Long to WBA

[Mr Angry]

And so another thread falls to that crippling disease; Snowballstatitis.

Indeed - it assumes that just one measure (goals) are all that counts, wheras Mick McCarthy has been singing the praises of Doyle all season for the way he holds the ball up and keeps possession whilst others join the attack.

But as that can't be measured in numbers it doesn't count.

And where exactly are Wolves in the Prem?

Oh yes, second bottom with a GD of -17, Doyle has 2 Prem goals in 18 Starts this season.

Of course he's a great player, loved him to bits, but it's this list that says a strikers job is to score goals
and when Shane was working like a trojan for the team and NOT scoring, you all reminded me, of, what
was it again? Oh, yes, "A strikers job is to score goals and Long isn't doing it."

Well this year, his fourth year in the Prem, just like his second year in the Prem, Doyle is failing to score goals.

So, right now, if you had the choice of one and one only of either player playing for Reading, which one would you have; Doyle or Long?

[ZacNaloen]

Doyle and Long, with Doyle setting the goals up for Long to put them away.

[Alan Partridge]

And so another thread falls to that crippling disease; Snowballstatitis.

Indeed - it assumes that just one measure (goals) are all that counts, wheras Mick McCarthy has been singing the praises of Doyle all season for the way he holds the ball up and keeps possession whilst others join the attack.

But as that can't be measured in numbers it doesn't count.

And where exactly are Wolves in the Prem?

Oh yes, second bottom with a GD of -17, Doyle has 2 Prem goals in 18 Starts this season.

Of course he's a great player, loved him to bits, but it's this list that says a strikers job is to score goals
and when Shane was working like a trojan for the team and NOT scoring, you all reminded me, of, what
was it again? Oh, yes, "A strikers job is to score goals and Long isn't doing it."

Well this year, his fourth year in the Prem, just like his second year in the Prem, Doyle is failing to score goals.

Doyle playing in the Prem in a poor side
Long playing in the CCC in a competitive side.

Probably why the goal ratio is so different. Doyle doesn't have weekly games against the likes of Scunthorpe, Barnsley and Preston.

[Snowball]

Doyle playing in the Prem in a poor side
Long playing in the CCC in a competitive side.

Probably why the goal ratio is so different. Doyle doesn't have weekly games against the likes of Scunthorpe, Barnsley and Preston.

Sure, that's this season's excuse.

Here is a direct comparison.

6 Premiership Goals in 34 (02) (3,018 minutes) (a Goal every 503 Minutes) in the second Premiership season with Reading. Doyle
3 Premiership Goals in 07 (22) (0,831 minutes) (a Goal every 277 minutes) in the second Premiership season. Long, same team, no excuses.

Basically Long is now improving because he's (just) 24 and is still improving.

In Doyle's second Championship season for Reading he got 18 goals in 3480 minutes (193 minutes each). He was age 25

This is the nearest comparable season (Long 23 at the start of the season) is playing in a much weaker team)

2,178 minutes for 13 goals so far (178 minutes each)


of course SOME players who are prolific at one level don't step up.

Long could be like that, arguably Doyle is like that 9,937 Prem Minutes for 30 Goals
two decent seasons 13/11 and two bad ones 6-2 (so far) overall a goal every 331 minutes, 1 every 3.7 games, not "great" striking

[Alan Partridge]

That doesn't take into account games which Doyle started on the right hand side of midfield, the way the entire team lost form at certain stages as well. I think i remember correctly that Doyle wasn't really fully fit for a bit of that season and he played throughout down to what Coppell felt was a neccesity that he did.

Again it can't all be done on numbers alone mate.

I'm not trying to take anything away from Long who is in one of his purple patches at the moment. His all round game has improved no end, and now he's getting the goals as well, good for him. Spot on. I'd still like for him to do it before December though!!

I also don't agree Long is playing in a much weaker team this year than Doyle was in the 2nd Championship team.

I'd much rather have this current squad than that one, which didn't perform at all for half a season and for me lacked depth in numerous positions. I quite like the look of this current one and playoffs are definitely not beyond the realms of possibility.

[Mr Angry]

Doyle playing in the Prem in a poor side
Long playing in the CCC in a competitive side.

Probably why the goal ratio is so different. Doyle doesn't have weekly games against the likes of Scunthorpe, Barnsley and Preston.

Sure, that's this season's excuse.

Here is a direct comparison.

6 Premiership Goals in 34 (02) (3,018 minutes) (a Goal every 503 Minutes) in the second Premiership season with Reading. Doyle
3 Premiership Goals in 07 (22) (0,831 minutes) (a Goal every 277 minutes) in the second Premiership season. Long, same team, no excuses.

Basically Long is now improving because he's (just) 24 and is still improving.

In Doyle's second Championship season for Reading he got 18 goals in 3480 minutes (193 minutes each). He was age 25

This is the nearest comparable season (Long 23 at the start of the season) is playing in a much weaker team)

2,178 minutes for 13 goals so far (178 minutes each)


of course SOME players who are prolific at one level don't step up.

Long could be like that, arguably Doyle is like that 9,937 Prem Minutes for 30 Goals
two decent seasons 13/11 and two bad ones 6-2 (so far) overall a goal every 331 minutes, 1 every 3.7 games, not "great" striking

Rather than simply vomit up statistics, why do you not want to answer a simple football fan question; which would you rather have at Reading right now - IF YOU COULD ONLY HAVE ONE OF THEM - Doyle or Long?? Its a simple enough question Snowball.......

[Mr Angry]

Doyle and Long, with Doyle setting the goals up for Long to put them away.

The question is, which of them would you have right now, with their respective form, if you could only have one of them. Doyle or Long?

[Mr Angry]

That doesn't take into account games which Doyle started on the right hand side of midfield, the way the entire team lost form at certain stages as well. I think i remember correctly that Doyle wasn't really fully fit for a bit of that season and he played throughout down to what Coppell felt was a neccesity that he did.

Again it can't all be done on numbers alone mate.

I'm not trying to take anything away from Long who is in one of his purple patches at the moment. His all round game has improved no end, and now he's getting the goals as well, good for him. Spot on. I'd still like for him to do it before December though!!

I also don't agree Long is playing in a much weaker team this year than Doyle was in the 2nd Championship team.

I'd much rather have this current squad than that one, which didn't perform at all for half a season and for me lacked depth in numerous positions. I quite like the look of this current one and playoffs are definitely not beyond the realms of possibility.

So if you had the choice, you would keep Long and not have Doyle instead of him?

[Snowball]

UNQUESTIONABLY Long, it's a no-brainer.


He is close to equaling Doyle's achievements at an earlier age than Doyle managed it.


He was 24 a few days ago so still has 3-4 years improvement in him, Doyle is already 27.5 so almost on the way down.

Doyle is more expensive.

Long has shown great loyalty to the club.

I totally, absolutely believe that barring serious injury
Long will prove to be a greater player than Doyle.

[Alan Partridge]

That doesn't take into account games which Doyle started on the right hand side of midfield, the way the entire team lost form at certain stages as well. I think i remember correctly that Doyle wasn't really fully fit for a bit of that season and he played throughout down to what Coppell felt was a neccesity that he did.

Again it can't all be done on numbers alone mate.

I'm not trying to take anything away from Long who is in one of his purple patches at the moment. His all round game has improved no end, and now he's getting the goals as well, good for him. Spot on. I'd still like for him to do it before December though!!

I also don't agree Long is playing in a much weaker team this year than Doyle was in the 2nd Championship team.

I'd much rather have this current squad than that one, which didn't perform at all for half a season and for me lacked depth in numerous positions. I quite like the look of this current one and playoffs are definitely not beyond the realms of possibility.

So if you had the choice, you would keep Long and not have Doyle instead of him?

Who would I have? I'd probably go for Doyle but not by a lot, just because I think he's got a bit more about him and i preferred his attitude to be honest.

If Long keeps progressing as he has been then it might be a different answer. Like I said at first though it's hard to compare the 2 when one is in the Prem at a struggling club, so he'll probably get 2 chances a game tops, and 1 is at a Championship club that is competitive so you're looking at roughly 4 or 5 chances a game.

[Alan Partridge]

UNQUESTIONABLY Long, it's a no-brainer.


He is close to equaling Doyle's achievements at an earlier age than Doyle managed it.


He was 24 a few days ago so still has 3-4 years improvement in him, Doyle is already 27.5 so almost on the way down.
Doyle is more expensive.

Long has shown great loyalty to the club.

I totally, absolutely believe that barring serious injury
Long will prove to be a greater player than Doyle.

That's not neccesarily true either.

[muddyfeet]

sorry to interupt the Long/Doyle conversation, but there is a good article on the OS about Shane, if you need to take a break

http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDet ... 12,00.html

[brendywendy]

top work muddy feet




my new poster of the year award nominee!

[Snowball]

I also don't agree Long is playing in a much weaker team this year than Doyle was in the 2nd Championship team.

Sorry, that's crazy. We went into the last game needing a win to get automatic promotion

6.5 Million Doyle sold to Prem
4.0 Million SHunt sold to Prem
Andre Bikey who left us to go into the Premiership
a much younger, fitter Ingi, a younger fitter Gunnarson, Marcus Hahnemann,
Noel Hunt at the top of his form,
Armstrong had a blinder of a season (PotS) and is a shadow of that now

etc

[muddyfeet]

top work muddy feet




my new poster of the year award nominee!

I dont think they took any notice..................

[bigmike]

top work muddy feet




my new poster of the year award nominee!

I dont think they took any notice..................

you need to put some pointless stats for snowball to take any notice

[muddyfeet]

Shane Long appears to be 100% loyal to the Royals

http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDet ... 12,00.html

feel free to debate

[Snowball]

Who would I have? I'd probably go for Doyle but not by a lot, just because I think he's got a bit more about him and i preferred his attitude to be honest.

If Long keeps progressing as he has been then it might be a different answer. Like I said at first though it's hard to compare the 2 when one is in the Prem at a struggling club, so he'll probably get 2 chances a game tops, and 1 is at a Championship club that is competitive so you're looking at roughly 4 or 5 chances a game.

But Doyle has almost certainly peaked (26.5 to 27.0 years typical) whereas Long still has room to improve.

BTW 28 games, 58 shots (11 goals) a goal every 5.3 shots for Long this season (league), a fraction over 2 shots per game

Doyle has had 18 games for 29 shots, scoring 2 goals, 1 every 14.5 shots, 1.6 shots per game

So it's not exactly miles different, is it?

[Snowball]

Shane Long appears to be 100% loyal to the Royals

http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDet ... 12,00.html

feel free to debate

unlike others, who DID choose to leave after having massive hikes in their wages

[Ferris]

Shane Long appears to be 100% loyal to the Royals

lolz