Shane Duffy D Norwich b.1992

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Originally Posted by youngirish

I've already pointed out why you haven't been consistently better for anything like 5 years.

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No, you haven't "pointed out" anything. Rather, you have expressed a contrary opinion to mine. I will leave it to others to decide for themselves which opinion has been the better argued.

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Originally Posted by youngirish

If you think the likes of Aaron Hughes is a better player than O'Shea, Dunne or St Ledger then you truly are as clueless as your posts seem to imply you to be.

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I have never argued any such thing, merely that I believe NI to have at least as much strength in depth at CB as ROI.

But for the record, if you want my opinion on the relative merits of Aaron H versus those three, here it is.
Richard Dunne - Excellent CB, a cut above AH;

John O'Shea - Excellent FB, esp this season, for both club and country. However, I'm not so sure about him as a CB, especially since Ferguson has regularly preferred the much less experienced Jonny Evans to JOS whenever Vidic or Ferdinand has been injured. Also, until recently, JOS hasn't been the most popular player amongst ROI fans, whereas AH has always been a "main man" for us. And AH has been a virtual "ever present" at CB in a Fulham defence which was the fourth meanest in the EPL, and the mainstay of their finishing 7th.

Sean St. Ledger - Looks a prospect and seemed to play well in the 1st half vs Bulgaria (didn't see 2nd half). But if you are seriously saying you rate someone who has two caps, and who has never played in the top flight, over someone who has nearly 70 caps (c.50 of them as Captain), and who has played his entire club career of over 400 games for Newcastle (inc. Champions League), Aston Villa and Fulham in the EPL, then I pity you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Hughes

Therefore, if those 3 players were available to NI, I'd certainly have Dunne in the team at CB alongside Hughes or Evans, with O'Shea at RB, and St. Ledger nowhere.

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

Utter Bull. I relied on the FIFA Rankings (plus Qualification and Seeding), which over the period in question (2004-2009) comprise nearly 50 games for each team i.e. wins, draws and losses, home and away.

First you insult the mentally handicapped with your "retarded" remark, now you attempt to insult me with a disgraceful sectarian epithet.

Shame indeed...:mad:

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EG - accused me of being a bigot in an earlier thread "Northern Ireland", don't think you can complain if somebody else reckons you are. What's good for the goose is good for the gander

This thread is gone way off. Can we open up another thread to talk about Ireland V NI and keep this thread about the player in question?

Just read this article in the Derry Journal about Duffy:

'Duffy makes Toffees debut'

Sounds very mature. Perhaps this kind of news will alert Ireland to his potential?

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Originally Posted by Predator

Just read this article in the Derry Journal about Duffy:

'Duffy makes Toffees debut'

Sounds very mature. Perhaps this kind of news will alert Ireland to his potential?

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The FAI are already alert to his potential. But the way things stand- he's still so young, only a full competitive international ties a dual-qualified young player- this story could run and run.

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Originally Posted by Gather round

The FAI are already alert to his potential. But the way things stand- he's still so young, only a full competitive international ties a dual-qualified young player- this story could run and run.

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I was aware of that and you're right. I should have said that perhaps this kind of development would give the FAI youth managers a reason to pick, or at least, contact him.

http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archiv...-surprise.html
seems fairly set on NI

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Originally Posted by Wexford Delboy

http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archiv...-surprise.html
seems fairly set on NI

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I don't know if he's 'fairly set' on N.I. for any other reason other than the fact they've propelled him through the ranks and rewarded his form. I reckon that if he had received the same treatment from the Republic, he'd be fairly set on them too.

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Shane Duffy said
Getting called up by Northern Ireland was a big experience for me at a young age. I didn't get on and I was a bit disappointed, but hopefully I'll get my chance another time. I learnt a lot - it was a different level compared to what I'm used to playing for the Under-18s. It was a major shock just to be called up and I was so happy.

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Imagine being in that position. You're a young footballer that has just turned 17 and you've only been playing professionally for less than 6 months. Of course you're going to be happy with your hard work and diligence being rewarded. I don't really see how that says that he's 'fairly set' on anyone.

As I've said before, the guy evidently has (or had?) an interest in playing for the Republic because of the fact he attended a camp in Dublin with the Republic youth teams. For whatever reason, he hasn't been included in a squad since then. Perhaps the Republic youth teams have better options in the centre-half position? Although, I don't understand how a guy who has been impressing his coaches at Everton - even being rewarded with a squad number and first team place in pre-season - can be overlooked in favour of a guy such as Lanre Oyebanjo (who's not even Irish born I believe?) who plays in the Conference(?). From what I've heard from various sources and the words of praise from the likes of Nigel Worthington, Duffy can play. I caught glimpses of his performance for Everton reserves versus Man United reserves last season and commentator Arthur Albiston singled him out for praise, despite a lacklustre performance from Everton. Maybe his team-mate, Seamus Coleman, whom Duffy claims is a good friend of his, can suggest that Duffy is given a chance?

That is merely my observation of the situation.

Made the bench for Everton versus Arsenal game. With that kind of result, who knows how long it will be until he's given an opportunity?

This is the email I received from Sean McCaffery dated 26/05/09

I have had a message from Eoin Hand about Shane Duffy.
We invited Shane and Patrick Mc Eleney in to train with our U-17`s in June 2008. He came in, done well and we played him for a half in a Trial Match V Co. Down.

I then included him in the Squad for a Double Header Friendly V Bulgaria in August in For Shane to change over to play for the Rep of Ireland, he needed to sent letters to UEFA, FIFA and Northern IrelandOur administrator Gavin Costellowrote out all 3 letters which only needed Shane`s signature.

In the meantime a better offer came from Nigel Worthington who asked Shane to play for their U-19`s in the Milk Cup. Shane`s told us that he would stay with Northern Ireland.Around November 08 I was contacted by a third party to say that Shane wanted to play for our U-19`s in the UEFA Qualifiers. I told them that he can`t change mid season.

Since then I have a pain in the a.. with people contacting me about Shane wanting to play for the Republic. Journalists, radio presentors, and at least a dozen FAI members including John Delaneyour CEO, Eoin Hand, Wim Koevermans, Joe Boyle to name but a few. The one person that has NOT been contacted is me.If Shane wants to play for the Republic, ring Gavin to send out the letters that need signing. Sign them, post them and inform us that this has been done.a young player with ability who we`d be glad to have, but I`m not getting involved in an auction or circus. The ball is in his court. If he decides to play for us the whole saga can be put in the past and we can move on.As matter of information, Patrick Mc Eleney has been a revelation. He has huge potential, I believe that he came become a top Player.

This is the last email I have sent twice which has been ignored.

Hi Sean,

Shane Duffy has made his first team debut for Everton and scored.

Someone needs to ring the lad, tell him he has an international football career with Ireland and send out the necessary paperwork (which he never got) to Shane and Shane's father Brian. If this is done sincerely he WILL play for us. If this is not done we will loose the best young prospect we have in defence for years.

I have been in contact with the player and others close to him and I can guarantee you he wants to play for Ireland but will not make first contact as he feels that the FAI do not want him. With respect, to say "the ball is in his court" is not good enough. He is a kid, you cant expect him to be mature enough to make the first move.

Can you or someone with the appropriate authority please contact him before its too late?


It was Shane Duffys father who rang Sean McCaffery looking for the trial. SMC did not invite Shane.

Shane was never asked to play a double header against bulgaria.

McCaffery thinks getting the best players to play for Ireland is circus and a pain in his arse.

McCaffery has never made contact with the player since June 08. If he could be bothered his hole to have picked up the phone Shane would be a Ireland player.

I find it extremely frustrating as an Ireland supporter to see the unprofessionalism of our national underage manager.

Sean does not look the type of guy who expends too much energy doing anything.

Definitely have to have one individual making it as easy as possible for quality players to play for Ireland.

To miss out on one quality player due to a lack of organisation and effort is pretty sad.

How do these lads get involved at all they think they are above everyone else and they should lick their holes.

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Originally Posted by geysir

Sean does not look the type of guy who expends too much energy doing anything.

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I think he's been ill, but point taken. He doesn't even look like he could conduct training let alone take part in it.

Isn't he from up your way? Not the North Pole, somewhere less sophisticated.

He is a Monaghan lad and was a good footballer in his day.
It's no fluke that he got this job, he has proved himself very capable coaching kids.
But others can judge if he is the man to continue to coach the national teams.
To his eternal credit, he (no doubt due to his Monaghan inbred sense of honour) wasn't too shy to publicly refer to the Bulgarian u19s as volatile, theatrical, into gamesmanship and a lot of other things, before going on to tank them 3 nil.
Hall of Fame stuff.
Judging by his reply to KK he sounds lethargic and rigid.
But I don't know why Duffy would be shy to contact the man named Gavin.

McCaffrey could have a valid point, it is not a circus or an auction scenario. McCaffrey may not at all be the man to contact about declaring eligibility or maybe all McCaffrey has to say to Duffy is that he would be very welcome.
Too many unknowns for me to have an idea.

McCaffrey's a relation of Henry McCaffrey if anyone is familiar with the local pub scene in Scotstown. He's been sick with some kind of palsy for some time and really should be commended on his efforts to coach despite being sick with something that I believe is rather painful.

Whatever the name, one of the symptoms would appear be a failure to understand a situation leading to him getting frustrated and angry, common enough though :)
We could also commend Don Givens for doing his job despite his complexes,
Is national underage coaching a job for life with a pension?

Coach to the u 19s u17s is a job which requires a minimum degree of physical and mental agility. Someone would have to have a level of objective analysis as to Caffrey's ability to continue with the job. He is either capable of it or he might well be more suited to another job within the FAI.

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Originally Posted by kingdomkerry

This is the last email I have sent twice which has been ignored.

Hi Sean,

Shane Duffy has made his first team debut for Everton and scored.

Someone needs to ring the lad, tell him he has an international football career with Ireland and send out the necessary paperwork (which he never got) to Shane and Shane's father Brian. If this is done sincerely he WILL play for us. If this is not done we will loose the best young prospect we have in defence for years.

I have been in contact with the player and others close to him and I can guarantee you he wants to play for Ireland but will not make first contact as he feels that the FAI do not want him. With respect, to say "the ball is in his court" is not good enough. He is a kid, you cant expect him to be mature enough to make the first move.

Can you or someone with the appropriate authority please contact him before its too late?


It was Shane Duffys father who rang Sean McCaffery looking for the trial. SMC did not invite Shane.

Shane was never asked to play a double header against bulgaria.

McCaffery thinks getting the best players to play for Ireland is circus and a pain in his arse.

McCaffery has never made contact with the player since June 08. If he could be bothered his hole to have picked up the phone Shane would be a Ireland player.

I find it extremely frustrating as an Ireland supporter to see the unprofessionalism of our national underage manager.

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I think it's ridiculous if Duffy wants to play for ROI why he can't be arsed to fire off an email to McCaffrey asking to be part of the plans. He's already been in the squad and pulled out. I think McCaffrey has a point.

F**k chasing these pre-madonnas what has he done yet in football to demand that we chase him to play for us? Let him show some initiative and contact McCaffrey like any of us have to when we want something in our day to day lives. What age is he 19 or 9?

That's a question but I'm curious as to why all those heads in the FAI think McCaffrey has something to say in the matter.