Damien Duff

**Den Perry** · 28/04/2009, 2:45 PM

Originally Posted by Brendan 82

Far from off my head; Hunt is a good player whether you like it or not. He has put in way more good professional performances in the last three years than Duff has (even in the Prem). When you say he has as little ability as any Irish footballer you have seen you are merely highlighting your lack of objectivity.

Hunt is a lot more skillful than you think and he is a better player than Duff NOW. Of course he will never be the player Duff was, but that is not the point.

Hold on a minute. Duff has played very well in the last few internationals he has played. The only time I can remember Hunt playing well for us was in Italy...where he looked effective at times.How can you say he put in more professional performances than Duff? in what way do you measure"professional" in a performance? Think you are the one suffering from the lack of objectivity there mate...

you also say he is a lot more skillfull than I think? I have seen him in play a number of times and I think his touch is terrible for a professional footballer

His performance against Montanegro was nothing short of embarressing....he is a headless chicken

**richieos** · 28/04/2009, 4:51 PM

credit where credit is due. hunt has put in a number of excellent performances at a high level over the past few years, including his excellent performance against italy.
However, it is obvious that he will never posses the quality that damien duff has and the ability to make the one key pass or one key run that could win a game (cyprus?) duff has played badly a lot for newcastle but never lets himself of the country down when he plays for us, so he has to be first choice.

**Brendan 82** · 28/04/2009, 5:13 PM

Duff aint that good anymore lads

**shaneker** · 28/04/2009, 5:20 PM

Sorry, I find myself agreeing with the 'Duff is spent' viewpoint. It's all good talking about his international record (nothing of any real note in a crucial game for a good while), but his club performances have been nothing better than average for years (when he's been fit) and that doesn't bode well for international level. Just because he was great 7 (Christ! Has it been that long?) years ago means nothing now. Wolves would be a great move for him to try to get some confidence back, and I think Mick would treat him well. He's also very, very unlikely to do any better than them.

I haven't met a single non-Irish person who has rated Duff in years. But don't get me wrong - Duff was a f*cking world-beater in his prime, and if we can squeeze another year or two of anything approaching that out of him (probably by going to Wolves) I would be absolutely delighted.

**Diarmo** · 28/04/2009, 5:51 PM

Sadly, I find myself agreeing with the view that Duff's days as a quality player are over. I'm not saying that he can't still be a key player for us, but he no longer has the pace or stamina to play game after game at a high level.
The Wolves move may work out, and it may be good for him, but, at 30 I think its time we realize his career isn't likely to improve in any way.
However, I still think he could do a good job for us, especially considering Trapattoni's tactics. Even if we start with McGeady and Hunt, we could possibly have Lawrence and Duff to spring from the bench.
For me, this is very appealing as each of them offers something different as a winger.

**eirebhoy** · 28/04/2009, 6:14 PM

Duff has been relatively poor at club level for about 4 years now but he's still performing for us. I think he thrives on responsibility tbh.

**carloz** · 28/04/2009, 6:42 PM

There is no two ways about it, Duff is still essential for us. He ran the game against Cyprus at home, and without him we may not have won the game. Personally he would be the first name i would have on the team sheet. Says a lot that most international teams still double up on him

**irishfan86** · 28/04/2009, 7:25 PM

Generally I'm somebody who takes club form very seriously when it comes to the national side, but there's no questioning that Duff is still a very important player for us.

The slower pace of international football seems to suit him, and whenever he's wearing green he looks a different player.

That said, I admire Stephen Hunt, and he doesn't really deserve to be dropped after the Italy match.

He's nowhere near as talented as Duff was, but he is a more effective player than him currently in the English league.

However, I think the needs of international football are different, and in that arena I would prefer Damien Duff every time.

**geysir** · 28/04/2009, 8:58 PM

I think you have it 'arse about face Irishfan. Sorry I can't be diplomatic about it.

It's what Duff does for Ireland is what we take seriously when it comes to valuing his importance to the national side.

**Stuttgart88** · 28/04/2009, 9:20 PM

Like waltzing through the Cyprus defence to set up a sitter for Robbie.

That's not all, he draws fouls consistently and is constantly a threat and an outlet when we're struggling. He was badly missed against Bulgaria.

I don't care if he's yesterday's man as far as the top few teams in the EPL goes, he's essential for us. Hunt was very good against Italy admittedly but he was utter shyte at home to Bulgaria apart from the first minute (ok, to counter - Duff's best impact against Cyprus was also in first minute! but is Hunt the outlet that Duff offers? I say no).

International football qualification rounds are not the top 4 of the EPL or the KO stages of the Champions League, group stages even.

It's often a fcuking rag bag bunch of 3rd rate but organised opportunists and against these I'd have Duff in my team every day of the week. If he ain't working bring in Hunt with 30 minutes left.

**Crosby87** · 28/04/2009, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

It's often a fcuking rag bag bunch of 3rd rate but organised opportunists and against these I'd have Duff in my team every day of the week. If he ain't working bring in Hunt with 30 minutes left.

I agree 100%. They obviously missed him against Bulgaria. I had been hard on him but a blind person could see we could have used him that day.

**co. down green** · 28/04/2009, 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Like waltzing through the Cyprus defence to set up a sitter for Robbie.

That's not all, he draws fouls consistently and is constantly a threat and an outlet when we're struggling. He was badly missed against Bulgaria.

I don't care if he's yesterday's man as far as the top few teams in the EPL goes, he's essential for us. Hunt was very good against Italy admittedly but he was utter shyte at home to Bulgaria apart from the first minute (ok, to counter - Duff's best impact against Cyprus was also in first minute! but is Hunt the outlet that Duff offers? I say no).

International football qualification rounds are not the top 4 of the EPL or the KO stages of the Champions League, group stages even.

It's often a fcuking rag bag bunch of 3rd rate but organised opportunists and against these I'd have Duff in my team every day of the week. If he ain't working bring in Hunt with 30 minutes left.

Great post.

**eirebhoy** · 28/04/2009, 11:28 PM

I was thinking that I'd love to hear where Mourinho's thoughts on Duff. One time at Chelsea he was fed up with Duff being overshadowed by Robben in the media and said Duff was his best player. He completely changed Duff as a player but had a lot of respect for him.

**Colbert Report** · 29/04/2009, 1:28 AM

If you guys don't think Duff is done at the top level, you really should have watched that Portsmouth/Newcastle match. He is a Championship player at best now. He's always done the business for Ireland but it is worrying that he seemingly has no pace now at all.

**EastTerracer** · 29/04/2009, 2:22 AM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

If you guys don't think Duff is done at the top level, you really should have watched that Portsmouth/Newcastle match. He is a Championship player at best now. He's always done the business for Ireland but it is worrying that he seemingly has no pace now at all.

I did watch the game and he was one of Newcastle's better players (despite playing out of position after the injury to Luis Enrique). He is not as quick as he was but can still compete with most premiership defenders in that regard. I have no doubt he will be speaking to a premiership team during the summer as Newcastle look doomed and will need to cut their wage bill. I don't think he's past it at 30 and his game was always more about trickery than pure speed.

**Stuttgart88** · 29/04/2009, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I was thinking that I'd love to hear where Mourinho's thoughts on Duff. One time at Chelsea he was fed up with Duff being overshadowed by Robben in the media and said Duff was his best player. He completely changed Duff as a player but had a lot of respect for him.

Didn't Mourinho tinker about with Duff? He used him really well one season and then took all his impish menace out of his game, giving him a more disciplined role with avoiding losing possession becoming the priority. I think around this time Joe Cole started becoming more influential for Chelsea.

I remember Radio 5 Live being scathing of Mourinho's treatment of both Cole and Duff, saying here were two of the league's most attacking players and yet neither is allowed to take his man on anymore.

**ifk101** · 29/04/2009, 10:53 AM

Without doubt injuries and age are taking their toil of Damien Duff's current form. But I think you also have to factor in the club he is playing at - which seems to be a club in a state of shambles and has been for some time.

But regardless he remains our most potent, attacking creative threat in midfield. A fit Damien Duff is essential to our qualifying hopes.

**irishultra** · 29/04/2009, 11:35 AM

I don't see Duff staying in England if his team get relegated. I'm think Celtic would be the most likely option but yeah I don't think if Newcastle go down he'll stay with them. But what next? I mean celtic

The Duff I know and loved was amazing, he shouldn't be ready to put on his slippers and smoke a pipe at 30, he should be a 10 million euro signing for real madrid

**elroy** · 29/04/2009, 1:13 PM

Originally Posted by irishultra

I don't see Duff staying in England if his team get relegated. I'm think Celtic would be the most likely option but yeah I don't think if Newcastle go down he'll stay with them. But what next? I mean celtic

The Duff I know and loved was amazing, he shouldn't be ready to put on his slippers and smoke a pipe at 30, he should be a 10 million euro signing for real madrid

Generally with the exception of Giggs and he has had to adapt his position, out and out wingers are generally on a downward spiral from age 30 onwards. Injuries and bad luck denied Duff the success and recognition that he deserved really. Having said that I think Duff has been our most creative influence in the games he has played for us in this campaign and imo is one of the firsts on the teamsheet. I cant really see him adapting his style to play say left back or centre mid but i do think there is a few more years left in him at a mid range premiership club. The likes of Blackburn, Wigan etc could do an awful lot worse than signing Duff. If Newcastle go down and he does move he will have to take a decent drop in cash but judging by the top 100 rich list published at the wkd i dont think he has anything to worry about.

**Hibernian** · 29/04/2009, 1:17 PM

Originally Posted by irishultra

I don't see Duff staying in England if his team get relegated. I'm think Celtic would be the most likely option but yeah I don't think if Newcastle go down he'll stay with them. But what next? I mean celtic

The Duff I know and loved was amazing, he shouldn't be ready to put on his slippers and smoke a pipe at 30, he should be a 10 million euro signing for real madrid

God hope your wrong Celtic would be disaster move for him and would show his lack of ambition