FFS Duffer!

**eirebhoy** · 05/05/2004, 11:04 AM

http://www.eleven-a-side.com/acrosst...p?newsid=11266

Damien Duff will postpone surgery on his troublesome shoulder until the summer - if his Chelsea colleagues can overhaul their two-goal deficit and claim a place in the Champions League final tonight.

The Blues take on AS Monaco at Stamford Bridge hoping to recover from the disastrous 3-1 first leg defeat in the French principality a fortnight ago.

Two late goals on that occasion, after manager Claudio Ranieri had gambled by throwing on an extra forward and leaving his back-line exposed, ensured a gargantuan task for the return in west London, but Chelsea remain hopeful that they can gain the margin of victory needed to advance to meet Porto in the final in Gelsenkirchen later this month.

And if they can manage that, Duff will reportedly put off his surgery until the summer in a bid to regain fitness for the big decider on May 26th.

His shoulder must be really weak now and judging by the amount of fouls he gets the injury will probably re-occur. A Champions league final is a once in a life time experience but its not worth risking his career. If the operation will competely repair his shoulder he should prospone the op but if it won't he should just get it done and over with.

**oconghc2** · 05/05/2004, 11:57 AM

if they do get to final, you'd have to feel sorry for whoever takes duffs place tonight!!

all the same if duff is fit, he should always play

**tricky_colour** · 05/05/2004, 11:12 PM

Well Chelsea were well beat at the end of the day so its end of story.
Chelsea don't seem to do too well without Duff IIRC, anyone
got any stats on Chelsea with and without Duff?

**eirebhoy** · 06/05/2004, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

anyone got any stats on Chelsea with and without Duff?

I have no stats but I have a little info that I posted on another board.

Sparta Prague (a) - they were drawing 0-0 and didn't look like scoring but they brought Duff on and he set up the only goal of the match.

Besiktas (h) - He didn't start the match and they conceded 2 goals in the first half, he was brought on at h/t and created a few chances. Final score 2-0.

Lazio (h) - Duff started, and played well, Chelsea won 2-1.

Lazio (a) - Duff started, scored and played very well, Chelsea won 4-0.

Sparta Prague (h) - Duff started, 0-0.

Besiktas (a) - Chelsea were drawing 0-0, Duff came on with 20mins to go and set up the first goal, Chelsea won 2-0.

Stuttgart (a) - Duff came on midway through the 2nd half for his first appearence after his injury, Chelsea won 1-0.

Stuttgart (h) - Duff started but didn't play to his standards, 0-0.

Arsenal (h) - Duff started, which caused Ljunberg and Lauren to stick by him for the whole match, 1-1.

Arsenal (a) - Duff started, played OK, Chelsea won 2-1.

Monaco (a) - Duff didn't play any part, Chelsea lost 3-1.

I'll try and get a few stats in a premiership stats in a moment.

**eirebhoy** · 06/05/2004, 1:06 PM

Ok, in the premiership, of the games Duff played a part in Chelsea won 70%. Of the games Duff played no part in they only won 46%. Also, of the 3 Chelsea lost while Duff played, he never actually had a very good game (which proves when Duff is at his best Chelsea are virtually unbeatable), Arsenal (a), Bolton (h) and Aston Villa (a). He also has 9 assists (3 more than Lampard who has played an extra 13 games) and 5 goals.

**tricky_colour** · 09/05/2004, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Ok, in the premiership, of the games Duff played a part in Chelsea won 70%. Of the games Duff played no part in they only won 46%. Also, of the 3 Chelsea lost while Duff played, he never actually had a very good game (which proves when Duff is at his best Chelsea are virtually unbeatable), Arsenal (a), Bolton (h) and Aston Villa (a). He also has 9 assists (3 more than Lampard who has played an extra 13 games) and 5 goals.

Thats interesting cos I just worked out that Arsenal only win 67.5% of their
league games so I wonder where Chelsea would have finished
if Duff had played all the games?
Of course you would have to take draws and defeats into account too.

Did you have to trawl through the games to get those stats?
I am trying to find a site with good statistics on players.
You used to be able to get great player stats from the opta (or is it
planetfootball) site but I don't think they do it anymore (well not
unless you pay them anyway).

I think I will have a look on google, you would think there would be
a good football stats site on the web, as there seem to be sites for
just about everything else.

**tricky_colour** · 10/05/2004, 12:22 AM

I found this site which is good for stats

http://www.footballanorak.com/index.html

This link gives Duff's stats when he starts for Chelsea (it should
be one line)

http://www.footballanorak.com/custom...5D%5B284%5D=on

It could save a lot of hard work!!
(Athough its not perfect as it gives matches before Duff was
signed in the games he didn't play in stats).

I will have some fun looking at other Irish (and other ) players now!!

**tricky_colour** · 10/05/2004, 1:24 AM

I was playing at:-

http://www.footballanorak.com/index.html

Just a few things I noticed according to how well a
team performs with or without a player.
(According to their stats)

Birmingham have not won a game without Kenny.

Gary Doherty fairs *extremely* well 39% with 11% without.

Robbie is also influential 36 - 25.

Also Ian Harte 37 - 19 (A much (unfairly) slagged off player here)

And as for the man himself 68 - 56

Also Leeds without Alan Smith are great :P (bit off topic)

Particularly interesting about Doherty though, the team win *four times*
more often with him!!

Other players I looked at didnt make a huge difference either way.

Interesting site though, you could spend hours there!! (I did!).

I might post this as a new thread later.