On the eve of a potentially tricky away tie at lower league opposition who managed to dump a Premier League team out in the previous round, the last thing any team needs is to find out that their top talisman (and alleged "jewel in the crown") is the subject of a huge bid and is being allowed to go and talk to them over a move. The timing could have been better, however, such is football these days amid windows and the like and money talks.
No one can deny that Rhodes hasn't been a great goalscorer for the club since his move from Huddersfield in 2011/12 but the ultimate reason he came to Blackburn was the thought of promotion. This is a player that wants to progress and play at the top level. To be fair to him promotion was never going to be on the cards this season at Blackburn after seeing other key players sold and the club being embargoed. The chance went a begging the last two seasons when we fluffed our lines in falling two points short in 2013/14 and then just never really got going despite goals galore in 2014/15. In moving to Middlesbrough (should everything go through) he has a genuine chance of promotion, they sit in an automatic spot and have gathered a team together that looks capable of lasting the distance.
For Blackburn then, it would appear that we are now in the midst of another transitionary period. This was always likely following the sale of certain players and an embargo and especially following putting a new manager in place. Lambert is quoted as saying that the Rhodes sale will help us to rebuild the club and hopefully there is the chance to do that now. It also means other players now need to step up and show what they can do. In Danny Graham we have a player who has been a proven goal scorer in the past and who needs to rediscover the sort of form that made him a wanted player, Tony Watt is young and appears to have a talent that needs to be nurtured but could be promising, whilst Simeon Jackson has so far sounded lively each time he has taken to the field.
You would have been forgiven for thinking that in the middle of all this Blackburn might meekly succumb to a defeat to Oxford in the cup, however, they responded with the perfect answer and gave the fans something to be cheerful about. The defence was resolute, chances were created and the midfield took a hold of the game. A comfortable 3-0 win, which could have been more and a place in the hat for the 5th round of the FA Cup. Watts more (sorry couldn't resist!) a goal from that man Tony on his debut will have helped to settle him following his move to Blackburn.
So whilst Rhodes is already up in the North East, Blackburn's next trip is ironically away to Middlesbrough - so quite literally all Rhodes seem to lead there. It wouldn't surprise anyone if Jordan scored against his old team but if the transfer is completed we now need to move on and find new "heroes" in the team. With Middlesbrough and Hull up next, now is the time for the squad to stand up and be counted.
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