I admit, I am not a big fan of Jay Rodriguez. Perhaps it's something to do with the fact he used to play for Southampton. No, I don't think it's that. Perhaps it's just his style of play which is rugged and slightly less stylish than the forwards at AFCB currently. I am willing to be converted though, if AFCB do sign the WBA striker, especially if he finds it easy to hit the back of the net.
Eddie Howe needs to excite fans and that is what gives me a question mark over Rodriguez. Yes, he is experienced at Premier League level, but he is no Harry Kane, not that AFCB could afford such a player. That is the crux. How many strikers out there come into AFCB's price category who have as much experience and are available?
If AFCB don't go for a player like Rodriguez they will need to settle for less experienced Championship strikers, or go seeking more foreign strikers who have no experience of the Premier League. So I can see why Rodriguez would be looked at. He adds power in the air and a sense of the unpredictable in his play. Whether he would suit AFCB's model though is hard to judge. He will certainly have to offer something unusual to get ahead of some of the strikers already at the club. Bournemouth may be viewed as a bit of a soft team and adding a player like Rodriguez could start to harden them up, but is that the kind of way AFCB want to be viewed. If AFCB had a few more battlers, with a harder edge, and not necessarily a striker with a high passing game, would it bring better success?
Still, AFCB haven't got a well-linked strike partnership at the moment and Rodriguez could be a missing factor just like Yann Kermorgant was for Callum Wilson. Rodriguez like Yann is not overly quick but he can be a good link player and will be good to play off perhaps better than the runners that Eddie seems to have as strikers currently. Whether a successful chase of Rodriguez would mean an exit for Josh King though is a switch that would disappoint a few. But, if it was a replacement for Benik Afobe it would more easily be seen as an upgrade.
Rodriguez scored 11 goals last season in a relegated side, but only cost £12.5m from Southampton. A price of £20m sounds steep but perhaps £15m would be more appropriate.
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| Rodriguez stands alone and may be from WBA team-mates and could be set to leave them in the Championship. |
If AFCB don't go for a player like Rodriguez they will need to settle for less experienced Championship strikers, or go seeking more foreign strikers who have no experience of the Premier League. So I can see why Rodriguez would be looked at. He adds power in the air and a sense of the unpredictable in his play. Whether he would suit AFCB's model though is hard to judge. He will certainly have to offer something unusual to get ahead of some of the strikers already at the club. Bournemouth may be viewed as a bit of a soft team and adding a player like Rodriguez could start to harden them up, but is that the kind of way AFCB want to be viewed. If AFCB had a few more battlers, with a harder edge, and not necessarily a striker with a high passing game, would it bring better success?
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Rodriguez scored 11 goals last season in a relegated side, but only cost £12.5m from Southampton. A price of £20m sounds steep but perhaps £15m would be more appropriate.
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Rodriguez would be an ideal addition for Bournemouth. I really can't understand what Southampton were thinking when they let him go to WBA !
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of Southampton, I wonder if there is any chance of getting Ward-Prowse, who seems to be completely unappreciated by Mark Hughes ?