Damien Duff has not played well since Newcastle bought him from Chelsea a couple of years ago, for a bargain £5M price tag.
Damien Duff - off form and injured for two seasons
Former Newcastle Academy manager Alan Irvine, who is now manager at Preston North End, brought Duff to England when he was at Blackburn Rovers, and thinks Newcastle fans will see a rejuvenated Damien next season.
He talked to the Sunderland Echo today:
“I thought he’d be brilliant for Newcastle, and, of course, he still can be,”
“He’s a very, very talented player. He’s had his problems with injuries, but hopefully they’re all behind him now and Newcastle fans will start to see the best of him.”
“I thought he’d be the type of player to excite Newcastle fans. He’s a player who really excites fans.”
“I spoke to him before he made the move, and recommended the club to him.”
“He’s been unfortunate with injuries, but that’s behind him. Hopefully he’ll have a really good pre-season, and he can show what he’s capable of doing.”
“He’s a very talented player, and very exciting. He’s a smashing lad, as well.”
“Unfortunately, the last few years have been dogged by injury, and I hope for his sake that he has an injury free year.”
It’s true that Damien has had many injury problems in his career, and certainly at Newcastle over the last couple of seasons.
And we don’t want to be too harsh on Damien, who is still a good player, but he hasn’t been worth the high wages, about £60K/week, we have paid the Irishman over the last couple of seasons.
It also seems that Mike Ashley is trying to get rid of those players who didn’t perform up to scratch last season, and Damien could still be one of them that we let go in the summer.
We’ll have to see just how much Kevin Keegan wants to keep Duff.
We have to point out we have nothing against Damien personally, who tries 100% in training and in games, but he just hasn’t shown his old form for two seasons while on Tyneside, and how long do you wait?
Damien is also quite injury prone, and doesn’t play too many games each season, at the best of times.
Duff has made just 44 starts, and 8 substitute appearances for Newcastle over the last two seasons, and scored just two goals.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
79 responses so far ↓
1 Tom_Toon // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:22 PM
He shite, injury prone and earns about 80k a week, get him out!
2 broon ale // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:24 PM
couldn’t beat an egg! please move on duffer. to sunderland!
3 The Entertainers // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Not sure if we’ll ever get him, but the Duff at Chelsea looked one hell of a player.
One i would have over Arda!
But those days may well be over…..sigh.
4 Faustino // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:31 PM
If the rumours are true he hates being here. But hey it’s only a rumour. Maybe magic will happen and all our sh)t players will be good next year.
5 Jimmie // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:32 PM
Hasnt exactly set the place on fire but ok then, showdown season, stay clear of injuries, make or breake..
6 Tom_Toon // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:35 PM
He’s going, his house if for sale.
7 broon ale // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:37 PM
his house is nice.
8 broon ale // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:39 PM
i havent seen him have a good half in a black and white shirt, nevermind a good game
9 todd // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:42 PM
i reckon duff could surprise us next season. I thought he would have been one of the first shipped out but it looks like we wont have much money so we are keeping some players who werent good enough last season. just hope smith goes. never liked him as a person or as a player. him being a leeds fan and then joining utd says it all about his character.its like shearer managing sunderland.
10 mozza // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:42 PM
aye and we help loads of these under achievers buy pads like that, they earn more in a week than most of us earn in a year
11 Ian // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Eds chosen the worst year to start a blog, not a single snippet of official news!!! By now Freddy would have given him a repetitive strain injury on his typing finger!!
I see we may have signed another keeper, cant stop a ball but he sings quite well. Didnt need to mind, Beardlsey missed by a country mile!!
12 Davies // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:50 PM
His house is tacky. I’d gut it and re-decorate.
Time to go Duffer.
None of the faith I’ve put in this player has been repaid.
The left wing should belong to Charles N’Zogbia now (if he stays), he’s younger and faster. I really do feel his attitude would improve a great deal if he played there every game.
If Duffer stays, he’d better improve fast. Give him until January, otherwise ship him off with Shola.
Shame, he was superb once.
13 Ben_BKK // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Duff’s house is up for sale because he’s building/buying a new one, ffs the whole “Duff’s house is for sale, he MUST be leaving” story was just sh*te stirring by the media…
14 Toony Montana // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:54 PM
So he is the guy who “allegedly” told SWP it was “Shit” at SJP so dont bother coming?
15 ToonKing // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:55 PM
he’s just another Milner on the left, can’t beat a man, can’t cross, just runs around pointlessly. bye bye
PS: maybe we should try and bring in a few players too, i heard in some extreme cases in worked at other clubs…………….grrr
16 The Entertainers // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:58 PM
@ TOONY MONTANA
I cant believe people are still talking about SWP and this crap rumour.
Google the team sheet of the game at SJP and tell me where you see SWP. Hes not on the pitch and not even on the bench!
Its just a really crap rumour, more tahn likely started by some Chelsea fan
17 michael // Jun 26, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Duff has to go, gets his money for being injured or on the bench. Got to gan , his best times are well and truly behind him. Not good enough to put on the black and white shirt. There is a few who arnt good enough like geremi , smith , cacapa , viduka and bad boy barton(dickhead).
18 Kash2 // Jun 26, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Duff did NOT even perform for Chelsea. He was never at his best there. His best was at Blackburn, and they did the right thing by letting him leave for the £15m.
19 Kaler // Jun 26, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Two seasons worth of chances is long enough…
20 Toony Montana // Jun 26, 2008 at 4:15 PM
My bad
21 broon ale // Jun 26, 2008 at 4:19 PM
so we all agree duff should leave.?
22 Davey G // Jun 26, 2008 at 4:28 PM
I am having Deja Vue.
Wasnt the season just gone supposed to be his better season??????????????
I wouldnt mind his gaff though, thats for sure.
23 HeronMag // Jun 26, 2008 at 4:37 PM
Duff shouldn’t go anywhere before we sign someone!
24 Hammy // Jun 26, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Ed,
Please remove Arshavin’s face book page I’m fed up seeing people sucking up to him……
and can we bring back the bird of the day feature, all of this current blog is doing my head in, I’m gonna top myself if nothing happens soon.
Duff??? hasn’t he slipped behind Lua Lua in the first team pecking order?
25 Swepalle // Jun 26, 2008 at 4:40 PM
No give him a chance as left back
26 gorskino10 // Jun 26, 2008 at 4:43 PM
on sunderland echo so is this a wind up . Anywho sell him hes on 60k and is one of the worst players we have give himaway at a raffle or something.
27 Ian // Jun 26, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Did no-one watch the news last night?
We had a new keeper in a black and white shirt.
28 Ross // Jun 26, 2008 at 4:52 PM
had it apparently came from someone in the club i’d have been gutted because it basically means he’s staying as we cant find anyone better to sign.
but hopefully thats not the case at all.
29 euanpolo // Jun 26, 2008 at 4:52 PM
We should flog Duff whilst we can still get some decent money for him! Example of a player like Duff’s career: Very good at mid table club/good but then starts to fade at big 4 club/goes to newcastle/goes to west ham!/goes to Cardiff City? Anyway we should sign Gomis now the attention is on Arshavin rather than him.
30 The Entertainers // Jun 26, 2008 at 4:54 PM
Our new keeper looked a real dead ringer for someone!
31 daiv // Jun 26, 2008 at 4:57 PM
Garbage. But will play better if offered £100K a week instaed of only £80K
32 Ian // Jun 26, 2008 at 4:59 PM
Entertainers and we were told they were going for youth!!!!
Beardsley missed!!
33 Ian // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:01 PM
Trouble is it is making sure we sign someone better than Duff, I cant understand why Zog wasnt kept forward and Duff played at the back as apparantly he is very good in that position, he has played it previously.
34 The Entertainers // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:02 PM
If we havent got any players left by next season at least we wont let many in!
He filled the goal.
35 The Entertainers // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:04 PM
NO NO NO……..we cant use Duff as a LB!
That was a horrible idea by Roeder!
36 normski1930z // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:06 PM
keep him as cover for the in coming zhirkov …shit did i say that out loud.
37 Black and White Blood // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:08 PM
How can that be a bargain £5M price tag if he hasn’t played well since arriving..? Doh! I would’ve struggled to say we had a bargain if he came on a FREE!
Money grabbing shit, F**k Off to Wearside alongside One Man and His Dog!
38 Rob Kirton // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:08 PM
“Duff backed to do well next season” – last said June 2007.
It’s Ground Hog Day
39 daiv // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:12 PM
We’ve signed nobody and are struggling to get anybody of any real class. Any good signings would be flagged up straightaway to help season ticker sales.
MA will not release the pure strings and Wise is useless.
We seem to be a selling club (Milner, Nzog and Oba may yet go) but I bet the one player we keep is Alan Smith. Very worrying times.
KK would have walked 10 years ago but he must be hard up these days.
40 Hadji // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:13 PM
Tom Toon….I need your opinion on Almiron,i know he was a flop in Juventus but do you think we can get the best out of him.I think he could do really well cause for sure he can’t have a worse season than the one in Juventus.
41 Ian // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:17 PM
Anybody got any hot leads as to what is actually happening at the club, take away the all of the papers and websites etc, has anyone heard any whispers at all??
42 daiv // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:17 PM
Ed
It shows how desperate things have become when you talk up Duff as a bargain at £5M. How can some body who has been consistently either poor or injured for us be described as a bargain at£5M? He should be second out the door after Smith.
43 normski1930z // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:18 PM
sell smith in front of duff all day every day every week every year …… nuff sed
44 daiv // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:22 PM
Ian,
I can give you some facts. We have signed nobody yet. We are linked withe the whole world but are rejected by the best players who want to go elsewhere.
45 Tom_Toon // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:24 PM
Hadji, i’ve only ever seen him at Juve and he wa s aheadless chicken, run around doing nothing got the ball and didnt know what to do with it so just kept passing it back to his CB’s.
46 wilko // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:32 PM
DD’s NUFC future should be left to an expert ie KK to decide. He would get it right. All I know is that when Duff is good, he’s really good,
47 ScottyT // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:35 PM
as much as a dnt think duff is gr8.. shud we rly get rid of yet more players?! how small shud our squad be man.. wers the incomin players to replace tha ones who have alredy left?
if wer bein extremely critical last season thn geremi/duff/smith/cacapa/barton shud go but we need players so ad say only get rid of barton and smith if we can, owt of them.. unless we get a load of players in in which case they can all leave as far as im concerned.
48 Ross // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:36 PM
wilko when was the last time duff was alright, never mind good. i genuinly cant remember him standing out in a single game since he arrived. i saw about 15 minutes of an ireland game a few weeks ago and he looked b@llocks there too. couldnt beat the first man, lost his burst of pace that gave him an edge, everythings gone.
taxi for damien.
49 Ian // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:38 PM
Daiv, sounds like you are as fed up as I am!!!!!!!
Just hark back to Keegan’s statement last season, my job includes telling the fans what is happening with their club!! Nothing.
maybe someone will say something on Monday or Tuesday. Here is the new owner.
50 micepie // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:52 PM
I know that there’ll be quite a few anti-Duff posts on here but I feel like we should give players like Duff and even Smith one more season to prove themselves.
The only new wide player I might add is Giles Barnes as back-up to Milner should we play 4-4-2. Then focus on getting in two quality central mf.
51 wilko // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:55 PM
Ross, you’re probably right – the only time I’ve seen him play well was for Blackburn – not for us. do you think kk should handle it to get the right direction for him ??
52 Jesper Odum // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:55 PM
Look, in order to sell Duffy, someone has to bid. I would say if we receive a bid of 2-3m (never mind the 5m mentioned previously), get rid of him. If noone comes in for him, then we keep him and see if we can get him back to his best – which really was quality. If we can get rid of him, I would say bring in Lennon, and let N’Zogbia, Lennon and Milner share the wings between them, with Lua-Lua used as backup. If we bring in Lennon, then wings is a position we wouldn’t need to think too much about and we could focus on the center of the park… and the back 4… and a striker… (yikes).
53 Leo // Jun 26, 2008 at 5:58 PM
lets just give him a chance, its not like he doesnt try. pre season for once too… lets see what he has to offer us
54 mozza // Jun 26, 2008 at 6:10 PM
nah get shot of him if he’s playing for our team next season we’ve moved forward about as much as an asthmatic tortoise with a limp
55 harrier // Jun 26, 2008 at 6:21 PM
WOOOO WE HAVE SIGNED SOMEBODY…. (kinda)
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_3742963,00.html
56 mozza // Jun 26, 2008 at 6:24 PM
nice spot harrier he defo looks one for the future, now we just need some players for this season, hope this is gona start some kind of ball rolling
57 geoordiegazza // Jun 26, 2008 at 6:28 PM
OMG!!! Eto’o and Gudjohnsson have arrived in Newcastle for medicals.
58 Chris // Jun 26, 2008 at 6:29 PM
Over the moon that Aaron Spear has agreed to join us. Let’s hope he lives up to his potential!
59 Ross // Jun 26, 2008 at 6:40 PM
wilko-i think KK should handle every single one of our transfers, in or out!
fair enough let wise and his team spot the talent, but then bring in KK to talk to the player. he can really sell the club and the city, unlike wise. its just another job in another city to wise, keegan is as passionate as us about newcastle.
i’d love to see duff do well next season, but i dont even think we’ll get the chance. and to be honest, i dont think there’ll be any drastic changes in his performances either, whomevers colours he’s wearing.
60 Alex // Jun 26, 2008 at 6:45 PM
The lads mother is quoted as saying they were very impressed by Wise and how he sold the club to them.Maybe the recruitement team are worth the money they are being payed after all.Now lets see them bring in some big boys:]
61 harrier // Jun 26, 2008 at 6:47 PM
Well it worked on a highly impressionable 15 year-old, now lets sick him on Van der Vaart and Arshavin!
62 Chris // Jun 26, 2008 at 6:51 PM
As far as I know Wise is only in charge of recruiting for the academy not the first team. That is down to Jiminez. So why is everyone giving Wise stick. He’s just signed up one of the most promising youngsters in the country in Aaron Spears. So give the bloke a break for God’s sake!
63 Faustino // Jun 26, 2008 at 6:58 PM
Hypothetical – can Keegan get the best out of our current squad and would it be nearly enough?
i.e. Duff and N Zogbia firing on all cylinders and passionate. Smith, the player Fergie signed…Milner fit…Geremi beating the first man. Owen sharp, Viduka thinner and fit…Barton not breaking the law and out of jail?
Imo even if this all happened we’d STILL need a CB, RB, a class holding midfielder and a striker.
But thats only four players.
Could it/Will it happen!
64 iain // Jun 26, 2008 at 6:59 PM
must be a reason mourinho was happy to flog a 17m player for 5m and that there was very little interest in him when we signed him from other clubs.
i feel like crying someimes when we could of had lescott instead for less transfer fee and less wages, the difference would of meant we could of kept on sibierski for longer and that would of meant no neeed to sign smith. one bad decision after another at nufc has lead to a chain of bad signings.
the longer we wait to try and get rid of duff harder it will be for us to get a good deal.
id be offering him around the pl to every club for 2-3m right now just to get shot of him.
it wont work out, look how many chances we gave shola and other players with bad injur records.
another bad season at nufc and he will be worthless and still earning 60kpw+ will never gbe worth teh 5m we paid for him.
selling for 3m might seem like a loss but we would be saviing on his wages.
say we missed out on every top quality player we go for this summer ie arshavin etc
i would be happy if we did the following replacing crap overpaid wasters with fit/younger/hungrier players.
shola – derdiyok
smith – mcfadden
duff – boussafa
barton – emana
emre – kapo
geremi – larsson
rozehnal – scharner
carr – torosidis
has anyone noticed that actually were not that bad at signing young players and improving there value…
milner/zog/krul/given/jenas/dyer/worth more than what we paid for them and weve only had to sell two.
whas been bad has been our big players signings.
when was the last time we signed a player from bigger more succesful club than ours and that player has been a complete success.
imo martins and he was young fit and hungry to play.
smith/duff/owen/viduka/geremi/emre all knackers.
65 mikeygd // Jun 26, 2008 at 7:14 PM
absolutely gr8 news that spear has decided he wants to come to us, this kids got potential if all ive heard is true and the fact hes picked us over arsenal and other clubs has made my day. If mike ashley screws this up and cant agree a fee i will not be buying a season ticket!
66 Dev // Jun 26, 2008 at 7:24 PM
it’s not often though than any player who is bought from a bigger club by a smaller one ends up being a complete success.
Parker, Bowyer, Dyer, Solano for example
67 mikeygd // Jun 26, 2008 at 7:25 PM
dev i liked all those players even tho dyer was a sick note, they were entertaining, alot more fun to watch than geremi, butt, smith and duff
68 Bill F SPLASH THE CASH ASH // Jun 26, 2008 at 7:26 PM
I said I would keep my current name till we have got some big signings, I will be really piss*d if I’m still stuck with it after the new season starts. I am not counting the Spear signing into this equation
I still think MA is waiting till just before the window closes to see who he can get on the cheap.
69 natedawg // Jun 26, 2008 at 7:28 PM
great that spears is joining . i reckon this time next wekk we should have signed 3 or 4 players , reckon barnes might be left till january , doubt we wil get shorey , i think our priority has to be 2 proper decent midfielders, an attacking one and defence minded one
70 daiv // Jun 26, 2008 at 7:33 PM
MIcepie
Keep Smith and Duff for another year to prove themselves??? That has to be a wind up. All that would prove is that they are finished and if we don’t bring in quality this summer it might just get NUFC relegated. Mad idea.
71 mikeygd // Jun 26, 2008 at 7:37 PM
midfiled, one lovely creative footballer entertaining to watch can take a team on by himself and a grinder whos gna win the ball and keano viera type player to replace the aging and boring butt and a solid woodgate/terry type defender to help develop taylor and a striker who can hold the ball up for martins/owen if not both would do me lovely and as a bonus get in a few squad player types such as shorey and someone to compete with milner for the right hand flank would do me lovely.
72 jettson // Jun 26, 2008 at 8:48 PM
i think he has had his chances, never seems to beat a player and get a cross in, looks busy with no end result, let N Zogbia play wide left or behind a front two, let Duff move on, recoup some money and wages
73 Frankieboy // Jun 26, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Duff has not done anything since he left Blackburn. He was a major flop at Chleski and as Iain says they happily let him go at a £12M loss.Sell him now and get a few quid for him.
Can’t understand how he was played before Zog last season.
74 Clive // Jun 26, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Hmmm, all of a sudden in the last couple of days NUFC suddenly starts talking to the press after saying nowt to anyone for ages, then in the past couple of days they suddenly say Taylor will get a new contract and start bigging up Milner and Duff, they’re telling us all how we already have loads of brilliant players at the club and reading between the lines I think they’re basically saying “Keegan doesn’t really need anyone else there’ll be 1 or 2 cheap signings and that’s it, now pay for your season ticket suckers!!!!”
75 daiv // Jun 26, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Anybody still think MA is going to spend multi millions or that hes here to get the club ship shape and sell on at a profit.?
76 Ausgeordie // Jun 27, 2008 at 12:53 AM
Shorey 3.5 mill, Crouch 10 mill , Lennon 4.5 mill , SWP 7.5 mill. Sell Milner and Smith for 10.5 mill. Leaves 10 mill for backs if we spend about 25 all window
77 T.O.Mag // Jun 27, 2008 at 1:07 AM
Duff has no right foot , no pace, no tricks . Sell him ASAP. Keep Milner and NZogbia
78 Aussie dave // Jun 27, 2008 at 5:31 AM
Give the lad a chance.
he has had horrific injuries.
a certain little Michael Owen who is now everyone favourite geordie, was in a similar situation, and look at him now. He zis the heart and soul of the team.
If duff is fit and gets a chance in the 433 system like was played at Chelsea he will carve it up.
He was only really given a chance when we played 442. Give him a free role and watch him go
79 iain // Jun 27, 2008 at 12:21 PM
dave, imo any team can only carry one player like duff/owen in there sqaud. always hoping they will come good, worrying about there cost t performance ratio.
things is we have more than 1… owen, duff, emre, geremi, smith to name a few.
and owen is by far the only one looking like hes still worth something to nufc. he would be the hardest to shift given his wages so imo hes the one we should keep.
the rest are very easily replaceable imo, even if we did want a top cf to replace owen your talking about paying 15m and at least 80kpw in these days.
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