Duffy expects loan move

Did himself no favours in the friendly in which he appeared.

Coming out of pre-season, I`m becoming convinced that OFM was 100% correct in keeping Duffy and Barkley out of the fray. Both have scope for massive improvement.

But I hope it`s not at Brentford else they are doomed!

At least it,s not Wigan Phil!

Good luck to the lad. Better than sitting on the bench.

I bet a couple of months ago Duffy was thinking "Next season is going to be my season". With an aging Distin, a more than likely departing out of form Heitinga, I bet he thought he was going to be a shoe-in as Jag's partner in a Moyes back four. This pre-season must of felt like a nightmare for him. A new manager, a new style of play, a new South American International center back added (crocked at the moment though), no out going defenders (for the time being) and the team being linked with another Belgium International defender must make him feel what hope does he have. I think the biggest realization for him that things might not be going his way is that someone who's 2 years younger than him, playing in his position, probably had the biggest inpact of any player during pre-season. And the only game time he did get, he didn't really cover himself in glory.

I was at the Miami game, and stayed behind at the end as the unused subs and some players who only played for a short period did an impromptu training session. They were doing a quick passing drill, as well as running with the ball. Unfortunately he looked very heavy footed, plus didn't have very good close control. I think going down to the Championship maybe his level at the moment and he might struggle with Martinez's passing style. I would like to be proved wrong as he has shown potential for a while now.

Duffy to me has always looked a championship or at best lower premiership team I'm afraid. He certainly does not fit into the Martinez style. Best of luck to the lad.

Kristian, you have to remember that he has played a handful of games for us so I don't think he expects to be first choice. Especially a centre half. A loan to a Championship club is perfect for him. It's a lot more physical and a decent standard. I very much doubt he feels "it's a nightmare".

A good player, he just might not be RMs type - or he needs a proper opportunity to prove him wrong. But yeah, get the feeling we're more likely to see him at another club in the prem.

I have watched him in a lot of the Under 21 games and he is at that very difficult stage, he is head and shoulders above most Center Backs in the Under 21 division but he is no where near good enough for our first team, the only way he will get that is with proper frst team game time week in and week out for a whole season. So it could be just what he needs.

A loan spell in the championship seems like a good move. Much better than in the reserves or th bench.

If he improves a lot then we have CB for the future, if not then we can move him on for some cash so win win for all.

Somebody help me, OFM?

Ged
My guess would be Old Fart Moyes

OFM - our former manager

I suppose the good news as a defender is that they seem to be at their very best with age.

Seems OFM may have been right about Duffy then (and what a buy Stones looks to be). I think finding ball playing centrebacks who can defend as well is the hardest position on the pitch to fill as they are so rare. 10 years ago Duffy would have carved out a premier league career easily. Now he's looking at the championship because the new breed of premier league defenders all have to be able to pass like midfielders. Even Jags is looking clumsy and he's one of the top defenders in the legaue and played in midfield in his youth. They all need to go to the Italian school of defending because they seem to produce a constant conveyor belt of defenders who have class and technique on the ball but who also know every dirty trick in the book.

He simply needs game time. That's the only way his game will progress,

When he cam in for those handful of games, he didn't look out of place.

Definitely one for the future......if he gets games

Well, Tony, it seems that both Moyes and Martinez -- two managers with distinctly different styles -- agree with each other (and disagree with you) on Duffy's quality. If either of them thought he was good enough, he'd be playing. And we wouldn't have so much transfer activity focused on his position.

Phil Walling (474), what's wrong with Brentford? Quality side, lots of wins, quality European manager, turned out to be the right place for Forshaw and Bidwell, and McAleny should develop there just fine. Why not?

Mike (586), he tweeted that he had done league 1 (someone asked if he'd consider Tranmere) and was looking at the Championship. He didn't dismiss the Leicester tweet.

Didn't read any, but apparently he was getting some abuse going by a few others supporting him and querying why so called fans abuse players - but that's probably a whole other thread.

Good luck to him. It's not the end, but it doesn't look like Martinez rates him based on the points already made above.

Shame, because it's always an added bonus if you have a CB who's as big as Duffy is!

Alan (592), unfortunately you'll find frequent abuse of our players right here on TW. I rarely make it through a game on the Live Forum because I click off when it gets nasty.

All fans of all clubs abuse their own players, even the greats have had someone in their own crowd giving them stick because they didn't like them. It's a part of human nature, this isn't the only place it happens and we're not the only club that does it.

Usually its after the first time Osman gives away a ball Mike (regardless of whether its his fault or not). If he hasn't given it away you get the 'is Osman even playing' abuse. Naismith gets abuse before he's even got on the pitch whether he's starting or on the bench, Mirallas and Fellaini are untouchable regardless of how badly they're playing. Everyone else gets a general level of mild abuse until they do something brilliant like score in which case they're eveyrbody's favourite player for 5 minutes.

James, thats not really true. Ive seen Fellaini receive plentiful abuse on here. In fact pretty much all players have received abuse at times.

Under the basis that we are under Martinez for a while, just because he has 3 at the back doesn't necesserily mean that's black and white. Call it an epithany but think of the defence as a 1-2 in the formation. The man in the centre (Jags) is your rock at the back, doesnt need to be quick, just needs to concentrate on defence. The two either side (or just ahead) are the quicker ball players that cover the ground whilst our rock makes sure if nothing else he is the last man back.

Shane Duffy could play the rock in defence, with Stones and another alongside him. Not now obviously but in the future.

I'd rather abuse our players than give them standing ovations when they're wanting a move like the red shite did for Suarez at the weekend!

Sam (500): puzzled as to your comment "...has ALWAYS looked like a championship player."

You have seen him play a lot then?

Heard this all before with the naysayers asserting Coleman couldn't defend and Barkley wasn't good enough for the first team.

On what evidence do you base your damning assessment - in wishing the 'lad' your 'best of luck'?

Yes, David I have watched him quite a few times for the reserves and for Ireland U21 and IMO he does not have the mobilty or composure to be a CB for a top 8 Premiership club. Of course I could be wrong and would be delighted to see him prove me so but that is my asessment at the moment. It looks like Martinez might not disagree as he clearly favoured Stones during pre -season.

For what its worth I was always a fan of Coleman at RB when others were slagging him off and I think Barkley may just be ready for the first team now but wasn't two years or maybe even one year ago.

Duffy seems to be in for a bit of stick after one bad game.

I notice his biggest fan Andy Crooks is keeping quiet on the subject after confidently predicting he would go on to great things.

While I've never been totally convinced he would make it at Everton a definitely think he would be a useful squad player for us.

I suspect his permanent future lies at a championship club, which I mean in no way disrespectfully. The championship is a pretty decent standard.

Mike@596, I'm surprised you make it to kick off.

David@607, when Coleman was getting stick on here for not being able to defend, he couldn't defend.

Mike, you seem to have misunderstood my post. I meant games and game time out on loan, like Coleman.

Get him playing regularly and let him progress.

Hope he makes a decent living somewhere. A recent young signing chose Everton because we have a reputation of placing youngsters into suitable employment within the game.
Alan Stubbs stated only the other day that getting a lad out on loan was a big highlight for him personally. Nice fella that Mr Stubbs and a great eye for judging the mental and physical development of apprentices. After the Betis match he remarked on how Lundstram was beginning to think and play like a man.

Duffy needs to go out on loan for a season and play every week. I really rate him and think he's going to be a very good player but, his career at Everton has been very stop start.

Colin agree entirely, the choice of club is imperative. Barkley last year was farcical, sent back from Leeds as they couldn't guarantee a game under Warnock when he was getting rave reviews.

We have Davey Weir at Sheffield Utd who should have a fair idea but the club has to fit both the player and Martinez, last thing we want is Duffy playing hoofball for a season if we're after a cultured CB. In fact, I'd worry Weir had too much of OFM's tactical nouse.

We don't have a multitude of central defenders so I assume RM may sign another experienced hopefully classy addition.
Heitinga is erratic, Alvarez dare I say may be injured a lot, Distin playing on borrowed time? and Duffy not yet rated which just leaves Jags who we pray doesn't get crocked at all. Fellaini helps out defending set pieces but he may be gone sooner than later.
Might be better to keep Duffy around until we know Alvarez is fully fit.

I agree with Tony J, Duffy is a confidence player who needs a run of games.Sadly, in my view, it isn't going to happen this season at Everton. A loan at Leicester would do as I believe they will be promoted and he would get competitive experience in a tough league.

David #615 I remain utterly convinced that Duffy will be a great centre half and I hope it will be with Everton.

Mike Gaynes, I was disappointed in Moyes's handling of Duffy but I think he, as is his way, was cautious, particularly after Duffy's life threatening injury. I doubt that Roberto will have judged him as quickly as you think. For all his admirable qualities Roberto' defensive record at Wigan was truly abysmal. I expect that by next season a traditional centre back will be vital at Everton. Barcelona can afford footballers all over the pitch. Everton can't/

I've no problem with Duffy and as has been said above and exactly the same case with Barkley, you won't learn from making mistakes catching splinters in your backside, get him playing somewhere to a reasonable level so he can learn the game more. David Booth in an earlier posting I was one of those who said Coleman looked shit as a right back and needed much more experience to learn the job, he's getting that experience and improving fast.

I can't say I have seen a lot of Duffy, but from what I have seen his biggest problem may be his lack of pace / mobility.

In the modern game (and it won't change in future) speed off the mark and over distance is a great asset. Unless it is something he can improve we may find he never actually makes it at this level.

As I said, I haven't seen enough of the lad to state that with certainty but it is the impression I get.

Duffy may be compared to Mick Lyons regarding his lack of speed and mobility etc. but at least Lyons was useful in other ways but once again it depends on who s manager and how many opportunities you will get.
The speed you have, if any, is apparent when you are young and as a centre back you can be a liability without it.. Remember the Blues won nothing with Lyons there.

Hope Duffy gets a full season at a fairly decent Championship club. I don't think it will be Leicester though as they have just signed an Arsenal youngster centre-half on loan for the season ahead.

How about Shef Wed? David Jones is an ex-Blue and would look after him.

Or Davey Weir at Utd Kevin? Might be able to improve his defending as he was a defender himself.

True, Ross. But they are in Div 1 and I think Duffy needs to be competing at a higher level. (PS: It's KevAn not Kevin - Kev will do!)