Kevin Doyle

[gustavo]

I think Wenger has accepted that vP tends to miss a lot of games, so Doyle could be a great signing. Think about it: if you're an Arsenal fan and you've got a tricky away game and one fit striker - would you prefer Bendtner up top on his own, or Doyle?

I'd say they're about even tbh

[Stuttgart88]

Doyle has been applauded by all commentators this season. Bendtner has been derided by most, including his own fans.

I'm an Arsenal fan and I can see Bendtner has some merits - his hold up play is decent for example - but at times he has been totally and utterly hapless. I mean real rubbish. Despite scoring a good goal against Liverpool in the Carling Cup QF(?) he was a laibility all night, finding Liverpool players with short passes all the time. Likewise against Burnley this year when he was laughed off the pitch. Same against Villa last season. He gets a few goals but I reckon most forwards would score goals for Arsenal. He does seem to play better for Denmark though.

Paul O'S (long time mate..): 2 headers in the Barcelona tie summed up Bendtner for me: a gilt-edged chance in the home leg when it was set up perfectly for him. When easier to score he headed it straight at Valdez. In the away game a great cross came in from the left and he still contrived to hit the post, only to be reprieved by an offside flag. His goal in Barcelona showed good tenacity (and agility as you say) but he should probably have stuck the first chance away. He scored a similarly tenacious goal against Porto. But he just needs so many chances to score.

For me Doyle is better at leading the line, better at heading the ball despite being shorter, and better, or at least more consistent, as an all round footballer. Even if there was nothing in it, Doyle's attitude and application is better. I reckon Bendtner may be a better athlete but Doyle is a smarter player - I've always felt he's like Larsson in all respects.

The new guy Chamakh from Bordeaux looks very strong in the air, despite not being huge.

[Razors left peg]

Was askin an English mate of mine over the weekend what he thought of the Doyle rumours to Arsenal. Hes a season ticket holder there and I was expecting him to laugh it off, but he reckoned Doyle is exactly the type of player they need, he rated him very highly.But he thinks that Chamakh signing means that it wont happen.... he hates Bentner by the way

[Crosby87]

Was askin an English mate of mine over the weekend what he thought of the Doyle rumours to Arsenal. Hes a season ticket holder there and I was expecting him to laugh it off, but he reckoned Doyle is exactly the type of player they need, he rated him very highly.But he thinks that Chamakh signing means that it wont happen.... he hates Bentner by the way

He was probably being polite to your face Razor. You need to adjust your sarcasm meter. You know he and his mates had a good laugh when you walked away. No good Irish Players, haha.

[Razors left peg]

He was probably being polite to your face Razor. You need to adjust your sarcasm meter. You know he and his mates had a good laugh when you walked away. No good Irish Players, haha.

Yapster has gone to a whole new level, he gone from completely taking over threads to now taking over people accounts too

[gustavo]

I still think that had Bendtner being playing for a lesser club too he would be receiving plaudits too

[Stuttgart88]

I don't know gus. I think with his goals to chances ratio he'd be about as (un)impressive as Ellmander at club level. I do think Bendtner's got something about him but he is exasperating a lot of the time, in a way I doubt Doyle would be. His late-season flurry of goals may have bought him a bit more time and Arsenal's priorities lie elsewhere.

[ifk101]

Bendtner versus Doyle. It's like comparing day and night.

Doyle is a team player. There's no ego there, he'll put in the tireless work shift, offer himself for the team and follow team instructions to the letter.

Bendtner is the exact opposite but Wenger will persist with him as there is a footballing ability there that could potentially make him one of the better strikers in the game.

[Serb]

There's another point to make in the Doyle v Bendtner argument: Bendtner is not quite the player Doyle is right now, but there's almost 5 years between the two players. Bendtner was 22 in January and Doyle will be 27 by the time next season rolls around. Doyle is in his prime and at Bendtner's age, rather than scoring goals versus Barcelona and Liverpool, he was sticking them away versus Bray Wanderers and Longford.

Sure, it didn't do him any harm, I like Doyle and I think he's a good player, but I can't help but feel, by the time Bendtner is 26 or 27, he'll be a lot better player than Doyle is right now. Like ifk101 says, a lot of the faith shown in Bendter now will pay dividends not too far down the line.

[Brendan 82]

Why has this thread developed into a Bendtner vs Doyle thread? I hate this forum sometimes

[irishfan86]

Why has this thread developed into a Bendtner vs Doyle thread? I hate this forum sometimes

There are/were rumours about Doyle going to Arsenal. It is only natural to compare Doyle to Arsenal's strikers to see if he would improve their squad.

[Brendan 82]

There are/were rumours about Doyle going to Arsenal. It is only natural to compare Doyle to Arsenal's strikers to see if he would improve their squad.

I guess so man; it is a very tenuous rumour though is it not? And Bendtner is 5 years younger than Doyle as someone said, so comparisons are a bit stupid in my opinion.

[irishfan86]

I guess so man; it is a very tenuous rumour though is it not? And Bendtner is 5 years younger than Doyle as someone said, so comparisons are a bit stupid in my opinion.

It's the off-season now with the exception of three of our players in cup finals. What the hell else are we going to talk about until August on an Irish soccer forum?

[Brendan 82]

It's the off-season now with the exception of three of our players in cup finals. What the hell else are we going to talk about until August on an Irish soccer forum?

Oh sh1t, I don't know man... How about discussing the actual merits of a player without reverting to meaningless and pathetic comparisons? Ah nevermind actually. I'm over to the Sean St.Ledger thread to see how he rates against Michael Dawson. Carry on

[Serb]

I'm over to the Sean St.Ledger thread to see how he rates against Michael Dawson. Carry on

Is St. Ledger on his way to Spurs?

Like irishfan86 said, the reason he's being compared is the rumour of him going to Arsenal. I'll admit that the signing of Chamakh pretty much rules out Doyle going there, but the comparisons have merit based on him being a potential competitor for Doyle's place in the team.

[John83]

It's the off-season now with the exception of three of our players in cup finals. What the hell else are we going to talk about until August on an Irish soccer forum?

I'd be careful saying that on the biggest LoI forum around.

[yapster]

Doyle is more suited to the likes of Everton or Villa at best, good honest pro but is not top drawer sadly. If he did go to a top club he would be sat on the bench most of the time. Everton would be his best option if they want him. His lack of goals is worrying but his workrate is commendable.

[Charlie Darwin]

He could do with scoring more goals, but he still got over a 1/4 of his team's total this season. That's quite impressive for one player.

[geysir]

"He would be sat on the bench"

What is it about the English and their "was sat"?
"I was sat on the bench for that game"
but I never heard the future conditional use of the past.

[yapster]

He could do with scoring more goals, but he still got over a 1/4 of his team's total this season. That's quite impressive for one player.

9 goals is not in the least impressive for a striker of Doyle's caliber,