Damien Duff

[Murfinator]

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?!?

Because last time he turned up for a series of games not knowing if he'd start or not he handled the disappointment so maturely didn't he? It makes perfect sense to outline his place so he doesn't become a liability to morale again.

[Charlie Darwin]

Watching the highlights of Fulham-West Brom and Duff is looking absolutely dynamite, as he has did in Fulham's earlier games this season. I know it's only highlights but he seems to be in top form, and is even running at players at pace again, which I haven't seen him consistently do in a long time.

[Murfinator]

A few comments from friendsoffulham on his season so far:


he's been playing like a man possessed this season and obviously is thriving on the idea of playing with Berbatov and under Jol - it's almost like he seems to think we can really start going places with this team.


Playing as well as I've ever seen him in his career


Another busy performance from him, solid with a couple of really nice moments he appears to be having a great start to the season. imagine he's a real pain in the a*** to play against.


always feel safe to have him in the team, esp with a purportedly weak CM.

5th highest points scoring midfielder in the fantasy league too which I'm plenty pleased about. :cool:

[DannyInvincible]

Just came across this. Seems rather odd, but apparently Damien has been knocked back to 99 caps: http://footballrepublic.ie/duff-99-caps/?fb_comment_id=fbc_477846085582778_102437515_47785 0965582290#f17fc000cc


Damien Duff will not have 100 Irish caps to his name after all because of the Hungarian FA. Remember the friendly between Ireland and Hungary just before Euro 2012 which ended 0-0? Well it turns that the referee of that game Kenn Hansen from Denmark was not appointed correctly by the Hungarian FA according to Fifa, and a spokesperson from football’s governing body has told the Star that the game could not now be registered as an “A” match. The game has not been included on Fifa’s official list of results for Ireland and the result has not been included in calculating the rankings. This could also mean Ireland dropping in the Fifa World Rankings from their current standing of 26th place.

What a shambles. Although, on the other hand, what greater enticement to return for the Germany game?... ;)

Presumably, everyone who played in that game will also lose the cap they thought they'd picked up.

[Cuyahoga]

Its tough luck on Duffer, maybe for the Greece game in November he could be brought on as a sub near the end to give him that 100 th cap. Or an alternative view is - serves him right for retiring before his time !

[geysir]

99 is a number which has that most cherished connotation.

[Murfinator]

Silly ruling and a nuisance for him but doubt something so trivial would sway his decision whether to come back or not.

[jbyrne]

FAI statement on the issue....

http://www.fai.ie/international/senior-men/102762.html

It appears that its up to the national association to decide when caps are / are not awarded. no issue so

[Cuyahoga]

thats right according to extratime.ie he will get a cap for that game.

[tricky_colour]

A few comments from friendsoffulham on his season so far:




5th highest points scoring midfielder in the fantasy league too which I'm plenty pleased about. :cool:
Yes I had noticed he seems to playing as well as he has ever played, which is great but
a pity he no longer plays for us.
16th in these stats.
http://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/2/Seasons/3389/Stages/6531/PlayerStatistics/England-Premier-League-2012-2013

You have to page down to past 80th for the next Irish.

[Stuttgart88]

The guy who sits next to me at work goes to Fulham a lot and says Duff was superb recently, best form yet since joining Fulham.

[Murfinator]

Yes I had noticed he seems to playing as well as he has ever played, which is great but
a pity he no longer plays for us.
16th in these stats.
http://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/2/Seasons/3389/Stages/6531/PlayerStatistics/England-Premier-League-2012-2013

You have to page down to past 80th for the next Irish.

The stat worth noting there is his pass percentage of 95.4% which is the highest in the league by a fair margin, its even higher than everyone in La Liga bar Xavi on 96.5% (http://www.whoscored.com/Regions/206/Tournaments/4/Seasons/3470/Stages/6652/PlayerStatistics/Spain-La-Liga-2012-2013) which is incredible and exactly the reason firstly why he's so critical to us and secondly why he'd make a fantastic central midfielder when his legs go.

John O'Shea and Stephen Ireland are the only other Irishmen who crack 80% let alone 90.

[Irwin3]

The stat worth noting there is his pass percentage of 95.4% which is the highest in the league by a fair margin, its even higher than everyone in La Liga bar Xavi on 96.5% (http://www.whoscored.com/Regions/206/Tournaments/4/Seasons/3470/Stages/6652/PlayerStatistics/Spain-La-Liga-2012-2013) which is incredible and exactly the reason firstly why he's so critical to us and secondly why he'd make a fantastic central midfielder when his legs go.

John O'Shea and Stephen Ireland are the only other Irishmen who crack 80% let alone 90.

Are McCarthy (93%) and Gibson (83.3%) not Irish? Fair enough on missing McCarthy since he has the Scottish flag next to his name. Incidentally I e-mailed this site last season querying why they had McCarthy as Scottish and not Irish and they still haven't been bothered to fix it. Maybe the site is run by a Scot...

[Murfinator]

I must have missed Gibson, I was looking via flags which would explain McCarthy. Noticed Danny Simpson has an Irish flag flag as well for whatever reason.

[theworm2345]

Duffer has scored again

[SkStu]

An angled strike past Al-Absi into the corner from the edge of the area. Come back to us Damo...

[Yard of Pace]

This is getting ridiculous at this stage. With the form he's in, if he even played the Germany game and then retired, I'd be more than happy with that!

[Murfinator]

Seems to be really enjoying the better players around him that Fulham have gained in the past few months.

[SkStu]

Lovely goal, just seen it. Right footed laser across the keeper. Beauty.

[tricky_colour]

The stat worth noting there is his pass percentage of 95.4% which is the highest in the league by a fair margin, its even higher than everyone in La Liga bar Xavi on 96.5% (http://www.whoscored.com/Regions/206/Tournaments/4/Seasons/3470/Stages/6652/PlayerStatistics/Spain-La-Liga-2012-2013) which is incredible and exactly the reason firstly why he's so critical to us and secondly why he'd make a fantastic central midfielder when his legs go.

John O'Shea and Stephen Ireland are the only other Irishmen who crack 80% let alone 90.

Seems like he had a bad day at the office today he is down to 92.2 on passing and drops from 1st to 14th!!
He dis however score today.

But note only one player with a better pass rate has scored a goal, Duff has three, most have none
because they are defenders. And 3 goals from 5 games for duff, that is practically a whole seasons worth for him!

[DannyInvincible]

Duff's goal is at 2:16:


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xtsmfg_yyyyy-yyyyy-1-2_sport

[tricky_colour]

This is getting ridiculous at this stage. With the form he's in, if he even played the Germany game and then retired, I'd be more than happy with that!



Maybe we could kidnap him???

We need to get him back, make the Germany game his testimonial!! :D


Surely we can get him back for one last game?

It must be possible?

[Manblue]

great strike, bad peg and all

[Grafter]

We all know Duff is a good egg but still...amazing the effect having only a couple of months left on a contract can have... seems a powerful motivator for many players to up their game...!

[Murfinator]

Seems like he had a bad day at the office today he is down to 92.2 on passing and drops from 1st to 14th!!
He dis however score today.

But note only one player with a better pass rate has scored a goal, Duff has three, most have none
because they are defenders. And 3 goals from 5 games for duff, that is practically a whole seasons worth for him!

There's no realistic way he'll maintain 90%+, wingers would typically be amongst the lowest on that stat because of amount of crosses/long shots/through balls they deliver which are all high risk for interceptions. Just thought he was interesting he was up there, he really is abnormally good at retaining possession for his position.

[Colbert Report]

Maybe we could kidnap him???

We need to get him back, make the Germany game his testimonial!! :D


Surely we can get him back for one last game?

It must be possible?

Players don't seem to get testimonials these days. We should definitely start a campaign to have him back for one last match, though no one has done more than Duff to earn the right to decide when to walk away.

[tricky_colour]

There's no realistic way he'll maintain 90%+, wingers would typically be amongst the lowest on that stat because of amount of crosses/long shots/through balls they deliver which are all high risk for interceptions. Just thought he was interesting he was up there, he really is abnormally good at retaining possession for his position.


No I don't realistic expect him to maintain 90%+, Markus Rosenberg is top of the list but he has only had 2 appearance as far as I can see and played 26 minutes, may only have made 1 or 2 passes. I think Duff was 80%+ last season, maybe 87% or perhaps 83%.
I think when he moved to Chelsea rule number one was not to lose the ball, which results in some pretty boring, but effective stuff, more Steve Davis than Alex Higgins.
Actually you can view last years stats and he managed 86.5%, his overall ranking was 147th and he had just 2 goals, so he has got off to a flyer this season. But it's difficult to judge a player or team on a handful of game, didn't Wolves get off to a flyer last season and end up relegated??? Lies dammed lies and statistics is the expression!!

[tricky_colour]

Players don't seem to get testimonials these days. We should definitely start a campaign to have him back for one last match, though no one has done more than Duff to earn the right to decide when to walk away.

No they don't but this is just a ruse to get him back, ply him up with drink and I am sure we can get him to agree to it, signed agreement and all that! ;)

[SkStu]

Set up both Fulhams goals against Newcastle.

[IsMiseSean]

Newcastle fans booing him too, delighted he set up both goals!!

[tricky_colour]

The master at work.

http://www.footytube.com/video/Fulham-vs-Newcastle-United-147770?ref=lchan_results

[tetsujin1979]

James Lawton: Damien Duff sparkes again in the twilight of his career: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/james-lawton-damien-duff-sparkles-again-in-twilight-of-his-career-3325678.html

[paul_oshea]

Reports going around that duffer might be coming out of retirement.

He hasn't been as effective since christmas, but I still think he would be a great role model to have around especially for someone like Brady.

[Charlie Darwin]

Question of Sport were asking earlier for the 8 players whose names begin with D that have scored 50 or more Premier League goals, and I was slightly surprised to see Duff's name on the list. Turns out he has an impressive 71 to his name.

[peadar1987]

Wow, I'm struggling with that one. Duff, Drogba... Djemba-Djemba?!!

[peadar1987]

Di Canio?

[TrapAPony]

Jermaine Defoe, Brian Deane, Kevin Davies, Dion Dublin, ?

[tricky_colour]

Dempsey!!

[peadar1987]

According to sporcle (my source for everything), the 8 are:

Defoe
Dublin
Drogba
Davies
Di Canio
Deane
Duff
Dempsey

Brian Deane is the only one I'm not that annoyed at myself for not getting!

[Murfinator]

Signed a contract extension with Fulham until 2014

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21551344

[Charlie Darwin]

There's a pint in it for anyone who can spot our Duffer in this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irXLQtXEHts

[BonnieShels]

That's the first Harlem shake video I've seen. I'm still not sure what it is.

[Charlie Darwin]

It's some sort of thing. I've avoided it until now. This was worth it for Berbatov rocking out.

[Crosby87]

It started as a video on youtube from some Aussie kids, the beat is from the song by that electro DJ (or whatever) Baauer. Then it went viral and everyone is making one. I think the Lakers did one. They did one in Harlem the other day.
Nigel-Harps called it "An overrated fad."

[paul_oshea]

I love that last line Crosby. I hope the(your) humour isn't lost on others here.

[tetsujin1979]

this is the only harlem shake video that I'm willing to promote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvejp8v8qbU

[paul_oshea]

You mean you are willing to promote violence tets?

[tetsujin1979]

if it stops more harlem shake videos, then yes. Violence is the answer

[nigel-harps1954]

An over-rated fad? Not sure I said that. I did however call it s**t. I just don't get the attraction to be honest.

This is much better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glgblV7Un_g

[paul_oshea]

You didn't say it, that's what makes it funny.

That is unbelievably not funny, and adds an extra dimension to what Crosby was getting at.

I hope those idiots cleaned up the mess and paid for all the gallons they smashed.