Damien Duff

[paul_oshea]

Ah its tongue in cheek torn-ado its funny.

[irishultra]

According to today Indo there are a few Premiership clubs and 1 Bundesliga club interested in him. I dont follow German football very closely but Id much prefer to see Duff at a decent German club rather than at the likes of Stoke, Wolves or Hull... Although I still fully believe he could do a job for a top club in England if he had the right manager
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/ontarget-duff-rsquos-geordie-days-look-to-be-numbered-1855410.html

Hertha couldn't even afford Voronins wages FFS:D

I guess Bundesliga would be better for him, depending on the club, but I struggle to think of a club in the top 10 last season who he would fit into. A move to another country could rejunivate his career but who knows.

[Razors left peg]

Hertha couldn't even afford Voronins wages FFS:D

I guess Bundesliga would be better for him, depending on the club, but I struggle to think of a club in the top 10 last season who he would fit into. A move to another country could rejunivate his career but who knows.

Do you think Hertha tried very hard to afford Voronins wages?:)

[irishfan86]

Do you think Hertha tried very hard to afford Voronins wages?:)

All joking aside, he did very well for them.

[The Legend]

SSN - Duff on the move to the prem for 4m... club not named yet.

[paul_oshea]

Wolves anybody?

[The Legend]

i'd guess wolves too, Mick's a fan.

[Scram]

SSN - Duff on the move to the prem for 4m... club not named yet.

I wonder what they'll name the club?

But seriously! I'd say it's Villa

[DmanDmythDledge]

Sky Sports story (http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_5489257,00.html).

Doesn't give any extra info than what's already been posted though.

[Colbert Report]

I don't understand the four million pound bid. Surely Newcastle would be happy to let him go for nothing if another club was willing to pay his wages.

[tetsujin1979]

probably Wolves, possible Fulham (Hodgson gave Duff his debut at Blackburn). Best case scenario: Villa.

[irishfan86]

probably Wolves, possible Fulham (Hodgson gave Duff his debut at Blackburn). Best case scenario: Villa.

I don't know about Villa being best case scenario, unless Young is leaving.

Young, Milner, and Downing (when he returns) would all be ahead of him in the pecking order, and he wouldn't be more than a squad player for them.

I'd be okay with him being 3rd choice winger at Villa, but unless Young moves on, he'll only be 3rd choice until Downing is fit again.

[Umberside]

After watching him last weekend, I think he should be playing in the Premier League. I doubt Aston Villa would go for him, I think Wolves would be his best chance of first-team football.

[shakermaker1982]

Please let it be Fulham.

[Razors left peg]

Please let it be Fulham.

It is if ya believe The Sun...
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2587126/Hodgson-4m-raid-for-Duff.html

That would be a fabulous move for him.A team that play good football, great chance of being first choice, excellent manager and also playing in Europe.Really hope its true

[paul_oshea]

Great he is back in london if thats the case, so I actually have a reason to be down at fulham this season :D

[KK77]

Agent saying Fulham. To be honest i think it would be the best move for him.

[Duggie]

ya good move, be in the team most weeks id say.

[eirebhoy]

The Daily Mail said Duff rejected a move to Olympiakos.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/championship/newcastleunited/6026387/Fulham-lead-chase-for-Newcastle-winger-Damien-Duff.html

[Drumcondra 69er]

Agent saying Fulham. To be honest i think it would be the best move for him.

Talk Sport in the UK saying Fulham as well, not the most reliable station though.

I'd have liked to seen him at Wolves purely because of the Irish connection and his relationship with McCarthy but Fulham under Hodgson would be a decent move in fairness.

[Razors left peg]

Talk Sport in the UK saying Fulham as well, not the most reliable station though.

I'd have liked to seen him at Wolves purely because of the Irish connection and his relationship with McCarthy but Fulham under Hodgson would be a decent move in fairness.

Playing in europe would be much better for him than fighting another relegation battle with Wolves.
Seen an interview on Sky Sports last week where Mick was saying that he thinks they will have to change their tactics from last year and will probably play 5 in midfield so they are harder to beat. Really sound to me like they will go negative and I think having that mindset from the start means that its gonna be a long hard season for them.
On the other side of that Fulham are a well settled squad now under Hodgeson and while they are solid and hard to beat they play some nice football too that would suit Duffer perfectly

[tetsujin1979]

I don't know about Villa being best case scenario, unless Young is leaving.

Young, Milner, and Downing (when he returns) would all be ahead of him in the pecking order, and he wouldn't be more than a squad player for them.

I'd be okay with him being 3rd choice winger at Villa, but unless Young moves on, he'll only be 3rd choice until Downing is fit again.

probably not, but O'Neill has a long history of getting the best out of players. Think Downing has been earmarked to replace Barry in the centre of the park as well, for some reason

[tetsujin1979]

Hodgson confirms offer for Duff: http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_5490745,00.html

[tommy_c12000]

Fulham will be a good move for him at 30 years of age. He'll enjoy being back in London again

[DeLorean]

Fulham will be a good move for him at 30 years of age. He'll enjoy being back in London again

Yeah, hard to believe he's 30. Too old to be wasting his time in the Championship.

[Roo69]

It's pretty much a given that we will sign for Fulham. Heard this from a seriously good source earlier in the week when the story wasn't even in the press.

[Scram]

It's pretty much a given that we will sign for Fulham. Heard this from a seriously good source earlier in the week when the story wasn't even in the press.

Thanks for the heads up !!

Anyway! Fulham under Hodgson, great stuff. I wanted Hodgson as Irish manager, great record by all accounts.

Funny that nobody has anything negative to say about the move, there's usually at least one.

[DeLorean]

Funny that nobody has anything negative to say about the move, there's usually at least one.

He'd want his head examined to go to Fulham. They finished 7th last season so the only way is down and they'll all blame poor Duffer!! plus he'll be playing against better players so he won't look as good:D

[ken foree]

Playing in europe would be much better for him than fighting another relegation battle with Wolves.
Seen an interview on Sky Sports last week where Mick was saying that he thinks they will have to change their tactics from last year and will probably play 5 in midfield so they are harder to beat. Really sound to me like they will go negative and I think having that mindset from the start means that its gonna be a long hard season for them.
On the other side of that Fulham are a well settled squad now under Hodgeson and while they are solid and hard to beat they play some nice football too that would suit Duffer perfectly

that's a very good point razor's left peg, sure he was basically doing that with newcastle for the majority of the previous season and even ended up as a left back. i prefer to think of that dubious positional assignment as a testament to duff's professionalism and intelligence as a footballer, rather than an affirmation of his waning attacking powers. fulham, as hodgson has shown with other players (hangeland looked crap at first), should be an excellent move for him if it goes through.

[tricky_colour]

If it's Fulham it wil be good because there is not much Irish interest there although they have Stephen Kelly now too. I can't seem to recall any other Irish ever playing there but no doubt there have been.

[Jicked]

Steve Finnan played there for years from where he earned a move to Liverpool.

[irishultra]

I like :D Good move.

[SkStu]

fantastic move for Duff.

[Paddy Garcia]

If it's Fulham it wil be good because there is not much Irish interest there although they have Stephen Kelly now too. I can't seem to recall any other Irish ever playing there but no doubt there have been.

Timlin looked like he was going to break through at one point. You are right though not the strongest Irish heritage.

[Uncle_Joe]

im praying this comes true. Although I was trying to be optimistic about a year in the championship for Duff, he is still too good for that level.
A move to level is the perfect level for him, he can still handle himself against big teams, and gets to play in europe, playing with a stable club and with a decent manager who plays good football.
.... and you can always get a ticket for Fulham!:p

[Oink]

Looks like a done deal, great move... Hodgeson had him at Blackburn so he must have a specific plan in mind. Great manager is Hodgeson and a very positive atmosphere around the club, really happy for Duff.

[tetsujin1979]

Duff in London to finalise deal: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5491679,00.html

[elroy]

Good move and according to sky sports, he is going to london to finalise deal today.

Well that'll make two Irish at Fulham now, Duff and Kelly.

[fu1ham]

..isn't too shabby chaps: John Dempsey, Jimmy Conway, Ray Houghton, Gerry Peyton, Steve Finnan, just to name a few internationals. And Hammersmith was traditionally a big Irish destination , probably second only to Kilburn. Streamed the match today, Wilson looked very average , but Pompey look doomed. Can't wait to see Duffer, hope he gets on on Thursday.

[Razors left peg]

Not even on bench for Newcastle today so definately gone by looks of it

[Razors left peg]

Hodgson confirms Duff medical...
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5492798,00.html

[fu1ham]

Press conference today at 11am apparently. Probably on the bench Thursday , 20minutes play , half an hour against Chelsea on Sunday. Come on Damien!

[geysir]

Remember fu1ham, you lot are just paying through the roof in order to keep him fit for his bigger gig.

[fu1ham]

Took a 30% paycut to join. Still a great talent and capable of propelling Ireland to SA if he stays fit.

[Colbert Report]

30% pay cut? Surely he was signed on a free transfer then? Not the reported four million pound fee?

[Razors left peg]

30% pay cut? Surely he was signed on a free transfer then? Not the reported four million pound fee?

why would there be no fee, Spurs paid Newcastle 8 million for Bassong and Beye cost Villa around 3.5. 4million for Duffer sounds a reasonable price

[dr_peepee]

I believe... And I'm open to correction... That if you don't hand in a request you're entitled to have the balance of your contract paid up when you leave. That's probably where the fee came in to it. Fulham won't pay the wages so Duff takes a cut to go. Fulham pay Newcastle a fee. Newcastle in turn pay up the balance of his contract on the way out...

[Drumcondra 69er]

I believe... And I'm open to correction... That if you don't hand in a request you're entitled to have the balance of your contract paid up when you leave. That's probably where the fee came in to it. Fulham won't pay the wages so Duff takes a cut to go. Fulham pay Newcastle a fee. Newcastle in turn pay up the balance of his contract on the way out...

I think you're entitled to 10% of the fee if you haven't requested the transfer. You can always turn around and say you're not moving and sit out the rest of your contract which is where a settlement deal comes in. Plus there's usually loyalty bonuses etc that you may still be entitled to. Duffer's Newcastle contract was stuffed with extra payments on top of his weekly wage. That was how Newcastle got him for £5m, Chelsea wanted £10m off Liverpool but were prepared to sell him for half that to a team they didn't consider a rivial which meant Newcastle could basically spread the other £5m over the likes of Duff's signing on fee, loyalty bonuses etc. It was the only way Duff's salary at Newcastle came close to what he was earning at Chelsea, Liverpool weren't prepared to pay those sort of wages according to the reports at the time.

[gspain]

I believe... And I'm open to correction... That if you don't hand in a request you're entitled to have the balance of your contract paid up when you leave. That's probably where the fee came in to it. Fulham won't pay the wages so Duff takes a cut to go. Fulham pay Newcastle a fee. Newcastle in turn pay up the balance of his contract on the way out...

I think it is 5% of the transfer fee if you don't ask for a transfer.

His contract wouldn't be paid up as he doesn't have to leave. He could volunteer for a paycut to get back to the premeirship and also for more security in a longer contract.

Damien has never been motivated by money so I suspect he is just glad to be out of Newcastle. Fulham are a good club with a great manager and in europe too so a great opportunity. Great news for us imo.

[kennedmc]

Damien has never been motivated by money so I suspect he is just glad to be out of Newcastle.

Duffer has been one of our best players for almost 10 years now and has never given anything less than 100% for Ireland. However, why did he go to Newcastle if it wasn't for the cash? A player can still refuse to move to a club if he doesn't want to.