Shane Duffy D Norwich b.1992

[Predator]

There's a line on a Fulham fan website commenting on the game that said: "Even before his second half heroics, Shane looked majestic at the heart of defence - calm, stoical, vigilant."

It seems he played how you might expect an accomplished, 55-cap international who has regularly tussled with the best attackers in the world, to play.

In the last few years, a narrative has set in that Duffy can't or could never play football, that he is lucky if he completes a pass, but it is a myth. He has a mistake in him like any defender, but the truth is that Duffy's distribution (see irishfan86's diagonal ball) and reading of the game have been features of his game since he made his debut for Everton in the Europa League at 17. His out-and-out defensive attributes are indeed his trademark, but that doesn't mean the other side of his game is necessarily bad. He wouldn't have played so many games for Stephen Kenny if that was remotely true, nor would he have excelled when he got back into the Brighton team following the Celtic shambles.

If he gets a run of games for Fulham in the Premier League and plays well, I think he is right back in the conversation to start - and captain - the team.

[Eirambler]

Its nice words from them and everything, but I'd say Fulham will let him go on a free at the end of the season to be honest. I've seen him pass the ball straight to opposing attackers under minimal pressure, I've seen him give the ball straight to them with his first touch, because it landed about three yards away from him, and then get himself booked trying to slide tackle to get the ball back from his earlier mistake. I've seen him play 50 yard cross field balls that have re-entered the earth's orbit about 15 yards over the touchline. All while playing for Ireland.

It's not like every pass he makes is a disaster or anything, his pass completion rates (one of the most overused stats in football) are probably fine. It's that he's constantly a mistake waiting to happen, and he doesn't seem to even need to be under that much pressure to make the mistake.

Fulham trust him so much that they've given him 4 minutes of Premier League game time all season. That says it all really. I'm sure Kenny will probably have him in the squad for March because, well, Kenny, but he has no business being in our starting team and his remaining days in the squad are limited too I'd say.

[JR89]

Signs a three year contract with Norwich.

[seanfhear]

Signs a three year contract with Norwich.
3 years is good going. I would been expecting a two year deal somewhere.

[pineapple stu]

Really is.

Though added competition for Omobamidele now, so hopefully it isn't a case of one or the other

[seanfhear]

Really is.

Though added competition for Omobamidele now, so hopefully it isn't a case of one or the other
Maybe a sign that Omobamidele is going to be sold !

[Razors left peg]

Maybe a sign that Omobamidele is going to be sold !

I think thats almost definitely the case

[JR89]

What surprised me about the three year deal is that he accepted it. Thought he'd only go for a two year deal which might have left his options open to get a better move.

Grant Hanley likely out for awhile and them needing to use Omobamidele to raise funds if he pushed for a three year deal I'd say they couldn't afford to say no. Don't think they could have gotten a better defender than Duffy for free. Beggers can't be choosers as they say

[John83]

He'll be Norwich's player of the season next year. This is a great move for them.

[JR89]

He'll be Norwich's player of the season next year. This is a great move for them.

If I was a betting man I'd put money on it. Norwich complained about how players looked uninterested at times. How they didn't care. Duffy is going there with a point to prove. To regain his Ireland spot and can see him putting in some big performances for Norwich.

[seanfhear]

I hope for the best.

[Colbert Report]

Why was Shane Duffy not in the squad, does anyone know? For the Greece and Gibraltar matches.

[SkStu]

Because he doesn’t play games.

[Colbert Report]

We could have used him tonight, would have given us the long ball option. He's always done well for us.

[SkStu]

He’s a bit of a liability at the back (second touch is usually a lunge). He has scored important goals for us but it’s not the issue.

[Predator]

It's interesting that Matt Doherty, who has barely kicked a ball this year, was included in the squad and even played the whole game. Clearly, lack of playing time doesn't always matter to Kenny, but the dearth of alternatives in that position plays a part.

By the way, Duffy is no more of a liability than any other of our CBs and is arguably the best out-and-out defender we have. Like anyone, he is at his best when he is playing regularly, so hopefully the Norwich move brings that.

He is not only vastly experienced, but he has pulled Ireland out of the fire on many occasions with his blocks, big goals and interventions. He is the only player in recent years that I have heard opponents talk about with genuine fear (the Danes). The squad definitely misses the battle-hardened qualities of players like Duffy and Coleman.

[pineapple stu]

An own goal to mark his Norwich debut, a 6-1 win over Kings Lynn. Went to head the ball back to his keeper but looped it over him instead

[Stuttgart88]

I commented on this in the Idah thread. I'm not sure Krul was blameless tbh. The clip doesn't show when Krul started to come out.

[nigel-harps1954]

I commented on this in the Idah thread. I'm not sure Krul was blameless tbh. The clip doesn't show when Krul started to come out.

I thought similar. Points more towards a lack of clear communication.

[Predator]

Bizarrely, the Norwich left-back heads the initial long ball into his own danger zone instead of clear or into midfield. Then Gibson appears to tell Duffy to head back to Krul, who is inexplicably running off his line towards the ball despite the lack of pressure. A few crossed wires there it seems.

[Predator]

Another 60 minutes in the tank and a clean sheet against Darmstadt. Andrew Omobamidele came on for him.

[Predator]

Has subsequently played in the 0-0 draw with Kaiserslauten, the 1-1 draw against AZ and got 80 minutes in the 2-0 win over Toulouse. He was given the captain's armband when Ben Gibson went off for Andrew Omobamidele after 40 minutes in that match. A good sign after just a few weeks at a new club.

[Predator]

Assist and clean sheet in Norwich's final pre-season game against Olympiacos.

Just before the 2min-mark here

https://youtu.be/EajBgYSp_qg

[seanfhear]

Duffy is a great target and looking very fit there ~ Always a danger from set pieces.

[Predator]

Recovered from a goal-costing mix-up with Gibson to put in a good overall display for Norwich in their opening day win over Hull City. Hit the post with a header, endeared himself to Norwich fans with a tactical foul on Aaron Connolly and played his part in some decent build-up play high up the pitch, which should please Stephen Kenny. Highlights here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ-v9Fm335c).

David Wagner spoke about the mix-up after the game: "Our centre-halves needed to solve the situation a lot better, but how the two guys - and the whole team - reacted was just great and this is how it should be."

[Predator]

He and Omobamidele kept a clean sheet vs QPR in the League Cup. Duffy wore the armband in the second half.

Spoke about the game, the squad and getting time on the pitch again here - he said he asked not to be rested for the cup.

BBC - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0g75rvc

Norwich in-house - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzUWIDNCoUo

talkSPORT/Ian Abrahams - https://www.instagram.com/p/CwBgP6ZtFrV/

[tetsujin1979]

reached 300 career starts at the weekend
1696130540963860670

[Predator]

Live on Sky last night as Norwich lost 2-0 to a strong Leicester team (at that level). Despite the defeat, Duffy's performance was a bright spot and merited a rating of 9/10 from Norwich site PinkUn. Almost got an equaliser (see here: https://twitter.com/TalkNorwichCity/status/1704625952112644119) and showed his passing range with a fizzed forward ball early in the game to Gibbs. Started an attack with a great tackle on Iheanacho high up the pitch and got back to snuff out the counter too.

Adam Idah replaced Ashley Barnes shortly after half time, but didn't have much joy and came in for some criticism afterwards on a BBC football phone-in programme (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0gb9lwj).

Highlights here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aT-x1vHDoM

[pineapple stu]

First club goal in more than two years today, at home against Leeds. Little bit of a surprising stat, but then he did spend most of 2022 and the first half of 2023 on the Brighton or Fulham benches. He's scored three goals for Ireland since his last club goal.

[pineapple stu]

Just like buses, another Duffy goal comes along straight away.

Shame this one's at the wrong end though...

[pineapple stu]

Given a rating of 2 in a fairly scathing set of ratings (https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwich-city/23902685.norwich-city-1-3-blackburn-rovers-match-report-player-ratings/) from today's game against Blackburn. Was subbed off after an hour.

Idah was on the bench for the full 90. Suspect there's a new manager on the way though; Norwich are in freefall.

[Predator]

Pretty harsh rating IMO, but Norwich were a shambles all over the pitch today and nothing seemed to go their way, so you can see why the fans are so ****ed off. Passes weren't sticking at all, the defence was stretched and given no protection. They barely created any chances and at one point they played a hard-earned corner straight out - it didn't even reach the front post! That really summed them up. Wagner made four changes at the hour, with Duffy being one of them. I suspect Warner's superior pace and the fact Duffy was on a yellow (which itself was very harsh too) informed the decision. It almost looked like he switched to a back two with McLean dropping into the CB position at times to make it three. It was desperate, last-throw-of-the-dice stuff.

Tomasson has Blackburn set up in an ultra attacking formation and they were so clinical on the counter, though Norwich were very loose and porous. From an Irish perspective, Andy Moran was excellent, particularly for the third goal, and Szmodics took his goals well.

[Predator]

A goal, couple of decent interceptions and timely tackles in Duffy's end-of-year highlight reel. He wins the ball high up the pitch pretty often and you can see how physically powerful he is. Duffy's reading of the game has been one of his strengths over his career, which he maybe doesn't get enough credit for.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1fAl2Is5d5/

[seanfhear]

Beast of Derry stuff.

[Eirambler]

Feel like the manager choice is more important for Duffy than almost any other player. I could see a Hughton type building a deep lying defence around him. A Carsley type mightn't even have him in the squad.

[seanfhear]

Feel like the manager choice is more important for Duffy than almost any other player. I could see a Hughton type building a deep lying defence around him. A Carsley type mightn't even have him in the squad.
He is that type of player alright. One manager might fancy him and another one wouldn't like him at all.

[Jolly Red Giant]

He is that type of player alright. One manager might fancy him and another one wouldn't like him at all.
Duffy is a good player if you don't play a high line and expect him to play out from the back - and every PL club is doing that these days - which is why he is in the Championship and why he is doing a good job.

[Predator]

Back starting for Norwich yesterday after his injury layoff and helped them to a clean sheet in a 1-0 win against arch rivals Ipswich.

[Predator]

Another clean sheet and win for Norwich today as they took a step closer to the playoffs. Six points between them and Hull, who have a game in hand.

[Predator]

Clearly held in high regard by David Wagner, as the beginning of this interview with BBC's Canary Call after Norwich's away win over Preston shows:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0hqwpz7

[EalingGreen]

"A Norwich City footballer has been charged with driving while unfit through drink following a two-vehicle crash, police said.

Shane Duffy, 32, was arrested in Hethersett, near Norwich, late on Monday.

No-one was injured.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw0vl28zn82o

[JR89]

If he wasn't a footballer I fully believe this lad would be working a job that mainly involved pulling and dragging for a living. Because he's got rocks for brains.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Idiotic behaviour. Previously done for speeding too.

[Eirambler]

Might be the right time to fully move on from him now in terms of the international team. His behaviour isn't good enough off the field and his football isn't good enough on it. Realistically we probably have six or seven better options in his position at this point anyway. Even just comparing his time at Celtic to how Scales is doing there and what would Scales be, maybe our sixth choice centre back?

[zero]

taxi(s) for duffy.

he had some fine performances for us but yes, I think his race is run for the national team.

[liamoo11]

taxi(s) for duffy.

he had some fine performances for us but yes, I think his race is run for the national team.

I was only thinking last week how well thongs had gone for him since he got back from.injury a few months ago

[seanfhear]

I was only thinking last week how well thongs had gone for him since he got back from.injury a few months ago
At his age ~ This carry on ~ Time of the year for Norwich ~ It's not a good carry-on / look !

[CraftyToePoke]

I was only thinking last week how well thongs had gone for him since he got back from.injury a few months ago

His thong isn't looking great this evening liamoo11. He's in a right bunch and hard to see how he wriggles out of this one.

[punkrocket]

Thongs fall apart, the centre cannot hold.

[third policeman]

Thongs fall apart, the centre cannot hold.

And what rough beast, it’s hour come round at last slouches towards Norwich Magistrate’s Court to be sentenced.