Heard Gilesy on the radio last night saying how Duff had already become a much more complete player under Mourinho.
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Heard Gilesy on the radio last night saying how Duff had already become a much more complete player under Mourinho.
I'd listen me granny before Johnny Giles. Yes, Duff is doing a lot of defensive work and doing it well but I still preferred the old Duffer that ran by 3 players and hit the ball into the top corner. Robben was great defensively on Tuesday but that didn't stop him running by players.Quote:
Originally Posted by fergalr
When your Granny gets a gig on newstalk or tv3 then I'll be happy to get the benefit of her football punditary.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Meanwhile, the Duffer has scored in each of the last two premiership games. Both were low shots - can't remember him ever hitting one into the top corner.
Its the teams job to defend as a whole and Duff never really thought about his defensve duties before. IMO to win a competition its best to have a solid defense and only score 1 than be able to score loads but leak a lot.
IMO Duffer has become more of a all round player now, he is scoring a lot more, he is assisting a lot, he is injured far less, he defends better. I reckon by next june he will look a lot better if he keeps getting 1st team football.
I must be the only person that isn't just thinking about the national team playing. I just feel that the Irish players are representing Ireland even when playing for their clubs. I really (really!!!) get excited when watching the likes of Duff, Flood and Reid playing for there clubs. So excited that I'd actually buy myself a 6 pack just for an average club match once they're playing. These days though I might aswell be watching John O'Shea as Duff has just not been as exciting as usual. Seeing Duff run by players with his silky skills would brighten up my day. Seeing him nutmeg Puyol in a Champions League final and I don't think I'd be in work for a week. ;)
BTW ferglar, I can honestly say that I know a lot more about present day football than John Giles (the man who didn't know who jacques Santini was when Spurs appointed him). Also, Giles is probably right about Duff, I'm not dismissing that comment if it sounds like I am.
Believe me eirebhoy, you dont. When you and your granny become as respected as Johnny Giles, then I'll be willing to listen. If you actually took time out to listen to Giles analyse football you would realise how good he is. It is not all about knowing the names of every player and manager. Giles can read a game so well. Experience and knowledge of the game is what he has. People talk about Andy Gray's analysis on Sky, but Giles was the founder of such analysis on these islands. I recall him commentating on a game in Euro 04 (think it was Sweden v Bulgaria) and Giles was actually predicting with incredible accuracy what was going to happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
As for Duff, 2 goals in his last 2 Premiership games. Duff is playing very well. He looks to be a more complete player this season. I wouldnt put Robben in the same league as our Duffer.
I listen to him for at least 2-3 hours a week on Newstalk and RTE.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheJamaicanP.M.
I suppose thats why RTE chose Ray Houghton over Giles for the knockout stages of the Euro's? ;)Quote:
I recall him commentating on a game in Euro 04 (think it was Sweden v Bulgaria) and Giles was actually predicting with incredible accuracy what was going to happen.
I'll listen in depth the next time he's on radio/tv though.
They chose Ray Houghton not because he is better but because Gilsey is a bigger asset in the studio. If you look at RTE coverage over the past 15 years, Giles has been an ever-present. He is their most respected analyst by a country mile.
Two such goals immediately spring to mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by fergalr
1. His first goal for Ireland against Croatia in a friendly.
2. Two seasons back for Blackburn versus Newcastle in St. James' (Picture perfect curler past Shay Given)
Not a feast of examples, granted.
SKBIO-TOR
Just watched the first half of Chelsea and Everton there. Arjen Robben was head and shoulders above every other player on the field. Duff was somewhat subdued.
have to agree with you TheJamaicanP.M. Duff didnt look great. Played a lot of safe balls and Robben was playing great. Robben does look like he isnt physically strong enough and the end product isnt great but looks good on the ball.
2nd half ...
Duff did a few things but Robben looked a lot better and of course the goal. A flash of the old Duff running at defenders and getting a free but very quite overall
That is now a typical Duff performance. The last few matches he was getting goals and assists so people weren't commenting about the way he isn't running by players anymore.Quote:
Originally Posted by thejollyrodger
Duff can and has done everything that Robben did today but either he won't or Mourinho won't allow him.
Nice goal against Porto, I have to say that the keeper looked
seriously dodgy though.
1:0 up with Duff on, lost 2:1 when he was subbed! I didnt
see the match myself though unfortunately.
Actually the match is being shown now on ITV (just started :D ).
Started the video recorder!!
The keeper should have stopped it but great to see duff scoring again. If we could sort another winger out 4-3-3 might be the solution to Irelands goal scoring problems
We may not have to wait too long for that solution if Messrs Flood and McGeady continue with their good recent progress....
Well we have Reid & McGeady coming through who'd both be suited to this type of role in a 4-3-3. Neither of these is polished enough yet for us to make a once-and-for-all change to this formation, but it's definitely an option to consider.
Chelsea seem to be putting the 4-3-3 shape to good effect though Portugal were desperately short of goal threat using this shape during the summer.
As far as I know Denmark have used 4-3-3 to good effect using players like Rommedahl, Lovenkrands & Gronkjaer in the wide positions with a good goalscorer like Tomassen in the middle. A solid midfield led by the (up until now) underrated Gravesen was key to this set up. They also use a more traditional shape with Sand upfront with Tomassen. This shows that if you have the players a versatile approach can be accomodated, not a rigid insistence on 4-4-2.
I still feel that a 3-4-1-2 could work for us in due course simply because it'd allow us to play to our strengths by having more of our tricky, skilful players on the pitch at the same time, without having to trust Robbie playing upfront unsupported. That's just me though. :)
Id actually love to get the stats to see how many times Chelsea have lost with Duff on the pitch, it seems they loose all shape and composure when he's taken off.. He's really showing his quality recently, Robben's been in his shadow for a couple of weeks now.. Player of the season prospects? :confused:
Yeah, Duff has been better than Robben in the last 5 or 6 games but if you still asked an Englishman who's the in-form player they'd say Robben.Quote:
Originally Posted by M@ttitude
I know that has annoyed me for years, even Johnny Giles said in the herald last week that Robben is the best winger in the premiership.. Doubt it! No one touches Duff on the left wing, If Duff was English, he'd be hailed the new George Best, Pele, Roooooney, thank god he's not.. :ball:
From today's Guardian:
"[Wenger] had said that he planned to give Almunia “a few games”, but last night he declined to confirm who would go between the posts when Arjen Robben, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard come to Highbury. "
Drogba - the guy who keeps missing from Duff's pinpoint crosses? What about Duff - the world class winger who has scored 4 in 6?
When Duff joined Chelsea my know-it-all mate said he'd never get a game ahead of Zenden. Just because Zenden was Dutch presumably.
Robben appears to be a class act alright but if Duff was English or from somewhere exotic he'd be put on a pedastal by the English media.
On the same point, if Arsenal are struggling for a solid reliable 'keeper why not pick up Kiely? If he was from the continent he'd be heralded as the Premiership's most consistent 'keeper of the last 3 or 4 years. I'm sure he'd only cost about £1m.
Apparently ITV drew attention to Arsenal's "English" 'keeper Graham Stack last night!
Quote:
Originally Posted by M@ttitude
Duff gets loads of praise over here and is always being raved about by Chelski heads after the games on the radio-phone-in shows.
Have to say, his decision to move down to London has been vindicated, whatever happens now. He's shown that he can produce it at the top level.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Or they could simply recall Stuart Taylor from Leicester City.
Jens Lehman wants to play in a tour with Germany in the New Year so Wenger needed to "blood" his reserve keeper.
Now was as good a time as any.
Kiely isn't up to the hectic schedule of a top European club.
II'd forgotten about Taylor. 've always thought Taylor was an accident waiting to happen, though he was very young when he played all those games for Arsenal a few years back and was certainly more reliable than Almunia.
I was at Highbury last night and the whole ground was embarassed for Almunia. It was almost comical.
Interesting point about Kiely.
Were you part of the ironic cheer in the 89th minute when he finally punched the ball instead of trying to catch it? He has potential to be a good keeper though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
The only Irish keeper good enough for Arsenal is Shay Given and I can't see him moving south. Graham Stack seems to have blown his chance. Innocent until proven guilty though. Pennant is proof that Wenger is willing to give players a second chance.
Didn't see the Chelsea v Newcastle game at the weekend but how good was Duff in his attack which lead to the penalty?
Given wasn't booked as far as I remember.
I think it's important for Ireland to have a player who can force keepers into mistakes.
Yep, I was a contributor to the ironic cheer alright.
Millwall has continued to select Stack, despite his legal "troubles". Until last night when it looks like he was dropped.
And they won.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
I'm delighted that Damien has proved that all the doubters were wrong. I wouldn't be too bothered over his still relatively low profile. He's well loved by Chelsea fans and last saturday George Graham (yeah I know) went out of his way to say he was a more important player than Robben.
I posted a few weeks ago that the only thing missing from his game was scroring goals and he's fixed that big time.
If he continues the way he's going he'll be well in with a shout for the end of season awards.
Did you sing 'He's only 17 and better than Roy Keane' about Fabregas??Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
No, I ignored that one!
Ah come on now, did you even hum it??
You were clearly in the West Stand so then. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Will you be there on Sunday to watch Duffer winning another penalty?
I think Chelsea have too much for Arsenal in midfield and although the tight pitch will restrict Duff, he should still be more than a handful for Cole and/or Hoyte depending what role he plays.
He's surely aware of the fact that the Arsenal keepers really struggle with crosses and dead ball deliveries.
I think fantasy football also shows the public view that Robben is more effective than Duff. Robben is selected by 50,000 teams while Duff is just selected by 20,000 teams. Duff and Robben are their to score and assist goals and the public clearly think Robben is more effective. Never mind the fact that Duff costs 9.3m and Robben costs 9.9m. It really annoys me. :mad: A lot of end of season awards are voted by the fans and if there was a vote between the two tomorrow Robben would win without a shadow of a doubt.
It was good to hear Ally (sp?) McCoist last night saying that when Duff went off for Robben Chelsea lost their spark. An interesting fact BTW is that Chelsea's 3 CL goals conceded have all come when Duff had been substituted so they have not conceded 1 CL goal when Duff was on the pitch. :)
5 goals and 7 assists in 14 CL and premiership starts BTW. What would we do without Duffer? :p
No, I won't be there. I only get tickets for Arsenal sporadically. Just as well at £34 a go.
It'll be an interesting game though. I'm hoping for an Arsenal win but not sure they'll cope without Vieira and the two Brazilians. Chelsea have yet to be properly tested yet though. They've won against MUFC, L'pool and Newcastle but anyone would have beaten MUFC on the first day of this season and Newcastle were missing a lot. Liverpool were utter rubbish on the day too.
Anyway, enough about English football...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
It's virtually impossible to discuss Ireland players without mentioning English football I'm afraid.
I have to say I think Duff is an exceptional talent, it is always a pleasure
to watch him play.
Probably the most talented Irishman to ever kick a ball.
(Apart from me :D :p ).
Ranieri on Robben and Duff :-
"Robben can grow to become the best player in the world but he's young and I don't want to put too much pressure on him.
"He asked my ideas about football and I told him I wanted him to be the key to open the door. He has everything, like Duff. When he signed I thought fantastic, 'I have two Damien Duffs!' My mother was very happy!"
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/...icles/15202447
Jesus, talk about high praise:
Mourinho:
“Damien is our best player, he has been for the last six weeks. He is capable of winning a game on his own and his performances in our recent matches have been fantastic.
“Since Arjen Robben came back from his injury, everyone has been talking about Robben, Robben, Robben, but people forget about Damien. He has scored some incredible goals, his movement in an attacking and defensive sense is fantastic.
“We are going to Highbury to win this game and we’re in confident mood. All our forwards are in good form but Damien is the best of the lot.”
He had a quiet game today against Arsenal.
He didn't get into the game at all, I agree with Condex.
Having said that, very few players stamped their authority on the game, I could count them on one hand.
Ade