One To Watch: Jordan Rhodes

Living near Blackburn often sees me go to Ewood Park with a few Rovers fans some weekends when I am unable to attend Birmingham City games. But why is this relevant to the article about my one to watch. Well, up until this last transfer window, this £8 million signing was playing for Blackburn and scoring goals for fun in the Championship. Yes, my one to watch is Jordan Rhodes.

Friday night games are the best if you win but the worst if you lose. This is because if you win, it puts pressure on those close to you in the table to get the win and the pressure is eased from being on you. However, if you are to lose, then the pain lasts the whole weekend. If we have any chance of emulating the 0-0 draw earlier in the season or even getting all 3 points, then we must stop their star man, Jordan Rhodes.

Rhodes is in a purple patch unfortunately for Birmingham City. He will delighted with his recent run of form scoring 5 goals in 12 first team starts. This includes 2 at Bolton whereby the confidence must be flowing after a late goal allowed them to take all 3 points back up to the North East and keep alive their hopes of gaining automatic promotion.

As a player Rhodes has the knack of scoring. This, obviously, is a good thing to have if you’re a striker! I have seen him score all types of goals; headers, volleys, left foot, right foot, 1v1’s… The list is endless and therefore due to this unpredictability, we will need to try and cut off the supply line to him rather than trying to deal with Rhodes himself. If he is unable to receive the ball, then he shouldn’t be able to have an impact on the game.

It is worth pointing out that Rhodes wasn’t involved in the 0-0 draw last time out, and therefore the fact that they didn’t score on that occasion is irrelevant in certain ways. However, it will give Birmingham fans some hope that we can try and play the same style because it worked last time.

Birmingham City are facing a strong team and they aren’t high flying in the league table for nothing. Their squad is one of the strongest in the Championship but they have been beaten by the likes of Bristol City so anything is possible.