Doyle & Baker (2 Viewers)

Sheila Hayward

Active Member
Hi there,

Portsmouth fan in peace, just wanting to share some of my thoughts on Michael Doyle's return to your club and Carl Baker's potential move.

Not sure why Doyle seems to be getting so much stick off you guys because I absolutely loved him for us. Best captain we've had in many years. Player of the season in 15/16 and this year, of course, skippered us to the title. Passionate, tenacious, and a tough tackler, but read the game so well and would often set the tempo of games. Playing as a holding midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 suited him to a tee. Even at 36, he would hassle all over the pitch and really get in the faces of the opposition, which is ideal in League 2. Got involved in a fair few scraps too. Someone you love to have on your side but would hate to play against. His work on the ball was better than you'd think too. Could switch the play well and always looked to feed the ball into the feet of the attacking midfield players. We tend to dominate possession and he kept us ticking over. Was really disappointed to see him leave.

Baker, on the other hand, seems a real favourite with your supporters. He's had a decent season for us, but nothing special. Scored 9 goals, some very good ones and some of real importance, and set a few up. A solid contribution but he has played practically every game and really went missing in the middle of the campaign. Seemed to play much better when the sun was shining and the pitches were looking better! Would not be adverse to letting him go, especially if we can get a fee for him. I think there's plenty of other players around who could improve on him and it would be a great move for him personally, too. Thank him for his work nonetheless in getting us out of the L2 hellhole.

It's sad to see the current plight of Coventry City and I really hope you can be successful in ousting SISU. Obviously we ourselves know what it's like to be destroyed by terrible owners (although we had multiple!), but I'm sure that brighter times are on the horizon for you. You just can't stop football clubs like yourselves and Pompey from rising again and the fans will simply not let their club be stripped apart, as proven by your protests. I've always considered Cov to be a really good club and the Championship should be the minimum aim for you in the future.

Almost forgot, you've signed Marc McNulty as well! A good finisher in League 2 and will definitely grab you a fair amount of goals. Looks like you are starting to put a decent side together.

Good luck for next season!
Play Up Pompey.
 

Joy Division

Well-Known Member
I think Doyle mostly and quite rightly got stick because he wasn't good enough for the level (championship) we were playing at the time, hopefully you are right and indeed League 2 is he level. Personally I never rated him as a footballer but hopefully he can do a job next season.
 
W

westcountry_skyblue

Guest
Thanks for your message Sheila,Have a good season next year I'm sure you will be up near the top like us hopefully!!
PUSB,Play Up Pompey!!
 

JonSilletBang

Well-Known Member
I have a Pompey workmate who said McNulty only played well when partnered with a big lump from Sheffield Wednesday (can't remember his name). When the Wednesday player left, McNultys goals dried up. Is that correct?
 

Greggs

Well-Known Member
Perfect summaries on both players! Every team needs a Doyle, we haven't had one since he left us. Baker.....fair weather player....but scored some important goals for us too!
 

Adge

Well-Known Member
Nice words indeed-thanks and all the best for next season. Think the thing with Doyle is he was the mainstay of our midfield for 7 years in the championship and for most of that time had the awful Stephen Hughes alongside him and both weren't up to it-especially Doyle who was punching above his weight. I think most are pleased to see him back and it might be more his level in L2.
 

HuckerbyDublinWhelan

Well-Known Member
Nice words indeed-thanks and all the best for next season. Think the thing with Doyle is he was the mainstay of our midfield for 7 years in the championship and for most of that time had the awful Stephen Hughes alongside him and both weren't up to it-especially Doyle who was punching above his weight. I think most are pleased to see him back and it might be more his level in L2.
See I always preferred Hughes and later Clingan, they never ran round like headless chickens but were much better players. They liked the ball to their feet.

I always thought Doyle got away with a lot because he "gave 100%" without showing much ability
 

pfceggchaser

Well-Known Member
I have a Pompey workmate who said McNulty only played well when partnered with a big lump from Sheffield Wednesday (can't remember his name). When the Wednesday player left, McNultys goals dried up. Is that correct?
Pompey fan here too. Lurking just to keep an eye on the Baker situation.

Just to echo what Sheila has said on Doyle and Baker. Doyle is an absolute legend with Pompey for his contribution.

He played the second half of 15/16 with a fractured shin and knee ligament damage that he was having injections to get through the pain and scored our goal of the season away to Accrington in the same spell. Just so mentally tough, and a right character. Lacked his sort ourselves since Michael Brown left us in the Championship. He was the glue that our good technical players could work through. His recycling of the ball was superb. His legs showed signs in January of this year for the first time but he played through that and managed every game. He galvinised us in the difficult moments, and he'll do the same for you, I've got no doubt about that. He'll be missed for that character if not so much his technical ability.

Not everyone has warmed to Baker, but he was definitely first choice for us. The emergence of Jamal Lowe in the final few months has possibly left a few question marks about his future as a first team starter. I liked him a lot myself. After Enda Stevens who moved to Sheff U, Baker provided the most assists for us. Cook seemed to keep shoe horning him and Roberts into the same team. Baker isn't exactly quick as you know, and Roberts is slower still! Kal Naismith's emergence as one of the hot attacking talents in the EFL helped him out. Baker played on the right for us and thrived well with Gareth Evans on the overlap allowing him to cut into on his equally strong left foot. I'd be sad to lose him but not as much as Doyle.

McNulty is a strange one amongst us. When he first arrived, it was with Caolan Lavery, then from Sheff W. Gary Roberts had a bad injury. In a 4-2-3-1, McNulty was the more prolific but played as the '10' with Lavery leading the line. As I mentioned, McNulty was a dead eye but it was Lavery who made the space for him. In the January, McNulty signed to the end of the season but Lavery had a complicated contract situation at Sheff W which meant he stayed in their reserves. We signed Michael Smith as a replacement, Roberts got fit and McNulty was not great that second half of the season be it as a 10 or a 9. I went to York away in April, lost 3-1 and he was absolutely hopeless. He scored in the playoff semi but was a peripheral player in the two games and he did nothing for Bradford or Sheff U this year. He's got talent, but he needs a partner who is going to run hard and make space for him to score goals. Get that and he'll look the part for you.

Best of luck for next season. You will replace us as everybody's cup final in that league and believe me it's a hard tag to shake off when the likes of Crawley Town come to you and raise their game for their one opportunity to play at a 32k stadium.

You lot deserve some success, and I hope your ownership situation gets resolved soon enough!
 

SkyBlueScottie

Well-Known Member
Centre midfield really is a position where you can thrive the older you get. Much like CB if you can read a game well then age is less of a barrier when playing there. Doyle was never blessed with blistering power or pace, so will have had to adapt as the years have gone by, Ultimately that means looking at how the game is played, and being an effective breaker, which what it seems he is good at.
 

Brylowes

Well-Known Member
.

Obviously we ourselves know what it's like to be destroyed by terrible owners (although we had multiple!), but I'm sure that brighter times are on the horizon for you. You just can't stop football clubs like yourselves and Pompey from rising again and the fans will simply not let their club be stripped apart, AS PROVEN BY YOUR PROTESTS.
.
Hang on, that can't be right, protests just don't work, next you'll be telling us it would
Be a good thing to have national media outlets spreading news of our misery.;)
 

skybluetony176

Well-Known Member
9 goals from Baker last season. He'd have been our highest goal scorer.

Baker has also been promoted twice since leaving us on a free, earning player of the season at MK.

Happy about both of them returning myself. I think someone has already hit the nail on the head when they said that Doyle wasn't good enough for championship football when he was with us and you could say exactly the same about Baker. Both have proved to be decent players at league 1/2.

Only slight reservation I have with both of them is age and either getting injured and struggling to recover or having the ability to see out the whole season without running out of steam half way through.
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
I think Doyle mostly and quite rightly got stick because he wasn't good enough for the level (championship) we were playing at the time, hopefully you are right and indeed League 2 is he level. Personally I never rated him as a footballer but hopefully he can do a job next season.

Doyle was good enough for the Championship, just a mediocre player at that level. Ironically we got relegated the season after he left.
 

Adge

Well-Known Member
See I always preferred Hughes and later Clingan, they never ran round like headless chickens but were much better players. They liked the ball to their feet.

I always thought Doyle got away with a lot because he "gave 100%" without showing much ability
Correct about Doyle-Clingan always had ideas above his station at Norwich and then at Cov and ended up in a pub team in Scotland.
 

pastythegreat

Well-Known Member
Pompey fan here too. Lurking just to keep an eye on the Baker situation.

Just to echo what Sheila has said on Doyle and Baker. Doyle is an absolute legend with Pompey for his contribution.

He played the second half of 15/16 with a fractured shin and knee ligament damage that he was having injections to get through the pain and scored our goal of the season away to Accrington in the same spell. Just so mentally tough, and a right character. Lacked his sort ourselves since Michael Brown left us in the Championship. He was the glue that our good technical players could work through. His recycling of the ball was superb. His legs showed signs in January of this year for the first time but he played through that and managed every game. He galvinised us in the difficult moments, and he'll do the same for you, I've got no doubt about that. He'll be missed for that character if not so much his technical ability.

Not everyone has warmed to Baker, but he was definitely first choice for us. The emergence of Jamal Lowe in the final few months has possibly left a few question marks about his future as a first team starter. I liked him a lot myself. After Enda Stevens who moved to Sheff U, Baker provided the most assists for us. Cook seemed to keep shoe horning him and Roberts into the same team. Baker isn't exactly quick as you know, and Roberts is slower still! Kal Naismith's emergence as one of the hot attacking talents in the EFL helped him out. Baker played on the right for us and thrived well with Gareth Evans on the overlap allowing him to cut into on his equally strong left foot. I'd be sad to lose him but not as much as Doyle.

McNulty is a strange one amongst us. When he first arrived, it was with Caolan Lavery, then from Sheff W. Gary Roberts had a bad injury. In a 4-2-3-1, McNulty was the more prolific but played as the '10' with Lavery leading the line. As I mentioned, McNulty was a dead eye but it was Lavery who made the space for him. In the January, McNulty signed to the end of the season but Lavery had a complicated contract situation at Sheff W which meant he stayed in their reserves. We signed Michael Smith as a replacement, Roberts got fit and McNulty was not great that second half of the season be it as a 10 or a 9. I went to York away in April, lost 3-1 and he was absolutely hopeless. He scored in the playoff semi but was a peripheral player in the two games and he did nothing for Bradford or Sheff U this year. He's got talent, but he needs a partner who is going to run hard and make space for him to score goals. Get that and he'll look the part for you.

Best of luck for next season. You will replace us as everybody's cup final in that league and believe me it's a hard tag to shake off when the likes of Crawley Town come to you and raise their game for their one opportunity to play at a 32k stadium.

You lot deserve some success, and I hope your ownership situation gets resolved soon enough!
The McNulty situation, with somebody working for him and making him space and creating his chances, sounds like he'd fit well along side Stuart Beavon (just so long as he's still here come August)!

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk
 

Sheila Hayward

Active Member
Thanks for the replies!

I can imagine Doyle would not have been anything more than an average player at Championship level and probably a lot of his off the ball work would have gone unnoticed to some supporters. I can assure you though that he was tremendous for us in League 2 and I would have liked to have him for one more season. Was he playing in a 4-4-2 for you guys? I don't think that system would have helped him either. He is never going to be surging forwards or creating chances, whereas the modern day defensive midfield job brings out the best of his abilities.

My fellow Pompey fan has already gone over the McNulty situation, but yeah, his best form was when he was playing with Caolan Lavery (now at Sheffield United). He was not a big lump but was a clever player who made space for him and would do a lot of unselfish running. His form was a lot more patchy after Lavery's loan deal expired and McNulty was mainly used from the bench as an impact sub - where he still had the capability of nicking a goal.

The best example of McNulty's instinct around goal was probably in the 1st leg of the play-offs against Plymouth, when he scored the opener - see below. Funnily enough after Doyle made a great challenge to win the ball for him! Having said that, I'm not sure how good he'll be in the higher divisions, as he really struggled to force his way into Bradford and Sheffield United's team this season. Probably for the better that he's gone to you guys rather than come back to us.

All the best!

 

Adge

Well-Known Member
Yes was just going to ask about Barton-one of the worst players I have ever seen in a city shirt! How did he do at Pompey?
 

Malaka

Well-Known Member
There is a problem with the buy out of his contract at Pompey. As usual, we do not want to pay. CB is keen but it is out of his hands (apparently)
 

pastythegreat

Well-Known Member
Yes was just going to ask about Barton-one of the worst players I have ever seen in a city shirt! How did he do at Pompey?
I wouldn't say he was that bad!! Bartons problem was that he thought he was MUCH better than he actually was. When he had a good game, he had a really good game! But they came few and far between. He was ALWAYS losing the ball trying some little fancy flick or trick that NEVER came off! Think that was what pissed me off most about him!!

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pfceggchaser

Well-Known Member
Pompey fans, this new keeper any good?
So another day, another 2 of our ex-players on your books!

These 2 were very much back up players with us though. O'Brien I suspect has moved to you on the basis he is going to challenge for first team football more. We had him as a kid in our Premier League years as part of one of our great failures in assembling a capable youth team from all over the world under Paul Hart...in the end our best players from that era were home grown lads...Joel Ward, Matt Ritchie, Marlon Pack. O'Brien was released and came back this year as cover to David Forde who was the undisputed no.1. He did play in the Checkatrade group stage games and in our great run in the Premier League Cup. He made a habit of saving penalties. The feeling from inner circles was that O'Brien had improved considerably in his year at us as understudy to Forde and learning from keeper coach John Keeley too. Ideally I'd have wanted us to keep him, like Doyle and Baker if you are to sign him. He wouldn't have likely been no.1 here as we are reportedly after Forde permanently and O'Brien's departure perhaps allows us to bring through another youngster in Alex Bass as no.2. He played against you in the 1st Round of the League Cup back in August.

As for Dom Hyam...I'm afraid I can't pass any comment! We brought him in as cover at centre half as we sold Adam Barton to Partick on August deadline day, but he never played a minute and was shipped back to Reading before January. Barton had technical quality but was far too lax for my liking. He did an okay job for us at centre half towards the end of 15/16 but even back there he never filled you with too much confidence. In midfield I found him to be far too pedestrian and in general far too injury prone!

Just to pass on a rumour to you from a guy who has some info on our board. Rumour is you are in for a couple more of our players. One is Baker, the other is an unnamed out of contract player. We have 7 remaining out of contract players left. The rest are signed on. 4 of them are YTS players, who are Pompey fans. Only Jack Whatmough, who is a centre half, was near the first team regularly last year, and he's come out in the press to commit his future, so it's unlikely to be him or any of Ben Close (CM), Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain (CM) and Brandon Haunstrup (LB). That leaves centre midfielders Amine Linganzi and Stanley Aborah, and striker Noel Hunt. If this guy's info is right, I suspect it's Hunt who you may be after, who is an experienced wiley centre forward. Doesn't score many but makes space, gets on the ball and makes a nuisance of himself. He's also somebody we've taken to as a character, albeit he was mainly limited to 20 min appearances last season.

Also on the Baker situation, the rumour is he has been told he can leave for nothing. Surprises me if true as I'm not sure we should be allowing a player with 9 goals and 14 assists to his name to be leaving on a free with a year left on his contract. However, it does fit with the rumours we are trying to free up some wages for another attacking midfielder (possibly Jay O'Shea or Mark Marshall). I think Cook was not too enamoured by his displays in the second half of the season as he was always the first sub off. Also seems to go in line with what one of you said on this thread about wages being the only stumbling block - he is currently one of our highest earners, certainly now Stevens has left.
 

robbiekeane

Well-Known Member
So another day, another 2 of our ex-players on your books!

These 2 were very much back up players with us though. O'Brien I suspect has moved to you on the basis he is going to challenge for first team football more. We had him as a kid in our Premier League years as part of one of our great failures in assembling a capable youth team from all over the world under Paul Hart...in the end our best players from that era were home grown lads...Joel Ward, Matt Ritchie, Marlon Pack. O'Brien was released and came back this year as cover to David Forde who was the undisputed no.1. He did play in the Checkatrade group stage games and in our great run in the Premier League Cup. He made a habit of saving penalties. The feeling from inner circles was that O'Brien had improved considerably in his year at us as understudy to Forde and learning from keeper coach John Keeley too. Ideally I'd have wanted us to keep him, like Doyle and Baker if you are to sign him. He wouldn't have likely been no.1 here as we are reportedly after Forde permanently and O'Brien's departure perhaps allows us to bring through another youngster in Alex Bass as no.2. He played against you in the 1st Round of the League Cup back in August.

As for Dom Hyam...I'm afraid I can't pass any comment! We brought him in as cover at centre half as we sold Adam Barton to Partick on August deadline day, but he never played a minute and was shipped back to Reading before January. Barton had technical quality but was far too lax for my liking. He did an okay job for us at centre half towards the end of 15/16 but even back there he never filled you with too much confidence. In midfield I found him to be far too pedestrian and in general far too injury prone!

Just to pass on a rumour to you from a guy who has some info on our board. Rumour is you are in for a couple more of our players. One is Baker, the other is an unnamed out of contract player. We have 7 remaining out of contract players left. The rest are signed on. 4 of them are YTS players, who are Pompey fans. Only Jack Whatmough, who is a centre half, was near the first team regularly last year, and he's come out in the press to commit his future, so it's unlikely to be him or any of Ben Close (CM), Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain (CM) and Brandon Haunstrup (LB). That leaves centre midfielders Amine Linganzi and Stanley Aborah, and striker Noel Hunt. If this guy's info is right, I suspect it's Hunt who you may be after, who is an experienced wiley centre forward. Doesn't score many but makes space, gets on the ball and makes a nuisance of himself. He's also somebody we've taken to as a character, albeit he was mainly limited to 20 min appearances last season.

Also on the Baker situation, the rumour is he has been told he can leave for nothing. Surprises me if true as I'm not sure we should be allowing a player with 9 goals and 14 assists to his name to be leaving on a free with a year left on his contract. However, it does fit with the rumours we are trying to free up some wages for another attacking midfielder (possibly Jay O'Shea or Mark Marshall). I think Cook was not too enamoured by his displays in the second half of the season as he was always the first sub off. Also seems to go in line with what one of you said on this thread about wages being the only stumbling block - he is currently one of our highest earners, certainly now Stevens has left.
Thanks for the info mate, appreciate it.
 

Cavan O'Doherty

Well-Known Member
So another day, another 2 of our ex-players on your books!

These 2 were very much back up players with us though. O'Brien I suspect has moved to you on the basis he is going to challenge for first team football more. We had him as a kid in our Premier League years as part of one of our great failures in assembling a capable youth team from all over the world under Paul Hart...in the end our best players from that era were home grown lads...Joel Ward, Matt Ritchie, Marlon Pack. O'Brien was released and came back this year as cover to David Forde who was the undisputed no.1. He did play in the Checkatrade group stage games and in our great run in the Premier League Cup. He made a habit of saving penalties. The feeling from inner circles was that O'Brien had improved considerably in his year at us as understudy to Forde and learning from keeper coach John Keeley too. Ideally I'd have wanted us to keep him, like Doyle and Baker if you are to sign him. He wouldn't have likely been no.1 here as we are reportedly after Forde permanently and O'Brien's departure perhaps allows us to bring through another youngster in Alex Bass as no.2. He played against you in the 1st Round of the League Cup back in August.

As for Dom Hyam...I'm afraid I can't pass any comment! We brought him in as cover at centre half as we sold Adam Barton to Partick on August deadline day, but he never played a minute and was shipped back to Reading before January. Barton had technical quality but was far too lax for my liking. He did an okay job for us at centre half towards the end of 15/16 but even back there he never filled you with too much confidence. In midfield I found him to be far too pedestrian and in general far too injury prone!

Just to pass on a rumour to you from a guy who has some info on our board. Rumour is you are in for a couple more of our players. One is Baker, the other is an unnamed out of contract player. We have 7 remaining out of contract players left. The rest are signed on. 4 of them are YTS players, who are Pompey fans. Only Jack Whatmough, who is a centre half, was near the first team regularly last year, and he's come out in the press to commit his future, so it's unlikely to be him or any of Ben Close (CM), Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain (CM) and Brandon Haunstrup (LB). That leaves centre midfielders Amine Linganzi and Stanley Aborah, and striker Noel Hunt. If this guy's info is right, I suspect it's Hunt who you may be after, who is an experienced wiley centre forward. Doesn't score many but makes space, gets on the ball and makes a nuisance of himself. He's also somebody we've taken to as a character, albeit he was mainly limited to 20 min appearances last season.

Also on the Baker situation, the rumour is he has been told he can leave for nothing. Surprises me if true as I'm not sure we should be allowing a player with 9 goals and 14 assists to his name to be leaving on a free with a year left on his contract. However, it does fit with the rumours we are trying to free up some wages for another attacking midfielder (possibly Jay O'Shea or Mark Marshall). I think Cook was not too enamoured by his displays in the second half of the season as he was always the first sub off. Also seems to go in line with what one of you said on this thread about wages being the only stumbling block - he is currently one of our highest earners, certainly now Stevens has left.
Jesus Noel Hunt! No thanks. Would just be another Marcus Tudgay
 

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