Could Whitehouse play in Doyle's role?

[blader]

Firstly, I aren't jumping the gun saying Whitehouse is going to be an absolutely gem after one game. However, thinking longer term (and in hoping we get promoted) we are going to have to replace Doyle sooner rather than later. I feel that Doyle has been worse than last season, and will only deteriorate with age. EW looked solid at Donny, and showed glimpses of real potential. But as this is the first real time he's played in the first team, I have little knowledge of the player himself. Is he more a McDonald or a Doyle? Would a K-Mac and EW midfield work?

 

[UnitedBlade]

Firstly, I aren't jumping the gun saying Whitehouse is going to be an absolutely gem after one game. However, thinking longer term (and in hoping we get promoted) we are going to have to replace Doyle sooner rather than later. I feel that Doyle has been worse than last season, and will only deteriorate with age. EW looked solid at Donny, and showed glimpses of real potential. But as this is the first real time he's played in the first team, I have little knowledge of the player himself. Is he more a McDonald or a Doyle? Would a K-Mac and EW midfield work?

With more experience, yes he could play Doyle's role. He'll certainly prove better central midfield cover than, say, McAllister. He's much more like Doyle than McDonald ie he sticks his foot in and win tackles.

The big extra benefit is he is box-to-box and has scored a lot of goals. Again he needs to prove that at first team level.

Excellent news that he is now available but he's played no competitive football this season until yesterday.

All of a sudden the squad looks stronger

UTB

 

[broomhillblade]

I fully expected us to get beaten yesterday, so a draw was a bonus. The huge plus for me however was to see Whitehouse and Kennedy start, and then Ironside come on and do well. To have three more youngsters all coming through at the same time is a great credit to the Academy - and to DW for giving them his trust. When you think we have Long and Maguire now well-established, that is a remarkable success story - though of course it is easier to bring in youngsters in Div 1 than the Championship.

 

[Pinchy]

Doyle's limitations are exposed frequently. He is run of the mill at this level, but no more.

There is too much emphasis on 'role'. You need two central midfielders who, between them, can pass, link the defence to attack, ensure good retention of the ball, press the opposition hard when they have the ball and score a reasonable amount of goals.

The precise division of those functions can vary of course but there is no rule that requires a "defensive midfielder' to partner an 'attacking midfielder". It's perfectly alright, indeed it's desirable, that each can do a bit of both. That is the fallacy of the Montgomery apologists - 'he does his job' No he didn't - he did about 20% of his job, poorly.

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

Doyle's limitations are exposed frequently. He is run of the mill at this level, but no more.

There is too much emphasis on 'role'. You need two central midfielders who, between them, can pass, link the defence to attack, ensure good retention of the ball, press the opposition hard when they have the ball and score a reasonable amount of goals.

The precise division of those functions can vary of course but there is no rule that requires a "defensive midfielder' to partner an 'attacking midfielder". It's perfectly alright, indeed it's desirable, that each can do a bit of both. That is the fallacy of the Montgomery apologists - 'he does his job' No he didn't - he did about 20% of his job, poorly.

Although I don't really want to join any player bashing, I really find it hard to believe that players that do nothing but play football cannot pass a ball to a player on their own side on a consistent basis. Surely for them to get noticed at lower levels a scout must look at the basics of a player and see if he can control and pass a ball.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I've seen Whitehouse do both roles for the youth team. I really liked what I saw when he was the box to box man, bombing forward and looking to get on the end of things and have a shot. He did allright when he was asked to play as an anchor man too, but having seen what he's able to do going forward, I felt the role stifled him. We'll see how he develops but I hope he'll be an attacking player for us when he starts playing regularly.

 

[Pinchy]

I hope he'll be a good central midfielder, doing all the things such a player should, rather than restricted by an artificial designation.

 

[JohnDenver]

I hope he'll be a good central midfielder, doing all the things such a player should, rather than restricted by an artificial designation.

If he can do all the things a central midfielder should, he'll not be with us for very long.

Hopefully long enough to get us up the leagues first...

 

[super_pig]

To have three more youngsters all coming through at the same time is a great credit to the Academy - and to DW for giving them his trust.

do you think so? i don't see he had any choice.. i'm a little perplexed by this.. up until now they 'weren't experienced enough' yet we then dump them in on the biggest game of the season so far.. surely it would have been better to have blooded them in already
on the other hand .. perhaps it was a cunning plan so they couldn't be sold in the transfer window.. good work Danny

 

[broomhillblade]

do you think so? i don't see he had any choice.. i'm a little perplexed by this.. up until now they 'weren't experienced enough' yet we then dump them in on the biggest game of the season so far.. surely it would have been better to have blooded them in already
on the other hand .. perhaps it was a cunning plan so they couldn't be sold in the transfer window.. good work Danny

The negativity of some people on this site is depressing.

 

[LSF]

I think you'll find BB, that SP usually has his tongue firmly in his cheek with some posts, but when the negative herberts start putting the boot in, SP comes out fighting firmly on the side of 'look on the bright side'

 

[LSF]

Although I don't really want to join any player bashing, I really find it hard to believe that players that do nothing but play football cannot pass a ball to a player on their own side on a consistent basis. Surely for them to get noticed at lower levels a scout must look at the basics of a player and see if he can control and pass a ball.

With all due respect Copenhagen, all footballers at this level can pass and control very well, some just do it better than others. However, what some fail to take into account is that the opposition is hell bent on stopping the pass reaching its mark or putting pressure on the man controlling the ball.
No doubt playing against a team of cones would make passing the ball a much easier proposition.

 

[super_pig]

I think you'll find BB, that SP usually has his tongue firmly in his cheek with some posts, but when the negative herberts start putting the boot in, SP comes out fighting firmly on the side of 'look on the bright side'

i reckon i need to change my signature to a disclaimer saying 'most posts are firmly tongue in cheek for intended comic effect'
nice to see someone 'gets it' .. many thanks (could have sworn i included a smiley)

 

[JohnDenver]

No doubt playing against a team of cones would make passing the ball a much easier proposition.

"In football everything is complicated by the presence of the opposite team"
Jean-Paul Sartre

 

[Darren]

I fully expected us to get beaten yesterday, so a draw was a bonus. The huge plus for me however was to see Whitehouse and Kennedy start, and then Ironside come on and do well. To have three more youngsters all coming through at the same time is a great credit to the Academy - and to DW for giving them his trust. When you think we have Long and Maguire now well-established, that is a remarkable success story - though of course it is easier to bring in youngsters in Div 1 than the Championship.

Can we stop calling it "Div 1", it's the Third Division for God's sake.

Join the CRD - Campaign for Real Divisions!

 

[broomhillblade]

Can we stop calling it "Div 1", it's the Third Division for God's sake.

Join the CRD - Campaign for Real Divisions!

Couldn't you manage a 'U' in there?

e.g: Campaign for Real Unwieldy Divisions (CRUD)

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

With all due respect Copenhagen, all footballers at this level can pass and control very well, some just do it better than others. However, what some fail to take into account is that the opposition is hell bent on stopping the pass reaching its mark or putting pressure on the man controlling the ball.
No doubt playing against a team of cones would make passing the ball a much easier proposition.

OK LSF . I should have said be able to pass to our own side when under pressure in a real game. I think that the majority saw, and on numerous occasions, that this was difficult for Monty, when it really shouldn't be. I saw a PL game the other week and the defender dribbled the ball out of defence and then passed the ball out of the pitch and the commentator said, 'well he shouldn't be expected to be able to pass the ball as he is a defender' Why the hell shouldn't a PL player not be expected to be able to pass the ball just because his main job is to tackle and defend?
Anyhow looking forward to seeing Whitehouse, tackling and passing and shooting and scoring loads of goals for the Blades

 

[Foxy]

OK LSF . I should have said be able to pass to our own side when under pressure in a real game. I think that the majority saw, and on numerous occasions, that this was difficult for Monty, when it really shouldn't be. I saw a PL game the other week and the defender dribbled the ball out of defence and then passed the ball out of the pitch and the commentator said, 'well he shouldn't be expected to be able to pass the ball as he is a defender' Why the hell shouldn't a PL player not be expected to be able to pass the ball just because his main job is to tackle and defend?
Anyhow looking forward to seeing Whitehouse, tackling and passing and shooting and scoring loads of goals for the Blades

I was gonna resist the bite... but a massive problem for a player in any position is usually the complete lack of movement and eagerness to receive the ball from his teammates

That was much more of a problem in recent years than the direction of any pass.

In answer to the original question... He could take Doyle's place, but has more attributes to his game (certainly going forward/arriving in the box at the right time)

 

[alcoblade]

I was gonna resist the bite... but a massive problem for a player in any position is usually the complete lack of movement and eagerness to receive the ball from his teammates

Hence McDonald not looking quite the same player this season, IMHO.

UTB

 

[Micalijo]

Doyle's limitations are exposed frequently. He is run of the mill at this level, but no more.

There is too much emphasis on 'role'. You need two central midfielders who, between them, can pass, link the defence to attack, ensure good retention of the ball, press the opposition hard when they have the ball and score a reasonable amount of goals.

The precise division of those functions can vary of course but there is no rule that requires a "defensive midfielder' to partner an 'attacking midfielder". It's perfectly alright, indeed it's desirable, that each can do a bit of both. That is the fallacy of the Montgomery apologists - 'he does his job' No he didn't - he did about 20% of his job, poorly.

Top Stuff Pinch. Great stuff. You're being kind on Doyle but so true re two decent footballers will work very nicely. Oh well, we've got Doyle for another 2 years.

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

why we gave doyle a new contract is a major mystery. he's ok. thats about all anybody can say really. like nearly everybody at the club, he's not good enough if we get promoted. like the porter contract, "we dont know what were doing" springs to mind.

dane whitehouse, now that was a player. if only we could roll back the years and stick him and ian bryson in. i think i went off topic...