http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/pre...nd-poyet-eyes-blackburn-star.php#.Us1obfRdWSo Not for the first time we are linked (along with a few others) to this lad Rhodes. Now, think me and a couple of others were banging on about him 3 seasons ago when he was knocking them in for fun at Huddersfield but a few said it was a lower league which is fair enough. However he has 43 goals in 74 games for a Blackburn team that have been slightly less than sable for the past 2 years and shows he has a good character to get on with the job of scoring goals despite what is happening outside the playing surface. I think at 23 her has earned the chance at a top flight club and would be highly delighted if he came this window and despite the £8m price tag mentioned here, I reckon a deal can be done with perhaps the likes of Watmore, Karlsson and Ba being used to go out on loan as part of the deal till the end of the season. This lad is a born goalscorer and I think he can take his past 4 seasons form into our campaign and get us the 10 goals that will keep us up in the next 18 games which is his career average. He is the real deal and has 5 good seasons under his belt now of scoring at 2 different levels. Don't really want another foreigner who takes 6 months to settle, get this lad in and get him in the team for next weekend. Last 5 seasons stats: Huddersfield 2009/10 - 23 in 53 games 2010/11 - 22 in 48 games 2011/12 - 45 in 40 games (over a goal a game) Blackburn - Championship 2012/12 - 27 in 48 games 2013/14 - 16 in 26 games (so far) [video=youtube;rZ4bYtDBA3U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=rZ4bYtDBA3U[/video]
He is certainly that mate and agreed its just an instinct for the best ones. He is a classy finisher too mind and can score headers, one on ones, volleys and tap ins as well as flukey ones off his arse, knees and legs. He will get goals imo if someone gives him a chance and with Borini, Giacherinni, Johnson as an attacking trio behind him, we could allow Fletcher time to recover and more importantly, push him for places.
We defiantly should be looking at this lad we need GOALS & he has scored for fun over the last 4 years. Plus he is only 23/24. I think he could defiantly make it in the prem. We could offer 3-4m & Wickham for him.
In what way exactly would a lad who can score goals for fun not suit anyones style and he is about as far removed from another Wickham as it can possibly be. When has Connor Wickham ever scored something like 133 professional goals in 215 games? He is a footballing striker who is good at linking play as well as scoring. Its precisely what we are lacking - a cutting edge up front.
His stats are superb but can he make that step up, that's the question for the money we'd have to pay for him.
The problem is that he's going to cost a fair bit, and isn't guaranteed to make the step up. Although it seems less likely, we could make the same mistake that we've (perhaps) made with Wickham. I think that after Wickham, the club are unlikely to want to gamble any large amount on a young player. I'd rather that we got in a proven goal scorer now (if there's such a thing available), and got in a few possibilities for the future from the lower leagues whilst their prices haven't yet gone stupid. I suggested on another thread Joe Lolley from Kidderminster. If their game against Peterborough is televised, have a look. Obviously he's massively less likely to make prem level, but it's not a lot wasted if he doesn't, and a good profit if he does.
The kids a natural goalscorer. Can't be taught. We took a punt on a very unknown Phillips many years ago (sure it was for peanuts), but looks what happened. He has the same cutting edge instinct that SKP still does. Yes from me, we need something up front, we are more toothless than a newborn baby
Fletcher is also someone with a good record. For us last year he was scoring for fun in an awful team. For me he doesn't suit Poyet's style which is why he's struggling this time Rhodes strikes me as a player who would suit a direct style Anyway it's sportsdirectnews so it's a pile of ****e
And on Wickham: He has scored 7 goals in 9 appearances for struggling Sheffield Wednesday Make of that what you will
Straight swap with Wickham would be ok. My thoughts mirror some above, could he score in our team at this level. Fletcher Altidore and Boring can't seem to and they've played at this level for a while. Realistically they'd be looking for about 8-10m I reckon. Would Chelsea turn that down for Ba?
I do like the look of the lad, but I certainly don't want to see either Watmore or Ba going on loan at his expense..In the brief time i have saw these lads, I firmly believe they have an important part to play for us this season..
He'd make an excellent summer signing. To sign him this month to save us from going down would be suicidal spending imo. Much rather have an overseas player who's proven against a decent standard of opposition. Maybe someone like Raffael at Borussia Mönchengladbach maybe?
Why on earth would we do that? Wickham is currently scoring at a better rate than him in the Championship, in a poorer team, and he's 3 years younger. Proof if it's needed that just because someone does well in the Championship doesn't mean they can cut it in the prem. It's a big step up. I'm not saying there's no chance for him, but it's a bloody big risk IMO.
I agree with this. I do like Rhodes but I dont think you can compare him to Whickham considering he hasnt had a decent run of games. But I did think he looked excellent in the games against Norwich, Man Utd and Chelsea last season when he got 2 decent length sub appearances and 1 game.
Would rather have Ings to be honest. Rhodes would suit our style of play as I'm sure Lee Clark had Huddersfield playing some nice stuff. From what I have seen of them, both will score goals in the Premier league. What proven goalscorers in English football could we attract though, realistically? Don't fancy a foreign player as they generally take a bit of time to settle in and time is one thing we don't really have. Sure Poyet said he's only wanting players with experience of playing in England.
If some sort of trade with wick ham would reduce the price, then it's a yes from me, I didn't want to take a punt on him while he was at Huddersfield because it was too far away from the PL, but he's continued his form in the championship so I'm happy
Not only do Championship forwards struggle to make an impact in the premiership, more often than not they never make an impact ever. Like I said fair do's for a summer signing but to bring one in now and expect him to score the goals to save us from relegation is madness to me fella, huge risk. I wouldn't be signing any lower division forward to get us out of this mess myself.
