allowed to go up and speak to 'Boro. Shouldn't the fee be nailed down beforehand?

No, I think it's personal terms that have caused the problem.

[Stuart]

"The club can confirm that we have held talks with Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes over the weekend but have failed to agree terms."

That statement suggests that they failed to agree terms with Rovers on the fee, and not with Rhodes himself. Odd, considering that he was allowed to go up and speak to 'Boro. Shouldn't the fee be nailed down beforehand?

?

[RibbleValleyRover]

A club has the right to pull out of a deal at any time before everything is signed, Boro haven't broke any football league rules. It's just a real pain they have done it so late in the window. But all football clubs do it, I expect we have done it before to other clubs.

[den]

It could still be back on tomorrow or tonight!

That would be the best outcome for all parties now.

[Guest]

?

Yes, I misread it first time around.

[johnradfordsubbuteo]

if a verbatim quote then "get my work head BACK on" is a little open to interpretation....albeit in fairness he has just scored 2 in 2 and is clearly "a bloody good bloke" son in law material etc.

[Parsonblue]

Problem for Rhodes is Lambert doesn't appear to want him and he could find himself on the bench from now on as Lambert reshapes the side.

Would agree with that. Yesterday Lambert used Jackson through the middle as a lone striker with Watt playing behind. Jackson's pace was utilised to the full in terms of getting behind defenders. It's something that Rhodes doesn't have and I suspect that the lone striker is the system that Lambert will play. Having told the manager he wants away, and following the manager's post match comments it's surely going to be difficult for all concerned if he returns to Ewood at this stage. It's a complication that Lambert could well do without.

[Roverthechimp]

Makes you wonder what his wages will be if we ever get promoted...

[Iceman]

If he stays, then what? Do we play him?

[arbitro]

If Rhodes is surprised it suggests two scenarios to me. Either Boro saw their arses and the reality of such a huge commitment hit home or his greedy agent was asking for things Rhodes wasn't aware of.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Odd situation not sure our hand hasn't been weakened in future dealings for Rhodes as now people known we're willing to sell.

Happy he's staying as even if it were right for him to go - which I'm sceptical on - the timing was very wrong.

Oh and I bet wages was the stumbling block.

Rhodes has always had a price. Boro met it. If another team wants to pay £9-13m for him then they'll be able to buy him.

Don't think it weakens our bargaining position. The only issue is the effect it'll have on the team and the way PL wants to play.

Be interesting to see what happens tomorrow. I assume that Boro and Rhodes have gone through any compromise deals so I'd be surprised if things change with them, especially after they put a statement on their website.

[matt83]

So let me get this straight we now have a player who publicly said doesn't want to play for the club anymore. The manager publicly said doesn't want him anymore. Rock hard place meet Rhodes.

He was ahem is our best player but I've no time for someone putting in sub par performances to force a move.

[Guest]

According to this, Rhodes would have cost 'Boro a total of £30m over 4 years.

[Riverside67]

Rhodes hattrick in a 3 1 win at Boro next weekend would be a nice irony now.

[FGS5635]

Well that's thrown the cat amongst the pidgeons

[tomphil]

Agent getting greedy? Or citing the new Sky deal.

Next season will probably see wages at the most obscene level ever.

Yes no doubt the new sky deal was in their thoughts as well as the fact people assume Boro are certs to go up. Also wasn't it mentioned that Rhodes has a team of agents and advisors around him instead of just one ?

[FGS5635]

Well if any other team is interested, they now know the fee and that we will accept. Could be someone panic as the window closes

[jim mk2]

Boro haven't done anything wrong - this is a business deal after all. I still think it will go through very late - with Rovers accepting a reduced fee to save the overall cost to Boro. Lambert doesn't want him, Rhodes doesn't want to play for us anymore and Rovers want his salary off the wage bill so I expect all the parties to come up with a deal.

[T J Hooker]

FL92Transfer ‏@FL92Transfer 2m2 minutes ago

Middlesbrough's transfer of Jordan Rhodes is on the rocks due to a higher bid from a premier league team #BRFC #Boro

now I don't normally brag, but I did foresee this happening yesterday, can I label my self an itk even though my source is me and my psychic abilities.

[cop]

Its coming to the stage that a proven striker in the Premier League will cost £15m, at Championship level, its under that if your looking at serious promotion capabilities. This is a fantastic opportunity for a Premier League club to come in with a 'take it or leave it' offer now.

I don't think the fee is the issue... he is a proven goalscorer. However he is probably on Premier League wages - I don't know how much he earns, but I am speculating that he'll have to take a pay cut to leave Blackburn Rovers.

[tomphil]

Makes you wonder what his wages will be if we ever get promoted...

I heard a figure of 66k pwk was written in to the last contract if we got promoted. Obviously don't know for sure but it sounds right given what he's on now.

[Tom]

Boro haven't done anything wrong - this is a business deal after all. I still think it will go through very late - with Rovers accepting a reduced fee to save the overall cost to Boro. Lambert doesn't want him, Rhodes doesn't want to play for us anymore and Rovers want his salary off the wage bill so I expect the two parties to come up with a deal.

I said that an hour ago and still think it's what will happen, the owners can be stubborn though

[Guest]

Regardless of what Rhodes says and how nice he comes across, this "nice lad" label will soon wear off.

In a sense, Gibson should be credited for drawing a line on the ridiculous money that envelops football today, although it will be forgotten very quickly.

[Iceman]

Well if any other team is interested, they now know the fee and that we will accept. Could be someone panic as the window closes

Step forward Swansea

[RibbleValleyRover]

Maybe the best thing to do would be to loan him out ideally to a Premier League club with a future fee agreed.

It wouldn't be ideal for us in terms of the fee we will ultimately get for him and strengthening the squad this window but it would get an unhappy player out of the club.

There are bound to be some Premier League sides flirting with relegation or looking to advance a few places that might be interested to loan him to see if the unanswered question of whether this prolific scorer can score at that level can finally be answered.

I just can't see how a player who has wanted out for some time and ended up staying once again can be 100% motivated. When you add the Manager's comments on top of that it would be extremely difficult to remain focused.