I confess: I have a bias here. If there’s one player I’ve coveted for Norwich City longer than I did Dean Windass, it’s Jordan Rhodes.
For most of the past decade, I’ve yearned to see him in a City shirt. In our Premier League days we could probably have afforded him, but his lack of top-flight experience may have put us off. Back in the Championship, he was well beyond our financial means.
But just when I’d given up hope, there he is at Colney holding up the shirt and announcing “I’m a Canary now”.
There are concerns, of course. It’s a classic case – like Huckerby and many before – that if he was perfect, he wouldn’t be in our range.
Actually, Hucks isn’t the best example. It’s a case much more similar to Grant Hanley: a player previously lauded and transferred for large amounts, but in recent times out-of-favour and off the radar.
Most people know Jordan Rhodes has a sustained goalscoring record, but it’s worth a quick recap. He’s scored 95 goals in 207 Championship appearances, the bulk of them in a four-year stint at Blackburn where he played 159 Championship games and scored 83 times.
The thing that raises questions is the same thing that makes him available to us. His appearances and goals have tailed off since he left Blackburn – initially at Middlesbrough, and especially in his time at Sheffield Wednesday.
He clearly isn’t a right fit there and, like a lot of strikers, he’s found it hard to make an impact when not picked regularly.
Is he past his best? I’ve seen asked. That really shouldn’t be the case. He’s 28 – the same age as Grant Holt when he joined us – and hasn’t had chronic injuries.
Like Hanley, Trybull and Leitner, he’s hit a plateau. There’s an outstanding player in there, but it’s been suppressed recently. A fantastic acquisition for somebody, if they can rekindle his hunger and belief.
If.
There are no guarantees, of course. But why do I think it might be a masterstroke?
First, no-one can doubt that Stuart Webber and Daniel Farke do their homework. They take a long look at a player like Hanley or Rhodes, assessing whether he’s a player that Farke can get the best out of.
There are two aspects to that assessment. First, personality and character. It’s no surprise to hear the kind of things that Daniel Farke is saying about Rhodes’ arrival. Not “he’s a goalscorer”, which we all know, but “he’s a brilliant character” and “he was desperate to join us”.
Second, the fit with our playing approach and style. Another question I’ve heard raised is whether he’s a Farke player. That seems a rather strange question, since Farke is signing him – in the full knowledge that, like Grant, Hanley, it’s a major financial commitment in our present circumstances.
Every player Stuart Webber has signed is a Daniel Farke player – with the exception of Marley Watkins who was signed before Farke’s arrival, Stuart clearly believing he shouldn’t let the chance slip away. (Well, no-one’s perfect.)
There are several players at Norwich who know Jordan Rhodes well, including Scotland teammates. They will have been sounded out about his character and desire, as part of Webber’s due diligence.
Whatever else it may be, this is not an impulse purchase.
Above all, he’s a proven goalscorer. Form is temporary, class – in this case, the instinct and ability to put the ball in the net – is permanent.
The stats bear out – somewhat to my surprise, but beyond doubt – that we created a lot of chances last season, especially after January when signings like Hernandez started to make their mark. Our big failing was the conversion rate.
Jordan Rhodes can make a major difference to that.
A couple of articles ago I questioned whether Webber and Farke could pull off a challenging trick: to make us more successful on the pitch while making the savings necessary to keep the club afloat.
For me, the signing of Jordan Rhodes substantially increases the possibility of a positive answer to that question.
I agree with you Stewart.I feel he will thrive in our setup and you don’t lose a goalscorer’s instinct.Look at Jermaine Defoe and Glenn Murray,who have been through lean spells but come good again .As for fitness -if things go well it’s surprising how you can shake off those niggling injuries so much quicker!
Hi Stewart like you I hoped city would have signed Rhodes a few seasons ago possibly when GH left but we went for the slightly cheaper option in Hooper.
My biggest problem is have city over stretched the finances for this loan I just hope not.
If you remember I asked if anyone had an idea about a sell on clause for Gunn and on another site it has said that city could be in for 20/25% and they are using this to cover the expense of loaning Rhodes.
We now hear that Dortmund are interested in Pinto, I would be sorry to see him go but now is better than at the end of the season for zilch.
Klose is a strange one will he be offered a new contract if so will he accept it on lower money unless we are promoted at the end of the season or will he walk for nought???????
So the last question is what now for Oliveria now we have signed Rhodes he must benext out of the revolving doors of Norwich City.
Very well-presented article Stew.
Realistically we have very little to lose on this deal so let’s hope Jordan gets that mojo back – with us and this season.
I say welcome and let’s see what happens.
Dunno what Pukki and Srbeny think, but I suspect a certain Portugeezer will soon be shown the departure lounge. And he may not be alone as there may be a compatriot from a different section of the team on the proverbial flight home.
We live in interesting times.
Thanks, Martin. Quickest I’ve ever written an article (and our editor Gary was fast on his feet too!).
Oliveira is surely on the way out. Srbeny was a long-term investment; Rhodes will be expected, I’d guess, to give him some good guidance as he develops.
Interesting times, as you say….
This surreal footballing summer continues.
With England winning penalty shoot outs and surging to the semis final of the World Cup (more tomorrow please!) and City harvesting vast sums for their best young players, fair play rules stymying a number of our competitors I felt a brief, slight, almost imperceptible twang of excitement at the news of this signing. It frightened me.
The original link with the player made no sense to me. The complete antithesis I thought of the kind of player we are in the market for nowadays.
Logically though, I can see the thought process behind this move. His Blackburn link up with Marshall was a rich seam of goals and assists which I would love to see reignited here. It would seem that both players are very good friends and it is hoped that their reunion will spark Rhodes to his best form. He’s certainly still young enough.
The previous link with Martin Duksch or whatever his name was left me cold. We can ill afford any more Dennis srbeny types in our situation. This is far more encouraging.
It could of course, go wrong. He may fail to find his best form and we will continue to,struggle in front of goal. However, im hoping a more direct approach is heralded by the Blackburn connections signings.
The summer window has yet to shut, the potential for a late, morale sapping sale such as Lewis or Godfrey or even Idah to screw up the upbeat feeling is there. Looking at the squad as it stands, it’s not the best, but it is by no means the worst case scenario I had imagined at the end of last season. Fingers are firmly crossed.
If Rhodes can recapture previous form then we’re in for a treat this season. It’s got to be worth a crack as a season long loan, if it turns out that he’s just lost his way over the last couple of seasons then hopefully we’ll reap the benefit and he’ll fire us towards where we want to be. Just hope that the fans will give him a chance and ignore the fact that he started off ‘down the road’, it’s just not relevant.
Hear, hear
This could be an absolute master-stroke, and if reports are to be believed, it’s already getting under the skins of those “down the road”.
I wonder how it’s now become possible to do this deal; anyone any idea if we are due something from Angus Gunn’s move to Southampton? If so, that could answer a lot of questions.
And I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see us devoid of any Portugese nationals before the start of the season.
O T B C
Good comment.
The deal is probably the result of several factors: Stuart Webber’s negotiating skill, the player’s desire to come to Norwich, reducing the wage bill in other areas, a windfall from the Angus Gunn sale to Southampton.
I suspect it may also be similar to Grant Hanley’s signing in August, in that it pushes the boundaries of our budget but it represents such a potential game-changer that we’ll take the risk.