Doyle?

[FTPE]

Has he even played pre season games? He'll be miles off match fitness.

He's been at the under 21s tournament

 

[Pintor75]

Would be most fans choice to come back, everyone seems to have taken to him and he can slot straight in. McAtee is imho the more gifted, but he's going to be a loan signing at best, we could never afford him , where as Doyle is

 

[Weasel]

I can't say that I was massively impressed by Doyle throughout his time with us. Instead, I thought he was a decent Championship player who grew steadily with us and at the end he was starting to help shape the game and be a top end champship player (though he did miss some games through injury as did all of the squad to be fair at some point) and he wasn't a regular until PH saw sense and put both him and McAtee back in the starting line up at Sunderland after the defeat to Luton with Norwood and Fleck involved.

Im hoping that this season we can get him and this can be his break out season with him stepping up to the PL levels but even if he initially struggles at the level, I can see him being a mainstay in our midfield for a long time and growing in influence and almost being captain material for us if he stayed with us. He would be a very good signing to future proof us more though he might still struggle at first with us in the PL. That's the market we are in though and it's a case of how quickly can any new signings come in and be comfortable in their PL surroundings. PH did say that we can't recruit the ready made PL level players so all will be a gamble to some extent. I hope we get him this week on a permanent deal as he's potentially PL standard but not too end PL so City probably won't be after him again in the future.

 

[Lord Eddard Muir]

I think if we're not in the market for established PL players, then a player with clear potential to become one but not in his current club's immediate plans, who has already played for us for a year and did well, is the obvious guy for the top of the shopping list.

 

[Brian Deane]

Number 8 on his way, dotting i's and crossing the T's.
Will be done .....YHIHF
UTB
(Cheers DB)

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

Number 8 on his way, dotting i's and crossing the T's.
Will be done .....YHIHF
UTB
(Cheers Derek)

Doyle ??

 

[CoatesyBlade]

Number 8 on his way, dotting i's and crossing the T's.
Will be done .....YHIHF
UTB
(Cheers Derek)

I hope this happens.
Is this speculation? Or have you heard something concrete?

 

[bibbity bobbity boo]

Isn't Hamer number 8?

 

[designedbyross]

Number 8 on his way, dotting i's and crossing the T's.
Will be done .....YHIHF
UTB
(Cheers DB)

No i’s in Tommy Doyle, must be Tom Davies ffs

 

[MojoMuffin]

No i’s in Tommy Doyle, must be Tom Davies ffs

Isn't dotting i's and the t's just a term for doing something very accurately? I don't think it has anything to do with the name in this reference. A source would go down well though!

 

[biggiesablade]

Isn't dotting i's and the t's just a term for doing something very accurately? I don't think it has anything to do with the name in this reference. A source would go down well though!

Only if there is i's and t's to dot and cross. Gutted.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

I can't say that I was massively impressed by Doyle throughout his time with us. Instead, I thought he was a decent Championship player who grew steadily with us and at the end he was starting to help shape the game and be a top end champship player (though he did miss some games through injury as did all of the squad to be fair at some point) and he wasn't a regular until PH saw sense and put both him and McAtee back in the starting line up at Sunderland after the defeat to Luton with Norwood and Fleck involved.

Im hoping that this season we can get him and this can be his break out season with him stepping up to the PL levels but even if he initially struggles at the level, I can see him being a mainstay in our midfield for a long time and growing in influence and almost being captain material for us if he stayed with us. He would be a very good signing to future proof us more though he might still struggle at first with us in the PL. That's the market we are in though and it's a case of how quickly can any new signings come in and be comfortable in their PL surroundings. PH did say that we can't recruit the ready made PL level players so all will be a gamble to some extent. I hope we get him this week on a permanent deal as he's potentially PL standard but not too end PL so City probably won't be after him again in the future.

I agree with all of this. I was very underwhelmed by Doyle who, after an amazing debut, spent the rest of the time either injured or in middling form.
It wasn't until March that we started to see a bit of what he's all about.

My only issue with signing Doyle is, where do we play him? We've signed Souza as a holding midfielder, when Doyle was at his best everything went through him in the middle.

The next problem is our tight budget and total lack of creativity and goal threat since losing Ndiaye, Berge and McAtee.
Should we be allocating a large chunk of our remaining budget to Doyle who doesn't really solve those issues?

 

[Northern Rivers Blade]

I agree with all of this. I was very underwhelmed by Doyle who, after an amazing debut, spent the rest of the time either injured or in middling form.
It wasn't until March that we started to see a bit of what he's all about.

My only issue with signing Doyle is, where do we play him? We've signed Souza as a holding midfielder, when Doyle was at his best everything went through him in the middle.

The next problem is our tight budget and total lack of creativity and goal threat since losing Ndiaye, Berge and McAtee.
Should we be allocating a large chunk of our remaining budget to Doyle who doesn't really solve those issues?

I thought Doyle actually was creative last season when he got up the field. Maybe someone has stats to back that up - or refute it.

If he’s freed up to go forward by having Souza next to him, I reckon he could be really good for us.

 

[LondonBlade89]

I agree with all of this. I was very underwhelmed by Doyle who, after an amazing debut, spent the rest of the time either injured or in middling form.
It wasn't until March that we started to see a bit of what he's all about.

My only issue with signing Doyle is, where do we play him? We've signed Souza as a holding midfielder, when Doyle was at his best everything went through him in the middle.

The next problem is our tight budget and total lack of creativity and goal threat since losing Ndiaye, Berge and McAtee.
Should we be allocating a large chunk of our remaining budget to Doyle who doesn't really solve those issues?

Doyle to me at this level is effectively an extra body. He raises the floor of this team but not the ceiling. In theory that’s no bad thing given we’re currently starting Chris Basham in midfield but I suppose it all depends on what we’re giving up to get him. At least he knows the way PH likes to play and can hopefully hit the ground running.

 

[Gin&Juice]

Doyle to me at this level is effectively an extra body. He raises the floor of this team but not the ceiling. In theory that’s no bad thing given we’re currently starting Chris Basham in midfield but I suppose it all depends on what we’re giving up to get him. At least he knows the way PH likes to play and can hopefully hit the ground running.

He’s only 21, think he could become our future captain if he stays. But he adds quality and composure, our current crop don’t have.

 

[ben1987]

I think the addition of Doyle moves Slimane down the list to sit in as a development / unknown.

We’d play something like:

Hamer —————Doyle
————- Souza

I don’t know where his ceiling is, he’s got a decent level of technical ability and a decent engine on him. He could potentially do really well with a bit more experience under his belt. Hopefully it’s permanent and we get to profit on him later or like others have said potentially a future captain. Hopefully his injury niggles clear up.

I look at him and think he could replicate someone like James Ward Prowse. Not the best athlete in the league but hard working, technically good with a brilliant attitude.

 

[Yogi]

I think if he came in you could legitimately play two sitting midfielders in Souza and Doyle. Souza to do the spade work and Doyle to take the ball off him and try and dictate the play he has the vision and the passing range plus his defensive stats aren’t too shabby themselves. You could then give Hamer more of a free role in front of those two and allow him to hopefully find space and create although again he can do it all and would help defensively as well pressing from the front.

In losing Berge and Ndiaye we’ve lost our identity having a midfield working like outlined above could help to give us a new different identity.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I think the addition of Doyle moves Slimane down the list to sit in as a development / unknown.

We’d play something like:

Hamer —————Doyle
————- Souza

I don’t know where his ceiling is, he’s got a decent level of technical ability and a decent engine on him. He could potentially do really well with a bit more experience under his belt. Hopefully it’s permanent and we get to profit on him later or like others have said potentially a future captain. Hopefully his injury niggles clear up.

I look at him and think he could replicate someone like James Ward Prowse. Not the best athlete in the league but hard working, technically good with a brilliant attitude.

He was a mediocre Championship midfielder as a RCM last season. Not sure we should expect better from him in that position. But you're probably right that it's something we'll try.

We may end up with:

2 Strikers
Hamer
Souza Doyle
Defence

Striker
Hamer - - - - - - - Traore
Souza Doyle
Defence
​

And if we don't want/need Souza as a "shield":

Striker
Osborn - - - - - - - Traore
Hamer Doyle
Defence​

Remaining signings will surely affect the above though.

 

[ben1987]

He was a mediocre Championship midfielder as a RCM last season. Not sure we should expect better from him in that position. But you're probably right that it's something we'll try.

We may end up with:

2 Strikers
Hamer
Souza Doyle
Defence

Striker
Hamer - - - - - - - Traore
Souza Doyle
Defence
​

And if we don't want/need Souza as a "shield":

Striker
Osborn - - - - - - - Traore
Hamer Doyle
Defence​

Remaining signings will surely affect the above though.

Yeah you are right. I think Hamer is at his best when he’s taking the game by the scruff of the neck and dragging his team forward. He’s always played defensive midfield or central midfield. He’s never really had a spell at attacking midfield as far as I’m aware and we may miss his influence if he’s stuck upfield a bit.

I think we’ll either see a midfield like I mentioned above or in games we expect to win or are chasing I imagine we’ll see Souza and Hamer together behind two 10’s and a 9. Like the system which got us over the line last year with Berge and Doyle sat behind N’Diaye, Mcatee and McB

 

[Champagneblade]

He was a mediocre Championship midfielder as a RCM last season. Not sure we should expect better from him in that position. But you're probably right that it's something we'll try.

We may end up with:

2 Strikers
Hamer
Souza Doyle
Defence

Striker
Hamer - - - - - - - Traore
Souza Doyle
Defence
​

And if we don't want/need Souza as a "shield":

Striker
Osborn - - - - - - - Traore
Hamer Doyle
Defence​

Remaining signings will surely affect the above though.

Not even going to attempt to match your impeccable spacing there(!) But I see Doyle or Norwood deep and Hamer just in front with a bit of all action licence. We then have a striker with either another striker, a number 10 or another roaming player; think Duffy and McGoldrick.

I think and out and put flat 3 is a bit of a waste of Hamer.

 

[Brian Deane]

I hope this happens.
Is this speculation? Or have you heard something concrete?

The info came from a Football Scout whom was involved within a company I used to subcontract to.
Ex player that does Scouting for various clubs.
Its taken him 2 weeks for a reply though, that's my only concern but normally he's very reliable, otherwise I would not have posted it.
Tin hat already out of storage ( just in case)

 

[Balti Pie]

Doyle to me at this level is effectively an extra body. He raises the floor of this team but not the ceiling. In theory that’s no bad thing given we’re currently starting Chris Basham in midfield but I suppose it all depends on what we’re giving up to get him. At least he knows the way PH likes to play and can hopefully hit the ground running.

“Raises the floor of this team but not the ceiling”
What a great phrase, and so true

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

If we sign Doyle permanently then we don't sign Archer permanently & visa versa. I think if we brought Archer in permanently that would drain most of our resources. I guess its what Hecky sees as the priority from here.

 

[jt64]

I like Doyle but he's R-footed isn't he ?
That would give us 4 top quality R-footed players in MF (Hamer , Souza , Slimane & Doyle)
Don't we need a L-footed for balance to give us a chance to attack down the L (and to keep Osborn on the bench) ?

This foot obsession some people have is quite bizarre

 

[Northernsoulblade]

I like Doyle he gave everything for the cause but like it’s already been said about raising the floor jury out on this one even though I like the lad

 

[RecordBreakers]

This foot obsession some people have is quite bizarre

Absolutely this

 

[Blade58]

The thing with Doyle for me is that whilst he didn’t shine on the pitch the way that McAtee did, at 21 and with the right coaching, I believe there’s still room for improvement

I think he has the ability and drive to step up to PL football and depending on whether he comes on a loan or permanent, would be a good addition should we suffer the dreaded drop

 

[bladesmanluke]

“Raises the floor of this team but not the ceiling”
What a great phrase, and so true

You cannot build a skyscraper by starting at the top

 

[Billyblade]

 

[Gin&Juice]

View attachment 168328

Thank fuck for our virgin fan base!