Shane Duffy D Norwich b.1992

He has already been capped once by the Northern Ireland senior team in the friendly against Italy on 6/6/09. So he's still eligible to play for us. Would be great to get the goy on board. The more the merrier!! Personally, I think the FAI should be doing everthing they can to recruit players and not adopt the laissez-faire attitude of "if they really want to play for us then it's up to them to get in contact with us." What's the harm in a simple phone call to sound the player out?

http://www.irishfa.com/news/item/493...rthern-ireland

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Originally Posted by tommy_c12000

I think the FAI should be doing everthing they can to recruit players and not adopt the laissez-faire attitude of "if they really want to play for us then it's up to them to get in contact with us." What's the harm in a simple phone call to sound the player out?

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Because there is an arrangement between the FAI and the IFA regarding this. The arrangement is that NI born players need to make the initial approach to the FAI if they want to play for us.

But given events that have happened in the recent past, nobody can really blame the FAI if they chose to "dishonour" that arrangement.

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Originally Posted by ifk101

Because there is an arrangement between the FAI and the IFA regarding this. The arrangement is that NI born players need to make the initial approach to the FAI if they want to play for us.

But given events that have happened in the recent past, nobody can really blame the FAI if they chose to "dishonour" that arrangement.

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Oh right wasn't aware of that. Kind of like a "gentleman's agreement" is it?? Sounds like a grey area if there ever was one.

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Originally Posted by tommy_c12000

Oh right wasn't aware of that. Kind of like a "gentleman's agreement" is it?? Sounds like a grey area if there ever was one.

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It came about in the late 90's. The IFA were taking exception to Brian Kerr's recruitment practices for our underage sides at the time. The arrangement was a gesture of neighbourly goodwill from the FAI towards the IFA which the IFA returned by acknowledging that there was nothing stopping NI born players lining out for us if they so wished.

In any case, that term "gentleman's agreement" has been rephrased by CAS (after examining the evidence) as "the alleged tacit agreement".

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Originally Posted by ifk101

Because there is an arrangement between the FAI and the IFA regarding this. The arrangement is that NI born players need to make the initial approach to the FAI if they want to play for us.

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Unless the IFA are tapping FAI phone lines how are they going to find out the first contact came from the FAI??

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Originally Posted by JGKyne

Unless the IFA are tapping FAI phone lines how are they going to find out the first contact came from the FAI??

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Wikileaks naturally.

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Originally Posted by tommy_c12000

He has already been capped once by the Northern Ireland senior team in the friendly against Italy on 6/6/09. So he's still eligible to play for us. Would be great to get the goy on board. The more the merrier!! Personally, I think the FAI should be doing everthing they can to recruit players and not adopt the laissez-faire attitude of "if they really want to play for us then it's up to them to get in contact with us." What's the harm in a simple phone call to sound the player out?

http://www.irishfa.com/news/item/493...rthern-ireland

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He was not capped in that match. Read the article, it clearly states that while he was on the bench, he was an unused substitute.

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Originally Posted by Colbert Report

He was not capped in that match. Read the article, it clearly states that while he was on the bench, he was an unused substitute.

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Northern Ireland: Tuffey, Johnson, Casement, Coates, McGivern, Little, O'Connor, McCann, Evans, Carson, Healy subs Mannus (replaced Tuffey 62), Ferguson (replaced Evans 78), McGinn (replaced Healy 45), Garrett (replaced O'Connor 62), Lawrie (replaced Carson 70), Donnelly (replaced Little 82), Duffy (not used)

Sorry, I only read this back page of the thread, assumed we were discussing Shane Duffy

Duffy (not used)

Ah, OK, I didn't cop that.

Morning all. It's the running gag that keeps giving, this one.

Seems to me that it's a pretty straightforward decision for Shane Ferguson. If he wants to play again for NI, he need merely sit tight. Anyone in a Prem squad, or even if he drops down to D2, can reasonably expect to feature regularly.

If he doesn't, and fancies boosting your struggling U-21 side, that's easy enough too. Just get his agent/ mate/ auntie Majella to phone the FAI and Bob's your uncle. It doesn't really matter who makes the first call, the reaction will be the same- brief sulks from the IFA, fans and Belfast media, then we'll forget about him. Bye bye.

I've only seen him play a couple of games, but regular watchers suggest he's best suited to a wide forward midfield role- not beefy enough for a full-back, apparently.

PS any word on Aviva ticket prices for February? Hope to see some of you there.

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Originally Posted by Gather round

Morning all. It's the running gag that keeps giving, this one.

Seems to me that it's a pretty straightforward decision for Shane Ferguson. If he wants to play again for NI, he need merely sit tight. Anyone in a Prem squad, or even if he drops down to D2, can reasonably expect to feature regularly.

If he doesn't, and fancies boosting your struggling U-21 side, that's easy enough too. Just get his agent/ mate/ auntie Majella to phone the FAI and Bob's your uncle. It doesn't really matter who makes the first call, the reaction will be the same- brief sulks from the IFA, fans and Belfast media, then we'll forget about him. Bye bye.

I've only seen him play a couple of games, but regular watchers suggest he's best suited to a wide forward midfield role- not beefy enough for a full-back, apparently.

PS any word on Aviva ticket prices for February? Hope to see some of you there.

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I wish everyone had that attitude about players making up their own mind.
I think they should choose with their heart and their head. In the end only so many young players make the grade in the long run whether it be through injury or other reasons.

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Originally Posted by Gather round

any word on Aviva ticket prices for February? Hope to see some of you there.

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You could always just look on the FAI website though it would be more useful if everyone just boycotted this pointless competition. Or even speak to various people in person, of your acquaintance!! :eek:

As for any fringe players, such they so desire, until the North rush to give them all full competitive caps, they'll always be technically available for Ireland. ;)
Which is kinda swapping a mediocre small team for a similarly mediocre larger one.

Good to see Shane on the bench 2day against Wigan especially after the disappointment of his loan move collapsing. If they knock in a few goals there is a good chance he may see some game time.

The fact that Everton seem to be looking for another centre half can't be too good for Duffy's prospects in the near future. It looks like Distin may be going after this season and Heitinga may leave in January so Duffy would be the only centre half left to partner Jagielka:

Dzmitry Verkhovtsov to learn Everton fate after trial

Everton to spend big for Birmingham defender Dann

It's probably just a case of Moyes wanting experience and if Duffy gets a loan move in January he'll be in a better position to fight for a place when he returns.

I think the situation is fine Pred. It may just be a case of Duffy not being old enough, he's only 18. I know they say "if you're good enough, you're old enough," but with a position like centre-half, especially at Premier League level, you'll see very few players make the breakthrough at that age.

Everything I've heard about Duffy has been positive, but realistically he's probably at least two years off of being a starter there.

Interesting fan article touching on Shane Duffy.

http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/10-1...fan/16811.html

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Originally Posted by The Fly

Interesting fan article touching on Shane Duffy.

http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/10-1...fan/16811.html

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"... just days after the Stoke game, when Everton beat Tottenham 2-1. With Tim Cahill on international duty, Moyes abandoned his usual 4-5-1 formation and adopted a 4-4-2 formation, with Jermaine Beckford and Luis Saha up front. Saha scored a goal in the opening minutes and Séamus Coleman popped up with another goal to clinch victory. The success of Coleman (and indeed Beckford) is another enduring testament to the rewards of taking chances with talented, if unproven, players"

I was with the author of this article until the above paragraph. For I was at that Everton-Spurs game and if Coleman was truly outstanding, Beckford was anything but a "success". In fact, he was atrocious. And when I related this to an Everton season-ticket holder who hadn't been able to attend the game, he was not at all surprised. (Nor was he surprised by Coleman's performance, since he had been almost the only decent player in the team earlier in the season, when Everton were crap.).

Anyhow, whilst I personally believe Duffy has what it takes to go all the way, I would never argue with a proven manager like Moyes when it comes to handling young players.

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Anyhow, whilst I personally believe Duffy has what it takes to go all the way, I would never argue with a proven manager like Moyes when it comes to handling young players.

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When a player suffers an impact injury as serious as Duffy, its bound to take time for them to rediscover their confidence. Sometimes it can have a lasting effect on the player. I'd say Moyes is taking it very slowly with Duffy. I would certainly have faith in his judgment.