[Archived] Rhodes To Boro

[DE.]

As Tyrone Shoelaces says, we have seen many better players move on than Jordan but the sky didn't fall in.

True, but we've also seen all of our best players sold over the past five years and look where we are now. Our team is so bad that beating the likes of Oxford is considered a genuine reason for optimism.

I hope and pray that we're able to survive this season and Lambert is able to spend significantly in the summer. This squad has been stripped of all quality and the next few months are going to be a bitter dogfight. Hopefully PL has foreseen this and brought in players with the stomach to face that challenge.

[ewood111]

Again. 12 goals whilst playing gash! Our next highest scorer has 2.

TWO!!!

I'm not debating that - it's a pathetic rate of return from the rest of the team.

You're not even trying to see the flip side of your arguments though. Having a second striker will make a difference (this season only Rhodes has been decent, and even then not consistently - for most of a match, it's like playing with 10 with Rhodes and 9 when you get to Brown/Koita/Delfouneso).

If we can sign a midfielder we'll be fine - there's been no creativity.

If we don't sign a midfielder or two, I'm totally with you in the "it's a disaster" corner. Until then, let's not panic. Marshall and Conway need a bit of confidence and will be like two new signings if/when they get their mojo back.

[Jim Royle]

Don't get me wrong, I think he is a great fit for them, but for us it just wasn't working and the only way forward was Rhodes out and cash in

[Spankus Munky]

Last four years...

Rhodes 83 league goals

Jackson 6

Graham 12

Watt 24

Yes and in the last 4 years 2 of those listed have played in the Premier League something Rhodes still hasn't done...

[Stuart]

I'm not debating that - it's a pathetic rate of return from the rest of the team.

You're not even trying to see the flip side of your arguments though. Having a second striker will make a difference (this season only Rhodes has been decent, and even then not consistently - for most of a match, it's like playing with 10 with Rhodes and 9 when you get to Brown/Koita/Delfouneso).

If we can sign a midfielder we'll be fine - there's been no creativity.

If we don't sign a midfielder or two, I'm totally with you in the "it's a disaster" corner. Until then, let's not panic. Marshall and Conway need a bit of confidence and will be like two new signings if/when they get their mojo back.

Having a second striker to support Rhodes would have (and did) make a difference - something I've consistently said.

Ignoring the financial issues the difference between ourselves and Bolton and Wigan has been Rhodes' goals. The only real positive is that the difference between us and Bumley has been Dyche. I am prepared to give Lambert the benefit of the doubt but he now has to prove himself, having made a stand. We've no other choice.

[Pedro]

https://twitter.com/sports_hangout/status/693822030341369856

End of an era.

[Stuart]

Yes and in the last 4 years 2 of those listed have played in the Premier League something Rhodes still hasn't done...

Whatever makes you feel better. Just take their championship goals by way of comparison. We need players who can do it in this division.

[sambo]

Ignoring whether or not we need him in the short term, what is clear is that £11-13m is ridiculous money for him. I think/hope Watt and Graham can get us over the line, then it's all about next season. Rhodes was offering very little under Lambert and I couldn't see that changing.

[JBiz]

You sold our rhodes, our greedy greedy rhodes, and we can really understand.

And now you've sold our rhodes, our greedy greedy rhodes, we better reach the effin promised land.

[47er]

Whatever makes you feel better. Just take their championship goals by way of comparison. We need players who can do it in this division.

Stuart mate, its you who needs something to make yourself feel better! You've lost it over Rhodes' transfer. He wanted to go and he's gone. There's nothing you or anyone else can do about it so look for the positives or get help.

[ewood111]

Having a second striker to support Rhodes would have (and did) make a difference - something I've consistently said.

Ignoring the financial issues the difference between ourselves and Bolton and Wigan has been Rhodes' goals. The only real positive is that the difference between us and Bumley has been Dyche. I am prepared to give Lambert the benefit of the doubt but he now has to prove himself, having made a stand. We've no other choice.

I'm interested in seeing how we do with two strikers on the pitch who contribute with more than just goals. I'm not for a second trying to discount the importance of Rhodes' goals - it absolutely makes a difference - but having two strikers who contribute to all of our play could be great. Could be - we have to wait and see. Either way, Rhodes didn't want to be here and we got good money for him.

It'll only work if the midfielders step up their game though. Teams get by without a 20-30 goal a season striker, but only if the midfielders are regularly chipping in with goals. Can't see that happening with Hopeless Akpan and Evans.

[Stuart]

Stuart mate, its you who needs something to make yourself feel better! You've lost it over Rhodes' transfer. He wanted to go and he's gone. There's nothing you or anyone else can do about it so look for the positives or get help.

Tomorrow.

Sorry if it upsets you but too many are trying to make out this isn't a bad thing - or even that he wasn't actually that good!

Who we bring in now is just as important to the healing process as "get over it".

At this rate all our business is done, plus possibly Gomez. That's a poor window in my view. Especially when we've also lost a left back and not replaced, have poor right back options and no central midfield enforcer.

Surely if you are going to sell the family silver it's because you are going to address such issues!

[47er]

Anyone worried the money will go amiss? Yeah definitely. If there's money to spend in the summer (allegedly) I really don't understand the indecent haste to shove Rhodes out of the door now when it's too late to reinvest the proceeds. Something doesn't add up.

How about "let's grab the momey quick before Rhodes is found out?"

On a more serious note, how about "the squad needs rebuilding and there's no money?"

I'd call it "decent haste".

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Whatever makes you feel better. Just take their championship goals by way of comparison. We need players who can do it in this division.

Do you think keeping Rhodes and the squad as it is would get us promoted in the long run?

We've tried the pinning all our hopes on Rhodes to fire us to Championship success and it hasn't worked.

It is a calculated gamble, but its the right call. To keep him was no guarantee of safety.

[VinjayV4]

Stuart mate, its you who needs something to make yourself feel better! You've lost it over Rhodes' transfer. He wanted to go and he's gone. There's nothing you or anyone else can do about it so look for the positives or get help.

Well I've come to terms with being unable to change certain things but try having a bit more sympathy would you? The last 6 years have been one kick in the teeth after another for this football club whether you think Rhodes is a gigantic loss or not.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I'm interested in seeing how we do with two strikers on the pitch who contribute with more than just goals. I'm not for a second trying to discount the importance of Rhodes' goals - it absolutely makes a difference - but having two strikers who contribute to all of our play could be great. Could be - we have to wait and see. Either way, Rhodes didn't want to be here and we got good money for him.

It'll only work if the midfielders step up their game though. Teams get by without a 20-30 goal a season striker, but only if the midfielders are regularly chipping in with goals. Can't see that happening with Hopeless Akpan and Evans.

I think Akpan's got two. If every other outfield player had got two as well we wouldn't be were we are now.

[Stuart]

Do you think keeping Rhodes and the squad as it is would get us promoted in the long run?

We've tried the pinning all our hopes on Rhodes to fire us to Championship success and it hasn't worked.

It is a calculated gamble, but its the right call. To keep him was no guarantee of safety.

We didn't get to see Rhodes working with Graham and Watt. So who knows how that could have panned out.

It's a calculated gamble, I agree, but it's far too early to say it's the right call. We will need to see an upturn in results and some consistent form.

[roverandout]

I'm struggling to see why people are pinning all their hopes on watt, he's a decent player but nothing special, he built his early reputation on that goal against Barcelona since then he's had loan spells at other clubs including a productivish one in Belgium apart from that he's not pulled up any trees

[JBiz]

Is rhodes the only player we've at least made a transfer fee on that signed in the post relegation season?

[47er]

Tomorrow.

Sorry if it upsets you but too many are trying to make out this isn't a bad thing - or even that he wasn't actually that good!

Who we bring in now is just as important to the healing process as "get over it".

At this rate all our business is done, plus possibly Gomez. That's a poor window in my view. Especially when we've also lost a left back and not replaced, have poor right back options and no central midfield enforcer.

Surely if you are going to sell the family silver it's because you are going to address such issues!

The remaining games will tell us whether this was a good or poor transfer window. Personally I am feeling more positive about Rovers than at any time in the last 5 years.

If we had stayed with what we had, we were in real danger of going down.

Well I've come to terms with being unable to change certain things but try having a bit more sympathy would you? The last 6 years have been one kick in the teeth after another for this football club whether you think Rhodes is a gigantic loss or not.

Sympathy with who? I'm in the same boat as the rest of you. Don't you think I've gone through all this over 5 years too?

[oldjamfan1]

We didn't get to see Rhodes working with Graham and Watt. So who knows how that could have panned out.

It's a calculated gamble, I agree, but it's far too early to say it's the right call. We will need to see an upturn in results and some consistent form.

Stuart, its also too early to say whether its the wrong call. Have a lie down or a horlicks mate, it isn't worth getting that stressed over, yet.

[ewood111]

I think Akpan's got two. If every other outfield player had got two as well we wouldn't be were we are now.

He's got a couple of goals but I don't think he'll chip in with many more. He's okay at winning the ball but useless going forward from what I've seen - he's unable to pick out a forward pass and seems to aimlessly hit the ball forward to a defender.

The fact that I agree he's still the best midfielder we've got speaks volumes should be seen as an alarming reminder about how awful we are in central midfield rather than glowing praise for Akpan for managing to score two goals all season.

[chaddyrovers]

I think 11-13 million pounds for Rhodes is a very good deal for us.

Lambert had decide to cash in on him and use the money to improve the overall quality of the squad to get us promotion.

Plus he didnt suit Lambert tactics and he has got his target man striker in(Graham) and a number 10 player(Watt) he wanted in.

[Stuart]

Stuart, its also too early to say whether its the wrong call. Have a lie down or a horlicks mate, it isn't worth getting that stressed over, yet.

Don't worry fella, I'm not stressed.

I do try to answer people when they ask me questions though. Since I'm the lone voice on my side of the debate, I'm fielding a lot of questions!

[roverandout]

No you're not Stuart, I too think this has been a bad deal