Damien Duff

[elroy]

Great finish alright, just picked a knee injury now, hopefully nothing more than a knock.

[Stuttgart88]

Seemed ok at the end, not even a limp.

[NeilMcD]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/damien-duff-is-back-where-he-belongs-1885274.html

[Plastic Paddy]

Exactly. He lost all credibility when he said Duff had a good shot!

My missus said earlier this afternoon that Duff had no shot on him about, oooh, ten seconds before he lashed the winner from twenty-five yards out! :D

:ball: PP

[Stuttgart88]

My missus said exactly that about Duff earlier this afternoon about, oooh, ten seconds before he lashed the winner from twenty-five yards out! I watched it on TV and as sonn as it went in I thought "typical. Just after I criticise his shot!". Still, Duff himself said he shanked it so I'm vindicated.

[shakermaker1982]

I loved how Gray was giving a little dig about Duff playing on the right (i.e. left footed player on the right and how they always want to cut inside. Comment was just after Duff lost the ball after getting surrounded by 2 or 3 players) and low and behold about 10 minutes later he scores!!

I did nearly have a heart attack when he went down injured.

[Murfinator]

Same, duffer is indispensable to us at this stage of the campaign.

[Razors left peg]

Hope those that were saying that he is passed it and doesnt deserve his place in the Ireland team are starting to reconsider their opinion

[passinginterest]

My missus said earlier this afternoon that Duff had no shot on him about, oooh, ten seconds before he lashed the winner from twenty-five yards out! :D

:ball: PP


I watched it on TV and as sonn as it went in I thought "typical. Just after I criticise his shot!". Still, Duff himself said he shanked it so I'm vindicated.

Never realised you two were a couple ;)

[youngirish]

Never realised you two were a couple ;)

What's more it looks lke Stutts is the taker in the relationship.

[Stuttgart88]

I shudder to think what YI's deleted post said about me!

[youngirish]

I shudder to think what YI's deleted post said about me!

It was a duplicate Stutts of the other one - it got posted twice so you can rest easily again.

[irishfan86]

Passinginterests post was funny, YI's was just a page out of the try-hard book.

[dr_peepee]

Passinginterests post was funny, YI's was just a page out of the try-hard book.

Oooh.. Saucer of milk. Table 2...

[M@ttitude]

I just read the first page of this thread from 2003 when Duff was named in some UEFA team of the year thing! Very funny stuff. Even at his best, we Irish weren't happy. He had just had a great world cup and was playing with Chelsea and considered the best winger in England, if not Europe but Definitely Ireland yet people even considered Wes Houlihan as better than him!!

[paul_oshea]

That was a LOI supporter, dont include them, htey have a deluded sense of reality ;)

[NeilMcD]

That was a LOI supporter, dont include them, htey have a deluded sense of reality ;)

as opposted to bog ball fans who somehow think they are experts about football.

[paul_oshea]

Yes exactly Neil.

[Closed Account]

Uh oh,

Just been substituted injured for Fulham. Didn't see exactly the problem but he was shaking his head. Very worrysome.

[tetsujin1979]

just described as a "leg injury" on Today FM

[Noelys Guitar]

Calf and did not look good.

[The Legend]

if he's out and Reid gets no call up (and he wont).... well that just ****es me off.

[NeilMcD]

Considering the squad is 27 and it will have to be reduced anyway, I dont think that there will be a replacement for Duff.

[Murfinator]

Duff is our most influential player aside from Given. Massive blow if there's anything to it, and now I'm worried about our world cup prospects. :(

[EastTerracer]

Duff is our most influential player aside from Given. Massive blow if there's anything to it, and now I'm worried about our world cup prospects. :(

ahead of 40-goal Robbie Keane???? I love Duff but I think we have cover for the coming games if required.

[Colbert Report]

Massive blow for us if he's not fit for the upcoming matches, especially given McGeady's injury worries. Hunt is a hard worker but not very creative. Who will play right wing if Duff and McGeady are both out? Liam Lawrence?

[fu1ham]

I was at the match today and DD went off after about 10 minutes. I'd say he was either carrying an injury, or it was an old one that reappeared. Either way, he's got to be very doubtful for 10/10. Probably an 8-weeker, so possibly fit for the play-offs, should we make them.

[tetsujin1979]

early word is it's a problem with his calf muscle

[SUB of the day]

Irish Times site now reporting results of todays scan, not good, "up to 3 weeks out"

[Park_Lane]

We're really picking up a few injurys now - Duff, Folan and Mcgeedy. Hopefully no more are added to that list.

[Colbert Report]

Irish Times site now reporting results of todays scan, not good, "up to 3 weeks out"

No! We'll be lucky to have him in match shape for the play-off fixtures.

[macdermesser]

Fulham winger Damien Duff's calf injury is not as bad as first feared. The 30-year-old limped out of Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal after only nine minutes and will miss Thursday's Europa League match with Basel. However, he is expected to be fit for the visit of Roma on 22 October. (Daily Express)


Hard to tell if that means he will be available for us ...

[RonnieB]

I really hope he is fit for us but I sadly doubt it.

[Crosby87]

For arguments sake if we dont make it, I think there is a possibility that these 2 playoff games could be the last time we see DD in green, assuming he is healthy to play in them. I just feel like he is going to hang it up and concentrate on whats left of his pro career...
Thoughts?
I also wonder where he would rank all time in the Irish International set up if he were to retire internationally. Upper tier of players? Middle?

[irishultra]

Nope, international football is all he has really. Without it hes just an obscure nobody. He needs us more than we need him.

[irishfan86]

I think Duff will play for us as long as he is in the starting XI. If he gets dropped, I'd imagine he'd retire.

[irishultra]

He is not a pivotal player anymore. Like if he retired I wouldn't be in a rush to do a Czech Republic on it like they did with Nedved and call him up for major tournaments.

He's a useful player but its really on McGeadys shoulders now to take over Duff legacy. Can he do it?

[Predator]

He's a useful player but its really on McGeadys shoulders now to take over Duff legacy. Can he do it?
No.

McGeady needs to step up his game soon, or I doubt he'll do much more improving. He can beat a man, but he should have the courage to take more shots and he desperately needs to sort out his delivery.

[Junior]

No.

McGeady needs to step up his game soon, or I doubt he'll do much more improving. He can beat a man, but he should have the courage to take more shots and he desperately needs to sort out his delivery.

Id agree with that. Weve seen significant improvement in this campaign. Lovely skill, control, ability to beat a man but a few decent balls whipped in at pace and a few stinging efforts giving the keeper some work to do would not go a miss.

Hes on 29 caps now I read in the programme last night.

[Yard of Pace]

I think Duffer has another few years left in him. He's not so quick anymore, sure, but his feet are good and he's simply brilliant at winning free-kicks, he's so clever.

[SkStu]

Duffer with a man of the match performance against Hull tonight. Assist for the goal and tormented the Hull defence all evening. Standing ovation from the Fulham faithful. Good to see.

[Reality Bites]

Hopefully he keeps it up and doesn't get injured, great asset against a dodgy french defence!

[irishfan86]

Hopefully he keeps it up and doesn't get injured, great asset against a dodgy french defence!

I don't think they're that dodgy...Evra, Gallas, Abidal, Sagna? Sounds pretty good to me...

[elroy]

Cant see Duffer quitting international football, the same guy when injured actually travels to support the team away from home, no chance.

[BigmanCas]

A legend - can't believe how he didn't get man of the match against Hull last night - the stand out player on the pitch!!! The move away from Newcastle is an obvious weight of his shoulders.

[irishfan86]

I think he's really benefiting from playing in a footballing side with a decent structure that has the ability to hold on to the ball and pass it around.

Newcastle was just a disaster and he never got quality service. Spent more time defending than in attack, where he's at his best.

[Stuttgart88]

What are the odds on him staying fiit for both games? I just can't help feel he'll get another knock. We never seem to have him when we need him.

[SuperDave]

I don't think they're that dodgy...Evra, Gallas, Abidal, Sagna? Sounds pretty good to me...

All four on yellow cards..... BELIEVE!

[tetsujin1979]

All four on yellow cards..... BELIEVE!
is there anything official about yellow cards being wiped out for the play offs?

[SuperDave]

is there anything official about yellow cards being wiped out for the play offs?

Given the fact the entire french back four are on yellows, it'll probably be announced in the next few days..... except only for first seeds.