Needed as we're down to bare bones (again!) for genuine centre backs. If Ekstrand is fit and we get this guy then that gives 3 in total with Cassetti as a back up.
Great servant and fantastic person but not a centre back and not in the same class as the three mentioned.
It should be noted he is not a true centre-back, although he can fill in there if needed. If Lloyd is starting as a CB then we have a serious injury crisis.
Some people on here are like spoiled children. How terrible that we may have to play the likes of Brown or Doyley at centreback! I reckon 90% of teams in this league would consider them to be a good option at centreback, not a disastrous last resort. It's probably time to get a sense of perspective - we're a Championship team aiming for promotion, not going for a place in the Europa League. How many 'top class' players do you want?
Pointing out that that Doyley isn't a centre back doesn't make anyone a child. Aiming your point at the poster rather than the point just undermines what you're trying to say. Doyley is a fullback. He was an emergency centre-back last season due to injuries to the vast majority of our actual first choice CBs, just like Cassetti (who was supposed to be first choice RWB). Can we play Doyley at CB? Yes. Should we be looking to? No. A properly balanced team should require an above average number of injuries/suspensions for a player to be required to play out of position, or the squad planning has been very poor.
I didn't even look at who wrote the post. You weren't even the only person, so I'm not sure why you seem so offended by my reply. Is it safe to say that you didn't want Doyley's contract renewed this season, given we don't play with normal full-backs, and playing him at centreback (where he has played many times through his career) would be so terrible? I think it's totally unrealistic to expect a club with an average gate of less than 15,000 to be able to afford to have every position fully covered with an 'above average number of injuries/suspensions'. If a Championship team has three centrebacks as good as Ekstrand, Belkalem and Angella starting, I think it distorts reality and seems to raise standards so much that a player like Lloyd Doyley, who is perfectly capable, is cast aside. No, Doyley is clearly not in the same league as them, and he's probably a better RB than a CB (althoubh I'd argue he's nowhere near as out of position at CB as you suggest, though that's obviously opinion). But we're not Man Utd or Real Madrid and, despite having a fantastic first team selection, simply do not have a bit enough budget to have 4, 5, even 6 centrebacks who would walk into most teams in the league. We're bloody lucky to have three (assuming Belkalem signs). Perhaps I'm just looking into things too much, but there seems to be a widespread opinion that every player in the team needs to be a fantastic, continental, pass-and-move player. Compare this to last year, even the end of last season, when we were all hoping we'd keep some solid Championship experience in the team (Eustace, Hall etc). I'm worried that excellent squad players, more than capable of stepping into the first team when required, are being undervalued as versatile back-up players. In short, I agree completely that we shouldn't be looking to start Doyley as a first choice centreback. However, if one of our first choice defenders were to be ruled out, I'd be more than happy with Doyley being the player who steps in to replace him.
Three pages and not one Youtube video. How are we supposed to decide if this bloke is good enough or not?
I'm not remotely offended. I'm simply saying that leading with a personal attack, regardless of who it was intended for, undermines your point. No, I think Lloyd is a handy player to have around. Great attitude, great approach, very flexible. Who said anything about having 6 centre backs who would walk into any team in the league? Reece Brown is a CB. Would he walk into any team in the league? Fact is we play 3 at the back. We need to be able to cover for injuries without playing people out of position. It should take a streak of bad luck to require people to be played out of position (a streak we experienced last year, I would say). Nos is injured, and might never be the same player again. Hoban is injured, and likely to be out for a while. Which leaves us with Angella, Ekstrand (current minor injury) and Brown as recognised natural CBs, and Cassetti and Doyley as OOP CBs. With Nos and Hoban both expected to be out until at least Christmas last I heard, that's not a great place to be for a team whose owners want to be pushing for promotion. One more injury (which will happen at some point, hopefully after Nos and Hoban are back), and a single red card leaves us with a completely cobbled together defense. My opinion is that's what cost us promotion last year (a makeshift defense), more than any other single factor. I don't think anyone really believes that, simply that there should be adequate strength in depth without having to immediately resort to OOP play. I love both LD and Cassetti, but I'd rather we didn't have to play them in CB because it's not their best role. For example, if Nos and Hoban are out until Christmas, I think it would be prudent to use a (domestic ) loan to bring someone in until then, as additional natural cover. I have no issue with LD coming in either; I think he's a very competent defender. I simply don't think he should be near the top of our replacement CB list, and it should require a situation like last season (Nos, Hall, Hoban injured) for someone to end up playing OOP. If two are OOP at that point, I feel that's a very strong indicator that the squad wasn't properly balanced.
You wouldn't put Lloyd as a centre-back in a back four, but as one of a central three he's excellent. Did you see the playoff final by any chance?
Yes, and I thought he was our best outfield player on the day, outside of perhaps Anya. I'm sure I could find any number of players who are widely regarded as crap but played a single blinder, though. If I found an example of a game where Lloyd had a complete mare (and like every player, he's had bad games), would that suddenly change your mind about him? Single performances in isolation don't prove much. My feeling is LD doesn't move and think like a CB. He makes positioning errors and doesn't pick up things in the same way a more natural CB would, because he's a FB and he thinks like one. That doesn't make him bad, simply a player who is being deployed out of position (like Schlupp, albeit less extreme).
What grounds have you got to be delighted out of curiosity? Don't think he has ever played for Udinese. Have you seen him?
He's a regular for Algeria, massive and dominating at 6ft 3in, still quite young and scouted by Udinese's scouts.
Doyley has been signed as cover for this season and come next season he will probably be let go. I dont like that to say so , but thats football. Thats why they gave him a 1 year contract whilst every other new player has been given a 3/5 year contract. Doyley , as much as I love him, will probably not play that much this season and will probably be let go next season. When he eventually leaves he can know that he is forever loved by the fans as much as Luther et al, but his level is Championship football and that s not where we are heading as a club. And to pre empt future comments, Doyley will probably start and captain the first game against Birmingham. We re in a a transitional stage , it wont be long before he is demoted to back up English bench player. I love Lloyd but thats seems to be the way GFZ sees it and he s manager
Managers have come and gone, and it's often been thought that Lloyd would fall by the wayside. Season on season the guy has fought his way back into the team, even when other players have seemingly forced their way in front of him for a period of time. Even last season it got to the point before the injury "crisis" at the back that Zola was finding it hard to leave the guy out. I'm not saying I disagree with you, I feel unfortunately Lloyd may be coming toward the end of his time with us (which will be genuinely devastating as you don't see many one-club men anymore with such a passion for the club as Doyley), however - I for one - would love to see him raise his game further and force his way into the side and maybe earn a year or two more as a squad player.
I love Lloyd Doyley...thats my heart speaking. If I was GFZ and my career was on the line though, Id play Angella, Ekstrand, Cassetti/Belkalem/Coda. Id love Doyley to prove me wrong, but I think GFZ has shown his intent by signing and pursuing a numbertof top level CBs.( see forums list) As a RB Lloyd cant compete with Anya and Faraoni. Thats modern football! If I had my way clubs would only field players born in the home town of their club. Signed Charles 'Charlie' Charles
May I just remind everyone that Lloyd played CB in the Playoff final, and, to me, was by some margin our best player. Both him and Cassetti are totally adequate replacements for the time being. With any luck Nosworthy and (possibly) Hoban will return by Christmas at least.
Blimey, some people are really touchy when it comes to certain players. Everyone has their limitations, including all of the players at Watford and most other clubs and all of us lot too. It's just an opinion on a forum....
