In praise of Shane Long...

[Svlad Cjelli]

In Ireland at the mo, most people know fairly little about him

That's because, just like in every other country in the world, there is no coverage of anything except the PL.

You mean there's football outside the premier league? Who'd have thought it?

Exactly - and there was no football whatsoever before 1992, either.

[dogzbollox]

Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the common good. Griff's already promised to take his off and jump into the West Stand if he scores.

If he does he better watch he doesn't slip on a dropped prawn sandwich and put his achilles out again

[facaldaqui]

How much is Shane worth? In comparison to our previous sales, I'd say 3 or 4 million. According to the BBC/Daily Mail: "Newcastle watched Reading striker Shane Long impress against Macedonia and Uruguay for Ireland in the last week, but will face competition from Wolves, Aston Villa, West Ham and Stoke". If that many clubs are seriously looking at Shane, might we see the price pushed up to a level that would at least give Brian something to play with after housekeeping expenses? No wonder Mr Madge loves Brian: this time last year Shane Long wasn't worth tuppence.

Much though I like Shane, he's not irreplaceable. As for Stoke, you'd think they'd've had their fingers burned enough buying players off Reading. Good luck to Shane, but he could turn out like most of our other ex-stars--not so good outside the supportive and patient environment provided at Reading.

[Libertine]

How much is Shane worth? In comparison to our previous sales, I'd say 3 or 4 million. According to the BBC/Daily Mail: "Newcastle watched Reading striker Shane Long impress against Macedonia and Uruguay for Ireland in the last week, but will face competition from Wolves, Aston Villa, West Ham and Stoke". If that many clubs are seriously looking at Shane, might we see the price pushed up to a level that would at least give Brian something to play with after housekeeping expenses?

Much though I like Shane, he's not irreplaceable. As for Stoke, you'd think they'd've had their fingers burned enough buying players off Reading. Good luck to Shane, but he could turn out like most of our other ex-stars--not so good outside the supportive and patient environment provided at Reading.

How so? If you took Shane out of our line-up what would that leave us in terms of offense? I am not giddy over the possibility of, and prospects for, a Hunt - Robson-Kanu, Antonio, Manset rotation up front next year.

I know Newcastle were very interested in Shane during the January window. And with Carroll off to the Merseyside they need someone up front to replace him. If I was a betting man I'd wager that is where he will end up next year. Unless we get promoted, then all bets are off

[facaldaqui]

How much is Shane worth? In comparison to our previous sales, I'd say 3 or 4 million. According to the BBC/Daily Mail: "Newcastle watched Reading striker Shane Long impress against Macedonia and Uruguay for Ireland in the last week, but will face competition from Wolves, Aston Villa, West Ham and Stoke". If that many clubs are seriously looking at Shane, might we see the price pushed up to a level that would at least give Brian something to play with after housekeeping expenses?

Much though I like Shane, he's not irreplaceable. As for Stoke, you'd think they'd've had their fingers burned enough buying players off Reading. Good luck to Shane, but he could turn out like most of our other ex-stars--not so good outside the supportive and patient environment provided at Reading.

How so? If you took Shane out of our line-up what would that leave us in terms of offense? I am not giddy over the possibility of, and prospects for, a Hunt - Robson-Kanu, Antonio, Manset rotation up front next year.

I meant he's not irreplaceable if we could afford to buy a decent replacement. Which we might be able to if he goes for a decent amount. I agree that he's not replaceable from within the squad. I don't put him in the same bracket as Gylfi and Sidwell, both of whom did prove a bit irreplaceable.

[Snowball]

How much is Shane worth? In comparison to our previous sales, I'd say 3 or 4 million. According to the BBC/Daily Mail: "Newcastle watched Reading striker Shane Long impress against Macedonia and Uruguay for Ireland in the last week, but will face competition from Wolves, Aston Villa, West Ham and Stoke". If that many clubs are seriously looking at Shane, might we see the price pushed up to a level that would at least give Brian something to play with after housekeeping expenses? No wonder Mr Madge loves Brian: this time last year Shane Long wasn't worth tuppence.

I think it's significantly higher and if Shane gets another 3-4-5 goals by the season's end, 5M would be cheap by today's standards.

Much though I like Shane, he's not irreplaceable. As for Stoke, you'd think they'd've had their fingers burned enough buying players off Reading. Good luck to Shane, but he could turn out like most of our other ex-stars--not so good outside the supportive and patient environment provided at Reading.

I think the mistake many make is to think of Shane as a club's main striker
rather than someone who harries defences and makes space for others or
wears down teams. I think his best position would probably be wide in a 4-3-3
though obviously he's not doing badly in 442.

The Man C defenders, the Ipswich defender both talked about how he runs all day
and makes things difficult for defenders. Good managers won't just be looking at
him for his goals, but as part of an attacking set-up, where (maybe) his goals will not
be quite so important.

Injuries permitting, I think Shane will be even better next year. Trapattoni talks about
the need to think faster but says he's still young. He IS still young, 2-3 years off where
the vast majority of strikers peak, but as we all know, Shane didn't have the normal
years of Academy development, so in football experience he's younger still.

If we make the PO's he's 5M. If we go up he's 6M. If he has one more good season, who knows?

[Ferris]

How much is Shane worth? In comparison to our previous sales, I'd say 3 or 4 million. According to the BBC/Daily Mail: "Newcastle watched Reading striker Shane Long impress against Macedonia and Uruguay for Ireland in the last week, but will face competition from Wolves, Aston Villa, West Ham and Stoke". If that many clubs are seriously looking at Shane, might we see the price pushed up to a level that would at least give Brian something to play with after housekeeping expenses?

Much though I like Shane, he's not irreplaceable. As for Stoke, you'd think they'd've had their fingers burned enough buying players off Reading. Good luck to Shane, but he could turn out like most of our other ex-stars--not so good outside the supportive and patient environment provided at Reading.

How so? If you took Shane out of our line-up what would that leave us in terms of offense? I am not giddy over the possibility of, and prospects for, a Hunt - Robson-Kanu, Antonio, Manset rotation up front next year.

Yeh, specially as two of them are wingers

[Snowball]

Long is 24.2 Years old, 3 Years and 4 months younger than Doyle who is right now, 27 Years 6 months cold

Long is on 50 senior goals. Doyle is on 78.

Surely Long will pass Doyle's total at the same age? He has three and a half seasons to score 29 goals.

With any luck he'll be approaching that 78 by the end of next season when he'll be just 25 Years and 4 Months, still not at his peak.

[facaldaqui]

I think it's significantly higher and if Shane gets another 3-4-5 goals by the season's end, 5M would be cheap by today's standards.

[...]

Injuries permitting, I think Shane will be even better next year.

[...]

If we make the PO's he's 5M. If we go up he's 6M. If he has one more good season, who knows?

Shane might well be better next year; but if he's kept on the bench, he could go backwards. In my opinion, that's least likely to happen at Wolves, if they stay up.

I'm thinking that if a lot of clubs are competing for him, the price might be artificially pushed up. Newcastle have enough dosh in their pocket to trump the others mentioned. (I tip Aston Villa to be relegated, to be honest.) Shane would probably like to go to Celtic, but I don't think they could afford him now. Would suit him there, though, with a lot of games against bullyable sides.

[facaldaqui]

Long is 24.2 Years old, 3 Years and 4 months younger than Doyle who is right now, 27 Years 6 months cold

Long is on 50 senior goals. Doyle is on 78.

Surely Long will pass Doyle's total at the same age? He has three and a half seasons to score 29 goals.

With any luck he'll be approaching that 78 by the end of next season when he'll be just 25 Years and 4 Months, still not at his peak.

You speak of him like a father. Will you miss him? I don't mean on the field, but in terms of the opportunity to wallow in statistics.

[Libertine]

How much is Shane worth? In comparison to our previous sales, I'd say 3 or 4 million. According to the BBC/Daily Mail: "Newcastle watched Reading striker Shane Long impress against Macedonia and Uruguay for Ireland in the last week, but will face competition from Wolves, Aston Villa, West Ham and Stoke". If that many clubs are seriously looking at Shane, might we see the price pushed up to a level that would at least give Brian something to play with after housekeeping expenses?

Much though I like Shane, he's not irreplaceable. As for Stoke, you'd think they'd've had their fingers burned enough buying players off Reading. Good luck to Shane, but he could turn out like most of our other ex-stars--not so good outside the supportive and patient environment provided at Reading.

How so? If you took Shane out of our line-up what would that leave us in terms of offense? I am not giddy over the possibility of, and prospects for, a Hunt - Robson-Kanu, Antonio, Manset rotation up front next year.

I meant he's not irreplaceable if we could afford to buy a decent replacement. Which we might be able to if he goes for a decent amount. I agree that he's not replaceable from within the squad. I don't put him in the same bracket as Gylfi and Sidwell, both of whom did prove a bit irreplaceable.

Fair point if we can safely assume that part of the money we get from him gets reinvested in bringing in a suitable replacement. One would hope but we can never be sure, based on the recent track record of the team...

[West Stand Man]

Fair point if we can safely assume that part of the money we get from him gets reinvested in bringing in a suitable replacement. One would hope but we can never be sure, based on the recent track record of the team...

Go on, I'll bite. Give us evidence to support that statement.

[Libertine]

How much is Shane worth? In comparison to our previous sales, I'd say 3 or 4 million. According to the BBC/Daily Mail: "Newcastle watched Reading striker Shane Long impress against Macedonia and Uruguay for Ireland in the last week, but will face competition from Wolves, Aston Villa, West Ham and Stoke". If that many clubs are seriously looking at Shane, might we see the price pushed up to a level that would at least give Brian something to play with after housekeeping expenses?

Much though I like Shane, he's not irreplaceable. As for Stoke, you'd think they'd've had their fingers burned enough buying players off Reading. Good luck to Shane, but he could turn out like most of our other ex-stars--not so good outside the supportive and patient environment provided at Reading.

How so? If you took Shane out of our line-up what would that leave us in terms of offense? I am not giddy over the possibility of, and prospects for, a Hunt - Robson-Kanu, Antonio, Manset rotation up front next year.

Yeh, specially as two of them are wingers

Exactly. But I can see players being moved to new positions to best utilize the "talent" we already have. So in reality, based on whom we currently have, it would be Hunt - Church up front. Feel any better about that? I'd almost feel better if we moved either Antonio or Robson-Kanu up front and let them have a go at it.

[Libertine]

Fair point if we can safely assume that part of the money we get from him gets reinvested in bringing in a suitable replacement. One would hope but we can never be sure, based on the recent track record of the team...

Go on, I'll bite. Give us evidence to support that statement.

Sure...how did we use the money from Sigurdsson's sale? Bringing in Harte? And some trips, for the longer ones, by plane instead of coach?

[West Stand Man]

Fair point if we can safely assume that part of the money we get from him gets reinvested in bringing in a suitable replacement. One would hope but we can never be sure, based on the recent track record of the team...

Go on, I'll bite. Give us evidence to support that statement.

Sure...how did we use the money from Sigurdsson's sale? Bringing in Harte? And some trips, for the longer ones, by plane instead of coach?

Sorry, not enough evidence. What opportunities did we miss out on, what gaps do we glaringly need to fill? Is it absolutely essential to spend all the time rather than bring your own academy players through?

[Snowball]

Compare Doyle and Long's RFC Form


105 Starts 82 Sub Appearances = 119 x "Games" 42 Goals, Strike Rate 2.83 Long
145 Starts 17 Sub Appearances = 148 x "Games" 55 Goals. Strike Rate 2.69 Doyle


So can Shane score 13 Goals in his next 29 Starts for RFC (if he stays, of course)?

They are really on a par. Shane's overall stats are lower based on his whole RFC career
but the last 1.5 seasons he is out-doing Doyle by some margin and will pass Doyle
comfortably if he maintains the form he's shown (overall) since January 2010,
15 months, 1.5 Season's, 29 Domestic Goals. He's accelerating!!

[Snowball]

You speak of him like a father.

I am a father.

Will you miss him?

Yes. Very much.

I don't mean on the field, but in terms of the opportunity to wallow in statistics.

My stats have been proven right. Shane will be as good as Doyle, probably better.

[Libertine]

Go on, I'll bite. Give us evidence to support that statement.

Sure...how did we use the money from Sigurdsson's sale? Bringing in Harte? And some trips, for the longer ones, by plane instead of coach?

Sorry, not enough evidence. What opportunities did we miss out on, what gaps do we glaringly need to fill? Is it absolutely essential to spend all the time rather than bring your own academy players through?

Not enough "evidence"? What academy players did we "bring through" in the wake of Gylfi's departure? Jem?

Hopefully we'll get promoted and Shane will stay with us so it won't have to be proven true, and provide us more "evidence", yet again. Sorry, maybe I am a cynic, but until we stop having to sell all of our best talent off, Doyle, Kitson, Sidwell, Sigurdsson, etc, all I would expect us to do to replace Shane if we sold him would be to bring in a journeyman or a young prospect whom will take years to develop if he ever does...

[facaldaqui]

Fair point if we can safely assume that part of the money we get from him gets reinvested in bringing in a suitable replacement. One would hope but we can never be sure, based on the recent track record of the team...

Of course. But my point was based on the possibility that we might get more for Shane than we'd normally assume he's worth. Madejski seeks first of all to use money from sales to prop up the running costs of the club; the more we get for Shane the more likely it is that a decent proportion (not the bigger proportion, I admit) might go on players.

[West Stand Man]

Not enough "evidence"? What academy players did we "bring through" in the wake of Gylfi's departure? Jem?

Hopefully we'll get promoted and Shane will stay with us so it won't have to be proven true, and provide us more "evidence", yet again. Sorry, maybe I am a cynic, but until we stop having to sell all of our best talent off, Doyle, Kitson, Sidwell, Sigurdsson, etc, all I would expect us to do to replace Shane if we sold him would be to bring in a journeyman or a young prospect whom will take years to develop if he ever does...

So, just remind me where we are at the moment (in the league). Just how much 'strengthening' did we miss out on?