I’ll be a little controversial. The problem is not Jordan Rhodes, he hasn’t scored regularly for a few reasons:
over recent seasons we have rarely delivered decent quality crosses into the box due to having poor quality wingers, building up too slowly, and inept coaching and management.
He has rarely had a decent run of games in the team for a full 90 minutes.
When he plays we ask too much of him in terms of work outside the box. He’s a goal scorer and to do that job he needs service in and around the penalty area; particularly the six yard box. He will be judged on goals, not through trying to impress with work rate.
if Rhodes was to play every game this coming season, if we get crosses into the box, and play the ball into his feet rather than lump it high to him aimlessly, I would wager he would score twenty plus goals.
Goal scoring is not something you forget. In the absence of any other genuine goal scorer let’s give him a sustained run; some people might just be surprised!