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| Hot Property! 25 Goals in 21 Games - Jordan Rhodes is the name on everybody's lips! |
I am not sure whether Lee Clark wants to jump for joy or to prepare for a potentially difficult January transfer window as Jordan Rhodes continues to set League 1 on fire with the Premier League scouts circling around the Galpharm Stadium like vultures.
At just 21, Jordan Rhodes is putting in the sorts of displays that have seen him score five goals against Wycombe and earning himself a call up to the Scottish National team. Currently, West Ham are the only team to make an enquiry however, there are a host of teams looking at the former Ipswich player.
So what are the strengths to Rhodes' game; well apart from possessing blistering pace he also has the drive and motivation to chase down defenders and lead the line well. He will be able to cope with the physical nature of the premier league as he has a strong build and the right kind of aggression that will allow him to take charge on the football pitch. However, some may argue that he has not faced any superior opposition as of yet and that he may vanish under the spotlight of bigger name players and the speed and quality of some premier league defenders. Although, I do believe that Rhodes possesses that incredible ability to get into the right position at the right time. You only have to watch Michael Owen play to see how important movement and reactions are for a striker and Rhodes can bring this into the Premier League.
So who should Jordan Rhodes sign for if the Premier League clubs come knocking? First of all, count West Ham out, they do not play the kind of football that would suit Rhodes' style, hence why they have John Carew. I would count Tottenham out because I believe Redknapp wants a marquee signing and may go for Ganso and I believe Rhodes just would not feature as much as he would want to. Mark Hughes will be spending his budget on bringing Roque Santa Cruz to QPR so count them out too. There are three clubs that come to mind that I believe would be the perfect club for Rhodes and they are; Swansea, Everton and Newcastle.
Swansea could go into the second half of the season and completely change their attacking focus; injecting a bit of pace into their front line of Dyer, Sinclair and the "John Macken clone" Danny Graham. With the imminent loan signing of Josh McEachran, Rhodes would have a player there who could play the ball in behind the defence and with Dyer, Sinclair and Routledge could link up with quick pass and move combinations.
Everton would be another team that would suit Jordan Rhodes. A team that really needs forward players, they are adopting a style of play that suits an 'out an out' goalscorer, it's just that they don't have one! The pace of Drenthe, the intelligence of Cahill and the drive of Rodwell could prove to be the signing that Everton need.
I see Jordan Rhodes being to Newcastle like Michael Bridges was to Leeds many years ago. A team doing fantastically this season with Demba Ba proving that you don't have to cost 35 million to be a premier league goalscorer. With Ba going to play in the African Cup of Nations this may in fact be the right move for Rhodes. Time to settle in before Ba returns and then a mouthwatering strike partnership to look forward to. With players like Ben Arfa, Gutierrez and Cabaye, there will be plenty of chances for someone of Rhodes' ability to score plenty of goals and be a real top signing of the transfer window.
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| Could this be Newcastle United's Strike Partnership for 2012? |
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