Duff to improve with Keegan?

[RivaldoBabb]

At this point I'd rather have Hunt and McGeady start for us to be honest.

I hope Duff recovers but what I've seen with him since his comeback has not been inspiring.

So Damien Duff is not worth a place in the starting 11 now because that great manager Kevin keegan has dropped him? Do me a favour...

As always, I like to make judgements on whether an Irish player is worth his place in the starting 11 by his peformances for IRELAND, i really couldnt give a rats what happens at that joke of a club Newcastle. Duff has ALWAYS played well for Ireland, illustrated by 2 man of the match performances in the double header at Croker last year and is on a completely different planet in terms of talent than Stephen Hunt.

I dont subsribe to the theory that he is past it either, I think his confidence is shattered running up and down the left wing at Newcastle trying to help defenders that cant defend, so if he is sold in the summer then it will be for his benefit.

We dont have many class players in the Irish squad, but Duff is one of them and will show it once again.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Not sure about Liverpool but it is 100% true that he could have signed for Spurs, who had just finished 5th. A fee was agreed with both clubs, I even think he passed a medical, the fact that he (allegedly) doubled his salary by moving to Newcastle was assumed to be what swung the decision.

couple of things...

afaik Duffer hasn't passed a medical since leaving Blackburn.

Very first I've heard of the Liverpool connection ...paper talk aside.

For reasons both in and out of Football -Spurs would've been a more convenient move than Newcastle ...that Newcastle had to pay more in wages to lure him is probably testament to that.

At the start of this season, if I were Duff, I'd have felt vindicated in the move on purely footballing grounds, to be playing in a team that now could call on Geremi, Owen, Viduka, Smith, NZogbia, Martins, Barton...

[amaccann]

which shows a lack of ambition no? I'm slagging him by the way, he's a brilliant keeper one of our best, but I'd just to ahve seen him successful.

Well that's a different kind of ambition; the one to settle down in a place (presumably) you were comfortable living in. Ambition on the pitch didn't enter it, or Given would have easily found a "better" club. Duff on the other hand had the pick of some top teams in the Premiership & instead chose a perennial struggler with problems on and off the pitch. It doesn't take a wild guess to suspect he chased the Kings Shilling.

[seanfhear]

the big clubs have a major say on which clubs they transfer their players to [witness man utd with heinz to liverpool]
perhaps chelsea did not want duff to go to liverpool or spurs and duff may have gained financially by keeping his mouth shut and joining newcastle
acording to rumour spurs were interested not sure about liverpool
duffs injury record may have put off alot of clubs even when he was with blackburn
i believe he at that time would have been an ideal player for man utd but was to injury prone to justify the money chelski paid for him

[aidz1]

Barring injury, obviously, i cant see how you would drop duff from an irish squad. he still is one of our better players who has a lot of qualities.

[irishfan86]

If everyone gets a clean slate, and he is judged on his current form under this new management team, it's hard to see him being highly rated.

Now perhaps the DVDs Trap is watching of actual Ireland games will give him a different perspective on Duff...but again most of those games were before the injury.

I don't want Duff to fail, I hope he can return to top form and dominate once again.

All I'm saying is that if I were a betting man I'd say it's all downhill from here, with perhaps a few sparks of brilliance from time to time.

If he went to a team with a good header of the ball I think he could still be useful because of his killer crossing ability, but Newcastle don't have that player (Ameobi never plays), and we don't either (although perhaps Walters or Alan Lee could fulfill this role).

Drogba and Duff was a match made in heaven. Put a big man into our squad and Duff's crosses will actually become very important.

[Razors left peg]

Hes played very well for us for a long time now without having the same consistancy in the Premiership, maybe he is just suited to International football better, I think Andy Reid definately is

[eirebhoy]

Hes played very well for us for a long time now without having the same consistancy in the Premiership, maybe he is just suited to International football better, I think Andy Reid definately is

I think with Duff it's a mental thing. With Reid he's just not suited to the British game as many playmakers aren't. That doesn't mean he won't be a success there and I suppose it's probably good that he gets used to playing under constant pressure.

[Colbert Report]

Duff looks slow, unsure and, to be blunt, overweight. Sadly, he's done. He might be worth keeping on the Ireland squad if he's willing to play as a left full back, as we have none other than Kilbane. He was the greatest Irish player since the Charlton years in my opinion - he delivered the goods in every game he played for us up until his big injury.

[Sligo Hornet]

Not sure about Liverpool but it is 100% true that he could have signed for Spurs, who had just finished 5th. A fee was agreed with both clubs, I even think he passed a medical, the fact that he (allegedly) doubled his salary by moving to Newcastle was assumed to be what swung the decision.

I'm sure noone here would choose the exact same position in another company, just because they were offering twice the money

totally agree...nothing to do with money, after all Michael Owen joined just because of his love of the bracing and rugged North East Coastline

[Ozymandias]

as far as I recall ..the fee agreed with newcastle was a cut price deal so duff wouldn't go to liverpool or spurs...the fee that spurs and liverpool were quoted was nearer the 12m at the time this would have meant a pay cut at liverpool and chelsea didn't want him to go to spurs either

that been said he is not the player he was ....but a good preseason could see him back flying fit again next year....don't think it will be with newcastle though

[back of the net]

duff didnt even make the squad of 16 for the birmingham game - keegan is clueless but duffs form does not merit a starting place - every time i have seem him play for keegan he has been poor - the old duffer of a few years ago is gone - he is fastly becoming a very average olayer

[BigmanCas]

I'd still have Duff over the likes of flavour of the moment BigManCas (Aiden McGeady) in the Irish team in a heartbeat irrespective of how he's playing for Newcastle.

Smart talk - more rubbish talk....

[jbyrne]

duff should be judged on his Irish performances only which have always been good. until that changes he should be in the team. playing for newcastle must be a nightmare for any half decent player

[shakermaker1982]

He's not for the scrap heap yet fellas. If he gets a run of games together at Newcastle I'm sure he'll come good.

[tricky_colour]

It seems the decision to drop him was tactical.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/...2703-20639688/

[Diarmo]

I think that Duff merits a place in the squad certainly, but maybe give him a rest from being our first choice left winger. Firstly, maybe he needs some focus, which seems to be lacking at Newcastle. To be fair, they have some decent players, but no focus as a team. For Ireland, if Duff was replaced by McGeady or Hunt, it could act as the proverbial kick-up-the-**** he possibly might need. Also, it'd be a good way of rewarding the excellent form McGeady and Hunt are in.

Furthermore, the debate seems to focus on whether to allow club form or Ireland form to govern his selection. I think relying on players whove done it for Ireland in the past is really important, but i think that if a player is playing well at his club, it should spill over into International football. Having said that, in a year I would love to see Duff tearing right backs apart again. A continental move, anyone?

[paul_oshea]

id love to see duff go continental. I definitely agree with EB though about duff, there is something about him, even at the airport in bratislava he is very quiet and reserved, i reckon its all a confidence thing with him, with ireland he seems more relaxed and used to playing well and can therefore deliver...

[irishfan86]

For Ireland, if Duff was replaced by McGeady or Hunt, it could act as the proverbial kick-up-the-**** he possibly might need.

I don't think it's a lack of trying that's keeping him back, it seems to be a lack of pace.

He just can't run past people anymore, he's not physically capable.

I do agree with your point about him going continental though, pace isn't as much of a requirement in some of those leagues.

[Drumcondra 69er]

I don't remember Duff alluding to that at all, but thats not saying that I'm right.

You refer to Duff as lacking ambitio, does Given not have the same lack of ambition?

Duff did more then allude to it he mentioned it right out.

"Duff said on Monday: "A lot of people - Liverpool fans in Ireland - will ask 'why didn't you sign for them?'

"But I just listened to my heart and it told me to come to Newcastle. That's all it is." "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ed/5204958.stm

This was discussed on another thread previously but as someone mentioned the reason Duff went to Newcastle was because they matched the wages he was getting at Chelsea. Chelsea wanted a higher fee from Liverpool or Spurs (nearer rivals I assumne) then they accepted from Newcastle so Duff would have had to take a pay cut. He didn't which showed a lack of ambition for me, how much money did he need? He hasn't been the same player recently since his injury, I hope he comes good again.

http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=40161&page=51

Given won't move because his wife won't leave the area and his brotehr and sister live up there, I think he too could have been more ambitious much as I consider him a legend, Arsenal admired him for years.