Long and Doyle

[readingfc_4_life_and_beyo]

I must say, they are playing well together at the moment.

Long has much improved in his control and laying off of the ball. Ok, a few passes etc. didn't go well but he is improving all the time. A few back heeled flicks and headers from Long went straight into Doyles feet for him to lay it off or turn and do something with.

Doyle as well seemed happy playing with Long, getting on the ball, using Long to create space for himself and even simply getting the ball to feet with lots of time to lay it off or run at people.

I've always said Long would come good...

[Forbury Lion]

When I saw Shane pass the ball to the feet of Doyle I thought, Oh no... not the Long ball.

[2.8 lita injection]

Nothing wrong with the Long ball.

[rg6royal]

long has alot of potential. he's still young and has plenty of areas of the game to improve in. But he must be highly rated if he is getting into the irland squad.

[Behindu]

long has alot of potential. he's still young and has plenty of areas of the game to improve in. But he must be highly rated if he is getting into the irland squad.

Although you don;t even have to be Irish to get into the Ireland sqaud...

[Platypuss]

He looked absolutely shattered after 70 - shame we had no one to bring on to give him a rest and in turn give us some respite.

[rg6royal]

to be fair though long does run his heart out every time he plays.

[readingbedding]

I want Doyle to score next week against Bolton and I think he will.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

A few more performances like that will have Kit's and to a lesser extent Lita sweating a bit. Unbelievable energy too, which Coppell loves in his players. Don't think I've ever seen a rawer player in the 1st team, you can tell he only started playing when he was 14, which shows what an incredible natural talent he has.

I still think he'd benefit from a loan spell, to iron out the creases, but the way our luck with injuries has gone this season, he might get plenty of starts.

[Row Z Royal]

I still think he'd benefit from a loan spell,

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

I still think he'd benefit from a loan spell,

If he ends up as 4th choice striker, when everyone's fit and is just playing reserve team football against kids, how's he gonna improve? If he plays enough games 1st team games then fair enough, do you not think it slightly counter productive to keep him at the club as 4th choice, not even getting on the bench, just playing reserve team football though??

[Behindu]

I still think he'd benefit from a loan spell,

If he ends up as 4th choice striker, when everyone's fit and is just playing reserve team football against kids, how's he gonna improve? If he plays enough games 1st team games then fair enough, do you not think it slightly counter productive to keep him at the club as 4th choice, not even getting on the bench, just playing reserve team football though??

We need 4 strikers though....

So if he went on loan we would need to buy a replacement.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

I still think he'd benefit from a loan spell,

If he ends up as 4th choice striker, when everyone's fit and is just playing reserve team football against kids, how's he gonna improve? If he plays enough games 1st team games then fair enough, do you not think it slightly counter productive to keep him at the club as 4th choice, not even getting on the bench, just playing reserve team football though??

We need 4 strikers though....

So if he went on loan we would need to buy a replacement.

Hardly gonna stretch the budget, get someone in, sell him next summer. Easy as that...

[Behindu]

[

Hardly gonna stretch the budget, get someone in, sell him next summer. Easy as that...

With crap strikers starting at £5 million at the moment it's a risky strategy - the bubble may burst next season and we'd be left with £5 million worth of Gary Alexander and no hope of offloading him !

[Old Biscuitman]

Long is doing just fine. His presence on the field yesterday illustrates the situation perfectly. A Prem team needs four strikers and he is one of them, and a very capable one too. Forget stuff like loaning out to gain experience - he'll get it best with us.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

[

Hardly gonna stretch the budget, get someone in, sell him next summer. Easy as that...

With crap strikers starting at £5 million at the moment it's a risky strategy - the bubble may burst next season and we'd be left with £5 million worth of Gary Alexander and no hope of offloading him !

Watch that boy score, you know it makes senseeeeeeeeeee!! Well Bristol City did finally get promoted last season.

[Sharpy]

doyle, hunt, long and bennett...the only paddys i like at the mo

[Elm Park Old Boy]

Long seems to have been doing the weights - really a lot more solid looking than a year or so ago.

[Behindu]

doyle, hunt, long and bennett...the only paddys i like at the mo

Hey - what about Graham Stack, Jonathin Hayes and Eamon Dolan !!

Plus Pat who sells the Golden Gamble tickets in the Jazz Cafe....

[Row Z Royal]

Long seems to have been doing the weights - really a lot more solid looking than a year or so ago.

Either that or he's watched Doyle and Lita and learned how to lean (and shove).