Mark Duffy Macclesfield

[Sheffsteel]

Duffy enjoyed. some limelight with us late in his career. He had 2 excellent seasons with us at championship level but Wilder knew that was his peak level
A lot of players never experience what Duffy achieved he was in the right place at the right time for him and us
He's not shown that level since he left so his departure was justified
But he did a Bob Booker in his own right

Bob Booker was popular here because he had average ability but was Mr 100% who cared.
He was more of a Chris Basham type.....a trier with under dog spirit. Blades love those types of players.

Where as Duffy was class....body swerve with close control, more of an Alex Sabella type.
Although I think a lot of credit must go to Wilder.
He was given a free role and told to float around in the space between midfield and attack (The Duffy role).
He was also told to work hard and play at a high tempo.
Hence why he could only manage a max of 70 minutes, in fact he was often a very effective sub.

 

[blade too long]

Bob Booker was popular here because he had average ability but was Mr 100% who cared.
He was more of a Chris Basham type.....a trier with under dog spirit. Blades love those types of players.

Where as Duffy was class....body swerve with close control, more of an Alex Sabella type.
Although I think a lot of credit must go to Wilder.
He was given a free role and told to float around in the space between midfield and attack (The Duffy role).
He was also told to work hard and play at a high tempo.
Hence why he could only manage a max of 70 minutes, in fact he was often a very effective sub.

Booker players 109 games scoring 13 goals for us
Duffy played 111 games for us scoring 15

but Booker did it in the top division
he had far more about him than some attribute to him..
Duffy. = Sabella not in any reality I've lived in
Duffy didn't score another league goal after leaving us

 

[CornwallBlade]

One of the biggest mysteries in local football.
One of your greatest entertainers and hardly anyone (apart from Blades) has heard of him ha ha.

I've been watching United since the mid 70's.
If I had a chat about football with a stranger.....you can imagine them asking me
"In all the time you've watched Sheff United....who is the most entertaining player you''ve seen"

My answer would be "obviously Tony Currie"
"Then it would be either Alex Sabella or Mark Duffy".
I rate Duffy that highly.

Yesterday against Barnsley several times Osborn cut in on the inside and tried a shot from just outside the area.
Norwood and Hourahane try the odd long shot too....they always go over the bar.
I said to those around me, we hardly ever score long shots, curled into the top corner.
I said that the last player we had who could score top quality goals was Mark Duffy.
He scored some top quality goals for us..similar style (but no where near as good) to Hakim Ziyech at Chelsea.

I once sat next to a Chinese student in the BLUT and got chatting to him. He told me he supports Beiging Guoan back in China and since he's been studying in Sheffield he comes to Bramall Lane because he loves football. He said his favourite player is Mark Duffy and he's one of the reasons he comes to watch us so often.

Note: I used to occasionally bring outsiders (non Sheff United fans) to our matches in league 1
They all used to make comments like "I like the look of that small ginger lad you've got"
or "your number 14 (what ever Duffy's number was....is your best player".

It’s weird isn’t it, Fleck and Enda scored some belters but it’s all stopped. I’ve commented on Norwood’s chronic shooting from long range, which mystifies me given his ability to ping. He proved me wrong with a perfectly good goal against Blackpool but, apart from Baldock’s worldy I can’t remember any recently

 

[Sheffsteel]

Booker players 109 games scoring 13 goals for us
Duffy played 111 games for us scoring 15

but Booker did it in the top division
he had far more about him than some attribute to him..
Duffy. = Sabella not in any reality I've lived in
Duffy didn't score another league goal after leaving us

Agree..thats why it's weird.

He was a journeyman winger who did very little before he came to us.

Then amazingly he was a top quality player for us...the only player who could create something from nothing.
He was at his best under Wilder when he was allowed to come off the wing and come inside floating between midfield and attack.

His goals away at Wimbledon and away at Wednesday were top class quality with composure.
Selling dummies...like Currie did to the West Ham defence when he scored past Mervyn Day in 1975.

Then when he leaves us...he returns to being a lower league journeyman.

It is a remarkable career, that makes little sense.
Was his 2 or 3 years playing under Wilder a fluke or was he a massive under achiever?

 

[Chezzy Blades]

The thing about Duffy is we never looked as good going forward or defending when he was substituted.

A lot is always said about his magic feet but he worked incredibly hard off the ball with our press and helping maintain our defensive shape too, something those who came on to replace him (often Carruthers, less so O’Shea and Brooks) never managed.

 

[Bayingblade]

Agree..thats why it's weird.

He was a journeyman winger who did very little before he came to us.

Then amazingly he was a top quality player for us...the only player who could create something from nothing.
He was at his best under Wilder when he was allowed to come off the wing and come inside floating between midfield and attack.

His goals away at Wimbledon and away at Wednesday were top class quality with composure.
Selling dummies...like Currie did to the West Ham defence when he scored past Mervyn Day in 1975.

Then when he leaves us...he returns to being a lower league journeyman.

It is a remarkable career, that makes little sense.
Was his 2 or 3 years playing under Wilder a fluke or was he a massive under achiever?

Apart from run us ragged every time he played against us.

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

Would anyone else take Duffy right now despite playing non league football with our depleted squad

 

[The Hecky Flecky Shake]

Nah as good as he was for us at the time, there’s a reason he’s now at that level

 

[mancunianblade]

Would anyone else take Duffy right now despite playing non league football with our depleted squad

No?

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

No?

Just a question

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Would anyone else take Duffy right now despite playing non league football with our depleted squad

Maybe his Mrs as the money would be better for him?

 

[Mojo]

Duffy was always class whenever he played against us too. Remember him playing for scunny against us and we couldn't get near him. We never really replaced him. I guess MGW is the only one that has come close since

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

Duffy was always class whenever he played against us too. Remember him playing for scunny against us and we couldn't get near him. We never really replaced him. I guess MGW is the only one that has come close since

NDiaye when he first started looked the like for like replacement, drifting around and linking play up. Strange one with him, feel like he's been isolated for no reason

 

[Hilly]

His goals away at Wimbledon and away at Wednesday were top class quality with composure.
Selling dummies...like Currie did to the West Ham defence when he scored past Mervyn Day in 1975.

My favorite is his goal against Toytown away - balance and composure from a player at the top of his game - 2018 / 19 season I think.

 

[Torrix1889]

My favorite is his goal against Toytown away - balance and composure from a player at the top of his game - 2018 / 19 season I think.

Reading away was better...

 

[Alan Birchenall's hair]

Played against us for either Scunny or Burton, and he was that good, Bramall Lane applauded him off when he was subbed. Hadn't seen that for an opposition player since Brian Flynn (could have been his debut) was applauded off playing at The Lane for Burnley in 1974.

 

[Silent Blade]

Played against us for either Scunny or Burton, and he was that good, Bramall Lane applauded him off when he was subbed. Hadn't seen that for an opposition player since Brian Flynn (could have been his debut) was applauded off playing at The Lane for Burnley in 1974.

Steve Kabba for Grimsby

 

[brownblade]

Would anyone else take Duffy right now despite playing non league football with our depleted squad

I'm dangerously loyal. So YES!

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

Duffy was just a beautiful footballer to watch. Worth the entrance fee alone.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Duffy was a good footballer who thrived in that role that Wilder got him playing and it obviously suited him better than being an out and out winger. Not got great pace, but comfortable with the ball at his feet and great awareness and vision of what was happening around him. Worked really hard too and not afraid of a tackle. I noticed that he also won quite a bit in the air for a smaller player. I think it was the 3-1 win against Derby when we'd just been promoted back to the Champ and he marked Huddlestone out of the game, never giving him any time on the ball.

 

[Antonb]

Duffy is is among my top 5 fave players. I will never forget the friendly at sheffield fc. Your very close to the pitch. And he was the best player on the pitch by a country mile! He was a delight to watch. No one could get close to him. Brilliant with the ball at his feet. A very talented player without a doubt

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

Named as assistant manager to Neil Danns today.

 

[Bladesthorpe]

GLTTL, hope he goes on to make a good a manager as he was a player, might see him at the helm at BDTBL one day.

 

[bertieblade]

He had a good football brain, I can see him doing a good job as a coach, not sure about his ability as a manager As players may not be able to understand him

 

[1888to1889]

Never get tired of watching that

 

[Edinblade]

Mark Duffy has just signed for Macclesfield. Great signing for them.

So this is allowed on the General Chat, but threads about Wilder are not. Wilder did much more than Duffy for our club, even taking into account the best goal moment in history.

 

[derfblade.3]

So this is allowed on the General Chat, but threads about Wilder are not. Wilder did much more than Duffy for our club, even taking into account the best goal moment in history.

Mardy arse.

 

[Sean Thornton]

View attachment 127581

ACAB

 

[Gannon's perm]

So this is allowed on the General Chat, but threads about Wilder are not. Wilder did much more than Duffy for our club, even taking into account the best goal moment in history.

Hi Chris

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

So this is allowed on the General Chat, but threads about Wilder are not. Wilder did much more than Duffy for our club, even taking into account the best goal moment in history.

I really hope you’re in the wind up & not being serious