ANDY CRYER COLUMN: Rhodes needs service to be top of the Scots (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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ANDY CRYER COLUMN: Rhodes needs service to be top of the Scots
12:10pm Thursday 6th September 2012 in News
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
JORDAN Rhodes arrives at Ewood Park with a massive amount of expectation heaped on to his young shoulders.
I just hope he gets better treatment at the club than David Goodwillie ever did.
If he doesn’t, Rovers’ £8million man will wish he had never come.
There is no doubt the club have paid over the odds for Rhodes’ signature, but if that is what it took to get him – after they set their hearts on him – then so be it. That was the price that had to be paid.
Venky’s have to be praised for splashing out such a large sum for a young British striker – even if it was a trifle lavish – with their Cham-pionship rivals understandably green with envy.
Rovers thought they had signed a goalscorer when they brought David Goodwillie to the club a year ago though, but transfer deadline day saw him move to Crystal Palace on loan after a truly uninspiring 12 months at Ewood.
So what happened? This was a man who was way ahead of Rhodes in the Scottish pecking orderand who was prolific for Dundee United – albeit in a lesser quality league.
Most who knew him expected him to flourish in the Premier League, but that was without considering they system that Rovers were to play.
Goodwillie was actually doomed to failure from the off. He was never going to be able to play the lone striker role and, with Yakubu showing such prolific form in front of goal, a lengthy spell on the bench was inevitable.
Things could have been very different for ‘Goodie’ had he been utilised differently. In a two-pronged attack with Yakubu, maybe he would have shone?
We will never know.
The player himself must wonder what he did wrong. He must also regret coming to a club that was never going to play a system duited to his talents. Perhaps he should have done his home-work first.
That is why my eyebrows were raised at such cash being spent on Rhodes. A player who has scored most of his goals at Huddersfield, with players creating the chances alongside him. He was allowed to be the ‘Johnny on the spot’, solely focus-ing on banging the ball into the back of the net.
If Rovers continue their current ‘lone striker’ system, those days could be long gone.
His debut at Elland Road showed he has a good touch and strong link-up play. It showed nothing of his finishing brilliance – and that is what the money was paid for.
Most of Rhodes’ best work was done with his back to goal and too far away from the penalty area. He did nothing wrong, but he wasn’t able to show his best attributes.
The youngster needs a striking partner.
He needs a striker playing close to him and enabling him to be waiting where he can do the most damage. In the penalty box.
Rhodes clearly has the ability to become a fans’ favourite at Ewood Park.
What he needs now is a system where he can deliver his best.
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (52)
12:36pm Thu 6 Sep 12
petergray says...
Same solution. .
KEAN OUT
12:39pm Thu 6 Sep 12
MatthewCA says...
Rhodes need more development with his new club and new system. Hope the goals will not dry from him with over cooked in the currect senario.
Still need to see more Rhodes in action, But it is true player, I am impressed to watch him play on the national duty match aganist australia. There I saw his first amazing header goal, It shows - He know where the net is. (almost similar style player like RVP). All the Best, Good luck.
12:40pm Thu 6 Sep 12
chez rover says...
12:45pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Rovers 1495 says...
12:46pm Thu 6 Sep 12
bburnrover says...
The second striker thing may be immaterial as Gomes is supposed to be playing between midfield and the lone striker and has scored two good goals,I think we need Ollson back put him up on the wing and hopefully Richards on the right wing may provide us with a real threat especially as we have 3 goal scoring strikers on the pitch at the same time,
12:48pm Thu 6 Sep 12
webby2112 says...
12:54pm Thu 6 Sep 12
bburnrover says...
12:59pm Thu 6 Sep 12
John Leigh says...
1:05pm Thu 6 Sep 12
moggy669 says...
Kean out.
1:15pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Forever-Blue says...
Kean has zero tactical nounce, he cant manage, he cant sign players, he cant legally drive, he cant stop lying, he cant motivate, he cant organise, he cant do anything a football manager should do.
So one must ask, WTF is he still doing at Ewood. He needs to get potted NOW. Bring in a expierenced manager and we will walk this league and have a home gate of 20K.
So whats really going on. Every man and his dog have the solution, so why is it not implemented by the owners.
Surely they have not got something to hide, surely not !!!!!!!!!
1:23pm Thu 6 Sep 12
londonrover says...
1:28pm Thu 6 Sep 12
MxMave says...
At home we MUST play:
4-4-2
4-4-2
4-4-2
WHY DONT WE CHANT THIS FOR 90 MINS EVERY HOME GAME!? EVERY SINGLE GAME WE PLAY 1 UP-TOP AND AT 60MINS END UP THROWING ON A SECOND STRIKER AND LOOKING A LOT BETTER FOR IT!
Goodwillie had the legs to do the legwork for Rhodes in a 2 pronged attack, despite hardly seeing him play, Goodwillie is the second best striker who's fit at BRFC.
4-4-2
4-4-2
4-4-2
1:32pm Thu 6 Sep 12
MxMave says...
1:34pm Thu 6 Sep 12
makaveli96 says...
1:37pm Thu 6 Sep 12
makaveli96 says...
1:41pm Thu 6 Sep 12
makaveli96 says...
I'm finding hard to log out!
1:43pm Thu 6 Sep 12
makaveli96 says...
My Mother had a stutter.
1:46pm Thu 6 Sep 12
makaveli96 says...
He's down to 5 stone now.
1:48pm Thu 6 Sep 12
chez rover says...
As always its just an opinion. Kaz is our joint top scorer and has missed 2 of the 4 games. Just think Kaz can benifit from 2 up top just as much as Rhodes. I get what you mean about Goodwille but he aint here, he's gone. We can't really play them both unless he's recalled. Can i ask how you've come up with that opinion of Kaz? I've only seen him once against Hull. So can't really say that much about him.
1:50pm Thu 6 Sep 12
makaveli96 says...
"Granny!" I shouted, "You can't eat kit kat's with stew."
1:55pm Thu 6 Sep 12
makaveli96 says...
He said, "Young David doesn't seem to be concentrating in class, is something bothering him at home?"
"Well his pet dog died last week," I replied. "That's all I can think of."
"Oh right, how did it die?" he asked.
"It got ran over by a train," I replied. "His mother was walking it at the time."
2:14pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Rovers 1495 says...
2:21pm Thu 6 Sep 12
makaveli96 says...
Why don't they get there chance?
2:42pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Nuttall Street says...
2:43pm Thu 6 Sep 12
French Rover says...
2:44pm Thu 6 Sep 12
dangerous dave says...
OUT WITH KEAN HENDRY SINGH AGNEW VENKYS IN WITH THOUSANDS OF FANS
2:46pm Thu 6 Sep 12
silverstan says...
2:54pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Frisson says...
3:19pm Thu 6 Sep 12
poultonjones says...
3:30pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Road Runner Road Runner says...
Ooh, for that stature of player again plying their trade in the B&W shirt.
As A Cryer said: Rhodes link up play etc was top drawer, but we got no indication of his prowess in front of goal - his speciality !
I said myself he had had a good debut, but the odious one's tactics leave a lot to be desired over this one ?
Could it just be that Shebby is the one who pursued this more than the odious one would have liked, and maybe HE doesn't really rate him much as in the Rodgers case over Carrol in how he wishes to set the team up ?
Shebby screams: '4-4-2- two up top'
The odious one screams: 4-5-1 - 4-3-3 - 5-3-1 - 3-6-1 - 8-1-1 !
Golom take note: it's mine all mine !
Attempting in remoulding Rhodes at this point is surely detrimental in the aim for automatic promotion when his strengths are there for all to see ? Surely, the odious one can see that, and act accordingly in training for the system that optimizes Rhodes undoubted talent should it be required in a game either from the off or in game play ?
This is my concern that BRFC are not being served correctly with a touted power struggle going on behind the scenes.
I do hope that Rhodes carry's on that which we bought him for, and does not become another victim under this preposterous current management regime ?
Twas a great game at Leeds, but unlike the other debutant, who knocked in two splendid goals way back at Selhurst through astute management, alas, the same cannot be said of the current debutant(although he would have had they played to his strengths)
Arte et labore
3:37pm Thu 6 Sep 12
flyingv1 says...
Then is the time for constructive opinions.
3:58pm Thu 6 Sep 12
1riversider says...
Still won't change my mind on the big picture though. Walter Mitty and the Three Stooges go now.
4:22pm Thu 6 Sep 12
zenoufthebirdcatcher says...
4:24pm Thu 6 Sep 12
French Rover says...
4:35pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Reg Rover says...
Whilst relaxing at home last Thursday (30th August) I had Talk Sport radio switched on in the back ground.
Imagine my surprise when presenter Jason Cundy announced that their special guest that evening was to be none other than the Lancashire Telegraphs Andy Cryer to discuss all things Blackburn Rovers prompted by the day’s news that Jason Rhodes had signed for the Rovers at a fee of £8 million, a record between two Championship teams. Rovers barely merit a mention on this National Radio station let alone being the night’s main topic. So I eagerly awaited Cryer’s arrival with excited anticipation. Cryer didn’t disappoint.
With the programme heading towards midnight I presume most Rovers fans will have missed what Cryer (pic above) had to say, let me enlighten you.
Asked about the Jason Rhodes transfer and fee, which amazed presenter Crundy (a former Chelsea player) Cryer said he thought it was a “last throw of the dice by Mrs Anuradha Desai to save Kean his job and get Rovers back into the Premiership” , although Cryer went on to say he thought Kean (was not the man for that job and that a great opportunity was lost in May when Rovers should of made a change and started the season with a new man in charge creating a new impetus at Ewood. This had led to the fans deserting Ewood Park in their thousands”.
Presenter Jason Cundy suggested that the Rovers fans were ill advised to carry on their protest at Kean’s management and should now get behind him. Cryer retorted “not so, what you have to remember” said Cryer “is that no manager in football league history has survived in his job for so long with a such bad record as Kean. “ Rovers fans know he is not up to his job and now have deserted the club in droves.” With gates of barely 13,500 at both opening home games, down by almost 50% from the Allardyce era, even taking into consideration the loss of Premiership football, it is amazing”.
Cryer went on to point out to Cundy that Rovers fans were no different from anyone else. Giving Liverpool fans as an example when they wanted rid of Roy Hodgson. Their protest lasted no more than a week or two over a handful of games and then Hodgson was gone. “Rovers fans have been totally ignored and treated with contempt by Mrs Anuradha Desai and they have now had enough and will not return whilst Kean is at the club in his £1.3 million pound job, no matter what League position he obtains or what players he signs the damage is done” said Cryer.
Asked if he thought Kean’s Job was in danger Cryer Replied “it should be, for him to fail now after major capital investment in the team is unthinkable, (no less than 12 new players) Cryer went on to reveal that Rovers have at least 6, and possibly more players on £35,000 per week. Unheard off outside the Premiership and a massive wage bill” that Cryer does not think is sustainable without large attendances. The whole tone of Andy Cryer’s interview was anti-Kean and Venky’s, he sounded much more disillusioned speaking than he does in print.
Presenter Jason Cundy asked what Cryer considered to be the minimum expectation from the Rovers for Kean to keep his job. Cryer replied “a top two finish and never out of the top 6 at any stage of the season, anything less, given the backing he has received would be failure and Desai could not possibly continue to justify keeping Kean in employ”.
Jason Cundy ventured to say that Cryer came over more as a fan than a journalist. Andy Cryer then revealed that he comes from Bristol, and that Bristol City is his club. But he has grown to love Blackburn and it’s football team and now feels a part of it and wants the Rovers to rise again just as any fan does.
Andy Cryer, has obviously during the course of his job, worked closely with Steve Kean since Kean took over from Allardyce in December 2010. It is obvious that Cryer does not hold Kean in high regard (but we knew that already through his Lancashire Telegraph column) hearing him and the tone of his voice on live radio was however different and put a different complex on matters. Somewhere on the way the professional relationship between Cryer and Kean has broken down, but that is par for the course with Kean.
Finally presenter Cundy questioned why the Venky’s had not invested this type of money into the team when they were still in the Premiership? Cryer’s reply “it is a mystery, but I don’t think Kean is the right man to receive and handle this type of investment”.
AND SO SAY ALL OF US..
Reg
5:25pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Rovers75 says...
5:31pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Lancs - pensioner says...
The Sweden international's agent previously claimed he handed in a transfer request during the recent window in hope of securing a move away from the relegated club, with Stoke having been linked with the 24-year-old.
However, the transfer window closed last week with Olsson still a Rovers player.
The left-back, who has three years remaining on his deal at Ewood, claims Blackburn rejected offers for his signature.
"I wanted to leave, I want to continue to play in the Premier League." Olsson told Sportbladet. "There were offers, but the club rejected them."
Olsson insists he would have sought a move away from Blackburn even if the club had retained their top-flight status last season.
He added: "Even if we had managed to stay in the Premier League, I would have liked to try something new."
Even if we stayed up I want away from this shambles!!!
5:46pm Thu 6 Sep 12
MatthewCA says...
Rhodes is going to be our MAN and Leon Best and Goodwille can pair for next season. too many good quality players in the bench, will be a trouble for manager on each game starts.
Kean should take more tution classes with few managers for some PlanB, PlanC and PlanD, becuase Kean do only Plan A - that is surprise selection of 11 players and struck with it till we draw the match.
Anyway Kean OUT concept is gone, that never going to happen, because the players lineup is too good to draw alternative match and make him alive in the club manager position. I love this game and kean is safe with his rotine now. IF he Talk less will be healthy for his club and players.
Now Martin also upset, But he sign for 4 years with the club eralier, When the club go down,the players also is a part of it, If he want to go, pay the difference or obey the rules of the club - simple. I feel venky or shebby was very liberal with players exit program. Stick with the club playing program or sit in the bench.
All the best for next match.
5:47pm Thu 6 Sep 12
77'sss says...
Initial payment nearer to 4
money from nzonzie 3.5. Bunn 1.5 approx. 5mill
So where is the splashing out ???
6:04pm Thu 6 Sep 12
wolsty says...
6:10pm Thu 6 Sep 12
madrover says...
6:40pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Captain Dreckley says...
Save our season. Kean out now
7:15pm Thu 6 Sep 12
RTID says...
Stevie, drive me home, Stevie Stevie drive me home.
Back to the story - gutted we got rid of Goodwillie, if anything he actually is a better prospect than Rhodes. Has more technical ability. Scored a great goal in a cup game and never got played again. He runs the channels well so would have been a good foil for Rhodes waiting in the box. I'd rather have two young lads up front that are only going to get better than the others.
7:50pm Thu 6 Sep 12
MxMave says...
8:05pm Thu 6 Sep 12
ronnie clayton says...
11:08pm Thu 6 Sep 12
alfa111 says...
11:32pm Thu 6 Sep 12
ronnie clayton says...
5:45am Fri 7 Sep 12
whappen says...
"Good strikers always 'hunt' in pairs, and play off each other's strengths; Keegan/Toshack. Shearer/Sutton. Shearer/Sheringham. Yorke/Cole. The list is endless....."
No pairings from the last ten years or so there, I notice.
Who are Spain's front two? Or Barca's.
The the only international side ever to win three major tournaments in succession and (up until last season) the team vaunted as the greatest club side ever to have taken the field. They don't seem to have struggled with one striker, or none in Spain's case. Or is that five or six or eight - I can never tell, they're all over the place - in a good way.
Times change; that's not to say Rhodes wouldn't benefit from a partner at this level.
6:08am Fri 7 Sep 12
whappen says...
Reg Rover wrote:
CRYER BLASTS KEAN ON TALK SPORT RADIO
Whilst relaxing at home last Thursday (30th August) I had Talk Sport radio switched on in the back ground.
Imagine my surprise when presenter Jason Cundy announced that their special guest that evening was to be none other than the Lancashire Telegraphs Andy Cryer to discuss all things Blackburn Rovers prompted by the day’s news that Jason Rhodes had signed for the Rovers at a fee of £8 million, a record between two Championship teams. Rovers barely merit a mention on this National Radio station let alone being the night’s main topic. So I eagerly awaited Cryer’s arrival with excited anticipation. Cryer didn’t disappoint.
With the programme heading towards midnight I presume most Rovers fans will have missed what Cryer (pic above) had to say, let me enlighten you.
Asked about the Jason Rhodes transfer and fee, which amazed presenter Crundy (a former Chelsea player) Cryer said he thought it was a “last throw of the dice by Mrs Anuradha Desai to save Kean his job and get Rovers back into the Premiership” , although Cryer went on to say he thought Kean (was not the man for that job and that a great opportunity was lost in May when Rovers should of made a change and started the season with a new man in charge creating a new impetus at Ewood. This had led to the fans deserting Ewood Park in their thousands”.
Presenter Jason Cundy suggested that the Rovers fans were ill advised to carry on their protest at Kean’s management and should now get behind him. Cryer retorted “not so, what you have to remember” said Cryer “is that no manager in football league history has survived in his job for so long with a such bad record as Kean. “ Rovers fans know he is not up to his job and now have deserted the club in droves.” With gates of barely 13,500 at both opening home games, down by almost 50% from the Allardyce era, even taking into consideration the loss of Premiership football, it is amazing”.
Cryer went on to point out to Cundy that Rovers fans were no different from anyone else. Giving Liverpool fans as an example when they wanted rid of Roy Hodgson. Their protest lasted no more than a week or two over a handful of games and then Hodgson was gone. “Rovers fans have been totally ignored and treated with contempt by Mrs Anuradha Desai and they have now had enough and will not return whilst Kean is at the club in his £1.3 million pound job, no matter what League position he obtains or what players he signs the damage is done” said Cryer.
Asked if he thought Kean’s Job was in danger Cryer Replied “it should be, for him to fail now after major capital investment in the team is unthinkable, (no less than 12 new players) Cryer went on to reveal that Rovers have at least 6, and possibly more players on £35,000 per week. Unheard off outside the Premiership and a massive wage bill” that Cryer does not think is sustainable without large attendances. The whole tone of Andy Cryer’s interview was anti-Kean and Venky’s, he sounded much more disillusioned speaking than he does in print.
Presenter Jason Cundy asked what Cryer considered to be the minimum expectation from the Rovers for Kean to keep his job. Cryer replied “a top two finish and never out of the top 6 at any stage of the season, anything less, given the backing he has received would be failure and Desai could not possibly continue to justify keeping Kean in employ”.
Jason Cundy ventured to say that Cryer came over more as a fan than a journalist. Andy Cryer then revealed that he comes from Bristol, and that Bristol City is his club. But he has grown to love Blackburn and it’s football team and now feels a part of it and wants the Rovers to rise again just as any fan does.
Andy Cryer, has obviously during the course of his job, worked closely with Steve Kean since Kean took over from Allardyce in December 2010. It is obvious that Cryer does not hold Kean in high regard (but we knew that already through his Lancashire Telegraph column) hearing him and the tone of his voice on live radio was however different and put a different complex on matters. Somewhere on the way the professional relationship between Cryer and Kean has broken down, but that is par for the course with Kean.
Finally presenter Cundy questioned why the Venky’s had not invested this type of money into the team when they were still in the Premiership? Cryer’s reply “it is a mystery, but I don’t think Kean is the right man to receive and handle this type of investment”.
AND SO SAY ALL OF US..
Reg
Great post Reg and very true. Kean must be under huge pressure now, even from madame. The low gates and complete and utter dismay due to Keans catastrophic record as manager must leave him holding on to his 1.3 million a year job by the tips of his fingernails. Singhs appointment must've only heaped more pressure on Stevey boy and I honestly believe his time will be up soon.
Singh's appointment -as what? What has this man done to generate this seemingly growing belief he is our brave knight riding to save us from the grip of the evil Lord Kean? Cashing in on a Portugese Lidl's 3 for 2 offer perhaps or is it reassuring the fans Lord Kean will be history if he continues his reign of terror? He soon got his a$$ whipped for that one and retracted everything of note he had told us. Or just plain lied, if you prefer, telling the fans what they wanted to hear and making himself an instant hero.
Don't be fooled, he is a frontman, a nobody, a TV celebrity for Chri$t's sake. Like Lord Kean, he believes he is a legend (on his own planet).
And good old Reg; lighting yet another candle in his shrine to Sam. He just can't resist giving BFS a mention, no matter what he's blathering on about.
9:16am Fri 7 Sep 12
bring back the good old days says...
And yet Kean spouts out about all other clubs should be in fear of us, we have the best squad in the Div.
If he truly elieves that I cannot for the life of me understand how he can be so fearful of comitting two players up front.
The fear factor for the opposition would be more than enough to relieve our relatively poor defensive midfield and defence line.
The opposition are coming at us in waves as with only having to concern over a lone front runner (out of his normal situ) to contnd with they can devote more players into offensive roles.
1:03pm Fri 7 Sep 12
perolsman says...
12:09pm Mon 10 Sep 12
handyamBRFC says...
That was 1990s and clubs traded in millions.
Luckily BRFC were at the forefront of the buying frenzy and we did it.
Thanks to Uncle jack....!!!
Lets take note here that after the death of Uncle jack, the walker family knew they could not compete no more as all the other billionaires on earth took notice of what money could buy and the rest is history before you
and Lets not forget also that the walker family did not want to plough their inheritance into the club as Uncle jack had done.
BRFC were so fortunate that we had a benefactor in Uncle Jack and we bought the success BRFC deserved.
Unfortunately, that cant ever happen again because we dont have any local BRFC fans who are billionaires and football clubs need Billionaires.
Yes million aires cant compete no more.
so come on you fans we are actually really lucky that the Venkeys bought this club, lets not forget no one, I repeat no one wanted to buy the club.
BRFC was put to the sword by its owners, The family of Jack Walker.
they are the ones who sold the club.
We didnt find no worthy owners.
we didnt find no British owners.
we didnt find no European or American owners.
All we got were some foreign owners who knew nothing about football.
Actually, BRFC are very lucky we found someone willing to buy BRFC.
The real issue with BRFC that comes to light is the issue of fans.
the real BRFC fans...where are they.....!!!!
just because most clubs in football have foreign owners does it mean we stop being genuine football fans of BRFC.
Or should we stop being supporters because weve got Indian owners..?
The question should be raised why didnt you mortgage your homes and buy the club.....!!!...you could have done that...!!
anyway fans should get on with supporting the club.
BRFC really does need genuine BRFC supporters.
so get out of your caves and start doing what youre supposed to be doing
Support BRFC today , tommorow and everyday.....!!!