considering Fulham started in the first qualifying round, waay back in July, it's some achievement to get to the final.
I did apply for tickets to the final, but was rejected. I wasn't too bothered at the time, but I'm a bit disappointed now.
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considering Fulham started in the first qualifying round, waay back in July, it's some achievement to get to the final.
I did apply for tickets to the final, but was rejected. I wasn't too bothered at the time, but I'm a bit disappointed now.
I thought since Rangers and Middlesbrough made the final that the sensation value had greatly diminished.
I think a club has to at least come very close in the final if not win it, before being worthy of some acclaim.
The football standard has been more noted for its excitement value than its quality.
That was probably the most entertaining match I've seen all season. What a comeback. I really like the characters on that team, and I'm delighted for Duff. It wasn't his best game, but judging from the amount of times he was fouled, I think he was a marked man.
What i thought was a lovely tribute from Roy Hodgson to Duffer:
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...139552,00.html
"Duff is outstanding. When the annals of Irish history are written, and there have been some good players over the years, he will be right up there with them. He'd have 100 caps already but for one or two serious injuries.He's been the Damien I got to know as a young boy at Blackburn. Several people tried to dissuade me that he was a totally different player I was signing but I'm pleased to say they were wrong and I've been right. If anything he's a better player today because he was always very clever in his play but the 10 years of experience has not done him any harm.
Damien Duff didn't come to Fulham for money, that's for sure. If he'd wanted serious money he would have stayed at Newcastle to see his contract out. He came here to play football."
http://videos.sapo.pt/JRUYJ7UKd6tJtTyBYdld
Nice work by Duff on the wing there, like a hot knife through butter :)
That was wonderful.
Bit lucky with the deflection but lovely first touch. Great to see
Classic Duffer.
Wish I was Evra...he had he best view.
Crazy penalty decision against him too in my opinion.
I've just watched that now after hearing about it and here's my tuppence(if that's worth anything)Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
If you mistime a tackle in the box, it usually results in a foul, penalty, no argument there. Now what Duffer did was mistime a volley, which resulted in him fouling the ball. Penalty. In my mind there's no question about it. Ball to hand/Hand to ball? Not applicable as Duff hit the ball with his knee first. How would you feel if Duffer was attacking and handled the ball like that into the net?
As I understand the rule (and I may well be wrong on it), it must be deemed deliberate for it to be considered a foul. I don't believe that Duff deliberately played the ball onto his hand, nor did he deliberately handle it after his poor first touch, nor was his hand in an 'unnatural position'.
That's also my understanding, it was never deliberate in which case it shouldn't be called as a foul.Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
Technically, the hand ball rule does include the work 'deliberate' but in effect it doesn't work that way. Shy of admitting that you wanted to handle the ball, there is no way to prove deliberacy. What makes Duff guilty, in my eyes, is that the ball shouldn't of hit his hand, and it was his deliberate actions which resulted in the ball striking his arm. Had the ball come from a yard away or at an unbelievable speed then I'd give him the benefit of the doubt but he was on the receiving end of the one of the rare times John O'Shea found a teammate. As I said, if he'd scored with that kind of handball, the United players would be calling for a replay of a 39th game or something redelaneyiculous like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
It's hard to tell what happens there, i'd like to see a slow-mo of it, I don't see how he got the ballQuote:
Originally Posted by rebelmusic
past him but I'm not complaining! It seems it came back to him, but he did well to control it.
Great to see him playing well again. Guardian gave him MOTM this morning. Wrap him up in cotton wool next weekend please.
I'm sorry to say I was one of the doom-and-gloom brigade regarding Duffer a few years back, and I genuinely didn't believe he would be able to get back to (close to) his best.
Some of the best tasting humble pie ever, this. Keep it up Damien, you've a European Championships in you yet!
When it's not obviously delibrate, the interpretation is supposed to be whether the player's hand was in an unnatural position and whether he gained an advantage from it. Duff's arm was out as he was swivelling and he definitely didn't gain an advantage (quite the opposite - it stopped his clearance), so I don't really see how it could be considered handball.Quote:
Originally Posted by joe_denilson
I don't have access to the rules right now, but from memory, the issue of whether it's of advantage to the player isn't part of the question. As I remember it, the referee must declde if it's deliberate or not. Guidelines to help the referee make this decision are, first, if the player moved his hand towards the ball, second, if he had time to move his hand out of the way but didnt, and third, if his hand was in an unnatural position.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Again, I am just going from memory on these.
That sounds about right from an official point of view, but I think any referee with a bit of sense should (and usually will) take advantage into account.
Think I remember big Clint doing that in a green shirt once for us. Great to see Duffer start the season in good form.Quote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
Stay healthy please. When was the last time he was totally healthy going into an international match?
Our Duffer, who art in Fulham
Hallowed by thy hamstring
When september comes
Thy will be done
In Yerevan as it is in London.
Amen.
He is better than Duff Beer !
Just scored for Fulham
yep a rare goal for duff, took it well, but he is hardly a prolific scorer.
Looked extremely happy with it too - might have something to do with the grief he got in his final days at Newcastle. Duffer if only you had finished a similar chance as well in Paris over a year ago. Ah well.
He kissed the badge.
Duffer looks like....and then he walks off in a strop :D
That was way harder than the one in paris it bounced right up in the air before he got....
Good finish alright. Definitely wasn't sparing the Newcastle fans with his celebration anyway, it was a big goal for the club though in fairness. Might just be starting to play well, good game against spurs at the weekend and he hit a belter of a shot off the crossbar in one of the games before that, oppostion escapes me but may have been Birmingham?
It was against Stoke. He's been back to his best since Christmas, although he missed an absolute sitter the last night , before he redeemed himself. celebration for the goal, but he'd been getting stick all night from the Geordies. Incidentally Leon Best looked hopeless , and in no way stepped up after Ameobi , who isn't a hard act to follow, went off after 10 mins .
Duffer just equalised for Fulham at Man City. An excellent first time finish at the far post from an Andy Johnson cross.
Great goal from Duff today v Man City.
http://videa.hu/videok/sport/ma1-1fu-LAv7PKuhG9tQbE8W
I would really really like it if I could somehow make the Duffer 10 years younger.
Bloody well try then - dont just sit there wishing.Quote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
I love the way he's so rubbish at celebrating. By a mile my favourite ever Irish player.Quote:
Originally Posted by TrapAPony
Absolute legend and a lad with a real love for the jersey. Remember when he was injured but still travelled at his own expense to support us away to Slovakia, the heartfelt devastation and tears in Paris etc etc........not just a great player but a real fan as well.
Quoted for truth.Quote:
Originally Posted by elroy
Pity about his finishing :(
God, imagine if he had put us two up...
Ya he checked in behind me coming back to London.remember thinking "he's not actually that small".he didn't ask for my autograph either.Quote:
Originally Posted by elroy
Funny he walked in fine behind me.walked up the stairs fine.then as we were all queueing for the flight some time later he was limping with the hostess all the way to the waiting area in front of everyone else :D. ILL forgive him that one though.
Our most important player going into the Macedonia game. Will be sweating he does not get injured in the next few weeks. If the game is 0-0 in the second half or worse still we have to chase the game then this is the player who can do it by himself (especailly if Keane is still injured).