Shane Long

[dean horrix legend]

Not at this level he wont.

Are you Mystic Meg? Unless he is given a run of around 10 games,we will never know.

[Streets]

Not at this level he wont.

Are you Mystic Meg? Unless he is given a run of around 10 games,we will never know.

Fair comment. But I have watched him enough to know he still looks the same player he was when he arrived here form Cork City and he is still, three years on, third or fourth choice striker. He isn't good enough and after relegation, if he can't up the standard at this level, his days are numbered.

[Stranded]

But he's never had that run, who's to say that if he'd been the one to get the break Doyle got when he first come here we wouldn't be seeing stories of other clubs wanting him now.

He either needs to be played or moved on though - I don't see the point in him always just getting 15/20 mins every other game.

[kwik-silva]

The problem is that he has never looked good enough when he's started a game but when he comes off the bench he looks superb at times.

Yeah, he, unfortuantely, doesn't have what it takes, most players would have had experiance, at least on loan by now, but Long hasn't got that, maybe thats why

[1871royals]

Must admit I completely agree with the tone of this thread.

Shane Long is always going to be “potential,” he has been here 3 years and never managed to stake a regular place. I think he is one of the most overrated players in our squad. He comes of the bench every week and rarely makes an impact. It seems whenever he does seem to make a slight impact everyone seems to exaggerate the impact he makes.

He and Doyle signed together and S Long hasn’t improved at all in 3 years.

[Schards#2]

Long's very fit, strong, enthusiastic and energetic, he's just not a very good footballer.

I doubt he'd shine particularly at league two level.

There are several players younger than him making the grade at Premiership and Championship level, if he hasn't realised any potential by now then he hasn't really got any. He's not part of the solution.

Remind me, how many Premiership goals has Long scored? And how many minutes did he have to do it in? And how much servive did he have?
If you gave Long regular League 2 football, he would score at least 20 goals. Probably.

He would do that in League 1 imo.

He was woeful against league 2 opposition tonight.

Can't see much of a future for him TBH

[rg6royal]

He must be gutted as tonight he was desperate to score and didn't and got subbed rightfully with half an hour to go.

[chilipepper91]

He must be gutted as tonight he was desperate to score and didn't and got subbed rightfully with half an hour to go.

As summed up by when he could've released Henry or Hunt, but instead went alone and got tackled. Though were I Coppell, I'd have left Long on to see if he could get his goal, and taken off Hunt instead.

He just doesn't look good enough to start a game.

[rg6royal]

He must be gutted as tonight he was desperate to score and didn't and got subbed rightfully with half an hour to go.

As summed up by when he could've released Henry or Hunt, but instead went alone and got tackled. Though were I Coppell, I'd have left Long on to see if he could get his goal, and taken off Hunt instead.

He just doesn't look good enough to start a game.

'greed

Save N.Hunt for the weekend as he deserves to start. Looked knackered at the end though

[The 17 Bus]

3 chances tonight, but looked so desperate to score, i too would have left him on though, his confidence will not have improved with no goal tonight.

However at least he got the chances, so must be doing something right.

[chilipepper91]

3 chances tonight, but looked so desperate to score, i too would have left him on though, his confidence will not have improved with no goal tonight.

However at least he got the chances, so must be doing something right.

One, he had the chance to pass, and instead went alone and got tackled. Another, the defender slipped and he was in, and shot straight at the keeper. I wanted to see him score, but he just doesn't look like it at the moment...

[Whore Jackie]

Assuming we keep all our attackers beyond the transfer window, then it would be lovely to see him get a loan move to a League 1 club till January. We really should be capable of goals with Lita, Doyle and N.Hunt rotating and Mooney getting up to speed. Long needs a run to get match fit, otherwise he'll forever be in limbo. There's the basis of a player there, he's strong, pacy, keen, reasonable in the air; his touch and decision making could improve; we just need to see if he's a goalscorer or not. That's not going to happen with infrequent cameos.

[Alan Partridge]

Noel Hunt >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Shane Long

[rfcjoe]

'greed 110 per cent.

[dean horrix legend]

Assuming we keep all our attackers beyond the transfer window, then it would be lovely to see him get a loan move to a League 1 club till January. We really should be capable of goals with Lita, Doyle and N.Hunt rotating and Mooney getting up to speed. Long needs a run to get match fit, otherwise he'll forever be in limbo. There's the basis of a player there, he's strong, pacy, keen, reasonable in the air; his touch and decision making could improve; we just need to see if he's a goalscorer or not. That's not going to happen with infrequent cameos.

'greed

Not as bad as some people on here like to think.

[Kieron1981]

when ever he comes on he shows pace and really upsets defences... hes a super sub and i think he happy with that

you never see him complain and he knows he has 10-15 minutes to make an impression and thats very dangerous in a player

also dont forget in the first season of the premiership he scores some nices goal when he did start

if you didnt have so many strikers he would get a start, unfortunatly we have lita and doyle

[andrew1957]

The extreme views expressed on here never cease to amaze me.

After one game Noel Hunt is a hero and despite not many opportunities Shane Long is rubbish.

Please get some perspective. I really hope Noel Hunt is the real deal and scores 25 this season but lets not get too carried away after one performance. As for Shane he desperately needs games - now we have Mooney as a potential fourth striker I would definitely loan him to a Div 1 side until the end of December and see how he gets on. There should be plenty of takers as he has some PL experience. I think it is definitely needed for his long term good.

[Streets]

The extreme views expressed on here never cease to amaze me.

After one game Noel Hunt is a hero and despite not many opportunities Shane Long is rubbish.

1 game? Scored in both cup games and didn't he set up three against Luton as well as score?

That's almost more than Doyle has done in 12 months.

[brendywendy]

loan him out by all means-6 months, and double figure goals at league 1 level would do him the world of good, but id like to see more of mooney before deciding on that really.

but to say hes not improved at all since hes got here is wrong
he is bigger, stronger, and more in tune with the game and his team mates
and still has the raw attributes we saw in the 1st place, his sheer pace, and an eye for the unusual
he is desperate for that goal and it showed midweek, but i wouldnt write him off yet.
for the money we spent, and the wages hes on i reckon we get value for money still from shlong despite his up and down performances

[Man Friday]

I never thought I'd find myself saying this but I'm almost at the stage where I welcome Doyle and Harper leaving (especially Harper - at least Doyle puts a toe in). They clearly want to leave Reading and I'd rather see enthusiasm out there than the same old stuff. Just a shame that the sales money won't be reinvested but used to pay off "loans" to JM.