Long and Doyle

[AbovetheI]

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??

The only striker we can afford to loan out at the moment is Cox. You also seem to be forgetting the competitive nature of the reserve league also. Long will get plenty of games in that league aswell as a few games in the Prem. Can't see him going on loan anywhere if you ask me.

[Huntley & Palmer]

For me, Long is too similar to Doyle in his style of play. I just can't see him scoring more than a handful of goals in any one season for us currently

[rabidbee]

For me, Long is too similar to Doyle in his style of play. I just can't see him scoring more than a handful of goals in any one season for us currently

One of the few things that annoyed me yesterday was the number of times we had no striker in the middle, because they both like to play the channels so much.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Yep they both seem to drift into the same one as well, a couple of times they were almost next to each other. It's just down to inexperience with Long I presume

[Readingfc50]

For me, Long is too similar to Doyle in his style of play. I just can't see him scoring more than a handful of goals in any one season for us currently

One of the few things that annoyed me yesterday was the number of times we had no striker in the middle, because they both like to play the channels so much.

thats why i feel when Kitson is fit and available, Coppell should always play him with Doyle/Lita/Long

[glosson]

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

racist

[Einstein agogo]

gloria hunniford,father Ted and Terry Wogan are the only Micks I am digging maan

[Scarface]

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...

It's all about opinions but I couldn't disagree more. Doyle is struggling to reach the form he showed last year and although Long works hard, he is constantly giving the ball away or running straight into defenders. I think the last 2 games as done nothing but highlight we need to sign another striker.

[The whole year inn]

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...

It's all about opinions but I couldn't disagree more. Doyle is struggling to reach the form he showed last year and although Long works hard, he is constantly giving the ball away or running straight into defenders. I think the last 2 games as done nothing but highlight we need to sign another striker.

It would be nice wouldn't it? At the moment Doyle and Long know they can put in off-colour performances and not get dropped.

Get some competition in there

[Platypuss]

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...

It's all about opinions but I couldn't disagree more. Doyle is struggling to reach the form he showed last year and although Long works hard, he is constantly giving the ball away or running straight into defenders. I think the last 2 games as done nothing but highlight we need to sign another striker.

Doyle is a good striker, but not great - he looked short against the same opposition last season.

The supply hasn't really been up to much in the last 3 games either.

[Adrian's Fool]

Give'em a chance - that's three very tough opposition defences they've been up against! Doyle and Long both looked strong and sharp on Saturday I thought, without actually having too many chances.

Kits is back in one game as well...

[brendywendy]

Rubbish

doyle is a god

long looks stronger fitter and better coached than last year
the improvement is there for all to see
both had a good game and kept the everton defence more than occupied

[Huntley & Palmer]

Seeing as you had Stubbs who has the turning circle of an oil tanker, I don't think they were caused too many problems by Doyle or Long to be honest.

[Hoop Blah]

I agree we've looked a little toothless upfront so far this season.

Although Long has improved massively from last season I don't think he's quite there yet, and in both games he's played gone missing after an hour.

Doyle looks like he's off his game a bit as well. He didn't have the greatest pre-season but I think he's suffered more than anyone from the opening run of fixtures and looks like a flogged horse at the moment. He's worked himself into the ground for the team and worked off scraps for the most part.

He probably needs a goal and a short rest.

[Royal Rother]

I think Doyle thrives on hard work, and is getting sharper all the time. It won't be long before he's back in the headlines.

[papereyes]

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....

Ardal O'Hanlon, Dara O'Briain.

Hate them, but accept that they can be funny.

[Drive On]

"Doyle is struggling to reach the form he showed last year"


Are you for real????

Opposition know exactly what sort of threat he is and deal with him accordingly. That's why he hasn't scored yet

[The Goat was fed]

Oh FFS.

Man Utd - 4-5-1 formation set with defensive mindset. Furthermore Man Utd's defence is hard enough to break with 2 forwards let alone one. Hardly a surprise Doyle didn't score.

Chelsea - Two time premiership champions - hardly a surprise Doyle didn't score.

Everton - Were top of the league and have Lescott and Stubbs who are both very good defenders. Hardly a surprise Doyle didn't score.

Doyle is also playing upfront with Long who despite his progress is still a long way off being as good as Leroy or Kitson. With Long upfront Doyle has had both centre-backs on him as Long is not a real threat yet.

Glen Little kind of a big deal for supplying Doyle. The supply hasn't quite been there yet and I also suspect that Doyle is carrying an injury. Waiting for the panic artists response when Doyle scores 3 on a bounce like he always does after a little drout.

[Scarface]

"Doyle is struggling to reach the form he showed last year"


Are you for real????

Opposition know exactly what sort of threat he is and deal with him accordingly. That's why he hasn't scored yet

Exactly my point, I'm not slagging Doyle off, but fact he's looking less effective, whether it be the oppostion or a poor pre-season. We have yet to score from open play as such and I just think Coppell should freshen up the forward line as both Doyle and Lita will find it very hard to match their records last season.

[Royal Rother]

If he stays fit and healthy Lita will certainly beat his 7 or 8 from last season and, once the supply lines are opened up against the weaker teams I am sure Doyle will start scoring and I will be disappointed if he doesn't match last season's tally.