Players plying their trade above/beneath their level

[Alioune DVToure]

I was watching the Football League Show on Saturday night and I couldn't believe Kevin Doyle was still plugging away up front for Wolves down in League One. It's only about 18 months since he was a well-respected Premier League striker and he's still only 30.

It immediately brought to mind Steve Bull, who spent 90% of his career at Wolves, scoring for fun, picked up 13 caps for England, bagging 4 times in the process, and yet never played in the top flight.

What other examples are there of players who got on with the job/pluckily survived at a level inappropriate to their ability? I imagine a few will say Le Tiss, but he played for his country and was a top-flight regular.

[I Just Blue Myself]

Martin Petrov obviously.

As for Doyle, he's a striker who's scored 1 in 5 for Wolves, League One included. I'd say he's neither above nor beneath his level.

[nottsblue]

At the risk of being shot down in flames, shaun goater. Dont get me wrong. Loved him & he is a hero & a legend for scoring more than 100 goals but always thought he punched above his weight talent wise. That his enthusiasm & attitude more than made up for skill doesnt change the fact he was a lower league player who made it big for us. Same for Andy Morrison.

On the other side, although Keith Curle was a great player for us, how good would he be now alongside Vince. An example of a player playing in the wrong era perhaps. He was wasted under Reid. He was everything a modern defender needs to be & more. Pace, awareness, positioning, covering, anticipation, skillfull on the ball, good distribution,could give as good as he got. Far superior to Bruce/Pallister.

[Alioune DVToure]

Martin Petrov obviously.

As for Doyle, he's a striker who's scored 1 in 5 for Wolves, League One included. I'd say he's neither above nor beneath his level.

He's never been a big goalscorer or an out-and-out Number 9, but he was a decent Premier League player at Wolves and Reading and has amassed 50+ caps for ROI. His ability should see him playing at a higher level.

Also, as we've seen ourselves, players' performances drop as a team drops through the divisions and new, inferior players are brought in to play alongside them.

[Goaters 103]

Playing above their level
Jonathan Walters - stealing a living at Prem Level
Crystal Palace entire squad - don't think there's a prem quality player there
Victor Anichebe - not Prem lge level as a striker
Stephen Ireland - 1 good season in 8 does not a prem player make

[Breks]

Above their level - danny welbeck, total shit!

[gmercer1]

The whole of the Rag team for the past few seasons! Well above their weight

[Nigels Tackle]

players playing above their level / strikers that don't score goals

adding to victor anichebe....
cameron jerome
kenwyn jones
danny graham
carlton cole
hugo rodellaga
bryan ruiz
gabby agbonlahor
david n'gog

...lee badbuy

[nottsblue]

Above their level - danny welbeck, total shit!

To be fair most of the rags squad are lower prem quality but under the old drunkard somehow punched above their weight for years. You only have to look at the players who left them. Most found a lower level. In the current squad of rags Welbeck Anderson Nani Valencia Jones Smalling Buttner Cleverley to name a few would all struggle to get in any top 6 prem side & I suspect in 3 years would be championship players

[I Just Blue Myself]

Martin Petrov obviously.

As for Doyle, he's a striker who's scored 1 in 5 for Wolves, League One included. I'd say he's neither above nor beneath his level.

He's never been a big goalscorer or an out-and-out Number 9, but he was a decent Premier League player at Wolves and Reading and has amassed 50+ caps for ROI. His ability should see him playing at a higher level.

Also, as we've seen ourselves, players' performances drop as a team drops through the divisions and new, inferior players are brought in to play alongside them.

Maybe he was playing above his level in the Prem? Also, he had a better scoring record for Reading, could be he lost some of his edge with age. It happens (see: Fernando Torres).

And I don't think caps for ROI are anything to go by. See: Jonathan Walters.

[nottsblue]

Above their level - danny welbeck, total shit!

Man Utd took on a trialist from outer Mongolia. In training the first day Gollum picks up the ball & says slowly B A L L ball. He then points to the goalposts. G O A L. He then kicks the ball through the goalposts. S C O R E.
The lad from outer Mongolia says "excuse me sir, I speak perfect English. You dont have to treat me like an idiot"
Gollum says "sit down son, I was talking to Welbeck"

[MilnersJaw]

Have to agree about welbeck, pure shit.

[Dubciteh]

Martin Petrov obviously.

As for Doyle, he's a striker who's scored 1 in 5 for Wolves, League One included. I'd say he's neither above nor beneath his level.

He's never been a big goalscorer or an out-and-out Number 9, but he was a decent Premier League player at Wolves and Reading and has amassed 50+ caps for ROI. His ability should see him playing at a higher level.

Also, as we've seen ourselves, players' performances drop as a team drops through the divisions and new, inferior players are brought in to play alongside them.

Maybe he was playing above his level in the Prem? Also, he had a better scoring record for Reading, could be he lost some of his edge with age. It happens (see: Fernando Torres).

And I don't think caps for ROI are anything to go by. See: Jonathan Walters.

Doyle is weird one, he had chance to go to Hull or Celtic in summer but hes on 50k a week at wolves and neither would offer anything close to that so he decided to take the cash, i dont blame him, id imagine he wasnt set up for life as he was late coming across and only had one decent move. I would of taken the money too.

He got stale at wolves the year they got relegated he had been linked to Arsenal and a few others that summer,it didnt work out, wolves got relegated and he hasnt recovered. I think a good man manager would get the best out of him and he would be a competent performer in the premier league.

And caps for ireland are hard enough to come by for strikers esp when you consider the best international striker produced by the UK or Ireland ever was guaranteed one of the spots up front. this is also the same country that qualified for the last euros, were unbeaten away in about 4 years, ok things arent great now but ireland were/are not a mickey mouse side as been made out above.

[gmercer1]

Have to agree about welbeck, pure shit.

How dare you, he is an England international!! :/

[Wooders]

I assume Roy is rogering welbeck and these England training camps are the perfect excuse to get away together

[nottsblue]

I assume Roy is rogering welbeck and these England training camps are the perfect excuse to get away together

Dont forget the reacharound he gives to cleverly whilst noshing smalling & young

[Dubciteh]

Jerome boateng. Plays for two of the best teams in the world and is fucking garbage, was bullied by lee Hughes in the fa cup for notts county for us and did some criminal defending in his time here. Don't know he gets away with it.

[I Just Blue Myself]

Jerome boateng. Plays for two of the best teams in the world and is fucking garbage, was bullied by lee Hughes in the fa cup for notts county for us and did some criminal defending in his time here. Don't know he gets away with it.

Because he was only shit for us.

[Dubciteh]

Jerome boateng. Plays for two of the best teams in the world and is fucking garbage, was bullied by lee Hughes in the fa cup for notts county for us and did some criminal defending in his time here. Don't know he gets away with it.

Because he was only shit for us.

He's the weakest link of both teams when I watch them. Ireland as shite as we are had five good chances tonight and he got left for dust by Seamus Coleman.

[Blue Since 76]

At the risk of being shot down in flames, shaun goater. Dont get me wrong. Loved him & he is a hero & a legend for scoring more than 100 goals but always thought he punched above his weight talent wise. That his enthusiasm & attitude more than made up for skill doesnt change the fact he was a lower league player who made it big for us.

Got to agree with that and in many ways, that's what made him the hero he was/is. Lots of players have talent we could only dream of, but don't put the effort in. The likes of Goater didn't have anywhere near that talent level, but made up for it with their effort and fans can relate to it.

In the premier league, he scored around 1 in 4, the first time in a poor side that was relegated and the second time playing second fiddle to Anelka then Fowler. They're not bad stats considering.