NO LONGER A RUMOUR - Doyle to Wolves for £6.5m

[Royal Rother]

When was it last called a Premiership squad?

edit: Oh, I suppose you're talking about last season - hope nobody still calls it such...

[Ian Royal]

When was it last called a Premiership squad?

edit: Oh, I suppose you're talking about last season - hope nobody still calls it such...

There were some permier league quality players, but squad? No chance.

[Deathy]

In last years team? Who were they?

Doyle at a push, and he over achieved along with the whole team and struggled more than most the following season.

I struggle to see any premiership quality players in last seasons team.

EDIT: You said Permier. You must mean Hunt.

[Gordons Cumming]

The best way to improve your first touch is to practice.

Long clearly doesn't practice enough.

[Mike Hunt]

When was it last called a Premiership squad?

edit: Oh, I suppose you're talking about last season - hope nobody still calls it such...

I believe he was refering to a comment made by our new manager.

[Royal Rother]

Oh well, I suppose the new manager is allowed a bit of over-optimism when he arrives.

[Hoop Blah]

Long and Church were very good in the 1st half against Burnley, working very well together - considering that would have been one of the very few times they had played together (and up against a very experienced defensive unit) I think that augurs well for next season.

Long has good pace, is very strong and is the best finisher in the squad (tip of the hat to Snowball) so has a lot going for him. If Rodgers can find a way to improve his first touch he could yet prove to be a top player for us.

As for Church, although he hasn't got a great scoring record in his loan spells, he scored 8 in 12 for Wales U21, and was (according to reports) the best player for Wales 1st team in the recent game so I'm sure there is some real potential for the new coaching team to work with as well.

Noel Hunt, despite carrying injuries whilst playing, almsot always looked lively, bagged a good few goals, and should do better with full fitness.

Of course it is sad to see our best player go but, personally speaking, I'm excited about next season.

Agree on the positive slants there RR, but I just think they've all got quite a bit more to do before they can lead the line without a better player alongside them.

Church's scoring record for the U21's is a little bit misleading. Apart from the ones against England (which were very well taken) I think the rest of his goals came against the real minnows (not that Wales are an international big fish of course but the standard of those U21 sides is way below the Championship).

I see Church as all hustle and bustle, full of running but lacking that little bit of quality in movement and thought to be a success at this level. In the future that might come, but from seeing him a few times of the last 5 years I just can't see it. I'll be very happy to be proved wrong though as he's always seemed a decent lad when I've watch the kids or the reserves and so deserves a break if anyone does.

[Sarah Star]

This made me laugh

Sunderland planning Stephen Hunt and Kevin Doyle swoop
Jun 24 2009

The Mirror: Reading face a double bid from Sunderland for winger Stephen Hunt and striker Kevin Doyle.

We say: Please someone just buy these two. Last month, the same players were off to Everton in a double deal. This month it's Sunderland. Next month be prepared for the 'Hunt and Doyle off to West Ham United/Aston Villa/Tottenham Hotspur' headline. They'll probably end up at Manchester City like everyone else.

http://www.sundaymercury.net/midlands-s ... -23962673/

[strap]

What with all these teams now allegedly interested in Doyle, (Wolves, Sunderland, Everton, Fulham, Bolton), I was wondering what happens in the event that say club 1 offerd RFC £8M but were only willing to pay the player say £30k per week, club 2 offered £7.5M but would pay him £35k per week,club 3 offered £6.5M and payed him £40k per week.

Presumably he could take the best offer for himself and the club would be stuck with "only" geting the £6.5M, thereby missing out on a larger fee, simply because the lowest offer still triggered the get out clause in his contract?

Er, if you see what I mean?

If I'm right, it would seem that player holds all the aces, as per usual.

[Darren Caskey's Dietician]

I'd imagine it is pretty irrelevant seeing as his buy out clause is said to be £6.5m - what club would pay more than that?

[Harry Carry]

Apparently Sunderland want to make a double swoop for Doyle and Hunt.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

When a player has a release clause in his contract, it is highly unlikely that a buying club would bid more than the release clause (in fact I'd be surprised if it ever happens). As you say, the selling club has no say once the release clause is met so it's up to the player to decide.

In your scenario, the club bidding £8M would be end up saving the extra £1.5 million and offering Doyle an extra £30K a week.

[Dirk Gently]

When a player has a release clause in his contract, it is highly unlikely that a buying club would bid more than the release clause (in fact I'd be surprised if it ever happens). As you say, the selling club has no say once the release clause is met so it's up to the player to decide.

In your scenario, the club bidding £8M would be end up saving the extra £1.5 million and offering Doyle an extra £30K a week.

Yes, or, more likely, the extra money they were prepared to pay would go straight to KD as a lump sum "signing-on fee" - we'll get £6.5 M no matter what teh clubs pasys for him.

I half expect the transfer to be decided by who offers the biggest signing-on fee.

[Thomas L'Heureux]

When a player has a release clause in his contract, it is highly unlikely that a buying club would bid more than the release clause (in fact I'd be surprised if it ever happens). As you say, the selling club has no say once the release clause is met so it's up to the player to decide.

In your scenario, the club bidding £8M would be end up saving the extra £1.5 million and offering Doyle an extra £30K a week.

Yes, or, more likely, the extra money they were prepared to pay would go straight to KD as a lump sum "signing-on fee" - we'll get £6.5 M no matter what teh clubs pasys for him.

I half expect the transfer to be decided by who offers the biggest signing-on fee.

Are you perceiving Doyle to be a money-grabber?

I've always held him in a higher-regard than that as a person (admittedly I've never met the bloke in my life).

[Ian Royal]

In last years team? Who were they?

Doyle at a push, and he over achieved along with the whole team and struggled more than most the following season.

I struggle to see any premiership quality players in last seasons team.

EDIT: You said Permier. You must mean Hunt.

Doyle, Harper, Hahnemann, SHunt at least. Arguments could be made for Bikey, Matejovsky, Ingimarsson & Rosenior as well probably. Although I wouldn't really go with any of those 4.

[Dirk Gently]

Are you perceiving Doyle to be a money-grabber?

I've always held him in a higher-regard than that as a person (admittedly I've never met the bloke in my life).

Not for a second, no - I have the greatest respect for him and from everything I've heard he's always done things the right way.

Just that it's a no-brainer that if two clubs offer similar packages but one has a signing-on fee of £250k and the other has a signing-on fee of £1.5M then that's likely to persuade anyone.

And I expect that offers and types of clubs will be broadly similar so the size of signing-on fee may be the clinching factor for KD (and his agent, who'll want his 15%)!

[Thomas L'Heureux]

Are you perceiving Doyle to be a money-grabber?

I've always held him in a higher-regard than that as a person (admittedly I've never met the bloke in my life).

Not for a second, no - I have the greatest respect for him and from everything I've heard he's always done things the right way.

Just that it's a no-brainer that if two clubs offer similar packages but one has a signing-on fee of £250k and the other has a signing-on fee of £1.5M then that's likely to persuade anyone.

And I expect that offers and types of clubs will be broadly similar so the size of signing-on fee may be the clinching factor for KD (and his agent, who'll want his 15%)!

Oh right, fair enough!

I think there's more factors that just that though to be honest. Maybe distance, club's aspirations, managerial staff, etc.

Although of a similar size and mould, a club like Fulham, working with Roy Hodgson, would probably seem more appealing that perhaps a move to say Sunderland, despite the latter having more resources.

[brendywendy]

so we gave doyle a new contract, after which he played only a litte, and scored only a little
and as a result we have robbed ourselves of whatever money we would have gained through the current bidding war over doyle, as all teh clubs will just bid 6.5 to trigger the release, and all the bidding war does is increase doylers signing on fee/wages?

that gamble didnt really pay off did it!

[Deathy]

Never worth £6.5m. Great business. Nice lad. But c'ya. Bring on the next generation.

[Forbury Lion]

I'd imagine it is pretty irrelevant seeing as his buy out clause is said to be £6.5m - what club would pay more than that?

Any club with Roy Keane as manager, he has a history of paying us over the odds.