Kevin Doyle

[paul_oshea]

But has he short arms?

[SunderlandBohs]

But has he short arms?
Is he a midget?:confused:

[DeLorean]

Not sure why people are so disappointed with the move. At Villa and Everton I doubt he would have been first choice, injuries permitting. He would have probably replaced Zamora at Fulham alright but a poor run of form and he'd be likely to be dropped. The most important thing for us is that he's playing continuously and it's a bonus that it's going to happen in the PL.

[irishultra]

My hope is he scores like 15 goals next season, Ireland qualify for world cup and Doyle scores 5 goals, and then next season is signed by a proper team(Arsenal/A.C Milan/Bayern Munich)

[Stuttgart88]

I personally think he's a much better player than Nicklas Bendtner in every department, is only a few years older and is about two thirds of his transfer value. Sell Bendtner / buy Doyle and bank a couple of million might have been a smart move for Arsenal, albeit a bit speculative.

Is he a top 4 player? Maybe not, but half the players at Arsenal aren't. It's the quality players they have that make that team, not the makeweights.

[Hunty's Flatcap]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PugiDYh6_cI&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emolineuxmix%2Eco%2Euk%2Fvb %2Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D40782%26page%3D22&feature=player_embedded

Doyle and McCarthy talking about the move.

[tetsujin1979]

Doyle interviewed on Sky Sports: http://www.skysports.com/video/clips/0,23791,15855_5407701,00.html

[Jicked]

Very dissapointed with this move, yet again it seems another case of an Irish player settling for a comfort zone. Probably going to get a game, has an 'Irish' manager who will have a lot of time for him and showed a keen initial interest, well paid without much pressure on him. Yet he'll end up playing with mediocre players, a manager you can't exactly imagine helping the technical side of his game hugely, and playing in a poor side for a team who will be in a relegation dogfight.

[jbyrne]

Very dissapointed with this move, yet again it seems another case of an Irish player settling for a comfort zone. Probably going to get a game, has an 'Irish' manager who will have a lot of time for him and showed a keen initial interest, well paid without much pressure on him. Yet he'll end up playing with mediocre players, a manager you can't exactly imagine helping the technical side of his game hugely, and playing in a poor side for a team who will be in a relegation dogfight.

only doyle knows who was in for him. maybe there were no other options?

[Jicked]

One snippet I read on the back of a tabloid today had Doyle saying Wolves were the first club who came in for him and that's what really impressed him. And I thought it was pretty much confirmed that Fulham tabled a bid for him. Even if Wolves were the only team that came in for him, he didn't exactly hang around and see if he could find a better deal, signing for Wolves before most clubs have started pre-season training.

[John83]

...a manager you can't exactly imagine helping the technical side of his game hugely...
While your other points are fair (though jbyrne has a point too), the above isn't really true. McCarthy will have a staff of coaches who could have any ofa range of imacts on Doyles technique, and McCarthy, while always happy with a fairly direct style of play, like a relatively agressive style of play. Plenty of other teams competing with Wolves will play deeper and make their forwards chase harder.

[irishultra]

When I see Doyle in the jersey there I got a positive feeling :D

[DeLorean]

When I see Doyle in the jersey there I got a positive feeling :D

I know you're kind of joking but it did look right for some reason, hopefully it work out well for him anyway.

[irishultra]

Mick McCarthy is a proper legend imo, just listening to him on that YT vid posted and he's great imo. I'd love to see him manage Ireland again. I say he would like to as well.

[seahawk]

At least he'll be guaranteed his game at Wolves and I'd imagine McCarthy will be patient with him even through the lean spells. He'll be playing PL football all the way to the WC and if the PL is as bad next season as it was this, they'll have a real shot at staying up.

That is it in a nutshell. Guaranteed to be in the starting lineup week in and week out. A move to one of the more established Prem teams would not have the same comfort. And playing regularly leading up to the WC is essential.

It's a good move for him and I wish him luck. The way he talks about his time at Reading you can tell he truly loved it. And he will be welcomed back with open arms should Reading ever get the chane to re-aqcuire him.

[shakermaker1982]

Good luck to Doyler. I hope he bangs in the goals next year.

[Thommo]

Yeah good luck to Doyler but would have rathered if he had gone to Fulham or Everton(both apparently had shown interest) imo higher profile clubs and with two good managers and both competing in Europe the whole transfer happened very fast.
Although Wolves have been playing some nice stuff under Mick but I think they could struggle this season anyhow let's hope he bangs in the goals for both his new club and on the international front.

[Hunty's Flatcap]

While your other points are fair (though jbyrne has a point too), the above isn't really true. McCarthy will have a staff of coaches who could have any ofa range of imacts on Doyles technique, and McCarthy, while always happy with a fairly direct style of play, like a relatively agressive style of play. Plenty of other teams competing with Wolves will play deeper and make their forwards chase harder.

That's right. Mick allows his assistant Terry Connor - a highly regarded coach and an ex-striker - to handle the technical aspects of the strikers coaching. He's massively brought on the games of Ebanks-Blake, Sam Vokes and Andy Keogh in the last few seasons whilst even the more experienced Chris Iwelumo had a good season under him last year.

[youngirish]

Doyle to Wolves a “massive blunder” – Dunphy


July 1, 2009

Outspoken pundit Eamon Dunphy has labelled Kevin Doyle’s decision to move to Barclays Premier League new-boys Wolves as a “massive blunder”.


Doyle put pen to paper on a four-year contract at Molineux on Monday night before being paraded before the media on Tuesday morning.

But Dunphy feels he would have been much better served by a move to an established Premier League club, singling out the managerial strengths of Fulham’s Roy Hodgson, Everton’s David Moyes and Steve Bruce at Sunderland, all of whom were reportedly in the market for the Irish Player of the Year.

In his Irish Daily Star column, Dunphy wrote: “I feel that Doyle is a top-class striker and he has been Ireland’s best player under Giovanni Trapattoni.

“But I do feel that he has made a massive blunder by joining Wolves. He should have asked himself this question: if I was good enough to spark Chelsea’s interest 18 months ago, should I now settle for Wolves?

“It’s not as if no other Premier League clubs were interested in signing him. Sunderland, Fulham and Bolton all actively chased his signature and Aston Villa and Everton have also shown an interest in securing his services in the recent past.

“Any one of those clubs would have been a far better destination for Doyle. Fulham, Everton and Villa are clubs on the rise and all of them will be playing in the Europa League next season. And, crucially, all of them have hugely impressive managers who could have helped develop Doyle as a player.”

[Manc Irish Wolf]

Interesting reading on here (not from that p*ssed up, no-nothing, attention seeking ballbag Dunphy).

Obviously overjoyed with the signing and personally think that Doyle will become a better player for it. Our players have come on leaps and bounds in the three years since McCarthy has been in charge, hence the reason why he always looks for "young and hungry" players, of which so many have developed (Kightly, Foley, Ward, Ebanks Blake etc.). Much of which is to do with the fact that they have invested heavily in state of the art training facilities hence the reason why our players were the fittest and strongest players in the Championship last season (something that Doyle could do with having only had 4 professional seasons and always appearing to tail off at the end of seasons) and the backroom staff (Terry Connor is one of the highest qualified coaches in the Country)

Don't be fooled with the fallacy that is McCarthy's "direct football" - we play good attracking, passing football, particularly using the wings with Kightly and Jarvis. Although suspect that we will be deploying a 4-5-1 moving to a 4-3-3 fore frequently away from home of which Doyle could well be slightly on the left. This too could see him develop further as the flexibility of positions will make him a better player.

Finally with regards to us going straight down - that remains to be seen. It won't be easy, however Doyle is a statement of intent and I dare say there is a lot more to come. Morgan is worth £500m and was vying with the Americans to buy Liverpool, so he hasn't come here to mess around.

Can't wait for the new season and if we can get a couple of defenders in (like Dunney and St Ledger) reckon we could surprise a few people.

[co. down green]

Doyle to Wolves a “massive blunder” – Dunphy


July 1, 2009

Outspoken pundit Eamon Dunphy has labelled Kevin Doyle’s decision to move to Barclays Premier League new-boys Wolves as a “massive blunder”.


Doyle put pen to paper on a four-year contract at Molineux on Monday night before being paraded before the media on Tuesday morning.

But Dunphy feels he would have been much better served by a move to an established Premier League club, singling out the managerial strengths of Fulham’s Roy Hodgson, Everton’s David Moyes and Steve Bruce at Sunderland, all of whom were reportedly in the market for the Irish Player of the Year.

In his Irish Daily Star column, Dunphy wrote: “I feel that Doyle is a top-class striker and he has been Ireland’s best player under Giovanni Trapattoni.

“But I do feel that he has made a massive blunder by joining Wolves. He should have asked himself this question: if I was good enough to spark Chelsea’s interest 18 months ago, should I now settle for Wolves?

“It’s not as if no other Premier League clubs were interested in signing him. Sunderland, Fulham and Bolton all actively chased his signature and Aston Villa and Everton have also shown an interest in securing his services in the recent past.

“Any one of those clubs would have been a far better destination for Doyle. Fulham, Everton and Villa are clubs on the rise and all of them will be playing in the Europa League next season. And, crucially, all of them have hugely impressive managers who could have helped develop Doyle as a player.”

Doyle obviously took his time, considered his options and made his own decision on his future and good luck to him.

Guaranteed Premiership football can only be good for Doyle and Ireland over the next year and he seems content in his decision, so hopefully he can progress and prosper at Wolves



They came in and settled things with Reading so they were the first club I spoke to. I was expecting a long summer but Wolves were in straight away.

‘I spoke to the manager and chief executive over a week ago and came to the training ground to see everything. I’ve been making my mind up over the last couple of weeks and am just really pleased the decision has been made.

‘The facilities here are top class and it’s great to be going back to the Premier League again. I’m sad to be leaving Reading because I had some great years but I’m going
with their blessing, which is nice. This is a fresh start.’

[Scram]

I was hoping he'd move to Everton or Villa.

Anyway, he's in The Premiership, his profile is raised. If he's good enough to spark interest from a bigger team, he will do and move on. Hopefully he is and he does.

Meanwhile, Dunphy is still selling English newspapers.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Interesting reading on here (not from that p*ssed up, no-nothing, attention seeking ballbag Dunphy).
Despite it being the same point as what was said in this thread?

Anyway, good post. He'll do well at Wolves but I still think he would have been much better off under Hodgson and playing in Europe.


Guaranteed Premiership football can only be good for Doyle and Ireland over the next year and he seems content in his decision, so hopefully he can progress and prosper at Wolves
But he would have been guaranteed starter at Fulham too so that can't be used as a reason to favour Wolves.

[dr_peepee]

Whilst Wolves wouldn't have been anywhere near the top of my list of potential destinations for him, I don't think it's as bad a move as first percieved

I think the general consensus is that we're all worries he'll be relegated again. However this season more than any other IMO the promoted teams have a better chance of consolidating the Premiership status. The three newcomers are all obviously expected to be in the mix for the relegation battle as usual but there's a few others that are definately gonna be down there. Hulls season finnished too soon for the relegation that their form deserved (I felt Browns celebrations at the seasons end were a bit too self congratulatory if I'm honest). Portsmouth have never replaced Redknapp adequately and are hemoraging quality players. They're gonna start the season without most if not all of Campbell, Johnson, Defoe, Crouch and Krankjarr. Wigan have lost Bruce as well and their best side from last year is down Heskey, Valencia and Palacios and probbly scharner (I'm away on hols so I've no idea of most of the moves in recent weeks).

My moneys on Wolves to stay up. McCarthy will have learned alot from Sunderland.

Probbly get good odds on all three new sides to stay up too.

[Wexford Delboy]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11699_5416225,00.html

[Wexford Delboy]

http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~1729551,00.html
undergone surgery on a hernia might not be fully fit for australia

[Oink]

Mick McCarthy is a proper legend imo, just listening to him on that YT vid posted and he's great imo. I'd love to see him manage Ireland again. I say he would like to as well.

I think McCarthy has come on a lot since his time with us but I don't think he is good enough to manage a decent international side or a top half premiership side. I just think he is very one dimensional tactically and lacks imagination and intelligence in that area of managing. He has some very good attributes, he is great at spotting and developing young talent and his passion is unquestionable, but his tactical flaws would rule him out of a job with any top level club or ambitious International side. I would really like to see him do well in the premiership with Wolves.

I was pretty surprised with Doyle joining Wolves, he is certainly good enough for a top 6 side... let's hope it works out though.

[Thommo]

Players are normally back playing within two weeks after those hernia ops these days so lets hope he makes the opening day of the season and starts banging in the goals for both Wolves and Ireland this coming season.
His work rate is absolutely phenomenal for Ireland so lets hope he has a season similiar to his first premiership season for Reading when Chelsea were taking notice of him and he shoots us to South Africa.

[OwlsFan]

I think McCarthy has come on a lot since his time with us but I don't think he is good enough to manage a decent international side or a top half premiership side. I just think he is very one dimensional tactically and lacks imagination and intelligence in that area of managing. .

Good enough to get an Irish side in decline to a number of play offs and to qualify for a World Cup and within a penalty shoot out of the last 8.



I was pretty surprised with Doyle joining Wolves, he is certainly good enough for a top 6 side... let's hope it works out though.

On what basis is he good enough to play for a top 6 side? Since you think the managers of top 6 sides are wonderful (see above), none obviously agreed with your assessment. Doyle had a good first season in the Premiership, a poor second and, injury aside, didn't perform in the latter half of the Championship campaign. Not the stuff of a player destined for the Top 6. I think he did well to get an offer to play in the Premiership.

I think you underrate Mick, overrate Doyle but hopefully both do well. I know if DOyle doesn't do well, it will all be laid at McCarthy's door

[Stuttgart88]

Not the stuff of a player destined for the Top 6. I think he did well to get an offer to play in the Premiership.But is Nicklas Bendtner a top 4 or even top 6 player? I honestly think Doyle is better. I think Doyle is mid-tier EPL standard myself.

[eirebhoy]

On what basis is he good enough to play for a top 6 side? Since you think the managers of top 6 sides are wonderful (see above), none obviously agreed with your assessment. Doyle had a good first season in the Premiership, a poor second and, injury aside, didn't perform in the latter half of the Championship campaign. Not the stuff of a player destined for the Top 6. I think he did well to get an offer to play in the Premiership.

I think you underrate Mick, overrate Doyle but hopefully both do well. I know if DOyle doesn't do well, it will all be laid at McCarthy's door
In fairness though, you can't really judge Doyle's performances on goals. He hasn't been scoring many for us but he's been top class. The game in Italy was the only game he didn't do well in because Cannavaro was too good for him.

Hull, West Ham, Fulham and Portsmouth had bids in for the striker that Celtic signed, Fortune. I've only seen him this pre-season but that, along with his goalscoring record, I'd say there's no way he's on Doyles level (that's not saying Fortune looks bad). Doyle would have got more bids for him if he held out but he's obviously happy to go to Wolves.

[Razors left peg]

In fairness though, you can't really judge Doyle's performances on goals. He hasn't been scoring many for us but he's been top class. The game in Italy was the only game he didn't do well in because Cannavaro was too good for him.

Hull, West Ham, Fulham and Portsmouth had bids in for the striker that Celtic signed, Fortune. I've only seen him this pre-season but that, along with his goalscoring record, I'd say there's no way he's on Doyles level (that's not saying Fortune looks bad). Doyle would have got more bids for him if he held out but he's obviously happy to go to Wolves.

Bit harsh, Doyle wasnt fit in that game

[eirebhoy]

Don't think it's harsh. Cannavaro is the best in the world on form. Richie Dunne was too good for Vucinic but I wouldn't mind him playing for us.

[Brendan 82]

Doyle was wrecked before that Italy game even started. I'm sure he would say the same himself

[OwlsFan]

In fairness though, you can't really judge Doyle's performances on goals.

I think you have to judge a striker on goals. That's his primary business. I know he has to work hard, defend sometimes etc etc but goals are a striker's bread and butter.

[DmanDmythDledge]

I think you have to judge a striker on goals. That's his primary business. I know he has to work hard, defend sometimes etc etc but goals are a striker's bread and butter.
Sometimes a striker's primary job might not be to score goals, for example if he was the lone man in a 451 or like Rooney when he was paired with van Nistelrooy. It depends on what role the manager gives them. Doyle's best attributes are not is goalscoring so it is unfair to judge him on that. For somebody to judge a player purely on goals scored it shows that they do not have a decent knowledge of football and rely on stats to form their opinions.

[Diarmo]

I think you have to judge a striker on goals. That's his primary business. I know he has to work hard, defend sometimes etc etc but goals are a striker's bread and butter.

Really? I always think it depends on the type of striker. Ian Wright scored more goals in less games than Dennis Bergkamp for Arsenal, but I think that Bergkamp was both a better player and more important to Arsenal than Wright. As for Doyle, he works really hard up front, and I think this shows by Robbie's excellent scoring record lately.

[tetsujin1979]

I think you have to judge a striker on goals. That's his primary business. I know he has to work hard, defend sometimes etc etc but goals are a striker's bread and butter.
Two words - Emile Heskey.

[OwlsFan]

Two words - Emile Heskey.

One word: donkey!


For somebody to judge a player purely on goals scored it shows that they do not have a decent knowledge of football and rely on stats to form their opinions.

I think I have a decent knowledge of football without relying on stats, thanks. Someone who thinks that a striker,s primary purpose is not to score goals is talking through his hind quarters. Of course strikers should have numerous other attributes but their primary role in a game must be to score goals. Even target men like Quinn, Crouch, Cascarino scored goals. I am a great fan of Doyle but I am convinced that the reason the top teams didn't come in for him was that he didn't score enough goals. But then again the top managers probably don't "have a decent knowledge of football".

[youngirish]

Two words - Emile Heskey.

Emile Heskey is an overrated donkey. He had long since found his level when he was playing for relegation threatened Birmingham and a struggling Wigan team and now just because Wigan had a decent season thanks mostly to foreign players such as Zaki (first half of the year) and Valencia the media pluck Heskey's name out of the woodwork as one of the main reasons for their impressive form because he's the only English International in the starting 11 conveniently ignoring the fact that Wigan's performances improved once he left while Villa's deteriorated. It's almost comical sometimes. He will fade back into obscurity at Villa this year. Carew is a far superior forward.

[tetsujin1979]

One word: donkey!
That's a massive disservice to Heskey, he's become quite the accomplished player since leaving Liverpool, and has worked his way into becoming an essential member of the England squad, despite not scoring regularly.
Some recent quotes:
from http://www.football365.com/report/0,17033,8682_5115328,00.html

And he [Capello] will thanks his lucky stars once again he has someone of the ability of Rooney and a willing work-horse ally in Emile Heskey to call upon for the battles ahead. from http://tiscali.football365.com/Story/0,17257,8690_5367834,00.html


Lampard said: "Emile is fantastic. His work-rate is brilliant and what he has done since he has come back into the squad has been top class.
"He is a great lad and he deserves a lot of credit. He deserved his goal against Kazakhstan but goalscoring is not all of his game.
from http://www.football365.com/report/0,17033,8682_5115328,00.html

It is only relatively late in his career that Emile Heskey's worth has truly been appreciated.
Michael Owen was happy to extol the virtues of a former Liverpool team-mate given a large number of his 40 England goals were scored when the pair were in the same side.
Now it is Rooney's turn to profit from Heskey's selfless industry, the battering ram who blasts open doors for the craftsman. The priceless striker who does not score.
from http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/article4916873.ece

There is no greater indication of the quiet revolution in the national game achieved by Fabio Capello, the England manager, than the news of an injury scare involving Emile Heskey being perceived as a bigger blow than the absence of John Terry for the World Cup qualifying tie against Kazakhstan tomorrow.
I think I have a decent knowledge of football without relying on stats, thanks. Someone who thinks that a striker,s primary purpose is not to score goals is talking through his hind quarters. Of course strikers should have numerous other attributes but their primary role in a game must be to score goals. Even target men like Quinn, Crouch, Cascarino scored goals. I am a great fan of Doyle but I am convinced that the reason the top teams didn't come in for him was that he didn't score enough goals. But then again the top managers probably don't "have a decent knowledge of football".
Top managers like Capello?
from http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/internationals/capello-comes-round-to-heskey-benefits-963604.html

Capello said: "Emile Heskey is very important for us. He has good movement, he is strong, he is quick - and Heskey and Wayne Rooney do very well together.

[OwlsFan]

What else do you expect him to say about a player he picks? "Heskey is a donkey, that's why I play him". Of course he will lavish paeans of praise upon his head because he is picking him as there is really no other choice of centre forward other than the bean pole Crouch and....hmmm, a then unfit Owen. He uses him as a battering ram like we did Casc and Quinn. Didn't he also score a good few goals for Liverpool in his first season there and but has been in decline as a goal scorer ever since. He definitely was signed by Liverpool as a striker (goal scorer).

Even though I may know nothing about football in my 40+ years going to games, I will stand by my apparently sacriligious comment that the primary purpose of a striker is to score goals and Doyle's failing in that department of late cost him a signing for a bigger club.

[Razors left peg]

Even though I may know nothing about football in my 40+ years going to games, I will stand by my apparently sacriligious comment that the primary purpose of a striker is to score goals and Doyle's failing in that department of late cost him a signing for a bigger club.

Doyle spent pretty much the 2nd half of last season carrying an ankle injury so that might go some way to explaining the dip in form he had then

[joema]

Owls Fan, with all due respect, Heskey is a very effective player.
I think I'd trust Martin O'Neill and Fabio Capello's view of the player over yours here.

To say he is an overrated donkey is ridiculous. I was actually watching an old Soccer AM interview with Michael Owen last night and he said that Heskey was the best strike partner he ever had!

To say a striker should be only judged on goals is a very narrow minded view, particularly with respect to this current national team and the impetus Trap attaches to defending from the front!

[Stuttgart88]

Was Ernie Wise funny? Not really, but he made Eric Morecambe very funny. If he could have done it by himself it'd just have been the Morecambe show.

[OwlsFan]

To say a striker should be only judged on goals is a very narrow minded view, particularly with respect to this current national team and the impetus Trap attaches to defending from the front!

Please find where I said a striker should be judged only on goals. I said the primary purpose - not the only purpose.

Yes, Doyle's form was undoubtedly hampered by the injury in the middle of the season (he actually started the season off very well in the goal scoring department and contributed a hat trick to the 6 they put Wednesday:o). However, he did play the last couple of months I think and other than 1 goal (against Wednesday of course) he didn't find the net as far as I remember and may even have been dropped for a game or two. A top 6 team is not going to pick a player on that form, heresy and all saying that might be to some on here.

[DmanDmythDledge]

One word: donkey!


Emile Heskey is an overrated donkey. He had long since found his level when he was playing for relegation threatened Birmingham and a struggling Wigan team and now just because Wigan had a decent season thanks mostly to foreign players such as Zaki (first half of the year) and Valencia the media pluck Heskey's name out of the woodwork as one of the main reasons for their impressive form because he's the only English International in the starting 11 conveniently ignoring the fact that Wigan's performances improved once he left while Villa's deteriorated. It's almost comical sometimes. He will fade back into obscurity at Villa this year. Carew is a far superior forward.
The two of you have failed to realise that tets initial point was mainly about style of play, not how good a player Heskey is. But that's gone way over your heads.


I think I have a decent knowledge of football without relying on stats, thanks.
I didn't mean that in my first post, just meant in general so apologies if you took that the wrong way.

What you've said afterwards actually proves that to be the case though, ironically.


Someone who thinks that a striker,s primary purpose is not to score goals is talking through his hind quarters. Of course strikers should have numerous other attributes but their primary role in a game must be to score goals.
Do you think a holding midfielder's primary purpose is to create chances? Or a winger to defend? Or a playmaker to win ball? As has been said it is all dependant on what role the manager gives the player.


Even target men like Quinn, Crouch, Cascarino scored goals.
And that automatically makes it their primary purpose then?


He uses him as a battering ram like we did Casc and Quinn.
I thought a striker's primary purpose was apparantly to score goals? So now you admit that managers use strikers in different ways...

[Supreme feet]

Is Kevin Doyle's strike rate really that bad? Compare him to other international strikers, who play in better teams than us;

Kevin Doyle: 6 goals in 26 international appearances. (0.23 goals per game)
Karim Benzema: 6 goals in 24 apps. (0.25)
Nicolas Anelka: 12 in 57 (0.21)
Jermain Defoe: 8 in 34 (0.23)
Hugo Almeida: 3 in 20 (0.15)
Ivica Olic: 11 in 64 (0.17)
Carlos Tevez: 8 in 51 (0.15)
Vincenzo Iaquinta: 4 in 31 (0.12)

I know that statistics aren't everything, but the above does suggest that Doyle's goalscoring record isn't necessarily a stick with which to beat him; and it proves the point that strikers shoudn't be judged on goals alone. Doyle's performances for Ireland have been excellent - he's good in the air, can shoot with both feet, his control is excellent, and he's shown an intelligence, honesty and physical bravery while leading the line that belies his relatively small (5'11') physique. While he lacks the bit of magic and ruthlessness that sets the top players apart, he's an extremely capable forward player. If he stays fit and gets any kind of service, he should prove that this year.

As an aside...

Fernando Torres: 22 in 67 (0.32)
Robbie Keane: 39 in 90 (0.43)

:)

[kennedmc]

As a further aside:

David Healy 35 in 74 (.47)
John Dahl Tomasson 51 in 102 (.5)
Alexander Frei 39 in 67 (.58)

International football is becoming a more dangerous way to rate a striker! There are probably more games against countries of less quality which skew the stats. Smaller countries have a smaller base to choose from also.

You have to look at the bigger picture

[joema]

Please find where I said a striker should be judged only on goals. I said the primary purpose - not the only purpose.

Yes, Doyle's form was undoubtedly hampered by the injury in the middle of the season (he actually started the season off very well in the goal scoring department and contributed a hat trick to the 6 they put Wednesday:o). However, he did play the last couple of months I think and other than 1 goal (against Wednesday of course) he didn't find the net as far as I remember and may even have been dropped for a game or two. A top 6 team is not going to pick a player on that form, heresy and all saying that might be to some on here.

Ok, sorry, My mistake. Replace "only" with "mainly" so! My point still stands.

Each player should be judged on his own merits. Heskey is a very effective player, and so is Doyle.

We don't know what type of striker each manager is after, so to say that Doyle wasn't signed by a more established Premiership team because he didn't score so many goals last can't be proven.