Damien Duff

[DannyInvincible]

Duff's goal against Manchester United yesterday:


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xt1w24_m1-0f-www-fasthighlights-com_sport#from=embediframe

Good presence and movement from Duff to leave Ashley Young in his wake. Was well-worked.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Aye, but he's gone. What ET said about him
Good luck to The Duffer.

[Charlie Darwin]

Duff's goal against Manchester United yesterday:


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xt1w24_m1-0f-www-fasthighlights-com_sport#from=embediframe

Good presence and movement from Duff to leave Ashley Young in his wake. Was well-worked.
Fulham try that move quite often, actually, always with Duff. I think he's scored 2 or 3 times from it.

[elroy]

Cant imagine Duffer getting into management, coaching or tv/journalistic work. When he retires, I suspect that it is the last most of us will see of him in the public. Knowing Duffer, he'll probably head off for a nice long sleep.

[BonnieShels]

Duffer being interviewed on Off The Ball after 9o'clock.

[BonnieShels]

Interview on now

[EastTerracer]

Interview on now

The interview is available here in part 3 of the 30th August show (http://www.newstalk.ie/programmes/all/offtheball/listen-back/). Duffer's interview starts about 27 minutes in.

Very revealing interview - typical Duffer stuff. He says he definitely wants to play League of Ireland.

He also says he had made up his mind to retire before the European Championships. Trap tried over a couple of weeks to persuade him to stay and he nearly changed his mind but ultimately, he listened to his gut.

[NeverFeltBetter]

The interview is available here in part 3 of the 30th August show (http://www.newstalk.ie/programmes/all/offtheball/listen-back/). Duffer's interview starts about 27 minutes in.

Very revealing interview - typical Duffer stuff. He says he definitely wants to play League of Ireland.

He also says he had made up his mind to retire before the European Championships. Trap tried over a couple of weeks to persuade him to stay and he nearly changed his mind but ultimately, he listened to his gut.

I think we could make room for him on the left. :p

[Murfinator]

Interesting he says that he decided to retire before the Euros and that Trap was very convincing in trying to get him to change his mind that it had him wavering on the decision. Once again our media don't have a notion and blame their ignorance on Trap, gutter journalists from the likes of the Herald were churning out reports of his commitment literally 10 hours before his retirement and naturally have the nerve now to claim Trap is poor at communication. :cool:

[geysir]

It's pretty clear that even the IT made up stuff around Duff to indicate he was not retiring.
It's also clear that most of the other journalists make up stuff to show Trap up as a doddery old fool, lost in a fantasy world of his own making,
which people swallow hl&s as a truth, because the team & Trap's tactics/loyalty hit a brick wall at the Euros.

[osarusan]

It's pretty clear that even the IT made up stuff around Duff to indicate he was not retiring.
Do you have any examples of this? I'd be surprised if the IT did that kind of thing.

[jbyrne]

Do you have any examples of this? I'd be surprised if the IT did that kind of thing.

i am not sure they made any of this up but they did pen this back in July...

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2012/0703/1224319308042.html

[osarusan]

Almost everything comes from direct quotes though, and I seriously doubt the IT would make those up. If we are to accept that he actually said what he is quoted as saying, there's every reason to believe he wouldn't be retiring a month later.

It contradicts what he said on Newstalk about having made up his mind to retire and sticking to it even after Trap's attempts to change his mind, but maybe he himself just changed his mind about retirement.

[jbyrne]

Almost everything comes from direct quotes though, and I seriously doubt the IT would make those up. If we are to accept that he actually said what he is quoted as saying, there's every reason to believe he wouldn't be retiring a month later.

It contradicts what he said on Newstalk about having made up his mind to retire and sticking to it even after Trap's attempts to change his mind, but maybe he himself just changed his mind about retirement.

i heard the Newstalk interview last night and if you take all what Duffer says from back as far as June then there are certainly inconsistencies when you hear what he said last night.

if his form continues as he has started this season then I wouldnt be shocked to see him back

[paul_oshea]

It's pretty clear that even the IT made up stuff around Duff to indicate he was not retiring.
It's also clear that most of the other journalists make up stuff to show Trap up as a doddery old fool, lost in a fantasy world of his own making,
which people swallow hl&s as a truth, because the team & Trap's tactics/loyalty hit a brick wall at the Euros.

Unless you have some magic ball looking in on things or mystic powers then you can't assume to know anymore.

We can only form opinions based on the facts that are presented to us.

[paul_oshea]

Almost everything comes from direct quotes though, and I seriously doubt the IT would make those up. If we are to accept that he actually said what he is quoted as saying, there's every reason to believe he wouldn't be retiring a month later.

It contradicts what he said on Newstalk about having made up his mind to retire and sticking to it even after Trap's attempts to change his mind, but maybe he himself just changed his mind about retirement.

Remember when he was asked around the Euros about retiring and said the time is not now. If he wasn't thinking of retiring then he would have come out and said "i'm not retiring, ill definitely be playing the WCQs if selected"...or words to such effect. He was obviously thinking back then. Perhaps he was 50/50, perhaps 70/30, who knows.

[EastTerracer]

Almost everything comes from direct quotes though, and I seriously doubt the IT would make those up. If we are to accept that he actually said what he is quoted as saying, there's every reason to believe he wouldn't be retiring a month later.

It contradicts what he said on Newstalk about having made up his mind to retire and sticking to it even after Trap's attempts to change his mind, but maybe he himself just changed his mind about retirement.

Duff actually addressed the Irish Times quotes indirectly as Ken Early did ask him about the quotes from the Lebanon trip.

Duff said his intention was to say he would play football until he dropped but he didn't necessarily mean the Irish team. He said he was surprised to see what was written in the papers and said it was a misunderstanding.

The Irish Independent version of the same conversation in Lebanon was more accurate as it suggested that Damien wasn't making any commitments.

I heard the interview last night and don't think there are any inconsistencies other than a misunderstanding by a couple of journalists (not all of them) about what Duff was trying to say when he was out in Lebanon.

[Stuttgart88]

Anyone else think it's funny (not funny conpsiratorial, just funny) that all the ads for the Oman friendly on 11/9 picture Duffer?

[Murfinator]

For those hoping for a comeback there's probably more chance with Duff than Given. Was interesting in his interview that he mentioned his reasons for quitting being unspecific and just feeling it was the right time. Said he wasn't having any fitness problems, wasn't feeling age, playing twice a week didn't bother him and time away from his family wasn't a problem. When mentioning the LOI as well it sounded like he still has many plans in the game and will play deep into his 30's too.

Given's reasons were a lot more specific related to concerns of his age, workload and general fitness.

[Murfinator]

Anyone else think it's funny (not funny conpsiratorial, just funny) that all the ads for the Oman friendly on 11/9 picture Duffer?

I suppose for the marketing people making those if they wanted to advertise one of the 4 big stars who'd be there of them all Duff was seen as the most likely. Reminds me of a bit of this banner Lifestyle had before the rugby world cup. Luke Fitzgerald and Thomas O Leary weren't selected for the squad and David Wallace pulled out injured.

http://cf.broadsheet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/poster.jpg

[DannyInvincible]

Anyone else think it's funny (not funny conpsiratorial, just funny) that all the ads for the Oman friendly on 11/9 picture Duffer?

If anything, it's some sort of sick joke!

[Charlie Darwin]

Fulham have just, surprisingly, signed Kieran Richardson from Sunderland. Not sure what this means for Duffer.

[the bear]

Fulham have just, surprisingly, signed Kieran Richardson from Sunderland. Not sure what this means for Duffer.

New man to clean his boots!!

I'd be more worried about Kellys place in team, Richardson been playing at LB a lot recently, although maybe thats why he wanted to move

[Charlie Darwin]

I think that was solely because Sunderland have no full backs. Kelly seems to have lost his place at RB this season anyway.

[geysir]

Almost everything comes from direct quotes though, and I seriously doubt the IT would make those up. If we are to accept that he actually said what he is quoted as saying, there's every reason to believe he wouldn't be retiring a month later.

It contradicts what he said on Newstalk about having made up his mind to retire and sticking to it even after Trap's attempts to change his mind, but maybe he himself just changed his mind about retirement.
Duff says himself that his comments made in the Lebanon of playing until he drops were 'lost in translation'.
One can sensibly deduct that his comment of 'playing until he drops' were made in reference to playing football.
The IT expanded that, to more or less give the impression, that he would 'play until he drops' for Ireland.

If the IT did not make stuff up, then they managed to construct a news story, based on a web of their own misinterpretations.

[osarusan]

One can sensibly deduct that his comment of 'playing until he drops' were made in reference to playing football.

One doesn't need to deduce anything now that he has stated he was talking about football in general.

But given the direct quotes in the IT article:

"I don’t think I’m really interested in anything else. Fulham, Ireland, if I end up in the Airtricity League, the Leinster Senior League. I’m going to do all that."

“At the minute I’m still an Ireland player,” he said. “I never brought it up that I was thinking about retirement. I’ve spoken to Giovanni and Marco (Tardelli) and at the moment I’m still available.”

I think Duff himself gave the impression that he would continue to play for Ireland - it wasn't the IT expanding his comments, and it is certainly unfair to say it is 'clear that even the IT are making stuff up', unless your post refers to some other article(s) in the IT.

[geysir]

I think Duff himself gave the impression that he would continue to play for Ireland - it wasn't the IT expanding his comments,
It appears that Duff gave that gave impression as reported in the IT.
Duff says his comments were lost in translation.
The Indo journo who is their security correspondent, appears to have grasped the closest interpretation of what Duff actually said in context, while in the Lebanon.



and it is certainly unfair to say it is 'clear that even the IT are making stuff up', unless your post refers to some other article(s) in the IT.
Did you miss my last post where I had changed that to
"if the IT did not make stuff up, then they managed to construct a news story, based on a web of their own misinterpretations"

[Charlie Darwin]

I think it's an honest mistake that could have been avoided. Duff said a) he'll go on playing as long as possible and b) he was coy when asked if he would retire from Ireland. The IT just put 2 + 2 together and got 4 1/2.

[geysir]

Who knows what transpired, who was really there to listen to the Duff Q&A session in the Lebanon? but Brady the Indo security correspondent (who called him Mr Duff) was certainly more cautious as ET pointed out. The IT got their wires crossed between two different worlds, retirement from football and retirement from international football. Brady was able to differentiate and caught onto that Duff was still mulling over the issue of the Intl retirement and as we now know in ongoing talks with the 'management'.

[osarusan]

It appears that Duff gave that gave impression as reported in the IT.
Duff says his comments were lost in translation.
The Indo journo who is their security correspondent, appears to have grasped the closest interpretation of what Duff actually said in context, while in the Lebanon.


You've changed your tune, haven't you?


That Indo article from July 3rd pales into comparison with the IT's comprehensive report based on listening to what Duff said, recording his comments leaving no doubt to the interpretation.

[geysir]

Of course I changed my tune :)
I don't hold onto baseless opinions after it transpires clearly that they were baseless.
That was just the fan in me, wanting to believe the report that Duff was not retiring, ET was much more circumspect.

[Paddy Garcia]

Can you retire from serving your country?

Even the likes of Aldo and Cascarino played on, not to mention Paul McGrath with his dodgy knees!

[EastTerracer]

Dion Fanning has an interview with Damien Duff in today's SIndo (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/dayo-to-duffer-and-back-again-3216899.html). It's very much along the same lines as the NewsTalk interview from Thursday.

[tricky_colour]

Dion Fanning has an interview with Damien Duff in today's SIndo (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/dayo-to-duffer-and-back-again-3216899.html). It's very much along the same lines as the NewsTalk interview from Thursday.

Interesting read, I think the important thing is that he thinks it is the right time for him and what others think does not really matter, after all
he has to be happy in his own mind about his decision, the annoying thing for me is that he seems to playing the best football of his career,
he has certainly been knocking the goals, in something he was not particularly renown for. However maybe he is playing so well because he has
retired from internationals and concentrate on club football.
I also knew I would be referencing a new found stats site at some point and now seems as good as time as ever.
http://www.squawka.com/players/damien-duff

His performance score is 316 ( or 220 depending on which you chose to use), that's the highest I have found so far although I
have only looked at a few players. The red blob next to the 316 is nearly all red, there is a tiny bit of black at the top.

Van Perse gets scores of only 208 (and 146) for example - I feel even more annoyed now!!!

[Murfinator]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2012/0903/336125-tardelli-hoping-duff-can-be-tempted-back/

Tardelli plans to speak with Duff and hopes he can convince him to return for Ireland in time for the Germany game.
Would be wonderful if he could but sounds like wishful thinking.

[Stuttgart88]

Yep, we need more players with experience of being spanked by the big guns :)

[Murfinator]

Yep, we need more players with experience of being spanked by the big guns :)

Duff's record against Germany is 1W 1D and 1L so I certainly wouldn't mind that experience.

[ArdeeBhoy]

The Germans don't think they'll spank us though...

[Charlie Darwin]

Tardelli thinks Duff can be talked out of it: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2012/0903/336125-tardelli-hoping-duff-can-be-tempted-back/

[geysir]

With no one rushing to Villa Pk, Shay is probably feeling a little forsaken.

[Murfinator]

With no one rushing to Villa Pk, Shay is probably feeling a little forsaken.

Given had legitimate reasons behind his retirement, his fitness, the fact that he's contracted until 39 and a possible form decline in recent times. Duff is going through a period of his best form and fitness in recent times and had no reason for quitting other than feeling "the time was right". As well you can compensate for a weaker GK by just not conceding shots. Impossible to compensate for your best player in possession.

Though it may be the case that Trap was planning on replacing Given regardless and isn't too bothered whereas he wasn't planning to replace Duff for this campaign.

[Murfinator]

Trap is due to speak to Duff tonight so we may have some definitive news tomorrow.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2012/0911/337146-doyle-duff-wont-reverse-international-retirement/

Doyle thinks its a lost cause.

[SkStu]

Trap is due to speak to Duff tonight so we may have some definitive news tomorrow.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2012/0911/337146-doyle-duff-wont-reverse-international-retirement/

Doyle thinks its a lost cause.

he'll probably convince him to come back and then drop him indefinitely for dodging the Serbia, Kazakhstan and Oman games...

[Murfinator]

he'll probably convince him to come back and then drop him indefinitely for dodging the Serbia, Kazakhstan and Oman games...

Ironically the last man he convinced to come out of retirement (Steve Finnan) was never selected after his "return".

[Colbert Report]

What ever happened to Finnan? Never got picked up by any club, surely he was good enough to play in the lower leagues, no?

[Murfinator]

What ever happened to Finnan? Never got picked up by any club, surely he was good enough to play in the lower leagues, no?

Presume he just had enough, everyone expected him to move on after Portsmouth. He had done well there but because of their financial situation they couldn't afford him. His last game was the FA cup final if I remember right. He'd have got a 1 year deal in a top league or 2 years in a lower league no problem, must have just not wanted it. Never officially retired.

[Murfinator]

Trap's comments today both dismissed the possibility of Brady and McClean starting against Germany. That's either very good news because Duff is returning or very bad news if he's considering keeping Cox out wide.

[Diarmo]

Ironically the last man he convinced to come out of retirement (Steve Finnan) was never selected after his "return".

Yes he was. He started the away games against Georgia and Montenegro in 2008 before he got injured playing for Espanyol.

[Diarmo]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/georgia-1-republic-of-ireland-2-reid-thrives-on-new-partnership-with-whelan-922539.html

Interesting to note that all of our still active players that played have changed clubs since then, with the exception of Whelan.
Spain just beat Georgia 1-0 away yesterday. Perhaps we're not as bad as we think.

[elroy]

Trap's comments today both dismissed the possibility of Brady and McClean starting against Germany. That's either very good news because Duff is returning or very bad news if he's considering keeping Cox out wide.

What is the logic of the man coming out today and saying McClean wont start against Germany?!? Like what good does it do, for either party?!?