Callum Doyle (gone to Wrexham, official)

[Fosse93]

1 minute ago, AndyLimpey said:

 

We've yet to see Nelson even appear competent as a second CB, the idea of throwing him in as the more "experienced" CB pairing is a great example of how our fanbase overrates players, who haven't even played.

 

Some did the same with Braybrooke a few years back, claiming he should've been replacing Ndidi/Tielemans....And then the guy couldn't break into Dundee's side.

 

Nelson by all accounts did ok at a relegation battling Oxford, whilst Alves didn't really do anything of note at relegated Cardiff. Yet it's these type of profiles who are supposed to be pushing out Faes and Vestergaard, who proved 2 years ago, that this level was too easy for them?

 

Within our current squad, Doyle would be 5th choice CB and 4th choice LB. Getting rid of Vestergaard/Faes for him, immediately reduces our chances of Promotion. 

 

With Thomas, Kristiansen, Nelson, Okolie, all 24 or under, Brownhill on a 4 year contract at £100k a week would represent far better business than £8-10 million + Wages for Doyle. (And I don't think we should be signing Brownhill on those terms)

Nelson is going to the very top, it's clear to see. He's also been made captain for spells in pre-season so clearly the club see something in his leadership qualities.

 

Please find quotes from people on here that suggested Braybrooke should replace Ndidi or Tielemans, I never read anything of the sort.

 

Okoli, Faes and Vestergaard could all conceivably leave before the end of the month. We're stacked in the CB area so I wouldn't want to sign anyone without someone leaving, but if they did then we could do far worse than Doyle - young, English and has a wand of a left foot.

[Simmo86]

10 minutes ago, AndyLimpey said:

 

We've yet to see Nelson even appear competent as a second CB, the idea of throwing him in as the more "experienced" CB pairing is a great example of how our fanbase overrates players, who haven't even played.

 

Some did the same with Braybrooke a few years back, claiming he should've been replacing Ndidi/Tielemans....And then the guy couldn't break into Dundee's side.

 

Nelson by all accounts did ok at a relegation battling Oxford, whilst Alves didn't really do anything of note at relegated Cardiff. Yet it's these type of profiles who are supposed to be pushing out Faes and Vestergaard, who proved 2 years ago, that this level was too easy for them?

 

Within our current squad, Doyle would be 5th choice CB and 4th choice LB. Getting rid of Vestergaard/Faes for him, immediately reduces our chances of Promotion. 

 

With Thomas, Kristiansen, Nelson, Okolie, all 24 or under, Brownhill on a 4 year contract at £100k a week would represent far better business than £8-10 million + Wages for Doyle. (And I don't think we should be signing Brownhill on those terms)

Did ok?

 

They absolutely loved him and he was also fine in the few games he played in our previous Championship campaign.

 

No chance either Faes or Vestergaard should be starting over him. 

[Number 6]

This his passing range could be useful but it's so far down the priority list.

[Stormfox]

7 hours ago, Jazzy_Jeff said:

I’m hoping it’s Vestergaard, if we can lose his wages and bring in an affordable replacement it would free up wages elsewhere 

Vestergaard won't go anywhere... Hell take his weekly wage until his contracts up... At his age, bolster your investments as best you can for retirement 

[HitchinFox]

8 hours ago, BlueApple said:

I think he may turn out to be...too good for the Championship but not good enough Premier League. 

 

Which, ironically, is a fair description of us at the moment. 

[AndyLimpey]

4 minutes ago, Simmo86 said:

Did ok?

 

They absolutely loved him and he was also fine in the few games he played in our previous Championship campaign.

 

No chance either Faes or Vestergaard should be starting over him. 

 

We're talking about the same Ben Nelson who played just 17 games right? For a side who fought relegation all Season and had zero expectation on them?

 

Faes and Vestergaard should be starting over him every day of the week, footballing ability wise. Nelson undoubtedly is very highly rated with regards to his potential and of course is paid significantly less than the other two....But we have evidence of Faes and Vestergaard dominating this level 2 years ago, what are you going to put up against that in support of Nelson?

 

Again, Age/Wage/Potential are not 'Footballing Metrics'. 

 

Doyle stood out at Coventry, then looked exceptionally ordinary here around better players. I'm not saying Nelson doesn't have 'Potential', I'm just stating based purely on facts and evidence, Nelson in unproven. 

 

Replacing two players who are "Guaranteed" to dominate this level, for one who "Might" do the same, is not a risk worth taking. If it backfires, we lose BEK, Fatawu, likely even Nelson himself and we're up shit creek without a paddle. 

[Phenom]

I’m not a fan of his. Seemed like an average Championship player.

[Simmo86]

15 hours ago, AndyLimpey said:

 

We're talking about the same Ben Nelson who played just 17 games right? For a side who fought relegation all Season and had zero expectation on them?

 

Faes and Vestergaard should be starting over him every day of the week, footballing ability wise. Nelson undoubtedly is very highly rated with regards to his potential and of course is paid significantly less than the other two....But we have evidence of Faes and Vestergaard dominating this level 2 years ago, what are you going to put up against that in support of Nelson?

 

Again, Age/Wage/Potential are not 'Footballing Metrics'. 

 

Doyle stood out at Coventry, then looked exceptionally ordinary here around better players. I'm not saying Nelson doesn't have 'Potential', I'm just stating based purely on facts and evidence, Nelson in unproven. 

 

Replacing two players who are "Guaranteed" to dominate this level, for one who "Might" do the same, is not a risk worth taking. If it backfires, we lose BEK, Fatawu, likely even Nelson himself and we're up shit creek without a paddle. 

If anything it just adds to my point, they got half a season out of him and could see he was a class act. 

 

Nelson is only going to get better and better and is our future. Him losing out on minutes too either of those pair is borderline negligence. 

Edited 8 August 2025 by Simmo86

[Scotch]

18 minutes ago, AndyLimpey said:

 

We're talking about the same Ben Nelson who played just 17 games right? For a side who fought relegation all Season and had zero expectation on them?

 

Faes and Vestergaard should be starting over him every day of the week, footballing ability wise. Nelson undoubtedly is very highly rated with regards to his potential and of course is paid significantly less than the other two....But we have evidence of Faes and Vestergaard dominating this level 2 years ago, what are you going to put up against that in support of Nelson?

 

Again, Age/Wage/Potential are not 'Footballing Metrics'. 

 

Doyle stood out at Coventry, then looked exceptionally ordinary here around better players. I'm not saying Nelson doesn't have 'Potential', I'm just stating based purely on facts and evidence, Nelson in unproven. 

 

Replacing two players who are "Guaranteed" to dominate this level, for one who "Might" do the same, is not a risk worth taking. If it backfires, we lose BEK, Fatawu, likely even Nelson himself and we're up shit creek without a paddle. 

Easy. Marti's system. 

 

Cifuentes plays with CB's far further forward and not only that but they are often required to cover for the FBs when they move into the CM position and we are caught on the break. Vestergaard is no where near mobile or fast enough to do either of these things. We need a CB who is faster and more mobile. 

Edited 7 August 2025 by Scotch

[Claudio Fannieri]

I don’t get the negativity towards him, was excellent up until his injury and IIRC there was quite a lot of concern and angst when he got injured that it would be a huge loss, however by the time he was fit, we were in decent form and he was kept out due to others form rather than him tailing off. 
 

I would have him back in a heartbeat if we could shift either or both of vesty and Faes. 

[JimJams]

 I always thought he should have been the shout to take over from Vesty long term. But we didn't and then we extended the Danes contract.  Though Man City probably wanted stupid money at the time.  I don't think he's got the pace to be a fullback.  Would make a decent CB though.  But if the consensus is that he needs to be an LCB in an inverted role, then fxxk that.  Too limited.

[henry56]

Another CB / FB is last thing we need 

[BeaumontFox]

No thanks.

[em9999]

He's not very good in my humble opinion I certainly wouldn't pay anything near 10 mil for him 

[MPH]

Is Nelson better than Faes & Vesty? Maybe. Maybe not.

 

but this is a fantastic opportunity to freshen up the defense and give someone a chance to cement his place in our team for a few years and help him  to grow as a player. Vesty and Faes have done all their growing. Time to pass the baton and invest in our future. He WILL be better than then with more game time.

[inckley fox]

I'm a little surprised by some of the comments on Doyle. I didn't think he was exceptionally slow. For an LB, yes, but not for a CB. He's not agile at all because of his build, but his top-rate speed didn't seem too awful, and in fact I think Enzo specifically referenced the fact that he wasn't too slow when he signed (though I may well be wrong there!).

 

I thought he'd make a very decent CB, and I'd prefer a Nelson-Doyle partnership to any combination from Faes, Okoli and Vestergard.

 

The issue with him, apart from being played out of position, was that he picked up an injury and lost all of his momentum. Justin came in, did alright, and as we cooled on the idea of stumping up a fee for Doyle we tended to favour the permanent option. His form fell away badly after that, but at 21 a CB still has many years of improvement ahead of him.

 

I'd want to see us shift a few players first, though. And it does worry me that, across different managerial regimes, we tend to get linked with the same players (as with Slimani, Ndidi, Maguire, Evans, Winks). It suggests limited managerial influence in signings, which only works if the club, players and management staff are all pulling in the same direction. And that, in turn, worries me because anyone who wants to pull in the same direction as Top is probably the last thing that we need at any given moment.

[Simonb]

3 hours ago, Stormfox said:

Vestergaard won't go anywhere... Hell take his weekly wage until his contracts up... At his age, bolster your investments as best you can for retirement 

Best we can hope for is loaning him out and paying half his wage 

[MaidstoneFox]

3 minutes ago, Simonb said:

Best we can hope for is loaning him out and paying half his wage 

Life is sweet for Vestergaard. Turned 33 at the weekend and still two more years of contract to go.  Nobody in the EPL would want him and nobody elsewhere or abroad could afford him. He also wouldn't want to drop down a level or compromise on his wages too much. The only thing that might motivate him to move is if he felt he needed to play first team football for international selection. I'm sure he'll be spending more time with Brady this season.

[TonyN11]

TBF, scores plenty of goals though.. .....oh..wait!

[5waller5]

Not a fan myself, I thought he was very slow for a young player and didn’t seem to have the outstanding attributes you’d need to offset that lack of pace

[FoxinNotts]

Nah

[lcfcbluearmy]

Was really good pre injury, nowhere near after

[scinnell]

If I remember correctly, he started the season well and then he had an injury over Christmas and struggled to win his place back. Did we ever play him in his natural position? I only remember him as an LCB in a three, but covering full back at the same time? I don't think he is worth the price mentioned IMO

[Nolucklcfc]

Technically he’s good but he’s so slow. Imagine how slow he’ll be in his mid to late 20s. Feel like realistically to be a very decent defender you need to have at least some pace or be excellent positionally. 

[Lambert09]

4 hours ago, lcfcbluearmy said:

Was really good pre injury, nowhere near after

Wasn’t that good before. I remember watching him in the hull game and thinking how poor he was