Shane Duffy D Norwich b.1992

[Eirambler]

Why did Celtic bring back Neil Lennon from football management death ? ?

They wanted a cheap option and a yes man after Rodgers came with a big wage and put a lot of pressure on the board to invest (eventually leaving when they wouldn't match his ambition). They knew Lennon, coming from where he was on the management scrapheap having been mutually consented by Hibs, would be in no position to put pressure on the board to invest.

They have no real European ambitions at board level and they thought that "10 in a row" was a formality and any manager would finish the job.

Their January transfer window should be fun. (Although not if you're a young squad player trying to break into the team).

[seanfhear]

They wanted a cheap option and a yes man after Rodgers came with a big wage and put a lot of pressure on the board to invest (eventually leaving when they wouldn't match his ambition). They knew Lennon, coming from where he was on the management scrapheap having been mutually consented by Hibs, would be in no position to put pressure on the board to invest.

They have no real European ambitions at board level and they thought that "10 in a row" was a formality and any manager would finish the job.

Their January transfer window should be fun. (Although not if you're a young squad player trying to break into the team).
If Celtic are still in Contention for the 10 in a row !

[Stuttgart88]

Duffy was undoubtedly poor again yesterday although I kind of felt for him for the goal he was directly at fault for - as it was motivated by trying to keep the ball in play in order to allow the team chase a goal. For the life of me I can't see how he wasn't penalised for a foul immediately before Griffiths' goal. Ntcham's foul was brain dead and McGregor actually committed multiple stupid fouls in dangerous areas just before the penalty, which was so dumb you'd almost want to check his bank account for evidence of match fixing.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Aaaarrrgghhh !


Same reason we brought MickMack back ? The faraway fuzzy glow of past glories seanfhear :)

same reason Ireland gave Trap a lot of money for a muck tenure. Luxury and all the cosequences of his bad management we are still paying with the national team

[DCWA]

I feel for Duffy in that I think he could
do with some rotation he has went from not really playing to having 6 matches in a fortnight(?) for club and country.

[Colbert Report]

Starts today away to Burnley. I'm pleased for the guy as he's always given his all for Ireland, and I really hope he finds his way back into a regular starting spot. I think most of us had written off his career.

[Colbert Report]

Great game from Duffy here in a 2-1 win away to Burnley to start the season. From everything I've heard, his season at Celtic couldn't have gone worse, but he looked like a solid Premier League player today, particularly against the aerial offensive from Burnley. Must start in the upcoming qualifiers.

[Eirambler]

Certainly, given how the Portugal game is likely to be pretty much mass defence from us, if he's in form you would want him in there for a backs to the wall 90 minute effort.

[Diggs246]

Overall a very good day at the office for our players

[Olé Olé]

Man of the match and hailed as "immense" by Potter. Class.

[Kingdom]

Great game from Duffy here in a 2-1 win away to Burnley to start the season. From everything I've heard, his season at Celtic couldn't have gone worse, but he looked like a solid Premier League player today, particularly against the aerial offensive from Burnley. Must start in the upcoming qualifiers.

I've serious reservations about Shane, but credit where it's due, he's really turned things around from what looked like a really bad position for him professionally.

Each game has to be taken on it's individual merit, and Burnley away with the style of football they play is almost the perfect comeback game for him, and Portugal in Lisbon is going to be a different type of game, with balls in behind and the movement that comes with their game, but agree with above, if he's playing, playing in the PL, and playing well, then he's an absolute starter, definitely.
Given Doherty at LWB and Coleman RWB (if Kenny keeps the 3 at the back), then we couldn't have asked for a better time for him to return to form.

[Olé Olé]

I just spotted there that Shane Duffy also made it into the Whoscored.com team of the week: https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/2/England-Premier-League

He had 91.8% passing accuracy, won 9 aerial duels and had 4 shots, with 2 on target. Of course, there's a point to be made with regard to the aerial duels that he should have opportunity to win that many against Burnley. It's going to be very interesting to see what happens with him for the rest of the season. He might stay at Brighton but maybe one of the promoted sides or a Championship club signs him? I'd be happy enough with all 3 scenarios, once he got his share of matches at Brighton that is!

[John83]

Re: aerial duals, he's always scored well in those. Prior to his big slump in form, he tended to be in the top 5 EPL centre halves on that stat. In that regard, he's a monster. Hopefully, he keeps his place and his form this year and continues to look comfortable in green as he did in the last international window. As much as we have depth at centre half, he's still probably the best of our options there in absolute defensive terms.

[elatedscum]

Re: aerial duals, he's always scored well in those. Prior to his big slump in form, he tended to be in the top 5 EPL centre halves on that stat.

I remember reading the season before last or the one before that, him and Van Dijk were a mile ahead of everyone else in percentage of headers won in the league. Both well above 90% win rate and the third was about 10% lower.

[SkStu]

He had 91.8% passing accuracy

was he really aiming for that pensioner in Row Z every time though?

joke!

Good news to see him come back into a bit of good form at a high level. Only a good thing for us. Still not convinced he is the right man for a ball playing defense but will see how it goes.

[Eminence Grise]

If he was hitting the same pensioner every time, I'd have no fears about him as a ball playing defender! We definitely have a place for Duffy - he's a very, very good defender, in a blood 'n' thunder, no subtlety kind of way! - but he needs one or two CDs beside him (and/or a keeper more comfortable with the ball than Randolph) who can pass and offer alternate outlets for distribution.

[Diggs246]

Duffy was excellent against Hungary and was excellent for Brighton last week. But here is the question. If kenny selects him does that not make a mockery of the playing out from the back philosophy? Duffy isnt that guy let's me honest

[John83]

Duffy was excellent against Hungary and was excellent for Brighton last week. But here is the question. If kenny selects him does that not make a mockery of the playing out from the back philosophy? Duffy isnt that guy let's me honest
Surely we can afford one square peg without it being a "mockery" of the system? We're not so blessed with talent that we can drop good EPL players lightly.

[Trequartista20]

We're a small nation with slim resources.

It is therefore beholden of the manager to find a system that suits the players he has. If Kenny can't understand or accept that simple truth then we'll have to find somebody who does.

Duffy - Egan - O'Shea did well a back three against Hungary; it looked like something we could definitely build upon.

If Kenny moves away from that then we're obviously going nowhere fast.

[Diggs246]

I'd play him. But I would play a 4-5-1

[passinginterest]

Yeah, I think for certain games probably for most, you can have one Duffy type in the defensive positions. It just means compromising the style a bit and letting him go direct under pressure, rather than expecting him to be playing 2 or 3 short passes in a tight area. I think we saw that compromise against Hungary and it suited us.

[Razors left peg]

Duffy was excellent against Hungary and was excellent for Brighton last week. But here is the question. If kenny selects him does that not make a mockery of the playing out from the back philosophy? Duffy isnt that guy let's me honest

He doesnt have be the one playing the ball out from the back. If he has another center half or 2 along side him they can do that job. If he gets back to his very best form then hes an excellent defender who is also a good organizer on the pitch and we have to accommodate him.

[Colbert Report]

Starts again today at home to Watford in the middle of a back three. I think Duffy and Coleman are the only two Irishmen starting in the Premier League nowadays.

[Colbert Report]

Scores the opener with a great header off a corner ten minutes in. Very happy for him.

[Olé Olé]

Was delighted to see him start again. This is great.

[irishfan86]

It’s honestly one of the best feel good stories in the Premier League. He was essentially kicked the curb, dumped to Celtic, dealing with the death of his father, and has come back and basically forced Potter’s hand by being comprehensively dominant. Fair play Shane.

[MancIrishWolf]

Brighton fans effusive with praise at Duffy’s turnaround. Certainly seem a supportive bunch lacking the usual fickle bitterness you’d expect from smaller provincial clubs. Long may it continue.

https://www.northstandchat.com/showthread.php?389563-Duffy-post-Celtic-loan/page19

[Eirambler]

They're an unusually tolerable bunch, Brighton fans. But I think that's a lot to do with Brighton as a city, it's as much an extension of London as it is a provincial city and that shows in how they vote in elections, Brexit views etc. as well as their football supporters.

From an Irish point of view there have been some great stories at the start of the new season - Parrott finding his confidence in League 1, Bazunu off to a flyer at Portsmouth, O'Shea and Robinson at West Brom, Manning at Swansea and a few more, but Duffy's almost unbelievable comeback from where he was at in the spring is still the best story of the lot.

[MancIrishWolf]

Good point, the city has always been famed for it’s liberal views. Certainly a stark contrast to the bitter views I’d expect from fans in post industrial outposts in the Midlands and North (such as my own club) which you’d expect in Post-Brexit Britain. Definitely a good place for young Irish kids to thrive and probably why Connolly hasn’t been as lambasted as much as he would elsewhere.

[Diggs246]

The price of a pint there is hysterical.
8 pounds or something !

[Olé Olé]

Watching Duffy last night I was thinking about the whole reason that he was moved out last season. Assuming it was because he wasn't good enough on the ball- I think that's a fair assumption. But, like, he's a pro footballer and he has a decent touch and he doesn't need to split opposing defences. Last night he just moved the ball left and right to Webster and Dunk and they progressed it. Quite straight forward but it works. I mean, what more is expected? My point is that there's a way for him to be effective for Ireland and Brighton without his main weakness being a terrible thing and a reason to be dropped.

I say all this having watched Ben White's debut against Brentford. He looks slick on the ball alright with his socks up over his knees and elegant stride. Not being aggressive or aware enough to get to a ball in the box cost his side a goal though.

I suppose my overall point is once Shane doesn't peg long balls down field and keeps it simple (left and right or to a showing centre mid) then he is a very effective player at both ends of the park.

I see Potter getting praise for bringing him back into the fold though. Christ.

[seanfhear]

The price of a pint there is hysterical.
8 pounds or something !
That's not hysterical = = That’s an act of war.

[Eminence Grise]

It is! And he who is not with us is a Guinness.

[Diggs246]

That's not hysterical = = That’s an act of war.
Ironically I was in a pub called the fortune of war

[seanfhear]

Ironically I was in a pub called the fortune of war
At £8 a Pint the fortunes of war took a turn for the worse.

[Kingdom]

I think there’s more to it than that, certainly for us, particularly in how deep he was sitting.

Personally I’d focus all my pressure on Duffy if I was an opposition manager/coach. I’d isolate him, put the pressure on the other two and let him be the free man, or do a 3 for 3.

[geysir]

Watching Duffy last night I was thinking about the whole reason that he was moved out last season. Assuming it was because he wasn't good enough on the ball- I think that's a fair assumption. But, like, he's a pro footballer and he has a decent touch and he doesn't need to split opposing defences. Last night he just moved the ball left and right to Webster and Dunk and they progressed it. Quite straight forward but it works. I mean, what more is expected? My point is that there's a way for him to be effective for Ireland and Brighton without his main weakness being a terrible thing and a reason to be dropped.

I say all this having watched Ben White's debut against Brentford. He looks slick on the ball alright with his socks up over his knees and elegant stride. Not being aggressive or aware enough to get to a ball in the box cost his side a goal though.

I suppose my overall point is once Shane doesn't peg long balls down field and keeps it simple (left and right or to a showing centre mid) then he is a very effective player at both ends of the park.

I see Potter getting praise for bringing him back into the fold though. Christ.
Considering all the absentees, Potter didn't have much choice but to start Shane, all praise should go to Shane for rediscovering his Shaneness.

[seanfhear]

Considering all the absentees, Potter didn't have much choice but to start Shane, all praise should go to Shane for rediscovering his Shaneness.
Could e a Movie in this.

[irishfan86]

I think there’s more to it than that, certainly for us, particularly in how deep he was sitting.

Personally I’d focus all my pressure on Duffy if I was an opposition manager/coach. I’d isolate him, put the pressure on the other two and let him be the free man, or do a 3 for 3.

It’s a good point in theory but I’m skeptical about how many opposing managers would actually identify this and build a gameplan around it. No doubt some managers are that keen but it seems a bit in the weeds in my view.

[passinginterest]

It’s a good point in theory but I’m skeptical about how many opposing managers would actually identify this and build a gameplan around it. No doubt some managers are that keen but it seems a bit in the weeds in my view.

Pretty much every manager now bases their press on certain triggers and trying to ensure teams can only play out through the player identified as the weakest link. I've seen managers doing it at under 17 and 19 in the national leagues here. There's no doubt that teams would try to force us to play out through Duffy if we want to play out. To be fair to Duffy, he's capable of playing a decent long diagonal, and as long as he has the freedom to do that when there's any pressure on, and the forward are ready for it, it's actually a useful option for beating a high press.

[Olé Olé]

Considering all the absentees, Potter didn't have much choice but to start Shane, all praise should go to Shane for rediscovering his Shaneness.

Some quotes from Potter praising Duffy. There's a hint of "it wasn't me, it was you" in how he speaks about Duffy changing: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/hes-been-fantastic-brighton-manager-graham-potter-heaps-praise-on-in-form-ireland-star-shane-duffy-40774932.html

[Eminence Grise]

Potter has restored Duffy and been rewarded with the revival of someone who, on his day, can be one of the Premier League’s most physically dominant players.
(https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/aug/23/premier-league-10-talking-points-from-the-weekends-action)
The Guardian's 10 Premiership Talking points - Duffy is #5.

[tetsujin1979]

Some numbers about Shane Duffy's 100th Premier League appearance: https://twitter.com/irish_abroad/status/1437737298456682504

[John83]

It's a bit of a gimmicky feature, but Duffy gets a mention here as Brighton's best player so far this season:
https://www.football365.com/news/feature-premier-league-players-of-the-season-so-far-alexander-arnold-traore-ronaldo-grealish

[Olé Olé]

It's a bit of a gimmicky feature, but Duffy gets a mention here as Brighton's best player so far this season:
https://www.football365.com/news/feature-premier-league-players-of-the-season-so-far-alexander-arnold-traore-ronaldo-grealish

Gimicky but based on cold hard stats!

[Diggs246]

Gimicky but based on cold hard stats!

Its show you, never give in and believe in yourself... fair play to him

[Colbert Report]

Dropped today for the match against Manchester City after playing every minute in the league for Brighton so far this season. Anyone know why?

[seanfhear]

Brighton ( at home ) are 3-0 down after 31 minutes so if it was for tactical reasons then it does not seem to be going too well.

[Philly]

They started with 4 at the back for a change. It didn't go well.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Hey Duffy you arent streetwise bro. You shouldnt go to the floor on that. Never do that. Thats why I think Egan is way better than Duffy as libero. Egan surely wouldnt do that lame ass on the floor wave goodbye as Duffy did he would have stood and when the cut inside clear it up. Egan is more like Kevin Moran when Duffy is more like Mick McCarthy.
Now Duffy stomped on Broja as revenge.