New Manager?

[JimmyP]

Kerr vehemently denied ever narrowing the pitch.

[Stuttgart88]

He actually said he'll miss Lansdowne.

"The likes of Thierry Henry don't like going to Lansdowne Road but he's gonna like going to Croke Park," he suggests. "Lansdowne Road was our stomping ground. It was a kip and the changing rooms were cold and you're on the toilet and there's a train going by your head so Croke Park is going to be an awful lot more comfortable and welcoming to the opposition. Croke Park is a beautiful stadium and I'm sure all Irish fans would love to go and watch big games there in front of 80,000 people but maybe I'm speaking out of turn I'm just saying that for opposing teams it's going to be a nice place for them to play too."

fair enough I must have misinterpreted his quote!

[brine3]

we did better against france in the luxury of stade de france

[fergalr]

I think it has always been recognised that the two biggest influences in Damian's breakthtough into top flite football have been Brian Kerr and Pat Devlin.

When Duffer was at Blackburn and was developing he was always considered to be an emerging talent. However when he went to Chelsea for £18m (or whatever) expectations at both club and international levels rose.

IMHO, since his transfer, two things have happended:
(1) he is not an automatic first choice at Chelsea and injuries have played a part in this.
(2) his Ireland form has dipped. I honestly believe that he is now more concerned with keeping himself in top nick for Chelsea than playing for ROI.

This is understandable when you consider the competition for places at Chelsea. I have been scathing of RMK, Fergie and MU over the years about their approach about RMK's Ireland appreances, but Duffer is now in this catagory and if his £80k per week (or whatever it is) contract may be jeopardised by getting injured while playing for ROI, then it is understandable why he may be less keen for 'risking it' with ROI than when he was an 'emerging talent' at Blackburn.

It is even more understandable for Duffer to adopt this attitude when he knows that ROI is not a 'world power' and that he will not be in the world showcase of the WC finals in Germany.

At the end of his playing career Duffer will end up having a lot less ROI caps than he should have had. Some of the shortfall will be as a result of genuine injury/suspension but many more will be as a result of 'club (self-interest) before country'

Sorry but I respectfully totally disagree with the theme and detail of this post.

First of all its clear that Mourinho sees Damien as a key first-team player - for example last season I think Damien was 4th or 5th in number of premiership appearences.

Secondly, Chelsea have worked very hard with Damien's to reduce the possibility of injuries.

Thirdly Damien is the first player since RMK to go to a big club and prosper at the highest level. Under Mourinho he has improved hugely as a player (and bear in mind that when you're playing for a championship winning team you need to sacrifice some showboating in favour of playing your role in the team).

Fourthly, ok so his recent performances for Ireland haven't been up to scratch, but when the whole squad is full of underachievers you have to conclude that its because we had a manager who wasn't up to the job.

And finally there is no evidence that Damien is any less comitted to playing for Ireland - he always gives 100% and always turns up for even the most meaningless friendlies. This is fully supported by Chelsea - don't forget that Mourinho has been at least twice to Landsdown to see him play for us.

In the past there have been negative posts about Duff because it seems some people never got over the fact that he went to Chelsea and not to the Brit team of their liking. In this case however it seems be be along the Brian Kerr lines of "don't blame the manager - blame the players".

[Stuttgart88]

I saw the second half of Arsenal vs United last night and chuckled at the sight of Ronaldo's crossing. Although Duff seems to skip past people with less frequently than he used to, probably because Mourinho emphasises keeping possession, the quality of his final ball remains exceptional. Duff's ability to accurately play the ball across the six yard box between 'keeper and defender is amazing.

Even during Chelsea's 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford every time Duff delivered a cross or pull back it created danger. Joe Cole is another whose final ball is now extremely reliable.

Just a theory, but I suspect that our lack of height (& quality) upfront makes it harder for Duff to play the type of cross he specialises in.

Despite this though, some of his set pieces were shocking, especially in Tel Aviv. High, loopy crosses with no pace at all.

One reason I'd love to see O'Neill get the Irish job is that, like Mourinho, he places huge emphasis on set pieces, a major factor in any result Celtic got in Europe against better teams. In fact in his first CL campaign I think nearly every goal scored was from one type of set piece or another.

[colster]

I saw the second half of Arsenal vs United last night and chuckled at the sight of Ronaldo's crossing. Although Duff seems to skip past people with less frequently than he used to, probably because Mourinho emphasises keeping possession, the quality of his final ball remains exceptional. Duff's ability to accurately play the ball across the six yard box between 'keeper and defender is amazing.

Even during Chelsea's 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford every time Duff delivered a cross or pull back it created danger. Joe Cole is another whose final ball is now extremely reliable.

Just a theory, but I suspect that our lack of height (& quality) upfront makes it harder for Duff to play the type of cross he specialises in.

Despite this though, some of his set pieces were shocking, especially in Tel Aviv. High, loopy crosses with no pace at all.

One reason I'd love to see O'Neill get the Irish job is that, like Mourinho, he places huge emphasis on set pieces, a major factor in any result Celtic got in Europe against better teams. In fact in his first CL campaign I think nearly every goal scored was from one type of set piece or another.

I agree. Our set pieces are appalling. Duff has always won a fair amount of free kicks for us. The fact that we rarely capitilised on them in the last campaign gave opposition defenders more licence to trip and hack at Duff without worrying too much about our set piece.
If the quality of the set piece improves the number of fouls on Duff may decrease and so give him a bit more time and space to get turned and go at the full back.

[Superhoops]

Sorry but I respectfully totally disagree with the theme and detail of this post.

First of all its clear that Mourinho sees Damien as a key first-team player - for example last season I think Damien was 4th or 5th in number of premiership appearences.

Secondly, Chelsea have worked very hard with Damien's to reduce the possibility of injuries.

Thirdly Damien is the first player since RMK to go to a big club and prosper at the highest level. Under Mourinho he has improved hugely as a player (and bear in mind that when you're playing for a championship winning team you need to sacrifice some showboating in favour of playing your role in the team).

Fourthly, ok so his recent performances for Ireland haven't been up to scratch, but when the whole squad is full of underachievers you have to conclude that its because we had a manager who wasn't up to the job.

And finally there is no evidence that Damien is any less comitted to playing for Ireland - he always gives 100% and always turns up for even the most meaningless friendlies. This is fully supported by Chelsea - don't forget that Mourinho has been at least twice to Landsdown to see him play for us.

In the past there have been negative posts about Duff because it seems some people never got over the fact that he went to Chelsea and not to the Brit team of their liking. In this case however it seems be be along the Brian Kerr lines of "don't blame the manager - blame the players".

Football is all about opinions and although we disagree I respect yours.

However, my opinion has nothing to do with Duff not going to a team of my liking. I have no interest in what British, Scottish or European team Duff or any Irish player plays for so long as when they pull on an Ireland shirt they perform to the best of their ability.

In Duff''s case, and I think most people would agree (you even concede it yourself), he has not performed for us when it has mattered and I have simply expressed my opinion as to why this is.

I would agree that under Mourinho he has become a better player but this only appears to manifest itself when he is playing for Chelsea. There have been a number of underachievers at Chelsea but this has not stopped Duff improving.

Regarding his performances for Ireland, I cannot agree the manager is largely to blame. Once they go across the white line, players must take responsibility for their own individual performances and because others 'underachieved', and citing poor management as justification for Duff poor performances for Ireland doesn't wash for me.

Look at Clinton Morrison for example, not a regular in his club side, not the most skilful of players but his desire to play for Ireland made him the consistent performer he has been for us in the last 18 months, despite the poor management you claim

Look at Shay Given as another example, a regular in his club team, playing well week in week out in the Premiership, with a great pride and desire when playing for Ireland, despite the poor management you claim, still continues to turn in top class performances for us.

On the other hand, Duffer, probably the most gifted technical player we have had for years, has not done it for us since he joined Chelsea.

[eirebhoy]

I would agree that under Mourinho he has become a better player but this only appears to manifest itself when he is playing for Chelsea. There have been a number of underachievers at Chelsea but this has not stopped Duff improving.

I think Duff was a much, much better player attacking wise under Ranieri and Souness. OK, he's doing his work defensively but he does that work for Ireland too. The Duff for Ireland doesn't seem to be any different to the Duff of Chelsea to me.

[Stuttgart88]

I think Duff was a much, much better player attacking wise under Ranieri

But would you endorse Ranieri as Irish manager? Rumours went around in Nov/Dec that the FAI interviewed him in England. Personally, I would.

[tetsujin1979]

On Off The Ball last night on Newstalk they were talking about several newspaper reports that the management team will be Venables with Staunton as his assistant. Whatever about Staunton (personally I think a link between the team and a manager unfamiliar with the playing mentality of the squad is a good thing) bringing in Venables would be a disaster of Wilkinson at Sunderland proportions

[Stuttgart88]

Which newspaper reports? I saw nothing. What was the consensus opinion?

[eirebhoy]

But would you endorse Ranieri as Irish manager? Rumours went around in Nov/Dec that the FAI interviewed him in England. Personally, I would.

I didn't really rate him too highly at Chelsea but I didn't know about his excellent time in Italy and making Valencia into the force they are today. I'd be excited about his appointment, put it that way.

[fergalr]

Regarding his performances for Ireland, I cannot agree the manager is largely to blame. Once they go across the white line, players must take responsibility for their own individual performances and because others 'underachieved', and citing poor management as justification for Duff poor performances for Ireland doesn't wash for me.

So why has Duffer underperformed for Ireland. Is it because he has disimproved as a player - no. Is it because he couldn't be arsed playing for his country - no. Is it because he was frustrated and demotivated - perhaps. Is it because our tactics were at best not geared towards getting the most of out him and at worst actually detrimental to getting the best out of him - very possibily.

If individuals don't perform then its the manager's job to sort it out. In Kerr's case he didn't and thats why his contract was not renewed.

[fergalr]

I didn't really rate him too highly at Chelsea but I didn't know about his excellent time in Italy and making Valencia into the force they are today. I'd be excited about his appointment, put it that way.

Ranieri did a fantastic job at pre-Chelski Chelsea. He broke up ageing squad and achieved Champion's League qualification on a modest budget. Once the big bucks came in the expectations changed and they needed a manager with something extra.

For us, I think he's a far better option than any of the other candidates mentioned to date (MON excepted).

[eirebhoy]

So why has Duffer underperformed for Ireland. Is it because he has disimproved as a player - no. Is it because he couldn't be arsed playing for his country - no. Is it because he was frustrated and demotivated - perhaps. Is it because our tactics were at best not geared towards getting the most of out him and at worst actually detrimental to getting the best out of him - very possibily.

If individuals don't perform then its the manager's job to sort it out. In Kerr's case he didn't and thats why his contract was not renewed.

Duff performed very well in friendlies so that argument is thrown out of the window as Kerr is not going to give him different roles in every friendly and change them for the important games. Being marked by 2/3/4 players in all competitives is the only thing I can think of. He wasn't given an inch against France.

[NeilMcD]

There is a difference to the marking in the friendlies then there is to the competitive games. Competitive games are alla bout the result and as a result players are really tight on each other. Duff could not do the business when the chips were down despite the fact that he was playing at a top club and playing well for Chelsea. He has serious questions to ask himself and all through the anti Robbie Keane rants on other post I regularly said that Duff gets away with murder from the majority of Irish supporters compared to Robbie Keane.

[geysir]

Sagnol, the French RB, mostly on his own dealt with Duff, whenever Duff had the ball on the wing. Wasn't it in the Italian game that often the defenders were queuing up to block Duff?
There are some rumours that the FAI want to have the new manager in place before the friendly against Sweden. Then followed a gamble on Staunton. Has he hit the front too soon? Has he got enough left in the tank?

[eirebhoy]

Sagnol, the French RB, mostly on his own dealt with Duff, whenever Duff had the ball on the wing.

My memory usually isn't great when it comes to matches but Duff was hounded whenever he got the ball by Sagnol, Makelele and anyone else close to him.