Kevin Doyle

should do his confidence the world of good. Hopefully Keane grabs a couple tomorrow (but with Liverpool losing ).

Originally Posted by Torn-Ado

Keane and Doyle up front together is horrible and has been for quite some time now.

if keane passed it to doyle then maybe there would be a chance of a partnership

Doyle has been playing well without scoring. I thought he was excellent against Columbia. He had a good game for Reading against Forest. And now he is one of the top scorers in the championship. Timing could not be better for us

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I posted this y'day on another thread. I liked eirebhoy's XI posted in response.

I'm becoming more and more convinced that 4-3-3 is what'll work best for us right now.

Kelly / J. O'Brien - Dunne - O'Shea - Kilbane

Reid - Reid - Hunt

McGeady - Keane - Duff
I deliberately avoided specifying which Reid as in principle each could do well in the middle or the right of that 3.

Assuming at least one Reid is injured (fairly certain) then options include Liam Lawrence and J. O'Brien for the RHM spot, Carsley or Delap for the CM spot). If either McGeady or Duff is injured or off form, Hunt could play left sided forward, allowing maybe Garvan or Stephen Quinn to play left sided midfield.

The front 3 is a bit like United's front 3 - good, clever attacking players who can improvise.

Jon Walters is even an option for the right sided forward as cover.

Advantages: numbers and bite in midfield, good ball users too. Mobility and direct running upfront. This shape and personnel will allow ius to take more control of a game and it allows us to have more of our good players on the pitch. It also doesn't place much pressure on inexperienced kids coming through, and if they're needed it'd be in a stronger shape where they'd fit in easier. Their time may come during the campaign anyway. The 4th game is over a year away.

Doyle, Morrison, Murphy, Carsley, St. Ledger on the bench, plus one or two others.

Just saw the suggested 4-3-3 above....and I like it

Doyle to Villa rumours resurface: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...uff-rumourmill

The problem with Kevin Doyle is that he looks far too sharp for the Championship and will be on his way to Aston Villa before you can say "£7m in the transfer window", provided you say it very slowly. Villa will raise a bit of money by selling Marlon Harewood to Stoke for £3.5m.

Kevin Doyle has signed a contract extension with Reading. Very surprised, thought he would be leaving in January
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2008/1106/doylek.html

Probably better off at Reading, they should come straight back up and banging goals is obviously doing his confidence a world of good. He had a very good game against Cyprus last month. He suffered, I thought, last year as Reading struggled.

better having a player banging in goals in the championship than losing confidence in the prem.

Originally Posted by boovidge

better having a player banging in goals in the championship than losing confidence in the prem.

Agreed, he's been on top form for Reading in the Championship so far this season and the renewed confidence is showing when he pulls on the Green shirt.

As regards contracts and wasting his ability at Reading, if a club is willing to pay big bucks for a player, contracts matter little these days.

Personally i'm happy to see him scoring regularly and enjoying his football at Reading at the moment, as it benefits Ireland.

Originally Posted by Ciaran

Doyle's level is unquestionably in the top tier however, he's wasting his ability by not moving.

He's a lower level premiership to top level championship player. Would he really be better off with Middlesbrough or West Brom?

Originally Posted by Dodge

He's a lower level premiership to top level championship player. Would he really be better off with Middlesbrough or West Brom?

Are Reading better off battling for promotion in the Championship, or battling Middlesbrough and West Brom for lower level Premiership survival?

This news will kill the mood in a few laundrettes in Cork.

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Kevin Doyle has signed a contract extension with Reading. Very surprised, thought he would be leaving in January
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2008/1106/doylek.html

wouldnt read anything into it razor...come january and if he is still banging in the goals and playing well...it wont stop the reported clubs that are interested in him(villa,spurs,etc) makin bids for him

he is a proven international and prem player...he will be a bigger club not b4 long...im sure of it

Reading look like they'll go straight back up. If they can get Sidwell back they might have a chance next season.

Kevin Doyle is not stupid and I'm sure his agent isn't either. There is bound to be a clause in his new contract allowing him to talk to other clubs if Reading fail to get promoted this season!! Unlike Hunt, I'd imagine Doyle will be loyal to Reading and not go anywhere in January!!

Just means that Reading can secure a higher price for him in January

I see Doyle has signed an extension to his contract with Reading. Doesn't mean he won't be snapped up in the January sales. Just means Reading have secured the rights to money if he does go. No big deal.

Wait for all the rumours linking him with every team in the Premiership.......

MOM today against Birmingham. Class peformance. Scored Reading's second goal and put in a fantastic cross for Reading's third goal. I expect to see him lining up for Aston Villa in the new year.

Doyle is a true quality player and a great testament to himself and the League here.

He is easily a 10 million pound player, his finish for the second goal was just sublime, and his cross for Cisse's goal was excellent.

A proper quality player and we are lucky we have him.

Also S.Hunt's delivery for that goal was brilliant.