Duff to Spurs?

[John83]

Anyways it would be a bad move for the Duffa especially seeing what 3 point lane has done for Andy Reid's waistline.

You're talking ****e. Reid was fat long before he went to Spurs. And Keane seems to be fitter than ever right now.

[NeilMcD]

I think the fact he called it 3 point lane shows it all. Duff going to Spurs would be good for all concerned in my view. It would be great for Ireland that Duff would be playing week in week out and the top of his game and playing with Robbie also. IT can only be good for Ireland which is the main thing.

[FarBeag]

I would also love to see Duff at Spurs.Having him play week in week out will be good for him and Ireland.Watching him warming the bench or playing a bit part at Chelsea is just a sorry sight and will do no one any favors.

[eirebhoy]

Was this not discussed here not so long ago and it turns out he has 2 years left?? Not that I'm one to doubt your knowledge eirebhoy

When he signed every report said he signed until 2007. Stutts posted a report a few weeks ago saying he's out of contract in 2007, not 2008 as many people thought. I think that journalist was the only one to think he signed for 5 years.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ea/3081647.stm

He's been poor now by his standards for a season and a half. Its not inconceivable that a players lack o confidence will harm his form on a long term basis. That remark about him being turned inhto a full back last season at chelsea is spot on.

You'd have a point if he wasn't still taken the **** out of most full backs that come to Lansdowne. All he needs is to get back running at players on a regular basis and he'll be his old self again.

[drinkfeckarse]

When he signed every report said he signed until 2007. Stutts posted a report a few weeks ago saying he's out of contract in 2007, not 2008 as many people thought. I think that journalist was the only one to think he signed for 5 years.

Nice one, yourself and Stuttgart are as informative as ever....

[Stuttgart88]

I wonder which Duff would himself prefer: being an almost certain starter with attacking license under a progressive manager at a progressive club unlikely to win major honours and for whom success is more subjectively defined, or being part of an extremely successful, but totally functional side under an egotistical manager who restricts Duff's attacking license, rushes him back from injury & doesn't always play him?

I suspect Duff isn't as much driven by silverware (not now anyway) as a desire to enjoy his football week-in, week-out.

I wonder is he still as happy at Chelsea as he was so obviously 12-15 months ago. The possibility of playing alongside Ballack & Shevchenko must be appealling.

[geysir]

When he signed every report said he signed until 2007. Stutts posted a report a few weeks ago saying he's out of contract in 2007, not 2008 as many people thought. I think that journalist was the only one to think he signed for 5 years.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ea/3081647.stm

Stuttgart was referring to Times journalist, Rowan, who had got it right about one year left.
The BBC report appears definitive.
Maybee the 5 year contract rumor grew wings from here
http://www.football.co.uk/chelsea/du...e_160183.shtml

[fergalr]

I wonder which Duff would himself prefer: being an almost certain starter with attacking license under a progressive manager at a progressive club unlikely to win major honours and for whom success is more subjectively defined, or being part of an extremely successful, but totally functional side under an egotistical manager who restricts Duff's attacking license, rushes him back from injury & doesn't always play him?

I suspect Duff isn't as much driven by silverware (not now anyway) as a desire to enjoy his football week-in, week-out.

I wonder is he still as happy at Chelsea as he was so obviously 12-15 months ago. The possibility of playing alongside Ballack & Shevchenko must be appealling.

Apart from the pejoritive manager remark and the "rushes back from injury" bit (when imho the opposite is the case - c/f DD's delayed return to action at the start of 2004/05 season), I think this post is spot on.

Unless you know Duffer personally or chat with his ma while queueing at the atm down in nutgrove, you all have no idea what his motivations are.

I have no idea if he is still happy at Chelski but moving away from the English champions to any other English club would by definition be a backwards career move.

By the way if Duffer underperforms in a green shirt then its an issue for Irish manager to sort out. Kerr failed on this point - lets hope Staunton gets more out of him.

[Stuttgart88]

I was referring to the recent Paul Rowan article in suggesting that Duff came back from injury earlier than he wanted, at Mourinho's request.

Do you really think Mourinho isn't an egotist, or did I misunderstand your question?

It's also debatable whether being a part-time player at Chelsea is better career-wise than being a regular at a perfectly good club, that actually suits his style better. It's certainly a backwards move in terms of tangible success I agree.

A bit like Robbie last year, I think maybe we're being a bit premature in writing off Duff as a Chelsea player but it's certainly an interesting situation. Personally I think he suffers from not having two orthodox forwards to service at Chelsea. He so often hits good crosses at Drogba that he just wastes, whereas Joe Cole cuts out this "risk" and goes for goal himself, with better results than Duff.

Quiet day at work - hence I'd argue with anyone on anything today!