Duffer to Chelsea?

**Junior** · 17/07/2003, 2:15 PM

Originally posted by Colm
I think Chelsea would be the ideal move for Duff. I'd much rather see him play at Stamford Bridge than anywhere else in England.
He will be playing Champions league football and be playing around far better players than if he were to remain at Blackburn.
I think Chelsea will win something next year and this can only be good for Duff and Ireland.

Chelsea still have to qualify for the CL, there are some decent teams in that 3rd qualifying round!

Grp AC Milan - holders 97.155
ESP Q3 RC Deportivo La Coru�a 98.769
ESP Q3 RC Celta de Vigo 86.769
ITA Q3 S.S. Lazio 106.155
ENG Q3 Newcastle United FC 51.170
ENG Q3 Chelsea FC 70.170
GER Q3 BV Borussia Dortmund 70.566
FRA Q3 Olympique de Marseille 49.734
GRE Q3 AEK Athens FC 56.391
HOL Q3 AFC Ajax 54.749
TUR Q3 Galatasaray SK 78.495
POR Q3 SL Benfica 30.791
RUS Q3 FC Lokomotiv Moskva 49.520
CZE Q3 AC Sparta Praha 49.975
SCO Q3 Rangers FC 50.187
UKR Q3 FC Dynamo Kyiv 55.291
BEL Q3 Club Brugge KV 44.250
AUT Q3 FK Austria Wien 13.687
SUI Q3 Grasshopper-Club 33.125

Plus thise that qulaify from Q2

**tiktok** · 17/07/2003, 4:15 PM

from www.eleven-a-side.com

The price is "stupid" - Duffer

Prospective Chelsea newboy Damien Duff has spoken his mind on the massive transfer fee that has been agreed between his current club, Blackburn Rovers, and the London cash-splashers.

Rovers accepted a fourth offer, worth more than �17m, from Chelsea for Duff on Wednesday after turning down previous bids of �12m, �15m and �16m from the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Duff is set to begin discussions with Chelsea later today but the 24-year-old Dubliner, renowned for his easygoing modesty, revealed his opinion on the size of the fee that had been agreed by the respective clubs.

"It is a stupid price with the way the game has gone," he said. "But at the end of the day, it is all about money with football directors."

**Greenbod** · 17/07/2003, 4:48 PM

Originally posted by Junior
Chelsea still have to qualify for the CL, there are some decent teams in that 3rd qualifying round!

Grp AC Milan - holders 97.155
ESP Q3 RC Deportivo La Coru�a 98.769
ESP Q3 RC Celta de Vigo 86.769
ITA Q3 S.S. Lazio 106.155
ENG Q3 Newcastle United FC 51.170
ENG Q3 Chelsea FC 70.170
GER Q3 BV Borussia Dortmund 70.566
FRA Q3 Olympique de Marseille 49.734
GRE Q3 AEK Athens FC 56.391
HOL Q3 AFC Ajax 54.749
TUR Q3 Galatasaray SK 78.495
POR Q3 SL Benfica 30.791
RUS Q3 FC Lokomotiv Moskva 49.520
CZE Q3 AC Sparta Praha 49.975
SCO Q3 Rangers FC 50.187
UKR Q3 FC Dynamo Kyiv 55.291
BEL Q3 Club Brugge KV 44.250
AUT Q3 FK Austria Wien 13.687
SUI Q3 Grasshopper-Club 33.125

Plus thise that qulaify from Q2

I believe Chelsea will be seeded and are not likely to meet any of the sides mentioned above.

**Junior** · 18/07/2003, 7:44 AM

Originally posted by Greenbod
I believe Chelsea will be seeded and are not likely to meet any of the sides mentioned above.

True, I didn't quite pick that up!!!

There will be 14 Q2 games (Per Uefa.com) + 18 teams that automatically go in at Q3, So I'm guessing that 4 of the Q3 teams are not seeded. Definitely, not as daunting for Chelsea as I first suspected, but still a few teams with decent european experience they would probably like to avoid

i.e Rosenborg, CSKA Moscow, Anderlecht, 4 unseeded teams in the first list.

However, I'd expect Chelsea to go through to the Group stage, which is great for Duff (should he sign!!!)

MTK Hung�ria FC (HUN) v Winners match 7
Winners match 1 v PFC CSKA Sofia (BUL)
Winners match 3 v Celtic FC (SCO)
Winners match 6 v SK Slavia Praha (CZE)
Winners match 2 v FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
M�K �ilina (SVK) v Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC (ISR)
Winners match 4 v Rosenborg BK (NOR)
NK Maribor (SLO) v NK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS) v Winners match 5
AFC Rapid Bucuresti (ROM) v RSC Anderlecht (BEL)
FK Partizan (YUG) v Djurg�rdens IF (SWE)
Wisla Krak�w (POL) v Winners match 9
CH (DEN)* v Winners match 8
Winners match 10 v Grazer AK (AUT)

**tiktok** · 18/07/2003, 8:31 PM

from www.eleven-a-side.com

Duff awaiting Man U intervention � report

Chelsea target Damien Duff may be about to turn down a move to Chelsea � providing boyhood idols Manchester United step in to take him to Old Trafford, according to a morning newspaper report.

Duff�s advisers met with Chelsea representatives on Thursday to thrash out the finer details of the 24-year-old�s �17m move from Blackburn Rovers.

However, with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson � a long-term admirer of Duff � set to lose out on a �20m move for Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho, he could be about to change the focus of his attention to the Irish international.

The Irish Daily Mirror claims that Duff has informed friends that he would welcome a move from the Old Trafford giants, as it would allow him to remain in Lancashire, where he is happy to be in residence.

**John83** · 21/07/2003, 9:41 AM

Manchester United have officially denied that they have made a bid for Duff, or that they plan to do so. Pity really, I was kinda hoping to see Duffer in a Man U jersey. Chelsea will do though.

**NigeSausagepump** · 21/07/2003, 12:35 PM

Strikes me as something of a double edged sword.

If he goes to Chelsea and doesn't prove to be an instant sucess, the fans could get on his back a la Gronkjaer and Zenden last season. Not sure being Irish would be of great benefit in winning over some sections of the Chelsea faithful either.

If he goes to Utd, I can see him being 'injured' ahead of friendlies and appearing with increasingly less frequency in an Ireland shirt. Which would be fantastic for the legion of Dublin cab drivers who are "United trough and trough", but have no interest in Ireland "after what dey did to Keano, and because dey play crap football", but less fantastic for Ireland fans.

**John83** · 21/07/2003, 3:12 PM

Originally posted by Silvio Dante
We don't need Duffer for crappy meaningless friendlies anyway. The less all players play of them the better in my opinion....

I can't be agreeing with Silvio Dante. I can't...

I happen to believe that Duff is better than either Gronkjaer or Zenden. Besides, with Le Saux now goen to Southampton, it's a straight choice between Duff and Gronkjaer for the left wing. He'll get plenty of games, given how injury-prone they both are.

**NigeSausagepump** · 21/07/2003, 3:37 PM

Originally posted by Silvio Dante
We don't need Duffer for crappy meaningless friendlies anyway. The less all players play of them the better in my opinion....

No.......
Or "meangingless" second leg world cup qualifying games either probably.

Hell, we don't need him full stop. Lets bring back Tony Galvin.

**John83** · 21/07/2003, 4:36 PM

It's official! Duffer's just signed for Chelsea. Wayne Bridge has also joined them, with LeSaux moving the other way.

**tiktok** · 21/07/2003, 5:52 PM

chelsea have brought wayne bridge in to play behind him at left back which all looks good for duff, and he's the type of skillful player that chelsea fans have always appreciated. i can see him doing well there.

have to agree with Silvio in that i think friendlies don't require the presence of those definite starters and are best used to blood some players for future internationals (not in the daft play all 22, changing the team at half time that erikkson and mccarthy did, rather to give three or four a full game as part of an otherwise strong team and see how they do).

anyway, from www.unison.ie

Highest ever transfer fee for Irish player Duff

Damien Duff has made up his mind he's off to Chelsea. The Irish winger will tie up the �25 million deal later tonight according to the player's representatives. He's set to be unveiled at Stamford Bridge alongside England defender Wayne Bridge who has signed for �10 million.

best of luck damo.

**Seamus #1** · 21/07/2003, 7:06 PM

Yep good luck to the lad. A lot of pressure on him now but I am sure he can deliver.

The poor lad couldn't even go for a jog along Fulham Broadway without a Chelsea Pensioner in civies trying to pick his ear.

**�anna** · 21/07/2003, 11:31 PM

Originally posted by John83
I can't be agreeing with Silvio Dante. I can't...

thats just cos his hero roy thinks it, so he must think the same. unthinking, unknowing...........

**colster** · 22/07/2003, 11:23 AM

This is a very good move for Duff and Chelsea.
I think Ranieri could do absolute wonders for Duff.
The plebs in the English Press think this is a waste of money, that Duff is not a world class player.
Are they insane? This lad is going to be massive.
He'll have a greater effect on Chelsea that Ginola had on Newcastle.
Anyone who thinks that the Chelsea fans won't love Duff are mad.
I can't wait to see him play in the CL. Thats were he belongs.

**ian** · 22/07/2003, 4:04 PM

I think that duff will do very good at chelsea it will make him a better player and for us chelsea fans we will see a good bit of skill from a good player and at last chelsea have an Irish man on there books it has been a couple of years let the good times start.

**Seamus #1** · 22/07/2003, 5:12 PM

Originally posted by colster
This is a very good move for Duff and Chelsea.
I think Ranieri could do absolute wonders for Duff.
The plebs in the English Press think this is a waste of money, that Duff is not a world class player.
Are they insane? This lad is going to be massive.
He'll have a greater effect on Chelsea that Ginola had on Newcastle.
Anyone who thinks that the Chelsea fans won't love Duff are mad.
I can't wait to see him play in the CL. Thats were he belongs.

Duff is very highly rated by fans and media alike on this side of the water don't worry about that. Maybe some reports might be saying he is not world class but I think their has been a consensus for some time over here that he is one of the best left wingers in the world. Liverpool had to make do with Harry Kewell as a booby prize because they couldn't afford him!

**tiktok** · 22/07/2003, 5:31 PM

from www.rte.ie

Damien Duff's agent has admitted that he is baffled as to why Manchester United did not bid for the player. Pat Devlin, who handles Duff's affairs as well as being manager of Bray Wanderers, told RTE Sport that the winger would have been perfect for the club considering their history of Irish connections.

But as Chelsea were the only club to meet Blackburn's evaluation of the player, the only decision Duff had to make according to Devlin, was whether or not to leave Blackburn Rovers.

And money had nothing to do with Duff's decision, Devlin stated. "Damien didn't even ask about the money. He just wants to play football. We were so impressed by the Chelsea set up and our meeting with Claudio Ranieri, that Damien said immediately - I want to sign."

Yesterday Duff completed his �17.7million move, signing a a five-year deal worth a reported �70,000-a-week

fair play to him, 70000stg a week is alright. I think Chelsea will be a good move for him given the type of ball they like to play. there are also rumours abound that ranieri wants him for a zola type role behind the fromt two. hope this isn't the case, prefer to see him on the left wing.

**NigeSausagepump** · 23/07/2003, 7:30 AM

Originally posted by Silvio Dante

By the way Nige, Roy hadn't played for three weeks prior to the home leg and was allowed to play in it by Fergie against Old Trafford medical advice.

To say he opted out of the second leg is a travesty of the truth. Something a few McCarthyites have a habbit of doing unfortunately....

Ahh, I see.

I make a comment construed to be negative towards King Roy, ergo I am a McCarthyite?

Its all so much clearer now.

I probably rate McCarthy as highly as you do old boy (ie not very)

Some things go beyond personalities.