Berg: 'Rhodes is a special talent - but we must help him'

9:38am Friday 16th November 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter

HENNING Berg believes Jordan Rhodes is a “special” goalscoring talent – but admits Rovers’ promotion dreams rest on others sharing the firepower burden.

Rovers’ 22-year-old Scottish international has scored six goals in just 13 appearances since moving to Ewood Park for £8million in August but, ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Peterborough, Berg insists they can’t just rely on him to fire them into the Premier League.

Rhodes scored twice for Scotland in Wednesday night’s friendly win over Luxembourg and, as he continues to play as the lone striker, Berg believes he is still improving.

Berg said: “I am delighted for Jordan. He has worked ever so hard for this club, he had a fantastic season last season and is doing really well.

“It has been difficult times at times for him. There have been a lot of changes in terms of playing style and manager but he is always doing his best, he is making some fantastic runs and when he gets the chance in the box he will score.

“For him to get two goals for Scotland, never mind who you play against, is a great achievement, and I hope he gets even more confidence.

“He is a finisher. Inside the box he is one of the very, very best. To be fair the runs he made outside the box against Birmingham were fantastic but we were just unable to feed himas often as we should have done. He is a good player, a fantastic finisher and a great guy to be working with because he always trys his best. We are delighted he is playing for Blackburn Rovers.

“With the amount of goals he scored in League One means he is special. He is improving as well. “His overall game is getting better, his positional play, his runs, his hold of the ball is improving and it needs to because we don’t have the ball in the box all the time. We would like him to contribute when we don’t have as well.”

Colin Kazim-Richards is expected to return from injury for tomorrow’s trip to London Road and, with Nuno Gomes also available again, Berg is relishing the options available to him.

The Norwegian is still searching for his first win as Rovers boss, after two points from three games, and knows a finishing touch is needed to turn recent improved performances into results.

Berg said: “We have to score more goals from other parts of the team. That goes with all our offensive players but from set plays as well. For us to have realistic chances to be promoted that is something we have to make a good improvement on.”

Comments(19)

A Darener says...
10:09am Fri 16 Nov 12

You could start to help him by giving him a partner to play along side.
Rhodes is not a one up front player. He NEEDS support!

Good Luck tomorrow!
GET INTO 'EM!!!!

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eddyo says...
10:11am Fri 16 Nov 12

He needs a striking partner. Most people prefer 2 up front unless it is a cup final or title-clincher.
*
Central defenders find marking one centre forward a doddle - unless it's Messi.
*
Kazim-Richard is a centre forward (not a winger) but he can be overly-selfish and when he doesn't alway score people stupidly have a moan.

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Brunzig says...
10:14am Fri 16 Nov 12

A Darener wrote:
You could start to help him by giving him a partner to play along side.
Rhodes is not a one up front player. He NEEDS support!

Good Luck tomorrow!
GET INTO 'EM!!!!
He does need a partner and I hope its Gomes! I dont rate CKR at all, I think hes greedy and only out for himself.

Rhodes and Gomes upfront with Rochina just behind = GOALS, GOALS, GOALS!

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unclejacklegend says...
10:35am Fri 16 Nov 12

Im having to stay in a b&b tomorrow night because the trains dont run late enough to get me back from peterborough so positive approach tomorrow please henning with supply and support for Jordan Rhodes. Peterborough aren't up to much by the looks of it. Don't make it a miserable journey home for us.

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jag kalsi says...
10:53am Fri 16 Nov 12

YES, PLAY 4-4-2, give Jordan a partner up front and he will get the goasl, look what he done at Huddersfield.

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French Rover says...
11:18am Fri 16 Nov 12

Got to be Nuno Gomes that gets another chance alongside Rhodes IF HB goes with two up front....the young lad is absolutely bursting with goals and we should be setting the team up to supply him with every opportunity to get them...Allez les Bleus!

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Brears says...
11:30am Fri 16 Nov 12

The reason he is being played up front on his own is because we don't have a target man to play alongside him until Best returns. Nuno isn't that kind of player nor is CKR. We need a loan signing to play alongside Rhodes who can play with his back to goal hold the ball up and bring others into the game. We are playing a lot of pretty stuff but we are desparate for a cutting edge. Rhodes was pretty much anonymous against Brum. He is getting marked out of games. Let's give defenders something else to worry about and create more space/opportunities for Jordan. He will put them away. Kean has left Berg with an unbalanced squad with too many similar players albeit the lads have talent. To be fair Eric Black spotted this problem and had Jerome lined up. I hope the failure to recruit isn't more penny pinching by Venkys. That would be very short sighted. We need to be in the mix when Best returns. The downside of missing out on promotion far outweighs contribution towards wages for 2-3 months.

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AshirMan says...
12:01pm Fri 16 Nov 12

the reason we don't play 2 up top is because our mid field cannot cope with just 2. We need a CM more than anything else.

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inflightmagazine says...
12:04pm Fri 16 Nov 12

Personnally I would like to se a 3-5-2 against Peterborough.

GK Robbo

LCB - Givet
CB- Dann
RCB- Hanley

LWB - Olsson
LCM Ethu
CM - Rochina
RCM- Murphy
RWB - Vukevic/ Riberio

ST - Gomes
ST - Rhodes

Both Olsson Brother can cover the distance so when one gets tired straight change and the same for Vukevic and Riberio. Peterborough are a bottom 3 side and we should hit them hard.

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Asdbrfc says...
12:47pm Fri 16 Nov 12

Only problem with playing those 3 at the back is pace...
Emile Sinclair is one of the fastest players in the league if he gets an oppourtunity to run at those 3 there's no-way they'll catch him.

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inflightmagazine says...
12:54pm Fri 16 Nov 12

Asdbrfc wrote:
Only problem with playing those 3 at the back is pace... Emile Sinclair is one of the fastest players in the league if he gets an oppourtunity to run at those 3 there's no-way they'll catch him.
true but ethu and murphy should be able to kill the supply line, they are a team not playing well , some early goals and a an attacking formation should take the wind out of their sails. Would just like to see us dictate the way the game is played and not be too worried about the opposition.

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A Rover 45 years and over says...
3:27pm Fri 16 Nov 12

If he is such a talent for which he is showing, why the heck can you not play him in a system where he gets lots of service and he will score a bucket full. Since he came to Rovers he has had to play a system he isn't used to or does not get enough service. What is wrong with everybody on this issue it's not rocket science. You bought him to score goals therefore make sure he's given the chance to do it and play an appropriate system for goodness sake.

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stefjam says...
4:43pm Fri 16 Nov 12

A Darener wrote:
You could start to help him by giving him a partner to play along side.
Rhodes is not a one up front player. He NEEDS support!

Good Luck tomorrow!
GET INTO 'EM!!!!
exactly what I was thinking, a full match at home, the score 1-1, opposition 18th in league & we still only had one strike!?!?!

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stick to football says...
5:13pm Fri 16 Nov 12

Gomes is quality but neither he nor Rhodes have the physical presence in this league to hold the ball up - get someone like Connor Whickham on an emergency loan until Best is fit and play Rhodes off him.

I would start with Vukevic and Loweas both can protect the defence where we lack pace

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Rovers75 says...
6:21pm Fri 16 Nov 12

Brunzig wrote:
A Darener wrote:
You could start to help him by giving him a partner to play along side.
Rhodes is not a one up front player. He NEEDS support!

Good Luck tomorrow!
GET INTO 'EM!!!!
He does need a partner and I hope its Gomes! I dont rate CKR at all, I think hes greedy and only out for himself.

Rhodes and Gomes upfront with Rochina just behind = GOALS, GOALS, GOALS!
Absolutely spot on.

We desperately need to play two up top, especially at home or against the poorer teams. There's no doubt in my normally pessimistic mind that this group of players can really get a grip of this league now, especially since the Ice Berg has clearly started to deal with the major issue of poor fitness.

I wouldn't start CKR. He's a playground footballer for me. Plenty of skill but to greedy. He doesn't release the ball when he should and makes poor decisions. Rochina in the 'hole' is a great shout, well capable of unlocking defenses, certainly at this level. I am also quietly excited about what Vukčević can bring to the squad now after his good performance against Brum.

We need to go down there tomorrow and take the game to what is a very average Peterborough side.

We are well capable of brushing them aside with ease but the way this league is we are also very capable of coming away with zilch! Hope it's the former!!!!!

RTID!!!!

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MatthewCA says...
7:25pm Fri 16 Nov 12

I am not agree with bad comments on CKR, he is a player with power. He is our our YAK. IF u want to win games , feed the yak.

I too agree Jorder Rhodes os a spevial gift in the box, he is tureely a talent and respect the way he played during the couple of season, now he learns how fast he can grow with other legends in blackburn.

My team for 2ro should start with 4-3-3

Robbo
Adan Henley,Dann,G.Hanley
,Mt.Ollson
Vukevic,Murphy,Ethu
Kazim, Rhodes,Rochina

We should hit hard in the first 30 mts.
Sub: Kean,Ribero,Givet,Pe
dersen,Formica,Ollso
n,Gomes

All the best. we must WIN.

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handyamBRFC says...
9:28pm Fri 16 Nov 12

FOOTBALL is a fast game and they need to be able to last for 90 minutes
Unfortunately BRFC have too many slow or over the hill type players.
For me that's the biggest issue within the team.
we have too many slow players not able to last 90 minutes.
Dann, Hanley, Givet are slow
Murphy, Etuhu, Pederson, Dunn are old and past it.
Gomes is old and not strong enough.
and there's more
what do you think...?
We need fast young energetic players
We are missing a midfield general, to dictate play and link up the strikers
We need a big target man to play alongside Rhodes.
We need a fast center back who can play....!!!
what do you think...????

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diamonds2india says...
9:47pm Fri 16 Nov 12

French Rover wrote:
Got to be Nuno Gomes that gets another chance alongside Rhodes IF HB goes with two up front....the young lad is absolutely bursting with goals and we should be setting the team up to supply him with every opportunity to get them...Allez les Bleus!
Hope you're in bed French Rover!!! Big day for you tomorrow...like you say we don't want any of Sam's "hoofball" tactics either!!! What was the problem?? Did Sam work you, "Morst" and "harwoodstblue" too much so he had to go??? Well...at least you've all been rewarded with nice bumper contracts for your troubles....even if it means the team is not fit and lose goals late on in games...or is that how it is supposed to work??

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alphajono says...
2:40pm Sat 17 Nov 12

442 ......... 2 up front is an old system all teams now play 1 up front Spain in the world cup and euros played with no strikers

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