[Archived] Rhodes To Boro

[DE.]

Becaus the money was so good. Not because Rhodes isn't a good player.

The suggestion in Lambert's comments is that he can't rebuild the team until Rhodes is sold - even if true, is it necessary to make that public?

I've been on Team Lambert since he arrived, but IMO he should have held fire and waited until the deal was concluded before commenting.

Hopefully the deal is resurrected somehow, or another club makes a bid.

[VinjayV4]

Journo in The Northern Echo reckons there's a chance it could still go through

https://t.co/vemThS9aPy

Well here's what Nixon had to say about that "possibility" when asked if there was still a chance...

"I wouldn't take 300-1 on that one. Even if u paid me 90k a week."

[Pedro]

At least that clears up the arguement that he loves the club and doesn't want to go. Also sounds like a decision of greed has scuppered it.

Regardless, knuckle down Jordan and we'll still be behind you. I remember Andy Todd was on the verge of leaving, he went to Burnley on loan and came back focussed and player of the year (twice I think).

I've made it clear I'm not a t-shirt fanboy of any player and that we need to move him on (because of his limitations but high value) we have had much better players than him. I'm all about wanting a better overall team - but who knows, this might make him a better, hungrier player for us. If I was pro, in all honesty I'd set my sights higher than a team like Boro'...saying that though, I'd rather play on a much better stage than an almost empty Ewood.

If he doesn't sort this with them, the Boro game is going to be very interesting and their fans will give it him. I can see us loaning him out though because he costs too much on the bench, but Lambert has said his part too.

What a mess.

[A cup of beans]

Reading that statement just confirms what I thought earlier that Rhodes has to go this window. Probably not going to get £9m+ for him now, most likely a lot less. Staying would do more harm than good both for the player and the team.

What a mess.

Rovers Statement is black and white. Maybe unprecedented, both in terms of making public the reason for it falling through and also from Lambert being so forthright.

The only thing unclear is why terms weren't agreed.

Boro could also be at fault, but it's clear where Rovers are pinning the blame.

[Jimmy612]

Quite obvious that we have been paying him way way too much.

If he stays we'll be facing a massive loss. He's shot himself in the foot with his greed and it's a real shame that the club could be left holding a baby that we don't want now. Shame we can't deem him in breech and renegotiate his remuneration down to a reasonable level (at the most a quarter of it's reputed current value) without turning him into a free agent.

[Colt Seavers]

Lambert is clearly fuming over this. My reading of his most recent statement is that Rhodes has played his last game for us and has completely scuppered Lambert 's plans.

I was about to buy tickets for 'Boro away to enjoy the saga but will keep the cash tucked away now.

[philipl]

I think it's more to do with FFP to be honest.

Correct- I only hope we haven't got into FFP difficulty because we had pre-spent the Rhodes cash.

Quite obvious that we have been paying him way way too much.

If he stays we'll be facing a massive loss. He's shot himself in the foot with his greed and it's a real shame that the club could be left holding a baby that we don't want now. Shame we can't deem him in breech and renegotiate his remuneration down to a reasonable level (at the most a quarter of it's reputed current value) without turning him into a free agent.

It was a Shebby deal

Have now seen the Oxford game and my reaction apart from delight at the win was at last a shape and performance in which Rhodes would have thrived- first one this season.

Little did I think I would log onto BRFCS and read all this!

[Stuart]

Heh... not exactly a "welcome back" from Lambert. If Rhodes is going to stay here for another six months, I'm not sure what there is to gain by alienating him with comments like that.

I'm with you DE. I read that statement as "Rhodes is not part of my plans". The trouble is that will only serve to lower his valuation.

Maybe it's an attempt to put pressure on his agent to sort something out. The priority now looks to be getting Rhodes wage off the books. Although I expect that Lambert is very angry that Rhodes' agent has scuppered his window.

I'm going back and forward on what the best outcome now is. Despite him wanting out for three windows he has continued to score goals. However, without the £9m we are now unable to bring in any reinforcements this window - even if a deal goes through late tomorrow. But we are also likely to continue on the FFP knife edge.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

i think everyone will be grown up.

PL makes statement to rationalize and explain to a disappointed fan base. He does not really have a go at Rhodes

BRFC have not made a hash of things for once.

The players agent seems to have screwed up. The player himself says nothing disparaging about Rovers

PL gets a 20 goal a season player back now desperate to prove himself.

I think everyone will just get on with it.

Without the money to strengthen the team !

[Bundesburn]

Fascinating development.

I would say that, if Lambert believes there's still a job for Rhodes to do, then that's the end of the matter. Rhodes got an offer to run away and join the Premier League circus, which Boro appear to be on their way to. I've done that with jobs I've held previously and those who still had work for me welcomed me back. Those that didn't, didn't.

Crucially, though, Mani has mentioned the issue of the dim light in which Rhodes is viewed by current and former management. That's a different matter entirely. He hasn't appeared to be forcing a move, but this smacks of opportunism on the part of the agent. I can see him having viewed Rhodes as Premier League-bound when he started representing him. Rhodes has likely earned him a few quid since, but there is always more. I can see an agent being aggressive in this instance, especially as moving to Boro now represents a risk on the agency's part, as a subsequent move to a bigger club (and with it a larger cash windfall) becomes less likely. They'll have wanted a move straight to the Premier League, in an ideal world, where you'd imagine fees, bonuses and wages are at a different level, with greater scope for negotiation upwards, what with the ever-increasing TV revenue in that league.

Look at Charlie Austin. Obviously a Premier League player, but had to come back down with QPR and do half a season before going back up.

Having painted the agent as a bad guy here, you'd think that with the personal involvement of family members and the reported inclusivity of the family in football matters for Jordan, that the agent isn't acting without instruction. So, it leaves a bit of a bad taste in the mouth. I'm inclined to say he's been too greedy. His shock or disappointment doesn't discount the possibility that he was pushing his luck.

I kind of admire Gibson if he's out his foot down in opposition to opportunism, though. More football administrators should do the same.

Finally, I was more excited by Jackson's play yesterday than anything I've seen of Rhodes (apart from that goal at QPR) at matches I've attended, but that's not to say he's without use. Wholly depends what he does on the training ground if Monday's deadline passes with no further developments, as well as how the squad reacts to him.

[Veevs]

The suggestion in Lambert's comments is that he can't rebuild the team until Rhodes is sold - even if true, is it necessary to make that public?

I've been on Team Lambert since he arrived, but IMO he should have held fire and waited until the deal was concluded before commenting.

Hopefully the deal is resurrected somehow, or another club makes a bid.

Actually liked his comments and thought the timing was spot on, he reassured the fans, made it clear it was a football decision while taking the time to praise the player leaving and letting clubs/recruits know he is on the market for new players of a caliber to push the club forward. It is not like the transfer window is open for much longer.

[philipl]

Anybody else get chills reading this sentence ?

I thought we can only go back 4 points or else we fall off the cliff...

[Andy Kennedys Hairdo]

Gutted this has fallen through. The lad comes across as a nice bloke but, given that Lambert doesn't seem to fancy him as a player and I've always wondered what he does aside from score goals (part of his job description I know), the money involved could have been be pivotal in driving PL's vision of the team forward. Awkward.

[Jimmy612]

I know it was a Shebby deal philip. Singh went way over the top to get him but Rhodes contract has been renewed a number of times since Singh left the building. It's value is completely unsustainable amount given our stature and income.

This whole episode has the potential to be very damaging to the club in both the short and long term as I'm sure we needed to see the back of him. I'm also of the opinion that Lambert would have insisted that he could off load him this window when he agreed to come.

[roversfan99]

That statement is stupidity. Whatever people say, Rhodes is by far our best player and a makes our team much stronger.

Something like, Rhodes asked to leave, he failed to agree terms so we welcome him back.

And, even being there yesterday where Jackson did ok, next week we must start Rhodes and Watt.

[DE.]

I'm with you DE. I read that statement as "Rhodes is not part of my plans". The trouble is that will only serve to lower his valuation.

Aye, this is the primary reason his comments are confusing to me. Fair enough we want rid of him, but why advertise how desperate we are to sell him? All it does is make him less valuable as clubs know we are gagging to move him on in order to rebuild our team. I can understand Lambert being angry, but I don't think his comments help himself, the club or Rhodes. It just devalues the player, meaning the next bids we receive are likely to be significantly lower.

I very much hope a bid comes in tomorrow, as that would benefit all parties, but I'm now expecting a disenchanted and demotivated JR to be with us until the summer, when we'll probably sell him for a fee no larger than Rudy's.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

That statement is stupidity. Whatever people say, Rhodes is by far our best player and a makes our team much stronger.

Something like, Rhodes asked to leave, he failed to agree terms so we welcome him back.

And, even being there yesterday where Jackson did ok, next week we must start Rhodes and Watt.

Madness. What message does that send to the guys who played yesterday ? " We're all equal guys but some are more equal than others ? ".

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Rhodes will be sold tomorrow or in the summer. PL will get his money, just later than he thought.

Rhodes will have to get a grip and suck it up.

Not blaming Lambert for any of his comments. Nothing was personal and it was all about reinvesting the money.

Rhodes will be played I'm sure but I doubt he'll be starting next week.

[Lancs Rover]

I'm the Boro chairman. See a player who is desperate to leave and his club are equally keen to let go.

Deadline for the deal in the offing. I've got both the player and the other club in my pocket. I pull the plug and blame the player's agent thereby making it doubly difficult for him to return and the club to take him back.

Then, I play my best card. OK, we will take you but let's restructure the deal. Then at least you are out of there, can play next year in the Prem and the selling club get a return. I also by-the-by I save myself a few million squids.

What d'ya say, Jordan?

[J*B]

I'd start Graham and Watt. In fact I wouldn't even put Rhodes on the bench. He's made his bed. I'm hoping Lambert is on the phone now telling him to turn around on the A1 because there is no place for him at Rovers.

[roversfan99]

I'd start Graham and Watt. In fact I wouldn't even put Rhodes on the bench. He's made his bed. I'm hoping Lambert is on the phone now telling him to turn around on the A1 because there is no place for him at Rovers.

If Lambert does that then he deserves sacking.

[Stuart]

Rhodes will be sold tomorrow or in the summer. PL will get his money, just later than he thought.

Rhodes will have to get a grip and suck it up.

Not blaming Lambert for any of his comments. Nothing was personal and it was all about reinvesting the money.

Rhodes will be played I'm sure but I doubt he'll be starting next week.

Having been thoroughly professional with his comments yesterday, Lambert has let his emotions rule today. He's hung the player out to dry by confirming him wanting out so frequently. The only saving grace, ironically, is Rhodes' professionalism.

On another note, my lad was delighted when he heard the news this afternoon so not everyone will have the knives out.

[Mullionvagrant]

You have to wonder now whether players like Tom Laurence would have been persuaded to stay etc. if Rhodes was not on his way out/ players lined up to replace etc.

This will have HUGE knock on developments for the team etc. as i'm sure we will realise over the next few months.

I wonder who we might have seen at Ewood had this been signed sealed etc.?

I bet Lambert is not a happy chappy right now as i'm sure a lot of behind the scenes plans have now been scuppered.

[J*B]

If Lambert does that then he deserves sacking.

What don't you understand about Lambert not wanting him? We want the money.

[Tom]

If Lambert does that then he deserves sacking.

Watt deserves to start then it should be Jackson or Graham with him for me, Rhodes off the bench with a point to prove in the second half.