Duffy: legend.

[spongebobblade]

As an academy player I wasn’t even allowed to play for my school

I wasn’t allowed to play for my school either........ but that was mainly because I was shit

 

[Liverpool blade]

'My mate Sean'.......

Liverpool Blade, are you really the Eckington Blade?

No. Although i was born in Sheffield. I lived in jordanthorpe for a good few years.
I do have a scouse mate called Sean who is slowly being educated about all things Sheffield united!!!. It's a long tough job but worth it.
He has been to a match at bdtbl and loved the atmosphere. Utb

 

[Jehovah]

And to think Carruthers was the preferred option at the start of the season.

 

[SharpshootingBilly]

just wondering - if no one knew who he was how did they come to find out it was a professional footballer? I would have liked to have seen their reactions

 

[stringer]

just wondering - if no one knew who he was how did they come to find out it was a professional footballer? I would have liked to have seen their reactions

Sure his mates know who/what he is

 

[SharpshootingBilly]

Sure his mates know who/what he is

OP says none of the lads recognised him so unless there was a picture for someone to identify. His wikipedia page would have been brilliant!

 

[Liverpool blade]

OP says none of the lads recognised him so unless there was a picture for someone to identify. His wikipedia page would have been brilliant!

Obviously the team that Duffy was playing for knew who he was. But my mates on the opposing side didn't have a clue until they heard his name afterwards and soon realised who he was.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Top player ? Affirmative.
A joy to watch ? Ditto.

Legend ?????

UTB

 

[fuerstenberger]

I know I stand alone with this view, but one of the best players I have ever seen is Stephen Ireland. Why? He had 360 deg vision. Duffy's main qualities are top Champs, possibly lower league Premier League. His vision, on the other hand, is world class.

 

[Muttley]

Not being funny but I'm not sure CW would have been that impressed if he'd done his cruciate playing 5 aside against of bunch of cloggers!

Nice to see he's not forgotten his roots or his mates though.

Didn't a certain Mr Wilder break his hand playing Sunday football when he was in our first team?

 

[Eric Cartman]

I once played against Conor Brown (yes, the one we released after he was mouthing off about Ched being innocent, went to Oldham and has since fell into oblivion) and he almost single handedly played our side off the park.

We were previously unbeaten in the league after 7 games, 2nd in the league to his team and we got absolutely battered.

After that I've never said, even jokingly, that I could do better than a footballer while he's playing.
"I COULDDA PUT THAT AWAY CLAAARKEEE" "FUCK OFF STEARMAN YOUVE GOTTA CLEAR YA LINES THEARRR" "Oh my god Lundtram how've you not found him there you had loads of space!!!"

It really put into context how much better league footballers are than us mere mortals. If a reject right back was playing us off the park in a little game of 7 a side, I dread to think what the pro's could do.

 

[Eric Cartman]

Top player ? Affirmative.
A joy to watch ? Ditto.

Legend ?????

UTB

By very definition Duffy is a legend at our club because of what he's done this season, and that special moment in paticular.

Will we be talking about Duffy long after he retires? For that moment against the pigs alone I'd say it's more than likely.

 

[Silent Blade]

Didn't a certain Mr Wilder break his hand playing Sunday football when he was in our first team?

Tripped over his dog

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Tripped over his dog

I've given you a like but, by your (admittedly very high) standards, this post is lacking crucial information in a number of areas.

Time of day, weather conditions, name, breed and sex of dog immediately spring to mind and I am sure there are others which members would like in order to have a complete picture of the series of events leading up to this fiasco.

I am sure you are aware that there are others waiting in the wings desperate to wear the mantle of official guru of all things Blades and I would not like to see you lose it simply through lack of attention to detail.

 

[loyalblade95]

And to think Carruthers was the preferred option at the start of the season.

I wouldn't think he was the preferred option don't forget Duffy missed most of preseason cos his missus gave birth he might not have been 100% ready at the start of the season

 

[Jehovah]

I wouldn't think he was the preferred option don't forget Duffy missed most of preseason cos his missus gave birth he might not have been 100% ready at the start of the season

Possibly. I personally think Wilder fancied Carruthers to make the step up with youth on his side and a bit of skill. Then Duffy stepped in and gave him a masterclass and immediately got motm.

 

[loyalblade95]

Possibly. I personally think Wilder fancied Carruthers to make the step up with youth on his side and a bit of skill. Then Duffy stepped in and gave him a masterclass and immediately got motm.

That might have been the case but Duffy did miss nearly all the pre season because his missus gave birth I doubt we'll ever know if wilder would've started with Duffy had he had a full preseason

 

[LondonBlade89]

I can remember being sat in the away end at Gillingham (the game which changed our fortunes) and Duffy was getting absolute dog's abuse from a group of fans. It reached the stage where I actually got into an argument with one of the fans berating him. I don't get them all right but I could tell Duffy was class, even if he wasn't having the best game. Funny how things change.

 

[Valleyblade]

Top player ? Affirmative.
A joy to watch ? Ditto.

Legend ?????

UTB

If Bobby Davison is a legend, which he is, then Mr Duffy is, certainly, and more so in my opinion.

 

[Blend-it-like-Harris]

Bobby Davison is a legend because he notched a couple at the Sty - likewise the "Birch" - but he doesn't come close to Duffy in terms of what he gives us. Pesky had a fair bit of skill too as I recall.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

And to think Carruthers was the preferred option at the start of the season.

Yes, and the fact that Tufty was about to let Brooks go on loan to Chesterfield until he got Player of the Tournament in Toulon.

CW has been the best thing that's happened to us in many a long year, but he's not infallible as some on here would have us believe.

As a manager, he's still learning his trade as was Alex Ferguson at his age, when he came very close to getting the sack at Man U and I dearly hope that Tufty shows the same level of progress in the next couple of seasons, starting with being more flexible in his approach to the defensive formation and the deployment of players who can make a difference in the final third.

 

[Keen Blade]

Yes, and the fact that Tufty was about to let Brooks go on loan to Chesterfield until he got Player of the Tournament in Toulon.

CW has been the best thing that's happened to us in many a long year, but he's not infallible as some on here would have us believe.

As a manager, he's still learning his trade as was Alex Ferguson at his age, when he came very close to getting the sack at Man U and I dearly hope that Tufty shows the same level of progress in the next couple of seasons, starting with being more flexible in his approach to the defensive formation and the deployment of players who can make a difference in the final third.

I agree with you that indeed no one is infallible especially in their learning phase.
I would add to your examples his choice & timing of substitutions on occasions.
But one of his attributes is his ability to recognize + correct his own errors (eg: Hussey , Carruthers).

There's many joys of being a Blade these days , but the best is the one which applies whether we win lose or draw - and it distinguishes CW from almost all his predecessors.
He normally respects our intelligence by reviewing performances honestly + that's not always easy for him.

 

[Laney Blade]

I didn't see the TC era but in my time I don't recall seeing many more skilful players in a Blades shirt.

Seriously, in terms of skill can anyone think of any better in recent(ish) years?

But the question is can he last 90 minutes every game & score lots of goals as an attacking goal scoring midfield player ? I really do hope he can.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

I once played against Conor Brown (yes, the one we released after he was mouthing off about Ched being innocent, went to Oldham and has since fell into oblivion) and he almost single handedly played our side off the park.

We were previously unbeaten in the league after 7 games, 2nd in the league to his team and we got absolutely battered.

After that I've never said, even jokingly, that I could do better than a footballer while he's playing.
"I COULDDA PUT THAT AWAY CLAAARKEEE" "FUCK OFF STEARMAN YOUVE GOTTA CLEAR YA LINES THEARRR" "Oh my god Lundtram how've you not found him there you had loads of space!!!"

It really put into context how much better league footballers are than us mere mortals. If a reject right back was playing us off the park in a little game of 7 a side, I dread to think what the pro's could do.

Good point.

I once talked to a bloke who said he played against Charlie Hartfield when he was way past his best and about two stone overweight.

To be fair, I liked Charlie but he was no TC , and the guy assured me that they might as well have been playing against Platini, such was the difference in class between him and the rest of the players on the pitch.

 

[Laney Blade]

I have a theory on Sheff Utd fans collectively berating creative players who are class acts. Kevin McDonald, Leon Britton, Paul Ifill or more recently Coutts all took some venom if every single pass, cross, through ball etc. doesnt come off.

Duffy seems to have took a bit of that but over time got all of the fans on his side. Perhaps his goal against the Pigs did it, but whenever he doesn't play we miss him badly.

Id value Fleck at around 8mill but if Duffy was his age he'd be 10mill+ imo.

This is what Blades fans do. If Real Madrid players miss sitters it's ok.

 

[Laney Blade]

One of those I wanted us to sign for years and when we eventually did he was largely past it.

Just accept he's past it then it's not so upsetting ! God knows where he as when he was in his 20s . I had this problem years ago 're Bob Hatton .

 

[Laney Blade]

I have a theory on Sheff Utd fans collectively berating creative players who are class acts. Kevin McDonald, Leon Britton, Paul Ifill or more recently Coutts all took some venom if every single pass, cross, through ball etc. doesnt come off.

Duffy seems to have took a bit of that but over time got all of the fans on his side. Perhaps his goal against the Pigs did it, but whenever he doesn't play we miss him badly.

Id value Fleck at around 8mill but if Duffy was his age he'd be 10mill+ imo.

It's goals goals goals which affect the valuation of midfielders & this season they didn't do the business.

 

[Laney Blade]

With you to some extent but Leon Britton ? Never.

Massive disappointment for me - never did anything more than go through the motions for us, happy to abdicate responsibility at any available opportunity and showed not an ounce of passion or determination.

I clearly remember one situation when one of our big clumsy defenders, Nosworthy I'm pretty sure, passed it infield to him from the right hand touch line. He was in acres of space but, without even looking up, he passed it straight back to him.

The defender gave him the ball back and again, he passed it straight back to him, at which point he hoofed it upfield then turned and gave him a big round of fucks, and deservedly so.

High on my list of Players Who Didn't Give a Fuck.

Duffy on the other hand is different gravy altogether and should not be mentioned in the same breath as that little tosser. Up there with Colin Morris in my view, and it doesn't get much better than that.

But Colin Morris could last the full
90 minutes he was magic.

 

[Stretch]

But the question is can he last 90 minutes every game & score lots of goals as an attacking goal scoring midfield player ? I really do hope he can.

He could score a few more I agree but his assists since joining have been impressive. He also strikes me as a model pro who devotes himself to staying in shape so his stamina going forward may be just a question of what he can eek out of his body now at 30+.
To be honest his value add for the time spent on pitch has been excellent so whether it's 90 or 70 minutes as long as he keeps that up I'll be happy.