Quote Originally Posted by OldWhiteTaff View Post
Absolutely HO, people keep saying look at JKA, without taking into account Rodrigo is at a whole different level to JKA. JKA was always a gamble (had a very chequered history prior to coming to us) whereas Rodrigo has been close to the top of the Valencia teamsheet for the last few seasons. To draw a PL equivalent, it's be like us signing Martial, or Jimenez or Richarlison, and I doubt there'd have been much moaning if we'd signed any of them
Sorry OWT, those comparisons just don't stand up.

Martial appeared 32 times in the league for Scum last season, strike ratio of 1 in 2 appearances in all competitions
Jimenenz appeared 38 times in the league for Wolves, and again, strike ratio of 1 in 2 appearances in all competitions
Richarlison slightly less attractive, appeared 36 times in the league for Everton, strike rate of 1 in 2.5(ish) in all competitions

Rodrigo appeared for Valencia 27 times in 2019/20, strike rate 1 in 5 in all competitions (and worthy of note that that drops to 1 in 7 in the league, and has dropped off a cliff since the 2017/18 season, so were taking a gamble on being able to reverse AND improve that, on a player who last played in the PL in 2010/11. Better ways to spend the clubs money)

You're spot on, if we were linked with any of the three players you refer to, happy days. Not so much with a crocked player (passed medical or not) who scores less frequently than Bamford, who at least we know will run his heart out for the club AND contributes while doing so.