Duff to improve with Keegan?

[finnpark]

Not even on bench for Newcastle and apparently not injured either.

Its not surprising really. I would imagine that he will get a move to the Championship or League One if Newcastle stay up?

I still think that he will make the Ireland squad although he doesn't deserve it. Hopefully this opens the door up for Hunty. About time too

[irishfan86]

Surprised this hasn't happened sooner to be honest.

I think he's still worth a spot in a team with a good header of the ball up front because of his crossing ability, but without that key ingredient he doesn't have as much use as he once did.

His mobility has been greatly reduced, and it's not been replaced with any great brawn.

He's slow, not particularly strong, and has never had an incredibly powerful shot.

All he has is his cross, and with Ireland's lack of height up front, his use to us is negligible.

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.

[theworm2345]

Hasn't really been the same since the World Cup, at least in my opinion. He has had a few bright spots here and there though

[irishfan86]

Hasn't really been the same since the World Cup, at least in my opinion. He has had a few bright spots here and there though

His first season with Chelsea was good, and then I think the slide began.

[ifk101]

A little bit of perspective wouldn't go a miss sometimes.

[OwlsFan]

Duff to improve under Keegan ? Doesn't look like it as he was dropped for last night's game against Birmingham and his stand-in has a good game. Whither now for our Damo ?

[kennedmc]

Perspective? - as in he had a long lay off so he's only getting back in to it which is fair enough - it might take him until next season to get going again.

One of my beefs with Duff is (please correcrt me if I'm wrong) he had the chance to join Spurs or Liverpool but he chose to join Newcastle

It seems to me he wasn't up for the challenge and went for the easy option.

Hopefully he'll still be able to do it in a green jersey.

[Kingdom]

this thread sums up the fickle nature of the Irish fan.

Irish player dropped - shock horror. He hasn't been playing to his usual standard, which everyone should remember was a pretty high standard, at a level much greater than any of the squad. He'd a pretty dibilatating injury and the fact that he's become quite injury prone, he will naturally take time to get back up to speed.

As for the jibe about taking the handy number thats a cheap shot at a player that gave his all to Blackburn and signed a new contract which guaranteed the club a payout, a player who could have left when they were relegated but didn't. Even when he signed for Chelsea, he completely changed his game when a new manager was brought in.
All the while he was our best player, form constantly being good, to such an extent that when he didn't play for us, we've had no outlet going forward.
The remarks about Hunt seamlessly replacing Duffer says more about Damien's lack of form and confidence than it does about Hunt's ability. I like Hunts swagger, I like his workrate, but calling a spade a spade he's a very hit and miss player, he was outstanding when he came on against Wales and got the crowd going but his overeagerness against the Czechs cost us.
I'd suggest that anyone revelling in Duffers constant slide in form is at best an idiot and at worst a complete fcukwit.

[eirebhoy]

I still think that he will make the Ireland squad although he doesn't deserve it.

There's very few players that deserve their place in the Irish squad more than Duff.

[antrimgreen]

I have seen glimpses of Newcastle a few games for 90 minutes, looked to me that Duff was giving his all while a lot off others stood back and couldn't be arsed. Give him a break ffs, he had a long injury and is steadily coming back and it just happens to be into a team that have no confidence and are performing poorly week in week out. Give your head a shake if you think Duff should come into the Newcastle team and bang in goal after goal and setup chance after chance.

[kennedmc]

As for the jibe about taking the handy number thats a cheap shot at a player that gave his all to Blackburn and signed a new contract which guaranteed the club a payout, a player who could have left when they were relegated but didn't. Even when he signed for Chelsea, he completely changed his game when a new manager was brought in.
All the while he was our best player, form constantly being good, to such an extent that when he didn't play for us, we've had no outlet going forward.
The remarks about Hunt seamlessly replacing Duffer says more about Damien's lack of form and confidence than it does about Hunt's ability. I like Hunts swagger, I like his workrate, but calling a spade a spade he's a very hit and miss player, he was outstanding when he came on against Wales and got the crowd going but his overeagerness against the Czechs cost us.
I'd suggest that anyone revelling in Duffers constant slide in form is at best an idiot and at worst a complete fcukwit.

Drop the personal insults.

I'm not revelling in his slid in form. I hope to see him and performing well back in an Irish jersey. As I mention above the after a full preseason perhaps he will be back to his best.

The fact remains that he signed for Newcastle - why did he do this? It was an incredibly stupid decision and the only reason he did it was money and the fact he thought he'd get a game very week. It smacks of a lack of ambition. Liverpool under Benetez or Newcastle under errr Glen Roeder.

Nearly every attacking Chelsea player had to change their style of play under Mourinho - look at Joe Cole.......a player doing what the coach wants them to do hardly merits a medal!

Hunt and Duff are very different players and bring different things to the team.. Hunt is not an out and out winger and is more an wide midfielder with a great engine who can tuck in when needed.

Both Hunt and Duff when fully fit offer us good (but different) options.

[Kingdom]

Drop the personal insults.

I'm not revelling in his slid in form. I hope to see him and performing well back in an Irish jersey. As I mention above the after a full preseason perhaps he will be back to his best.

The fact remains that he signed for Newcastle - why did he do this? It was an incredibly stupid decision and the only reason he did it was money and the fact he thought he'd get a game very week. It smacks of a lack of ambition. Liverpool under Benetez or Newcastle under errr Glen Roeder.

Nearly every attacking Chelsea player had to change their style of play under Mourinho - look at Joe Cole.......a player doing what the coach wants them to do hardly merits a medal!

Hunt and Duff are very different players and bring different things to the team.. Hunt is not an out and out winger and is more an wide midfielder with a great engine who can tuck in when needed.

Both Hunt and Duff when fully fit offer us good (but different) options.

I Wasn't Actually referring to you my friend, but i'll desist them anyway. Now Kingdom will refer to the other point you made. Its my assumption that Duffer wasn't allowed sign for Liverpool. They were Effectively playing without a Regular left winger for a while and were known admirers of Duff.

Mourinho had said in the press that he would allow Duff to leave on conditions suitable to the player and the club.

Whats your opinion on Shay Given?

[kennedmc]

I seem to recall Duff saying at his press conference he could have signed for Liverpool but chose not to.

Given is a terrific goalkeeper who was signed for Newcatle 10 years by Kenny Daglish. when he was a 20 year old and starting out in the game.

[Kingdom]

I seem to recall Duff saying at his press conference he could have signed for Liverpool but chose not to.

Given is a terrific goalkeeper who was signed for Newcatle 10 years by Kenny Daglish. when he was a 20 year old and starting out in the game.

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?

[drummerboy]

I think the injuries have taken their toll on Duff. He has lost a fair bit of pace, something he needs to play out wide. Can't see him too much longer.

[endabob1]

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.

[youngirish]

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.

[tetsujin1979]

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

[amaccann]

Whats your opinion on Shay Given?

My impression of Given was always that, having played for Sunderland, he liked the region & had put down roots there. I can't imagine any other reason (I don't think he's paid a fortune) for standing behind one of the worst defences in the Premiership.

[Kingdom]

My impression of Given was always that, having played for Sunderland, he liked the region & had put down roots there. I can't imagine any other reason (I don't think he's paid a fortune) for standing behind one of the worst defences in the Premiership.

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.