CONFIRMED Duffy joins Stoke City on loan

[originaltrueblade]

If he goes or not Duff is a player who can change a game and could be an impact player from the bench. Hope he stays but in Wilder we trust

 

[Grizzly blade]

Lovely lovely player is Duffy. Gets in great pockets of space, lovely skills and can win you games on his own.

However, sadly there is a however!!

1. He is getting on, and the step up in quality of defenders from the championship is huge. He will struggle to have anything like the impact he has had in the last three seasons.

2. His contract is running down, and he will want at least another two years playing. He could stay and see his deal out but not playing will be of detriment to his game.

3. Players have come in on permanent deals to replace him, the likes of Freeman I put as a pat with Duffy in ability, and is younger. Plus we have the skills and creativity of Dids who can play the Duffy role, not forgetting now also Morrison and Robinson.

4. The manager sees these lads every day, and maybe he has seen something to suggest Duffy Is about to drop his levels. Maybe age, how he’s returned for pre season...who knows.

So, for me as sad as it is, and even though I would still get him at least 1 prem start before he leaves it’s maybe time for him to move on. Save the wages for a player more likely to gain in value.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Well here we are in deepest, darkest S2.

We’re in the Premiership now. We scream for quality new signings yet can’t accept the replacement of our Bladey favourites. Silly parochial Sunday League thinking like ‘deserves a shot...’.

Are we to play 15 every fucking week? Do you want to stay in the Premiership or make every game a testimonial for long-serving faithful old servants? Sadly, I know the answer for some of you. Talk about the owners lacking ambition? Have a look in the mirror.

I said some time ago, to the usual Bladey derision, that neither Duffy nor Sharp would start more than a dozen games next season. Bonkers Bladey Blades scream with righteous indignation on behalf of their favourite one minute then demand Maupay, McBurnie et al the next. Only...(you know the rest).

As I’ve said before, Sharp may well have a vital but limited role, Kevin Phillips or Trevor Francis style. Duffy, I think not.

We’re moving on Bladey Blades. Evolving, progressing. Either stay in your Shoreham Street caves whinging or come out and enjoy it.

*Premier League

 

[Pinchy]

I really hope this isn't true. My favourite Blades player & the one who enabled us to dictate games & rise back up to the level we want to be at. There have been attempts to replace him before & he has seen them off, surely he deserves a chance to do that again this season.

How many points should we drop to accommodate players who ‘deserve a chance?’ We’re not going to have many to spare are we?

 

[S64 Blade]

Well here we are in deepest, darkest S2.

We’re in the Premiership now. We scream for quality new signings yet can’t accept the replacement of our Bladey favourites. Silly parochial Sunday League thinking like ‘deserves a shot...’.

Are we to play 15 every fucking week? Do you want to stay in the Premiership or make every game a testimonial for long-serving faithful old servants? Sadly, I know the answer for some of you. Talk about the owners lacking ambition? Have a look in the mirror.

I said some time ago, to the usual Bladey derision, that neither Duffy nor Sharp would start more than a dozen games next season. Bonkers Bladey Blades scream with righteous indignation on behalf of their favourite one minute then demand Maupay, McBurnie et al the next. Only...(you know the rest).

As I’ve said before, Sharp may well have a vital but limited role, Kevin Phillips or Trevor Francis style. Duffy, I think not.

We’re moving on Bladey Blades. Evolving, progressing. Either stay in your Shoreham Street caves whinging or come out and enjoy it.

Whilst I agree with you on Duffy, you did say Sharp wouldn't score many last season and look how that turned out.

Sharp and Duffy, from the outside looking in, have different mentalities. Sharp looks fitter than ever and is someone who I can imagine keeping their head down. Duffy was hit and miss last season and doesn't seem anywhere near as fit as Sharp.

I'm not saying Sharp will bag 20 or anything like that, but he will play important part, I am sure.

 

[Pinchy]

*Premier League

I still think of it as Division One...

 

[1889]

He wants a two year deal, if Utd won’t offer him that and he thinks he can get two years elsewhere then what else can he do?

At this moment in time, I think he’ll still command decent money for two years in the Championship, certainly he’s in a better bargaining position to get that deal now, than he will be in another year.

It’s a shame but, sentiment apart, in the cold light of day, he has to put his family first.

GLTTGL

 

[BladeInIreland]

Well here we are in deepest, darkest S2.

We’re in the Premiership now. We scream for quality new signings yet can’t accept the replacement of our Bladey favourites. Silly parochial Sunday League thinking like ‘deserves a shot...’.

Are we to play 15 every fucking week? Do you want to stay in the Premiership or make every game a testimonial for long-serving faithful old servants? Sadly, I know the answer for some of you. Talk about the owners lacking ambition? Have a look in the mirror.

I said some time ago, to the usual Bladey derision, that neither Duffy nor Sharp would start more than a dozen games next season. Bonkers Bladey Blades scream with righteous indignation on behalf of their favourite one minute then demand Maupay, McBurnie et al the next. Only...(you know the rest).

As I’ve said before, Sharp may well have a vital but limited role, Kevin Phillips or Trevor Francis style. Duffy, I think not.

We’re moving on Bladey Blades. Evolving, progressing. Either stay in your Shoreham Street caves whinging or come out and enjoy it.

Whilst occasionally I agree with you on the issue of sentiment with players this particular bladey favourite isn’t because he “gets stuck in” or “covers every blade of grass” it’s because he’s ridiculously talented and we have looked significantly weaker without him in the team. Why not wait to see if the new lads can fill his boots before getting rid?

 

[SHOREHAMST.com]

I imagine they are on very different wages and perhaps Jake Wright gives us a lot behind the scenes.

He could combine running the ticket office, superstore, hospitality and be the head chef behind the scenes and his contributions wouldn’t be a tenth of what Duffy has given us as part of ‘the scenes’!

Be gutted to see him go. I guess he’s got a year left and he’s pushing for longer. Club can’t offer longer due to age. So he’s forced to consider his options. Hopefully he chooses the one year with us option.

 

[robbiez666]

If we let him go without a fee and he gets a 2 year deal he could do very well out of it. I get the impression he just wants to play games and hasn’t been given any guarantees that he will with us

He's 34 this year and there's the strong suggestion he can't regularly last 90 minutes. I can't imagine anyone who would match our wages, or be near, would offer him a s year contract and give him regular starts. He'd not exactly set the world alight before joining us. I would suspect he'd have to drop to League 1 for regular starts.

 

[Ricky]

Let's not pretend any objections are based on sentiment when we're talking about a player as talented and influential as Duffy.

 

[Pinchy]

Whilst I agree with you on Duffy, you did say Sharp wouldn't score many last season and look how that turned out.

Sharp and Duffy, from the outside looking in, have different mentalities. Sharp looks fitter than ever and is someone who I can imagine keeping their head down. Duffy was hit and miss last season and doesn't seem anywhere near as fit as Sharp.

I'm not saying Sharp will bag 20 or anything like that, but he will play important part, I am sure.

Yes. I hope I sort of said that myself. Some of us, however, need to shake off Bladey sentimentality and live in the real world, where points are gold dust and there’s no place for auld lang syne.

I could bleat as loudly as the rest of you about my favourite Paul Coutts. I haven’t and won’t. My club is infinitely more important than loyalty to my favourite player. Far too many are failing to grasp that simple notion.

 

[Stretch]

Well here we are in deepest, darkest S2.

We’re in the Premiership now. We scream for quality new signings yet can’t accept the replacement of our Bladey favourites. Silly parochial Sunday League thinking like ‘deserves a shot...’.

Are we to play 15 every fucking week? Do you want to stay in the Premiership or make every game a testimonial for long-serving faithful old servants? Sadly, I know the answer for some of you. Talk about the owners lacking ambition? Have a look in the mirror.

I said some time ago, to the usual Bladey derision, that neither Duffy nor Sharp would start more than a dozen games next season. Bonkers Bladey Blades scream with righteous indignation on behalf of their favourite one minute then demand Maupay, McBurnie et al the next. Only...(you know the rest).

As I’ve said before, Sharp may well have a vital but limited role, Kevin Phillips or Trevor Francis style. Duffy, I think not.

We’re moving on Bladey Blades. Evolving, progressing. Either stay in your Shoreham Street caves whinging or come out and enjoy it.

Even if sentimentality is involved, then there's nothing wrong with that in football, certainly from a fan's perspective. It's the reason we all think back to teams and players from our past, the reason some of us hoard programs to pass onto our kids. Football is more than just stats and sports science, it's also about emotion and feeling an affinity with your club and [just occasionally] some of it's players.

Yes there is always a time to move on, but many of us just happen to believe that in this instance it might have come a bit too early.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Let's not pretend any objections are based on sentiment when we're talking about a player as talented and influential as Duffy.

I think some views are based on sentiment.

Like those who simply say "He deserves a chance in the Premier League" without going on to say why and what he'd offer.

 

[Pinchy]

There's nothing wrong with a bit of sentimentality in football. It's the reason we all think back to teams and players from our past, the reason some of us hoard programs to pass onto our kids. Football is more than just stats and sports science, it's also about emotion and feeling an affinity with your club and [just occasionally] some of it's players.

Yes there is always a time to move on, but many of us just happen to believe that in this instance it might have come a bit too early.

Yes, relegation is a price worth paying. Let’s give TC, Len and Ted a last run out.

 

[Pedro's Winger]

Well here we are in deepest, darkest S2.

We’re in the Premiership now. We scream for quality new signings yet can’t accept the replacement of our Bladey favourites. Silly parochial Sunday League thinking like ‘deserves a shot...’.

Are we to play 15 every fucking week? Do you want to stay in the Premiership or make every game a testimonial for long-serving faithful old servants? Sadly, I know the answer for some of you. Talk about the owners lacking ambition? Have a look in the mirror.

I said some time ago, to the usual Bladey derision, that neither Duffy nor Sharp would start more than a dozen games next season. Bonkers Bladey Blades scream with righteous indignation on behalf of their favourite one minute then demand Maupay, McBurnie et al the next. Only...(you know the rest).

As I’ve said before, Sharp may well have a vital but limited role, Kevin Phillips or Trevor Francis style. Duffy, I think not.

We’re moving on Bladey Blades. Evolving, progressing. Either stay in your Shoreham Street caves whinging or come out and enjoy it.

Not really.
Seen nothing to think Duffy couldn't cut it in the Prem and he was clearly very comfortable in the Championship.
He also knows how we play. Maybe Freeman can do the job better but maybe he can't. Maybe he gets a serious injury at Bournemouth.
To me Duffy is worth keeping for the player and the sentiment.
As is Sharp.

 

[Speedracer]

How many points should we drop to accommodate players who ‘deserve a chance?’ We’re not going to have many to spare are we?

And how many points might we gain from him orchestrating our play? Sometimes you make really good points, but contrary to your opinion of yourself you don't always, just like what you said about Sharp last year. If the coaching staff have looked at his date & he is not at the required fitness level then I would understand he would no longer be deserving of a place in the team, but no one here is privy to that information, so one opinion is just as valid as another.

 

[Stretch]

Yes, relegation is a price worth paying. Let’s give TC, Len and Ted a last run out.

Now you are just being daft

 

[Bladeinleeds]

How many points should we drop to accommodate players who ‘deserve a chance?’ We’re not going to have many to spare are we?

If fairness - Holmes, carruthers, dowell and woodburn have all tried and failed to replace Duffy so far

We’re yet to see someone who can emulate what he does - so I don’t think it’s just sentiment wanting to keep him. Admittedly we are all hoping Freeman is that man.

If I was him I’d give it 6m to January and see how it plays out in terms of his playing time - his game doesn’t rely heavily on his physical ability so I don’t think there would be a sharp drop off with age.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Yes. I hope I sort of said that myself. Some of us, however, need to shake off Bladey sentimentality and live in the real world, where points are gold dust and there’s no place for auld lang syne.

I could bleat as loudly as the rest of you about my favourite Paul Coutts. I haven’t and won’t. My club is infinitely more important than loyalty to my favourite player. Far too many are failing to grasp that simple notion.

Have to agree with you on this one. Broke my heart that Coutts was allowed to walk out of the door - even more so as we still haven't bought a replacement for Norwood in case he snaps a hamstring. Same with Cranie...

However, with Duffy we now have 3 or 4 players who fill that role so moving him on would seem to make more sense from a squad place perspective.

Loved what he's done for us and he has been the one who more than any other has been at the centre of when we play well. If Duffy plays well, we play well. However, I've always felt Tufty isn't convinced by his fitness and consistency...

 

[bromtom]

I can't see it.

I don't think the club would offer him a new deal, he's ancient let's be honest, so a 3 year PL contract was never coming, but he's got a part to play and I can't see us saying "you can leave". Maybe a one year deal.

If he doesn't want to run down his contract and become a free agent after a season, then I can see why he's upset (if this has any legs) but surely you'd take that for being involved in the PL.

 

[Gimli]

I think we can probably all agree that Duffy has been a truly great player for us over the last 3 years and at many points the team performance was reliant on him pulling the strings.

But, I think our promotion and Duffy’s chance to play in the Premier League has sadly just arrived too late in his career.

Like it or not, Wilder has already replaced him with Freeman, Ravel and even Robinson can play in that role.

Duffy will be only a bit part player if he stays for this last year of his contract. Has he earnt his chance to play at the top level? Absolutely yes he has, but long term I do think it’s the right decision to not offer him a new contract.

 

[Nick Jansky]

He's 34 this year and there's the strong suggestion he can't regularly last 90 minutes. I can't imagine anyone who would match our wages, or be near, would offer him a s year contract and give him regular starts. He'd not exactly set the world alight before joining us. I would suspect he'd have to drop to League 1 for regular starts.

You might be right and I don’t know what his wages are. But don’t underestimate what some L1 clubs lash out in wages and with a two year guarantee and a signing on fee he might think its a better option than a year possibly bench warming with us, to prolong his career.

I’ll be gutted to see him go though.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Yes, relegation is a price worth paying. Let’s give TC, Len and Ted a last run out.

It might be the one thing I've disagreed with you about. My point about Duffy is that we should act cautiously, at least until his supposed replacements show they have what it takes. Give MD six months, no more, and then we'll know who can cut the mustard and who is a failure.

 

[PaulHalfway]

Been fantastic for us over the last few seasons without doubt, but 34 next
Can’t see any reason now we are in the PL why we would offer him a new contract
PL is a different world to where we have been, need much better quality players if we are going to survive and move forward

 

[Westran]

Duffy is welcome to stay from the clubs point view, as he still has a year left on his contract, obviously us fans would like him to have an opportunity at least to prove himself and he has that with the remainder of his contract.

I cant see the issue with not offering him an extended contract at this stage. He could quite quickly become surplus to requirements and so extending him limits our ability to move him on and his own ability to play week in week out.

If Duffy is unhappy with not being offered an extended contract, in my view he's happy with sitting in the reserves if other players surpass him this year. Remember Hammond and the shit we gave him for making the same decision? I know Duffy has done a lot more for us than Hammond, but we shouldn't be putting ourselves in a position where we have to pay people who are no use to us on the field.

 

[mattbianco1]

Those 2 goals against ROVRUM last season spring to mind, different but showing his qualities.

Loved this goal. He literally had no right to score with two defenders infront of him like that

 

[GrayBlade]

He’s my favourite player of the Wilder era to date. I love to see him play when he’s on his game he’s a joy to behold. He’d started to be used more sparingly last season and so I I thought that his chances could be limited next season, but I really hoped he’d get his chance in the top tier even if it’s off the bench.

GLTTL. Whatever happens here I still think he’ll be doing a good job somewhere for a few years yet and I look forward to watching him again whoever he plays for...unless of course it’s the Pork or Dirties.

 

[OnmiEdson]

Given all the correct observations above
If Duffy is cancelling his contract by mutual consent
Are we saying that we are tweaking the system somewhat for next season
I personally agree that there is no
Guarantee that any of the new boys can play the number 10 the way that Duffy does
But I suppose if you are changing to 2 number tens or a different number 10 that requires more pace as opposed to pure footballing genius
Then maybe there is some legs to this rumour

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Regardless of age/fitness/speed, when you can do this, it doesn't matter whether you can run 100 metres in a little over 10 seconds or not