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What do you think, as a partnership?

Doyle is clearly a poacher, whereas Yates is going to hassle the fuck out of the opposition's defense with his running and work rate. They will have some good service as well methinks.

I'd say Yates has the energy to play the number 10, along with a bit of craft and pace.  Doyle seems to be more of an in the box player but can put his elbows and body about when needed.

i reckon Woolery and Anderson will lose out to these two, or they may all get rotated.  That's good, creates competition and options.

Actually, they sound like a 1800's Detective duo TV programme, maybe on ITV?

Need a change of formation i think for it to work. Anderson or Woolery to drop out unfortunately

I think Woolery will lose out, he's not quite clicked so far. Anderson has done better since being given a proverbial boot up the arse.

Woolery would be a fantastic option as an impact sub, though. You wouldn't want to play against him with tired legs.

Why not try all 4? No one would attack in numbers, they'd be too scared.

Isgrove > Woolery & Anderson

Isgrove is too good for L2.

The Bradford forum posters were in 5he main less than impressed with Doyle. His apologists or more open minded critics thought he might have performed so much better alongside a traditional centre forward.. Seems he'd been the lone front man (or no, 10) and that he'd disappointed.  Thus at full strength, I'd like first to look at Yates AND Doyle with initially Anderson and, as sub, the speedy and sometimes clinical Woolery. Any front 3 combo of Doyle, Yates, Woolery and Anderson - with Isgrove and Doughty additionally available to create is rather demanding at L 2, imo.  Keeping 'em fit and available will require a tad of good fortune but, if so....

Getting results with one up front - so no need to change it to accommodate both strikers just yet.

Didn't see today. 

Agree but horses for courses depending on oppo and whether home or away etc.

A goal to his name today will hopefully boost Doyle's confidence from its allegedly low base at present.

Fair point, but hypothetically speaking... ?

Shouldn’t tamper with formations and such like till we are mathematically safe

Also, which is better?

Playing them both upfront getting 10 goals each or playing one over the other and he gets 20 goals  :hmmm:

Wellens, pre season, said he wanted to play with 2 up front - now, that has to be Yates and Doyle. You aren’t going to leave out the 2 players you have been after all along - especially one that has cost your chairman a fair old wedge.

Can’t drop Anderson on his performances so far, so it’d have to be Woolery unfortunately - and he’s done nothing wrong either.

Although we have a whole host of attacking players in the side, we haven’t, so far, looked like being overrun at the back. Whether some of that is down to our threat making opposition scared of committing, I don’t know.

The 3 managers we’ve played against so far have all commented on our pacy breakaways so the word spreads around.

Where we’ll struggle is when the likes of Lyden, Baudry and Isgrove can’t play for any extended period as we don’t have adequate replacements. Tbh, the FBs still look a bit vulnerable at times but even so they are an upgrade on what we’ve had previously.

Would anyone want Knoyle instead of either?

If Wellens got the wingers he wanted, we'd be playing 4-4-2 with both up top.

Isgrove is a winger, but we've been playing fairly narrow so far from what I've seen.

Formations are misleading. I’ve not seen us this season yet - looking forward to this Saturday - but presumably however we line up I am guessing it is quite fluid. A 4-3-1-2, with Anderson behind a front 2, and presumably a 3 of Isgrove, Doughty and Lyden - means that the 3 has Isgrove pulling wide right, and the other two playing central. Which means, if Anderson therefore goes left, we’re closer to a 4-4-2, just without a traditional left winger. Anderson tucks in, allowing the more attaching of the two full backs (Fryers) to overlap on the left, more so than Hunt on the right.

Is that how others - who have actually seen us - see it?

To me, from my 1 home game. Woollery comes out wide left a lot. But then it has been changing as in that same game he scored a 1 on 1 from being the central striker. Anderson looks to be in the hole

Not just Yates and Doyle, but almost the entire squad,  there can't be many teams looking forward to playing us in the fòrm that we are in
This has to be the best squad we've had for many a year.  Together with the best manager we've had since Glen Hoddle, although I must admit I did like D'Canio and the passion he had for the game.
Based on what we have and on what I've seen so far this season this has to be the best opportunity we've had of getting out of this division and starting this climb to get back where we belong.

I'm not so sure, in preseason he was talking three at the back. It wouldn't surprise me if we carry on playing 4231 away from home but he opts for 2 upfront at home perhaps playing Isgrove through the middle. whether thats in a diamond or a 5 in the midfield we have to see, the beauty now is that we have options and even more options if we get a left winger as he wants.

I like the thought of them as a pairing but obviously havent seen how Doyle plays as yet.

I think he could resort to playing just Isgrove and dropping Woolery playing a 4312 with Isgrove given freedom to roam.

Could easily drop Anderson too, both those players could be amazing impact subs with their pace.

If we sign another attacking midfielder (Devitt maybe) then both could be bench warming.

Interesting times for Town fans.

Am I alone in not getting the Jerry Yates love in?

Maybe it’s he has scored more away goals than at home so it’s something I’ve missed. He puts in effort and we know he can score- with one eye on League 1 next season I don’t think we should spend a huge load of money on him.

If I am honest I dont think he has shown his form prior to being recalled yet.. When he does he is amazing. However we works incredibly hard and does a lot of hard work and holds the ball up well which often gets overlooked.

I think he's one of those players that chips in with a fair few goals, and works hard - ones you miss when they aren't there but don't necessarily see at the time.

I don’t necessarily like the way he starts every game on unconvincing form when we have Woollery and Hope waiting in the wings. Then again he doesn’t strike me as an impact sub.

Neither player has benefited from being recalled by their previous clubs - although Doyle was more like his old self yesterday. Definitely disrupted their form for us.

There’s no criticism of Yates from me. What do people want, ffs. Hard working player who scores goals.

I sort of put him in the Alex Revell category. I thought he worked hard for us, but didn't score lots. But then came back to haunt us when he played for EVERYONE else.

Don't forget he's not always placed as an outright centre forward in the formation. Does a good job in my eyes.

Yates has definitely gone a bit off the boil after good early season form and still works hard and shows glimpses, but at times he almost tries too hard, that cross field pass that went out of play case in point. He does have a habit of playing dangerous passes across the pitch as if he is trying to force the play to much.

However you can't ignore his work rate and he's scored 14 goals this season so can't be doing too much wrong!!

Jesus he has got 14 (13? BBC cannot decide) goals playing as the secondary striker, what more do people want?

That would have made him equal top scorer in the last two seasons and top scorer in the season before that, and we have what 10 odd games left!

Yep. Fussy gits  :)

He's scored 14 goals from predominantly left wing...…

The very few games he's played up front he's scored in..

Your missing the questions I asked.

Would he do well in League 1?
Is he worth paying a big fee?

Just because we are top, players can be criticised. He has scored 14 goals, and 4 match winners. He has been a really important player this season no doubt.

Now he was totally invisible last night, put numerous passes out of play and didn't have a shot.

I dont dislike the lad, he is only 23 so you would think he could only get better. Based on form i think he should be replaced in the starting 11.

Yates vs Hope or Woolery? there is no comparison imo - Yates all day long

So he's undropable?

Also, my comparison with Revell was meant to focus on the 'works hard' for the team. Revell proved he could score goals for other teams (just not for us).

Would he be good enough for League 1? I certainly think he's worth a punt.

You’ve laid into Yates in this thread and Admiral on another. Good job we’re having a decent season!

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: I've laid into them. Yh alright. Because we are having a decent season every player is immune from any criticism at all. Logic

I've been extremely happy with Yates.  Never stops running, available for the ball, scores goals, plays in whatever person Wellens needs him to.  I'd be delighted if we signed him next season.  He needs a better chant, mind.

Yates > Woolery > Hope.

I would say Yates in undroppable, yes.

Every player has an off day and yesterday was one for Yates, be he was marked very closely all game and had to drop deep to get the ball 1st half. 2nd half he was better.

Yes
Yes*.














*Depending on the definition of "big"

Yates has shown that he has what it takes throughout much of the season. A temporary blip in form (and it's not even a huge blip) does not change that.

I'd be very happy to see him here next season, regardless of which league we are in.

I asked the questions to hear opinions on what other people thought of Yates- not to be hounded for what seemingly seems no else agrees which is more than fine with me. I know his intensity is important to our style of pressing of the forward line and he certainly does that in abundance.

It would probably take £200-£300k+ at a complete guess to sign permanent? 

I would risk £200k on Yates, yes, not a lot more though, yet.

I would like him tied down to us next season too no matter if we are L2 or L1.

Am I right in thinking he's out of contract in June? In which case we would potentially be looking at a tribunal, assuming Rovrum offer him a contract.

Like Yates a lot but also don’t think we playing him in his best position.
Obviously it’s great to have Doyle back as the main striker but would have been interesting to see how Yates would have faired in that role for the rest of the season

They have an option on another year

Yates wasn’t at it last night but turned the game at Northampton. Got to back your best players and he’s one of them for sure

You realise he scored last game against Grimsby right so is 90 minutes without a goal and didn’t actually start against Northampton?

It's quite possible we won't have Doyle next season. Yates would be a good bet at centre-forward.

having doyle no doubt restricts yates getting into the same position doyle thrives off.

i didn't in all honesty no. so i have to take back the undroppable comment. iv only done Crewe away and then 70-80% home games and its only what i see i can make an opinion on. he does well for us at league 2 but no doubt rotherham will be thinking exactly the same in whether they believe he can make the step up. only its us taking the financial hit to find out. dont care me wrong i hope he can carry on this season figures.   

And when he came on v Northampton we looked significantly better

Yates has been fundamental to our style this season - his hold up play and the way he links up / brings others in is excellent, and he is also very good when we haven't got the ball in his pressing / tackling back and keeping the team's defensive shape.
despite him having a poor game last night, I would like to see him back here again next season, even in League 1.

Yates = better Doyle.  He makes our team function in attack, even when not at his best, and he was a long way short last night.  He's got a crazy scoring record when played in the Doyle role as well, almost as good as Doyle himself.  Yates occupies the entire left half of the field in attack and has a fantastic first touch.  I think it would take a pretty poor run of form for him to be dropped.

Very different from an Isgrove or DJ.  Those two have flashes of brilliance that create openings, but they can drift out of a game as Isgrove has done a fair bit in recent weeks.  I do think he much better yesterday though, and while DJ was absent for large chunks, he set up the goal that essentially won us the game.

I think Yates gets in every time and Doyle is just made for this team.

Well I think the last two pages give you your answer.  ;)

I just about think so to. will be interesting to see in the summer what happens with the front two.

I presume both Doyle and Grant are on short term contracts to see if, indeed, we are in L1 next season.

I’d expect them both to re-sign once we have achieved that.

Unless someone makes them on offer too good to turn down. They've been too good for the league this season.

Fingers crossed we have a clause or they have an unusual sense of loyalty.

Or they recognise a club and manager that works well for them.

Grant’s not played higher than L1 level. I’d expect us to do well there next season. Be surprised if he doesn’t stay.

Doyle maybe a bit trickier. Made no secret of his motivation being a last big pay day - loves playing for Wellens, though.

I'm sure they love the manager and club. But we won't be the biggest payers in the league

Hence they need that unusual sense of loyalty if they're offered a lot more.

But let's enjoy what we have right now. I think this discussion is best delayed until  over the summer

Aka balance. I think if he's at a club that works for him (as we do at present), might it be easier for him to say have a 2yr deal with us on £8k. As opposed to maybe a 3yr (not too likely now) deal elsewhere on similar or a little more?  He strikes me as a player who actually loves to be playing regularly too. So he "could" see out his career playing regularly in the Championship for us or he "could" be sat on a bench at say Sunderland/Wigan.

We obviously aren't privy to his thoughts and private conversations but I'd guess that if we offered him a tasty promotion package then he'd be "better the devil you know". I think it would have to be someone offering £15k or similar to make him budge.

NB: The wage amounts are a guess but I'm basing it on him being on around £5k atm. But suggesting that I think someone would have to offer around double, whatever our improved terms were to make he and his agent look up.

Pretty much, this.