Kitson and Doyle: compare and contrast

[phil in cornwall]

The transfers of Dave Kitson and Kevin Doyle from Reading have many similarities.

Both cost little money when Reading bought them. Both scored many goals for Reading and were part of a great success story. Both were transferred for big fees, by Reading standards, £5.5m and £6.5m. Both have gone to newly promoted Premiership clubs.

I think most of us expected Kitson to be a success, but Stoke to struggle and probably be relegated. In fact the opposite happened - Stoke stayed up easily and deservedly, but Kits was a flop. Eighteen games with no goals and then loaned out. One wonders what sort of career he will have from now on. He obviously doesn't fit in at Stoke, but no one is going to pay anything like £5.5m for him. I guess Stoke will cut their losses and recoup what they can.

So, what of the future for Doyle? He's four years younger than Kitson, and I think he will go on improving, becoming a great player. My guess is that his chances of lasting success are greater than Wolves's.

But we thought that about Kitson and Stoke......

[Dirk Gently]

I think everyone said at the time that Kitson was the wrong type of player for Stoke - they're too direct for his Sheringham-esque, clever playing style to work. Plus by the time he moved his "I'm a PL-player" ego had come to the fore so he would always be emburdened by his over-inflated opinion of himself.

Whereas Wolves play in a very similar style to us when we were succesful, and KD is generally a genuine, hard-working and model pro, so he'll give it eerything and I agree that he'll be successful there. he'll be first chocie, too, which will be exactly what he needs in a World Cup year, so he'll get the games in.

Plus playing with a relatively big player (assuming Ebanks-Blake is stll there) could do him the world of good - the "dream team" of strikers is one biggun and one little but fast striker.

[TheMaraudingDog]

his Sheringham-esque, clever playing style to work.

[Ian Royal]

his Sheringham-esque, clever playing style to work.

What's funny about that? He ha(s/d) a similar style to Sheringham, the master of said style.

[Elliott]

KD > DK