Liverpool's depressing paucity in front of goal continues to damage the club's forward progress, and we're now at the stage where serious action needs to be taken. The club urgently needs a goalscorer, but not just any old striker - a *natural* goalscorer is required, i.e a Robbie Fowler-type player with that rare ability to always be in the right place at the right time. Is there such a player out there within LFC's price range? YES! As I've argued repeatedly over the last year, Huddersfield Town's Jordan Rhodes is the answer, and (IMO) if Liverpool do not pull out all the stops to sign him in the summer, it will be utter negligence.
Liverpool have a history of plucking successful players from the lower leagues. Amongst others, Ian Rush came from Chester City; John Aldridge signed from Oxford United; Kevin Keegan came from Scunthorpe; Steve Nicol came from Ayr United; Alan Hansen was poached from Partick Thistle, and Sami Hyypia came from Willem II. All went on to become Anfield legends.
Some facts about 21 year-old Rhodes:
* 37 goals and 3 assists in 36 starts for Huddersfield this season, which is an unbelievable record.
* Almost 100 goals/assists in the last three seasons.
* Fits the club's new transfer policy under FSG (Young, British etc).
* Plays for a League One team, so wouldn't cost the earth.
* Three player of the year awards
* Already a full international (for Scotland)
* Holds the record for the fastest ever headed hat-trick (3 in 8 minutes)
* Scored 6 hat-tricks this season
For me, the only question to consider here is this: Why would Liverpool NOT want to sign this guy? Rhodes is definitely a natural goalscorer, and with such prodigious natural ability, the chances of him making the grade at the top level have to be high.
Liverpool have been snapping up youngsters from all over Europe for years, and how many of them have made the grade? Is Rhodes any worse than the dozens of players currently toiling away in the Academy/Reserve set-up? Have any of them achieved anything close to what Rhodes has achieved for Huddersfield?
For me, he should be one of Liverpool's top transfer targets this summer, and the club could probably get him for 5-10m. I'm not suggesting for one moment that Rhodes should be Liverpool's main target, or that he should be expected to go straight into the team and bang in 20 goals a season, but surely he's a fantastic option worth having?
Since I became of aware of Rhodes last year, I've watched quite a few of Huddersfield's games, and I would absolutely love to see him at Anfield. The club should get Rhodes hooked into a pre-contract agreement asap to stave off interest otherwise some other club will inevitably snap him up.
It makes me sick to think that Liverpool could miss out on this amazing goalscorer, and if that happens, it will negligence of the highest order (IMO).
Please sign him! What does the club have to lose...?
Rhodes scores 5 goals against Wycombe earlier in the season:
Jaimie Kanwar
Liverpool have a history of plucking successful players from the lower leagues. Amongst others, Ian Rush came from Chester City; John Aldridge signed from Oxford United; Kevin Keegan came from Scunthorpe; Steve Nicol came from Ayr United; Alan Hansen was poached from Partick Thistle, and Sami Hyypia came from Willem II. All went on to become Anfield legends.
Some facts about 21 year-old Rhodes:
* 37 goals and 3 assists in 36 starts for Huddersfield this season, which is an unbelievable record.
* Almost 100 goals/assists in the last three seasons.
* Fits the club's new transfer policy under FSG (Young, British etc).
* Plays for a League One team, so wouldn't cost the earth.
* Three player of the year awards
* Already a full international (for Scotland)
* Holds the record for the fastest ever headed hat-trick (3 in 8 minutes)
* Scored 6 hat-tricks this season
For me, the only question to consider here is this: Why would Liverpool NOT want to sign this guy? Rhodes is definitely a natural goalscorer, and with such prodigious natural ability, the chances of him making the grade at the top level have to be high.
Liverpool have been snapping up youngsters from all over Europe for years, and how many of them have made the grade? Is Rhodes any worse than the dozens of players currently toiling away in the Academy/Reserve set-up? Have any of them achieved anything close to what Rhodes has achieved for Huddersfield?
For me, he should be one of Liverpool's top transfer targets this summer, and the club could probably get him for 5-10m. I'm not suggesting for one moment that Rhodes should be Liverpool's main target, or that he should be expected to go straight into the team and bang in 20 goals a season, but surely he's a fantastic option worth having?
Since I became of aware of Rhodes last year, I've watched quite a few of Huddersfield's games, and I would absolutely love to see him at Anfield. The club should get Rhodes hooked into a pre-contract agreement asap to stave off interest otherwise some other club will inevitably snap him up.
It makes me sick to think that Liverpool could miss out on this amazing goalscorer, and if that happens, it will negligence of the highest order (IMO).
Please sign him! What does the club have to lose...?
Rhodes scores 5 goals against Wycombe earlier in the season:
Jaimie Kanwar
Agree, I don't think it is too much of a risk and we've seen a lot of lower league players show they can perform at the top level for teams like Blackpool, Swansea and Norwich. And his record is the best of any lower league player in years. He has an outstanding record that even a proven Premier League striker would struggle to match.
ReplyDeleteU are a total gimp! Write so much crap it's untrue!
ReplyDeleteNo, no, no
ReplyDeleteWhat we don't need is to sign another player just to satisfy the xenophobic demands of the press! Facts are the best young players do not come from these shores! Jordan Rhodes isn't going to be gracing the European Cup anytime soon is he? Nor can he help a club get there?
Move on from this player who is bound to fade or move to Fulham or West Brom
Said the same many times , no brainer to me if the kid doesn't make it lower league clubs would take him off us in a flash , proven goal scorer in lower league , give him a go , from Huddersfield too it might just be a sign from SHANKS , divine intervention if you like
ReplyDelete100% agree rhodes would be a perfect addition along side another more established goal scorer that gives us 4 strikers great
ReplyDeletebut it also depends on whetther he given the time on the pitch if its going to be the same old story like it is with sterling suso morgan then dont bother if hes not going to be blooded into the side then theres no point I rather give youngsters the chance in the carling cup and earlier stages of the fa cup thats how arsenal have been doing it for years and for god sake will it kill us if reina doesnt play in the carling cup know wonder we find it difficult to find a decent back up keeper
ReplyDeleteIf he fails what will we lose? He'll cost a pittance, relative to his potential.
ReplyDeleteI'd say go for it. If he doesn't work, we can Bellamy down the middle more since we should buy at least one wide player in the Summer.
Totally agree jaimie, we should sign the lad, time to take a calculated risk on huge potential
ReplyDeletethis will be a very good addition,he is really a goal scoring machine...........whether in the sixteen or in the eighteen area he can score there.
ReplyDeleteNot convinced, personally i think he lacks pace to make it at the top level. Look at the last 2 top quality forwards, owen and torres, nt worth the even the small risk!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more, just watched the clip of him look's like a goal-poacher instinctive finisher, sure he wouldn't cost a lot so I say snap him up could be another Rush ! Fowler? , but needs regular first team playing time! KD go for it.
ReplyDeleteShut the fuck up kuntwar you useless prick
ReplyDeleteSo now anyone who is british is automatically rubbish? Just because we aren't producing world beaters from our youth ranks, doesn't mean they dont exist! Look at Welbeck, Sturridge, Walker, Lennon, Bale, Johnson etc. All british, all quality. Why just be completely against British players? Looks good Jaimie, I'd love for KD to pick him up.
ReplyDeleteNo essay. No analysis. Just sign the guy!
ReplyDeleteBlind Fold Decision!! The guy has it.
ReplyDeleteIf we got him for peanuts then yes why not????.................If he bombs so what!!!
ReplyDeleteI bet he doesn't cost a pittance. Huddersfield will stick a high price on him, due to all the top clubs (and us) sniffing around. I reckon he'll be £10 million at least.
ReplyDeleteI think you have written about rhodes previously as well.. All said the lad looks fantastic in front of goal....and hes got the presence of mind to finish games off........he is strong and an intelligent footballer....get him KD
ReplyDeleteThe problem is not the players but point everything Kenny Daglish.He does not have a system in place,maybe he is doing what he wants because he is aware that owners are ignorant with football.If Liverpool is to progress the owners should fire him and bring people like Frank Rakjaad,not this pig headed of ours in KK.For how long should we live in the shadow Man Utd,Chelsea.Its very boring damn KK.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Town fan who used to stand on the Kop in the early to mid 80s so if we are to lose him, as we surely will, then I would rather it be to Liverpool than anywhere, especially given the Shankly connection (I once stood next to his wife in the HT boardroom after a match). He is a natural, right place right time, and a matter of fact get on with the game confidence like Lineker used to have but better in the air than Lineker.
ReplyDeletehis record speaks for itself.
ReplyDeletebut some fans will only be happy if we're buying players from la liga or serie a.unfortunately they won't come to us at the moment.
i thought we should have moved for shane long last summer,rafa and hodgson were interested in him when they were at lfc and he has done well at wba this season although he got set back by injury.
there's good players out there if we are smart in how we look for them.
Didn't Suarez have a goal-scoring rate like that until Kenny got a hold of him?
ReplyDeleteI agree as well and he wouldn't expect instant first team football.
ReplyDeleteHuddersfield fan here... He's special. very. very. special. I've never been as confident a player will score as I have with Rhodes, if he has the ball he scores simple. It doesn't even matter how, he is immense in the air and with both feet.
ReplyDeleteId like to see him goto Liverpool as I see them as being one of the few clubs to properly use him. He will go to a top club, he's proven like it or not against many different defenders, he used to be weak against bully type of player but he's gone away, bulked up and learnt the league one way. But he can beat a player,
If he was that good WHY has he only played 1 game for Scotland?!
ReplyDeleteHow many games have Henderson/Shelvey/Spearing etc played for england?
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Galaxy Note
-------- Original message --------
Subject: [liverpoolkop] Re: 96 goals/assists in 3 years: LFC should sign this goalscoring genius NOW... | Liverpool-Kop.com
I think its a little bit harder to break into the England set up. Henderson/Shelvey/Spearing are up against Gerrard/Lampard/Barry/Milner/Parker. Whose Rhodes up against? Im not saying Rhodes is a bad player but the players you state arent comparable. Plus Henderson has started a game for England
ReplyDeleteFulham and West Brom are right on terms with us at the moment.
ReplyDeleteHow much could we lose with this guy if he flops? 2 million at worst? Do you see any of our strikers scoring that many goals, even for Huddersfield, over three seasons? He plays carling cup and europa league, so what? Is far better than seeing more 15 million misfits in the squad. We have to buy in this way now. I'd sooner see 7 or 8 signings like him for 5 or 6 million than three more 15 to 20 million signings.
Too right, hardly any risk at all.
ReplyDeleteWest Ham were trying to get him for about 4 million in January. If Huddersfield don't go up again, and we come in for him, they'd do well to keep him if we offered 6 million and 2 or 3 players on loan for the season. If he flops, we'd get 3 million for him, hardly a huge loss.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds good enough for me!!
ReplyDeleteNice story about Shanks wife in the Huddersfield boardroom as well!
hate to dissapoint but word is he is already as good as signed sealed and ready to be delivered to Celtic
ReplyDeleteCan't believe that people cannot understand that this is the type of signing that the club needs to make and hope that 3 or 4 of them come good. If we cannot make successful signings when spending 100 million, then we should look for cheap signings which are potential bargains. We've done ok with Bellamy and Enrique and, it seems, Coates, so if we can pick up the likes of Rhodes and Hoillet, etc, we can bolster our squad with players who have the potential to improve and do a job for us.
ReplyDeleteAt 6 or 7 million, there is nothing wrong with giving this guy a season of Carling Cup and Europa League experience and seeing how he gets on. If he is useless, we've lost nothing important and can sell him at a small loss, but, if he can translate his goal scoring record to those competitions, we have someone who will be ready to start some league games.
Next year, there are certain players in our team who should not be starting in the carling cup or europa league group games. Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Gerrard, Lucas, Suarez. If KD is going to persevere with Henderson, Downing and Carroll, he can add those three (with Bellamy, Kelly, Coates, Shelvey, who could play the cup games and be on the bench) as well as a new playmaker, new winger and striker to the first team squad and save them for league games and FA cup. The likes of Rhodes would be playing in a 2nd 11, alongside players like Doni, Flanagan, Carragher, Coates, Robinson, Adam, Coady, Spearing, Bellamy and Sterling. Anyone who excels replaces someone in the first team group. But the second 11 should be full of 5 or 6 million pound players, initially, not 80 million pounds worth of attacking 'talent'.
if this guy is good, give him a try.
ReplyDeletehaving watched the video, he seems to be more versatille a scorer as compared to Carol. The only question coming up , I mean the crucial issue to address, :
ReplyDeletewill he adapt to these ruthless defenders in the PL?
will he be a homogeneous part of the attacking squad of the team, ie will he be able to adapt himself VERY QUICKLY, to the ballS that'l be fed to him by the like of suarez, AND THE REST OF OUR 'BRITISH' Midfielders.
Infact we need top quality goal scorer(s), like Torres was once for us.
If the specialists think so, So WE SHOULD SIGN HIM .
Looking at that video Jamie has linked, he seems to be a goal poacher (exactly the thing we need), however I think I see one quick problem here - he's not quick enough. On one of the goals the defender clearly catches up with him when he's through on goal but Rhodes manages to shrug him off. In the premier league defenders will be stronger AND quicker than league 1 standards, so would he be a success with us?
ReplyDeleteThere's only one way to find out if he would work out at Liverpool...
He also now 22 - FYI
ReplyDeleteworth a punt. why not.. nobody would have thought realistically that grant holt would have done well in perm - look what he has done this season. well done to him. may go to the euros and he would deserve to for his efforts.
ReplyDeleteGood points, but how much pace did Robbie Fowler have? Jelavic? Cisse at Newcastle? Alan Shearer? Great goalscorers don't needs blinding pace - they need the genius ability to pop up in the right place at the right time, and great finishing ability.
ReplyDeleteCheck out his goal against brentford. It's on YouTube somewhere. He Isn't slow but likewise he isn't fast. But he is that kind of player who doesn't need to be he just somehow seems to always be in space. He reacts quicker to things than a lot of players I have seen. He reads the game and is in position waiting before a cross is even sent in.
ReplyDeleteHe has given some players a right old time defensively, check out his record this season against sheff wed at hillsborough.
If you want proof he is natural check out his
... Goal scoring records at youth, reserve, Ipswich, htafc levels.
ReplyDeleteplease stop using the word "we" you are not, never have been and never will be a supporter fan or follower of LFC
ReplyDeleteCompletely true Jamie, he could well end up the sort of player you describe above.
ReplyDeleteFor me personally, I've always like when we played quick football behind defences, so I would love to have a quick goal poacher, however we currently seem to love taking the ball out wide and kick crosses which hardly hit our men, so someone who has the ability to know where to be when the cross comes in would of course be perfect.
Why on earth would he want to join a 2nd rate bunch anyway?
ReplyDeleteWouldnt swap him for Carrol and KKK Suarez put together
Typical deluded scousers, bet next year is your year from the Prem again...