O’Driscoll hails Rhodes as ‘up there’ with legend Shearer
7:46am Monday 4th February 2013 in Sport
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
JORDAN Rhodes can be Blackburn Rovers’ new Alan Shearer, according to the man who saw his side downed by the striker’s double on Saturday.
The Rovers striker scored in each half to defeat Bristol City 2-0 at Ewood Park, with Robins boss Sean O’Driscoll full of praise for his main tormentor.
He said: “He’s clever, give him a chance inside the six yard box and I know who my money would be on. You’ve got mark him from a corner. He’s not the quickest, he’s just clever.
“I’ve watched him so many times, he almost feeds on scraps and he doesn’t get frustrated, which is his biggest plus for me.
“Sometimes he gets isolated completely but he’ll get a chance sooner or later and he maintains his concentration and level of performance and waits for the defender to drop off and pounces.
“Alan Shearer was the best I’ve ever seen at doing that and Jordan’s right up there with that. Alan just scored so many headed goals. He’s not that big, but he did the same thing, he waited for the defenders to watch the ball.
“Gary Lineker was the same, they know what defenders are going to do and do the opposite. You think: shouldn’t somebody be marking him?”
Blackburn Rovers boss Michael Appleton was also full of praise for his striker, after he took his tally to 19 goals for the season.
Appleton said: “He does it in training every day, in small sided games you tend to forget he is there sometimes and then all of a sudden he will smash one in the back of the net.
“The biggest thing about him is he is a level headed lad, he is wanting to improve, wanting to get better and listening to advice.
“When you speak he never takes his eyes off you which is someone who wants to learn and who wants to get better.
“It is a lot of money to spend but whether it is over the next 17 games or beyond, the ultimate goal is to get back in the Premier League and if his goals can secure that everyone will be delighted.
“When you bring a footballer into the club, there are a lot of things you need to weigh up. His age, experience, what he can give to you, has he got resale value and Jordan ticks all those boxes.
“It looked a good investment for the football club and hopefully over time it will be.
“He is a goal scorer and he will do that at any level. The higher level you go, the better players you will play with. “If you are one of those players who can score one in two chances, or better, you will always score goals no matter what level you are at.”
Comments(29)
1952 rover
says...
8:31am Mon 4 Feb 13
!!!!!!
Hovis1945
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8:56am Mon 4 Feb 13
Incidentally it was great toe see 'the worst supporters in the land' (according to southern press and fans) give Jon Stead a fantastice welcome when he came on.
Road Runner Road Runner
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9:33am Mon 4 Feb 13
I was right in line of Rhodes first goal(EO4 Riverside) and it was sublime dancing his way to the strike through goodness knows how many players ? POW !
His second just awesome. Deadly !
His celebration(s) coming over to the fans is one to savior. Hero !
He scores when he wants ;-)
Arte et labore
Tamworth rover
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9:53am Mon 4 Feb 13
eddie the eagle
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11:28am Mon 4 Feb 13
ChrisDeBerg
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11:38am Mon 4 Feb 13
eddie the eagle wrote:Well you should get down the rovers instead of playing about in a swimming pool on a Saturday ;)
I havn't seen him live as often as I would have liked but he does seem to have what it takes and is deffinitly keeping Rovers in the hunt.however Shearer had it all his contribution was such that he would have got in the team if he never scored a goal,certainly something for Rhodes to aim for.
RTID
Iiii1111
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11:44am Mon 4 Feb 13
fanny_tickler.
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11:55am Mon 4 Feb 13
Iiii1111 wrote:Quality player who can probably score goals in the Premier League so I'm sure he won't want to hang around with a mid-table Championship side. Correct, Venky's bought him with a view to profit from him, that's all.
Thats him sold then....anyone think this regime wont cash in on him?
Miss-You-Uncle-Jack
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11:59am Mon 4 Feb 13
hasslem hasslem
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12:28pm Mon 4 Feb 13
i think we all agree that rhodes is some player - but we want to keep him....not lose him. we paid enough for him (a quoted £8m) and having stepped up a division (terriers promoted via his goals last season) has proved he can score a league up. yeah, his transfer value will have gone up - but that is only worth 'ewt to our wonderful owners. you have to say that if zaha is worth £12m from palace to scumchester then rhodes must be worth at least that - but rovers fans would never see that money (samba, n'zonzi, jones, kalanic (and to a lesser extent hoilett).
yeah - love rhodes so far (man love - not real love) but let's keep a lid on the shearer comparisons - otherwise the likes of southampton might eventually get their revenge
hasslem hasslem
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12:31pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Iiii1111 wrote:'Appy Clapper
Thats him sold then....anyone think this regime wont cash in on him?
bburnrover
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1:14pm Mon 4 Feb 13
makaveli96
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1:31pm Mon 4 Feb 13
She actually thought she was buying infrastructure to the middle east!
Shebby said she would own Jordans roads!!
JPainter90
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2:40pm Mon 4 Feb 13
merlinrabbit
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2:53pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Is Eckersley playing?
says...
4:45pm Mon 4 Feb 13
noddymcleod
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5:25pm Mon 4 Feb 13
The nearest equivalent I can think of is Speedie - popping the goals in nicely at the second tier.
"Legends" should be reserved for Shearer, Dougie, Ronnie Clayton, Tommy Briggs etc. Yoiu demean the language with your exaggerations.
icannotrace
says...
6:33pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Is Eckersley playing? wrote:You harp on about Venkys cashing in but do you not think that if a PL club came knocking that Rhodes would actually want to go (or certainly his agent would}.
There is no way Rhodes will be here next season if (when) they don't go up. Nailed on for a lower half Premier club will be in for him. Not quick enough for the top six. Don't get too excited about him. We did with Shearer and look how long he stayed around. The owners have blown it. We needed to go straight back up but all the shenanigans this season has contributed to us being too far behind top six to catch up. And if by some miracle we went up we would do a Burnley. No. Venkys will cash him in for £10-12 milllion, thats the reality.End of.
Saying that I don't think any were beating down the door in January. I think he's a good championship player but doesn't have that extra pace for the PL else someone would of picked him up before.
rovertony
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6:55pm Mon 4 Feb 13
noddymcleod wrote:And Billy Eckersley, Simon Garner,Derek Fazackerley,Stuart Metcafe
Can we have a stop to this silly nonsense about players being "legends" ? Rhodes is a very good goalscorer in the Championship and he's been here for half season. If he goes on to score 30 goals each season for 3 seasons and wins us the Premiership (very unlikely, Rhodes might make it to the Premiership, but not us in any near future) then perhahs we can start to compare to Shearer. Shearer absolutely terrorised Premiership defences and created acres of space for others.
The nearest equivalent I can think of is Speedie - popping the goals in nicely at the second tier.
"Legends" should be reserved for Shearer, Dougie, Ronnie Clayton, Tommy Briggs etc. Yoiu demean the language with your exaggerations.
Is Eckersley playing?
says...
7:46pm Mon 4 Feb 13
icannotrace wrote:Oh, of course he would go, Ican. Can you think of any lower league player to refuse the Prem? A club in the top flight would be taking a chance on him, though. The bottom feeders Sunderland, West Brom etc would probably push the boat out and have a punt.
Is Eckersley playing? wrote:You harp on about Venkys cashing in but do you not think that if a PL club came knocking that Rhodes would actually want to go (or certainly his agent would}.
There is no way Rhodes will be here next season if (when) they don't go up. Nailed on for a lower half Premier club will be in for him. Not quick enough for the top six. Don't get too excited about him. We did with Shearer and look how long he stayed around. The owners have blown it. We needed to go straight back up but all the shenanigans this season has contributed to us being too far behind top six to catch up. And if by some miracle we went up we would do a Burnley. No. Venkys will cash him in for £10-12 milllion, thats the reality.End of.
Saying that I don't think any were beating down the door in January. I think he's a good championship player but doesn't have that extra pace for the PL else someone would of picked him up before.
kazluvsrovers
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8:29pm Mon 4 Feb 13
He is wearing the blue and white shirt at the moment and definitely earning his wage not like some deadlegs we have had playing for us.
Give him a break he is a humble young talent and I for one am proud of him
and glad he signed for our club...
noddymcleod
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9:03pm Mon 4 Feb 13
Angry From Accrington
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10:01pm Mon 4 Feb 13
owd nick
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12:03am Tue 5 Feb 13
Rhodes weakness is he lacks pace, but his big advantage is just like Lineker's, between the ears.
Roverthere
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3:58am Tue 5 Feb 13
Fan@clared
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4:00pm Tue 5 Feb 13
1952 rover wrote:Really? who has scored more in the league then? Can you manage to get on site that will show you the goal scorers n the Championship? I so have a look And the bricklyaer has been out for a while!!!
he is better than the bricklayer!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!
Fan@clared
says...
4:00pm Tue 5 Feb 13
1952 rover wrote:Really? who has scored more in the league then? Can you manage to get on site that will show you the goal scorers n the Championship? I so have a look And the bricklyaer has been out for a while!!!
he is better than the bricklayer!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!
modan
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10:22pm Tue 5 Feb 13
Rhodes has not been tested in Premier league.Will he make it in the top league ?
Rhodes should watch Alan Shearer old Vedios and learn from this great Rover's legend'.
Two Hats says...
8:05am Mon 4 Feb 13