Kevin Doyle

**Sullivinho** · 25/07/2013, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by p2011

I just don't see what Sammon has to offer. He looks like a target man so he makes us even more likely to play pointless long balls, which has been our problem now for years. We need to get away from that game.

'Looks' being the operative word. The fella of course doesn't choose himself but he has nothing to offer at international level. If Trap honestly believes this guy belongs in an Ireland shirt and (less important though more amusing) the English premier league, it would reflect a sad deterioration in both his judgement and our chances of success. I suspect however, that everything is working just fine in the auld fella's noggin and the truth is that no matter the false compliments and positive psychology, he really believes we're a limited, middling bunch whose only chance of making it relies on the system he's prescribed for us, of which the long ball is a key feature. Hence Sammon, the bogus 'big man'.

**Crosby87** · 25/07/2013, 12:13 PM

I haven't heard long balls discussed like this since the first time Cox was brought into the squad.

**Serb** · 25/07/2013, 4:06 PM

Originally Posted by p2011

He looks like a target man so he makes us even more likely to play pointless long balls, which has been our problem now for years. We need to get away from that game.

The irony here is that he's absolutely atrocious as a target man. Robbie Keane won more headers than Sammon did in the friendly -vs- Spain a month or two ago, something Keane is not exactly noted for. Long and Doyle are far better. There's no way Sammon could score the kind of goal Long got against England. His strengths apparently lie in the fact that he's got a deft touch for a big lad (which I don't agree with, he's not particularly tall for a start). He's basically a big bag of fail and the sooner we get rid of him the better.

However, I think the real issue here is that Doyle hasn't been playing well for a year anyway, and Trap is looking for someone who can head the ball to replace him. The answer definitely isn't Sammon.

**Crosby87** · 25/07/2013, 4:15 PM

So you believe we would be sort of swimming upstream if we pick Conor?

**tricky_colour** · 26/07/2013, 4:09 AM

If it's mating season most definitely.

**p2011** · 26/07/2013, 8:23 AM

@Sull/Serb: Exactly... I used the word "looks" very deliberately. You would think he was a target man, and the opposition manager probably thinks he is a target man too. I'd rate him behind Long, Keane, Walters, Doyle, Cox.... so I don't know how he's starting games for us. Like I said, his presence encourages hoofing and we need to get away from persistent hoofing.

If we are to persist with this nonsense of putting strikers on the wing and if Keane is undroppable no matter what our formation, then I'd sooner see the likes of Doyle or even Long providing agressive running and a bit of goal threat from the wing (which is supposedly Trap's thinking in playing the static Walters or Cox there). If it wasn't for Doyle's agressive run down the left and good cross in Kazakhstan that created the penalty and then for his winner, this campaign would have been dead in the water from the start.

For what it's worth, I'd like to see something like:

Long
Winger-Hoolahan-Winger
McCarthy-CM
Wilson-O'Shea-CB-Coleman
Forde

Winger: we have decent options here with McGeady,McClean, Brady, Pilkington etc... so there's no need for strikers there who offer nothing.
CM: Ideally Gibson, alternatively one of Andrews, Whelan at a push, Meyler, Hendrick...
CB: could be Dunne, SSL, R.Keogh, O'Dea...

That team could mix Irish directness and agressiveness with a bit of football ability. And we'll need a bit of possession if we're to get anything from Vienna and Cologne in autumn and hang on to unlikely leads or hold out for draws. Are we supposed to go to those places with long ball 4-4-2s and get results, Trap?

But of course Trap is convinced that we can't play football and STILL hasn't tried out a 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 (call it what you will) in any sensible way from the start of a friendly despite 3 friendlies and the game against the weak Faroes recently. (I also don't understand why we need Pilkington to try out a new formation, this sounds like a Trap red herring.) With Trap's 4-4-2, we manage to look outgunned in midfield even against the likes of Armenia and Georgia when they go down to ten men. And I thought you hired Italians for clever tactics and defensive stability...

**DannyInvincible** · 30/07/2013, 6:14 PM

'Wolves refute Celtic have bid for Kevin Doyle': http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/...r-kevin-doyle/

Wolves today dismissed speculation that they have turned down a £500,000 bid from Celtic for Kevin Doyle.

A report in Ireland today claimed the offer for the 29-year-old striker was rejected by Molineux chiefs.

Head coach Kenny Jackett said: “There is no information or approaches on Doyle.

“During the summer there have been rumours in the papers but we’ve got nothing concrete at the moment and Kevin is a Wolves player.”

Doyle returned to full training yesterday after recovering from a flu bug over the weekend.

The Ireland international hasn’t played all summer but Jackett added: “He may well be in our plans for Preston.”

**ArdeeBhoy** · 30/07/2013, 6:32 PM

Celtic fans aren't keen...

Doyle also been linked with Leeds due to the McDermott connection. Though his current wages may exclude them both?

**Serb** · 30/07/2013, 11:42 PM

Despite his form over the past season, 500k is a bargain for a player of his quality.

**Charlie Darwin** · 31/07/2013, 12:06 AM

Wolves must be regretting not getting £5m for him 2 years ago (then again I suppose it was worth the risk).

**Crosby87** · 31/07/2013, 11:29 AM

I feel like he would have been Lennon's Yoko Ono if he had signed with Celtic.

**Charlie Darwin** · 02/08/2013, 11:20 AM

The London Times this morning reporting Doyle is being excluded from the Wolves squad this season along with Ward, O'Hara and Roger Johnson.

**Crosby87** · 02/08/2013, 11:26 AM

What does that mean, they are going to pay him to not play?

**Charlie Darwin** · 02/08/2013, 11:36 AM

I assume they're trying to force him to accept lower terms to get out.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 02/08/2013, 1:21 PM

Originally Posted by Serb

Despite his form over the past season, 500k is a bargain for a player of his quality.

Depends on the wages he's after. On a high contract like a few other Irish players who've declined recentluy, so unless he accepts less, liable to fester at Wolves in Div.3!

**Sullivinho** · 02/08/2013, 2:10 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Ward, O'Hara and Roger Johnson.

We should offer that chap a 'B' international call-up for the craic.

**Charlie Darwin** · 02/08/2013, 2:17 PM

He's looking good for the England World Cup squad I reckon.

**Junior** · 02/08/2013, 3:01 PM

Celtic up offer to £750k apparently. Wolves looking for somewhere in the region of £2.5m. Currently on wages of £40k pw

Celtic fans not overly enthused at the prosepct, let alone paying even £750k for the privilege.

Doesnt appear to be many (if any) other clubs sniffing around.

**Closed Account 2** · 02/08/2013, 3:51 PM

Originally Posted by Crosby87

What does that mean, they are going to pay him to not play?

I think it may have something to do with wages being linked to tunover in League 1 and League 2. I think clubs can only select a team (or perhaps it's even a squad) who have a combined wage equal to (or below) a percentage of turnover (say 60% or something).

I remember reading that if Wolves and Blackburn went down they would probably not be able to include high earners in the team (like Rodger Johnstone, Kevin Doyle, Gamst Pedersen and Jordan Rhodes) or if they did they would have to offset their wages by making up the rest of the team with YTS (youth) players on a couple of hundred a week.