WHEN WATCHING Ireland's last number of international games, you think to yourself, where are the goals?
And it's even worse than that. You see the squads announced, or the starting elevens get confirmed, and you ask yourself 'where are the goals going to come from?'.
This isn't just a recent problem either. It has been the case since Robbie Keane retired, and it doesn't look like something that's going to be solved anytime soon.
There's no easy solution, but we can't help but feel like over the past few years, Eoin Doyle has been overlooked.
Last season, Doyle was the top scorer in League 2, and fired Swindon to promotion. He scored an incredible 25 league goals, but instead of going up with the club, he opted to stay in League 2 and signed for Bolton.
And if you think someone lighting up League 2 is not enough to make the current squad, we'll remind you that we started with Luton Town striker James Collins up front against Luxembourg, and he came on against Serbia. We are not spoiled for choice, and having someone who knows exactly where the goal is would not have gone astray.
The jump in standard may be drastic, but as every old fashioned football fan will be quick to remind you, the goal stays the same size no matter the opposition. The goal doesn't move.
Bolton fansite Lion of Vienna Suite were also quick to praise Doyle for his work on the pitch.
"So far he’s scored sixteen goals, four more than any Wanderers player has managed in a season since 2002.
"Of course there’s his finishing, which has been invaluable in our rise up the table. Take the Forest Green game. It was a close affair and the only difference was that Doyle took his one chance with a superb volley.
"When the chances weren’t falling to him earlier in the season, he had to drop a lot deeper to get on the ball. Even when he wasn’t scoring, you couldn’t fault his workrate in games."
At 33, his age probably rules him out of ever getting an Irish callup, but the Bolton fans are expecting him to play a key part for them next season if they do go up.
"Sure, he’s older, but he’s proven his goal scoring prowess this season. He’s got two years left with us, so if we do end up going up I can see him still playing an important role next season."
With the greatest of respect, you look at some of the players who have started games for our international team over the past few years, and you can justifiably ask whether Eoin Doyle would have done any worse.
But it wasn't to be for the Dublin man, and he will instead be remembered as an icon at a few massive clubs across England. A legacy to be proud of.
