Shane Duffy D Norwich b.1992

[DannyInvincible]

'Shane Duffy eases play-off fears as he gives positive update on injury that forced him off in Everton draw': http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/shane-duffy-eases-playoff-fears-as-he-gives-positive-update-on-injury-that-forced-him-off-in-everton-draw-36228788.html


I'm all right, a bit sore at the minute [after the match]. I'll get scanned in the morning and see how it is but it feels not too bad. It was my groin. I was running back and I just felt it but hopefully I am not too bad. It was like a pop or a shot feeling but it has calmed down now. I've iced it and had treatment and it feels a little bit better but I'll see tomorrow.

[irishfan86]

If he felt a pop it's probably a groin pull -- four to six week recovery time. Could just be a minor strain and that's probably what we should be hoping for...

[DannyInvincible]

Any update on how the scan went? I assume it went OK and it was nothing overly serious or we'd have known about it.

[tetsujin1979]

Status for Brighton tonight against West Ham: https://twitter.com/OfficialBHAFC/status/921436250237792256
Molumby on the bench

[Olé Olé]

Up 2-0 at half time. Carragher confirming Duffy is second for combined interceptions, clearances and blocks. Kevin Kilbane often mentions how David Moyes told him that Duffy was a tad raw at a young age but was guaranteed to become a top notch centre half in his late 20's. He's still just 25 but the signs are very promising.

Molumby on the best. Might he get a run if they stay in front of extend their lead?

[DannyInvincible]

More on Duffy's impressive stats and Carragher's high opinion of his defending: https://www.sportsjoe.ie/football/shane-duffy-jamie-carragher-139909

[DannyInvincible]

Duffy impressed again today with a MOTM performance against Southampton: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/shane-duffy-shines-as-murray-strikes-to-earn-point-for-brighton-36271332.html

He's in fantastic form going into the play-offs.

[tetsujin1979]

Where was he given the MOTM? Sky Sports gave it to Pascal Gross

[DannyInvincible]

I first saw it mentioned on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba15zwnHLkL/?hl=en&taken-by=faireland_fans) and then saw it mentioned again in one of the tweets (https://twitter.com/JLFC34/status/924656653798174720) quoted in the Independent piece, so I assumed he had been awarded MOTM, but maybe it wasn't official.

http://i65.tinypic.com/2411fzk.png

http://i67.tinypic.com/2m5jd75.png

[DannyInvincible]

Shane is on today's 'Football Focus': http://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41865659

[Olé Olé]

Shane is interviewed by Richie Sadlier as part of the Second Captains World Service, a podcast with a cost.

Richie delves into a bit of detail regarding the switch from NI. Shane says it's something he always wanted to do and even was involved in a camp for us at 15 and his father made it known that was where they say his future but it didn't materialize. So he kept going with NI as he was in the schools system. He said that he went to the senior friendly with Italy only for the experience and in the knowledge that it was a friendly and he wouldn't be tied. He also says that he would still have declared for us even if it meant he never got a cap for us.

Richie asks him about the abuse he gets for the switch but Shane and whether it went as far as death threats like James McClean to which Shane responds with a chuckle "Well James doesn't help himself!"

It's actually quite worrying to think that his father made it clear at 15 that Shane wanted to play with us and it wasn't followed through. I suppose it was eventually rectified by Shane's doing so we got a 100% committed player but I hope others haven't slipped through the cracks that way. It's also important to note in that context that Shane's father is a Donegal man which might make things easier for him.

[DannyInvincible]

It's a policy with which I don't agree, but the FAI's failure to follow through on the expressed wishes of Shane's father was, as far as I understand, rooted in a reluctance to approach or be proactive in selecting northern players (https://foot.ie/threads/147164-Eligibility-Rules-Okay?p=1556425&viewfull=1#post1556425) (perhaps ones already in the IFA set-up?). In my opinion, if a player is eligible and good enough, there's no harm in making an enquiry or inviting him to declare rather than the FAI waiting for the player to make a formal move towards the association first.

This was something I'd posted back in 2011, but it relates to what Shane spoke about in the podcast:


I'm aware that in the case of Duffy, Sean Caffrey made a point of not contacting the player in spite of obvious interest from the player; Duffy attended an FAI training camp and there was plenty of talk on here, other forums via family members (ToffeeTalk, for example) and the local media that he'd rather be playing for Ireland. It wasn't mere rumour either. Furthermore, he even has a father from Letterkenny, yet the FAI were only willing to engage once Duffy initiated contact to declare his intentions officially, which, whilst frustrating to observe as NI continued calling the player into squads, demonstrated how sensitive the FAI were with the issue of selecting northern-born players. I don't think this policy difference, if you will, was ever made known to Duffy who, at the time, probably felt a little confused as to why the onus would be on him as distinct from other Irish players with whom the FAI would have no problem contacting first.

[Olé Olé]

Great memory. That post ties in very well with what he States in the interview.

I'm listening on to the rest now. It's very interesting. He's very honest, in fairness.

[liamoo11]

Every lad born on the island of Ireland should be routinely contacted to invite them into squads from 15s upwards. Let the players and their parents then decide. Easy. I'm Always really disappointed when I hear Brian Kerr talking about it not been morally right to encourage kids from the norths set up. Not sure when anything from the creation of the northern state has been morally right up there

[seanfhear]

Every lad born on the island of Ireland should be routinely contacted to invite them into squads from 15s upwards. Let the players and their parents then decide. Easy. I'm Always really disappointed when I hear Brian Kerr talking about it not been morally right to encourage kids from the norths set up. Not sure when anything from the creation of the northern state has been morally right up thereMaybe Kerr is hoping that the Northern Irish FA might come calling....that might be somewhere between Bob Hope and No Hope and Bob left town for good a while back .

Anyone from the North that wants to play for us should be welcomed with open arms .

[DannyInvincible]

'Shane Duffy reveals he refused to delete Martin McGuinness tribute tweet after Brighton asked him to': https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/shane-duffy-reveals-he-refused-to-delete-martin-mcguinness-tribute-tweet-after-brighton-asked-him-to-36529162.html


Shane Duffy has revealed he refused his club Brighton's request to delete a tweet he sent paying tribute to Martin McGuinness following the Derryman's death last March. While Duffy admits he only met McGuinness "three or four times", the Irish centre half found him to be an affable man who did "so much work for Derry".

After McGuinness' death - just two days after the tragic passing of Derry City captain Ryan McBride - Duffy shared a tweet saying: "More tragic news this morning, RIP Martin Mc Guinness a true hero for many off us (Shamrock emoji) god bless your family and close ones #ireland."

The city of Brighton was targeted in one of the IRA's most calculated bombings in 1984. Five people were killed, including a sitting Conservative MP, when the IRA exploded a bomb in the Grand Brighton Hotel during a Conservative Party conference with then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in attendance.

[tetsujin1979]

From the interview he did with second captains during the week

[tricky_colour]

Nothing wrong with the tweet.

[DannyInvincible]

Shane has his say on Michael O'Neill's recent comments/statement: https://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/its-up-to-each-player-to-make-their-choice-36701626.html


The Derry native played for the North from U17 up to U21 levels and was once in their senior squad. But he never felt at home. Would the dropping of God Save The Queen have kept him in the bosom of the IFA?

"No, because I am not Northern Irish, I am Irish," Duffy told The Herald yesterday at his club's training complex in Lancing, a small village outside Brighton.

"It's just a different feeling. I am proud to play for Ireland, I played for Northern Ireland because I lived there but it's a different feeling putting on the Irish shirt to any other shirt. And I would never change it. It's not the same feeling. The North did a lot for me as a schoolboy and gave me the chance but it's just not the same feeling. You always knew it wasn't your country, especially being from Derry. You have got to know Derry to know what it means, and when you get the chance to go with Ireland, you take it."

[gastric]

a)bored stirrers

b) daydreaming Shinners

c) simpletons who think merging 2 mediocre teams will provide a World beater almost by definition

As an Irishman what category does Duffy fall into?

[Fixer82]

d) Proud Irishman

[Gather round]

Thanks for quoting me Gastric- although you seem to have missed or misunderstood the bit about wanting the NI sides to be abolished linked to those categories. Which I doubt Duffy falls into anyway, given that he played for them in numerous games

[gastric]

Thanks for quoting me Gastric- although you seem to have missed or misunderstood the bit about wanting the NI sides to be abolished linked to those categories. Which I doubt Duffy falls into anyway, given that he played for them in numerous games
Didn't misunderstand you, just ridiculing your use of categories.

[tetsujin1979]

interesting stat about Duffy
988430445430951936

[Stuttgart88]

Which footballer was nicknamed Douglas Bader (the decorated RAF pilot who lost both legs in a crash) because he was good in the air but rubbish on the ground?

[OwlsFan]

Which footballer was nicknamed Douglas Bader (the decorated RAF pilot who lost both legs in a crash) because he was good in the air but rubbish on the ground?

Cascarino, Clyde Best, Derek Dougan? Any clues of the era or nationality?

[Stuttgart88]

No idea, sorry

[OwlsFan]

Looking at the EPL stats, Duffy comes top of the "most blocks".

[DeLorean]

Looking at the EPL stats, Duffy comes top of the "most blocks".

Strange as I read this earlier, Gareth Crook's team of the season. He seems to credit Lewis Dunk with most blocks. The stat about Duffy that Tets mentioned above is off the charts though!


Lewis Dunk: I have watched this lad in the Championship and I have watched him again in the Premier League and I can't believe it's the same player. The growth in the space of a season has been quite extraordinary.

It would have been very easy for me to have selected Jan Vertonghen (who has had another good season for Spurs) but Dunk has had to be outstanding week in, week out. Without that level of performance, Brighton would have sunk without trace.

If any of the big six have any sense whatsoever they should get their chequebook out immediately. He's worth £30m of anyone's money in the current financial climate.

Did you know? Dunk made more blocks than any other Premier League defender this season (56).

[tetsujin1979]

According to this - https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/players - Duffy(59) is ahead of Dunk(58) in blocks, maybe Gareth Crooks wrote the article before the weekend's games?

[tricky_colour]

I've been looking at the whoscored stats, he is 30th overall, which is great for an Irish player, very rare for an Irish player to
get higher than that.

He tops the blocks list there, and the clearances list!!

He has 1.6 blocks per game Dunk is send on 1.5 per game, but figure seem low to me I though the figure would be a lot higher,
his clearance is 8.8 for example, Dunk 8.

Ward our next best player at #99, we do well on defence but their little to shout about else where.

I'd be surprised if anyone scores in training! :laugh:

[zero]

in a spot of bother over some homophobic tweets posted several years ago.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-44217006

[Olé Olé]

Goal and the man of the match award for Duffy in a 3-2 win at home to Manchester United. His goal wasn’t a trademark bullet header. He demonstrated an excellent first touch and a decent finish on the deck. Big season for Duffy this year.

[tricky_colour]

Strikers finish! Maybe we can play him up front!

[tricky_colour]

you will need a proxy server in the uk and maybe Ireland.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBO5Ie-l5xY
duffy goal


Up to 6th in the stats!! Ahead of Salah!!





1

Eden Hazard (https://www.whoscored.com/Players/33404/Show/Eden-Hazard)Chelsea, (https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/15/Show/England-Chelsea)27, M(CLR),FW
3(2)
307
5
2
-
-
2.8
89.6
0.8
3
8.27


2

Sadio Mané (https://www.whoscored.com/Players/109915/Show/Sadio-Mané)Liverpool, (https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/26/Show/England-Liverpool)26, AM(CLR)
5
432
4
-
-
-
3
76.1
1.4
3
7.89


3

Sergio Agüero (https://www.whoscored.com/Players/14260/Show/Sergio-Agüero)Manchester City, (https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/167/Show/England-Manchester-City)30, AM(CL),FW
5
389
3
2
-
-
5
90.3
0.2
1
7.85


4

David Silva (https://www.whoscored.com/Players/14102/Show/David-Silva)Manchester City, (https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/167/Show/England-Manchester-City)32, M(CLR)
4
333
2
-
1
-
2.3
87.3
0.5
1
7.82


5

Raheem Sterling (https://www.whoscored.com/Players/97692/Show/Raheem-Sterling)Manchester City, (https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/167/Show/England-Manchester-City)23, M(CLR),FW
4
336
3
-
1
-
3.3
85.4
0.3
2
7.71


6

Shane Duffy (https://www.whoscored.com/Players/75692/Show/Shane-Duffy)Brighton, (https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/211/Show/England-Brighton)26, D(C)
5
450
2
-
-
-
0.6
72.9
4.8
2
7.65


7

Marcos Alonso (https://www.whoscored.com/Players/84008/Show/Marcos-Alonso)Chelsea, (https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/15/Show/England-Chelsea)27, D(CL),M(L)
5
450
1
2
1
-
2.6
86.7
2.6
1
7.64


8

Mohamed Salah (https://www.whoscored.com/Players/108226/Show/Mohamed-Salah)Liverpool, (https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/26/Show/England-Liverpool)26, AM(CLR),FW
5
428
2
1
-
-
4.6
76.9
1
-
7.63


9

James Tarkowski (https://www.whoscored.com/Players/131464/Show/James-Tarkowski)Burnley, (https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/184/Show/England-Burnley)25, D(C)
5
450
2
-
1
-
0.8
76.8
5.6
-
7.56


10

José Holebas (https://www.whoscored.com/Players/21499/Show/José-Holebas)Watford, (https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/27/Show/England-Watford)34, D(L),M(L)
5
444
1
4
3
-
0.6
68.8
1.2
-
7.53

[tricky_colour]

He also won the penalty I think


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVWcybv7n_M?t=3m19s (https://youtu.be/cVWcybv7n_M?t=3m19s)

Pushed over. 3 min 19 seconds

https://youtu.be/cVWcybv7n_M?t=3m19s

[John83]

New 5 year contract:
http://www.extratime.ie/articles/21764/shane-duffy-signs-new-five-year-contract-brighton/

[seanfhear]

Chris Hughton is doing a great job at Brighton . If it gets a bit rocky a bit down the line I hope they remember how well he has done for them .

[tetsujin1979]

third goal of the season today, more than any Irish player managed in the Premier League last season

[The Fly]

That says a lot, unfortunately.

[tricky_colour]

in a spot of bother over some homophobic tweets posted several years ago.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-44217006



I don't think his comment were homophobic, he just can't stand Rylan, I can't either, but not because he
is gay, it's because he is an idiot, it is like having Zippy from Rainbow as a presenter.

[tricky_colour]

Was a super goal well time run and great header, more goals than any other defender in the Premiership,
up to 17th in the stats.

[backstothewall]

Was a super goal well time run and great header, more goals than any other defender in the Premiership,
up to 17th in the stats.

A lot of that was about how Brighton took the corner. The ball was out of play for 4 or 5 seconds and straight back in with a short corner to the nearest man who put the cross in to find Duffy who was arriving only into the box having started running forward when the corner was awarded. No chance for the opposition defence to get set for it at all.

If that was us we'd have been waiting for almost a minute while everyone got into position and Brady trotted over from the other wing to take it.

[tricky_colour]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6LAm94gluI
Another goal for Duffy, won't do his stats any harm, need to see it in better quality, not sure how he put
it in the net from there!
West ham have got 2 back already!

[tetsujin1979]

12 goals in the Premier league for Irish players now, that's one more than last season

[tricky_colour]

better quality here 32 seconds in https://player.matchat.online/embed/6KP10TLoKP?autoplay=1&htmlplayer=1
Great finish from that angle with the outside of the foot especially for a centre back!

[tricky_colour]

12 goals in the Premier league for Irish players now, that's one more than last season


4 duffy, 3 doherty 2 clark, one each for hendrick, coleman and obafemi .


7 from defence, 4 from midfield and one from a striker!!

That is kind of the wrong way round!

[Fixer82]

Clark has 2? Wow. Didn't think he was getting much game time even

[tetsujin1979]

Fifth of the season tonight for Duffy, albeit in a 3-1 loss for Brighton.

First Irish player to reach five premier league goals in a season since the 2015/16 season

[tricky_colour]

I dare say he will get a few more before the end of the season, he is pretty deadly in the air, not in the sense of a one engined aircraft though.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4092homLKU
As Brian Clough used to say, it only takes a second to score a goal.

He is back in the top 20 in the stats.

We should play him up front and have the keeper lob long balls up to him cutting out our
main areas of weakness, defence and midfield.:highly_amused: