Duffy joins Blackburn Rovers

I get this, a decent amount of money will help with a Wellbeck loan with buy option (hopefully).

Central defence, however, at this moment in time is needs to be made stronger than weaker, so letÂ’s hope that Bobby has something up his sleeve.

I personally think the liability that is Jagielka should be benched and Stones brought in alongside the experienced Distin. I wonÂ’t hold my breath on that one, though. Anyway, I wish Duffy all the best... but thought we might have got double that fee.

Thought he looked steady when he came in a few seasons ago but obviously stalled and not considered good enough by Martinez.

Ah well, let's keep looking

I think heÂ’d found his level in the Championship and will carve out a decent career there. Much like Peter Clarke

I don't know if I am or not?

Never rated him, nor did Bobby.
So another CD to come in before the midnight hour on Monday ( or is it 11pm?)
Ron Vlaar would do me!!

You gave two centre halves over 32, one that couldn't win a header against my grandma.

Very disappointed to be honest, he must have been total shite Duffy that's all I can say if he couldn't even get into a squad where there are only three centre halves now, can I even class Alcaraz as a first teamer?

Martinez needs to go and search now before Monday night.

But I salute him for his time with us, and especially for surviving that freak accident with the Irish Youth team where he collided with the goalkeeper and lacerated his liver. Kid almost died on the pitch. Tough kid, and he deserves an opportunity to play somewhere. Good luck to you, Shane.

http://www.whoscored.com/Articles/ynblllzhjuegiuqa8pq7aw/Show/League-Focus-Championship-201314-Season-Review

Listen carefully and somewhere in the distance you can almost detect the sound of a solitary tear sliding down Andy Crooks cheek......just before he slumps to his knees and unleashes the most anguished, gut wrenching scream of 'GOD DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!' heard since Charlton Heston finally twigged that gorillas in green jumpsuits have succeeded Kopites as the biggest gobshites on Earth.

All the ones who came through in 2009 not one of them has made it.

Adam Forshaw
Jake Bidwell
Hope Akpan
Kieran Agard
Jose Baxter
Nsiala

And now Duffy.

Is it any wonder you fail to excited when you hear about our future youngsters?
None of them hardly make it.

What's the odds on McAleney going the same way?

I have said it for ages and I will say it again now....

Is somebody trying to tell me Jagielka is a fucking ball player???

He could be another of those players who aren't good enough for our first team but will go elsewhere and play consistently enough to become good enough for our first team, so we buy him back.

When he came into the side a few years back, he equipped himself admirably and was, bafflingly and prematurely (in my opinion), binned off by Moyes preferring to play an out of position Tony Hibbert at centre-half instead.

Never got much of a look in after that,but I wonder in what direction his career would have headed if he was allowed to carry on that little run in the first team for a while longer.

Jagielka...Laurel and Hardy rolled into one..

Alcaraz...muscle fatigued getting out of bed.

John Stones...thank god!!

Question is what happens if we get two or three injuries here?

Duffy was already behind Distin, Jagielka, Stones and Alcaraz in the pecking order and I bet Brendan Galloway joining set him back another place.

Chances are Tyias Browning signing a new 3-year deal was the final straw for Duffy. I fully expect Roberto to trim the squad by moving on a few younger players who just aren't good enough.

Conor Grant, Conor McAleney, John Lundstram, Francisco Junior and Matthew Pennington had all better start impressing Roberto if they want to stay at Everton.

He's worth more..but not a great deal more!

Hope the cash is reinvested on a young left footed centre-half who's good enough to push Distin this season

These days you need ball control, strength, pace and athleticism. I just don't think English youngsters are prepared to put the work in to become premier league players. They have the ambition but not the work ethic.

I agree with some of the other posts that I would have Stones ahead of Jags. If there is money left in the pot (as rumored), I'd love is to go for Nastastic at City. Cracking young defender who looks to have been frozen out. A Nastastic and Stones partnership could be a winning combination for another decade.

Duffy is never going to be as good as he can be stuck in our reserves, or even going out for 3 or 6 month loan spells. I've a sneaky suspicion that we'll be seeing him again as a premier league defender in a few years - as we did with Richard Dunn - after he's had a chance to get a few seasons of regular football.

He may not be a ball playing defender, but if he can defend then he'll do ok and he'll be good enough for teams whose managers don't demand them being as technically sound.

In pre season though he showed up well and looked decent on the ball but heÂ’s been deemed not good enough and a move to Blackburn is a good move for him and good luck, I think heÂ’ll do well and come on leaps and bounds at Rovers.

Adam Forshaw was voted League One Player Of The Season last term and this week Brentford accepted a £4-5M bid for him. He'll be playing for Wigan in the Championship this season and I fully expect him to reach the Premiership sooner rather than later.

Jake Bidwell has become something of a stalwart for Brentford. He's the first name in the starting eleven and has played over 100 times in three years. Last season he was voted into the League One Team of the Season. This season he's been made Captain despite being only 21.

Hope Akpan joined Crawley after leaving Everton and impressed so much he got a big move to then Premiership side Reading. He played several times in the Premiership before Reading were relegated but since then he's been a regular starter for them in the Championship.

Kieran Agard helped Rotherham win promotion to Division 1 a couple of seasons ago and the last year he helped them win a second promotion in 2-years when Rotherham won the play-off final and jumped into the Championship. Agard himself finished third highest goalscorer in Division 1.

Jose Baxter joined Oldham after leaving Everton and soon established himself as one of the best young players in Division 1. David Weir paid £500,000 to transfer Baxter to Sheff Utd. New manager Nigel Clough has used Baxter as an ever-present and last season he scored 8 goals from midfield. He's already scored twice in four games this season. He slowly developing into one of the best midfielders in the division and he'll play at a higher soon.

How you can claim none of them has made it strikes me unfair. I would suggest they have all done pretty well for themselves and expect two or three of them to play in the Premiership one day.

Most of the lads that you named have done really well for themselves. I would say they are probably one of the better group of Academy players to leave Everton.

Browning sounds like he's got a future.. I hope he's better at centre half than right back though.

At present I honestly don't think we have players of this type at the club. Am I alone in thinking we need one....soon ?

The Tom Cleverly rumour won't go away. Villa have had a 8m bid accepted and the Telegraph are saying ourselves and Hull will rival them for his signature..Would prefer Chantome personally

Blackburn and the Championship is a good level for him though, maybe with a couple of full seasons under his belt there he may be ready for the step up.

Good luck to him.

Duffy will return to the Premier League a better player and for a much bigger fee. I hope we have a sell on clause as well.

Another says " Duffy looks a real future prospect, held us together or we'd have been steamrollered"

He even nearly win the game late on with a header that came off the bar.

Funny how now he's been sold he is deemed no longer Everton quality.

He was never given a chance was he?

Oh well I suppose when we start conceding more cheap as chips goals from setpieces, most likely tomorrow again we can all start our discussion of what centre half we need to sign before Monday.

Given the age profile of the central defenders that remain we need to be thinking of either giving Stones more game time or sign a younger back up option.

Someitmes players need to move on to make it, it happens at all clubs we aren't unique in that. Forshaw is doing well and we have just pocketed 2 M for him despite selling a few seasons ago.

Frankly, this is the must gutting news I heard come out of Everton since Alan Ball was sold. A totally in-fucking-comprehensible decision. We have Jagielka, feeble and done. Distin, done. Alcaraz, shit and Stones. Duffy obviously didn't fit the Martinez way which seems to be, defend like scared rabbits at set pieces, get intimidated by anyone who gives a dirty look and concede goals in a Wigan type way.

Duffy looked good when he had his chance after a life threatening injury. In seems to me, though, that Martinez has his favourites and I fear it will be as difficult for them to be dropped as it was under Moyes. Jim Bennings, you are spot on, Duffy wasn't given a chance. .

I accept that I may be a bit upset at this news but, honest to God, it will be some time before I can listen to the inane platitudes of Martinez without putting my boot through the fucking television.

As mentioned above though, Duffy is a bit 'old school for Bobby's liking so this was always the likely outcome.

Hopefully the funds from Duffy and Forshaw can go towards the signing of Micah Richards; he only has 1 year left on his contract and has been frozen out at Man City. Micah is still only 26 years old and is a terrific RB who can play CB as well. Please make this happen Bobby! If anything happens to Coleman we are up the shit creek! And Coleman can't be expected to play every game in every competition. Stones and Hibbert are just way below the standard we need.

Players develop at all different ages and sometimes a move can be the kick up the butt they need to go earn themselves a living. Ask most parents how the kids perform once they leave home? They grow up and change... while, at home, they probably never would.

Dick @44. Thanks for the info. Our boys seem to be doing very well for themselves.

Personally for me I'm not quite ready to write them off just yet like you, until the 83rd minute vs Arsenal we were very comfortable. I'm also guessing that the England manager doesn't quite see it like you either seeing Jags has just been called up again, not a bad achievement for someone who's 'done'!

I think it's a decent fee for a player that is not going to fit Roberto's style long term. I guess it will have incentives rather being pure cash, and like the fee for Forshaw might give us a future windfall.

Missing out on Dier looks a huge mistake based on 2 games for me, and with Alcaraz, Distin, Jags, and Hibbert ageing, I think we need another younger/established pro to come in. Nastasic for me on loan.

I'd suggest £1.5m for an international is pretty light.

I hope we have a future sell on / appearances clause.

I liked Duffy, but without sounding like the fox with the sour grapes, I couldn't see him realistically making the step up, and Bobby and Co. have decided to let him go and further his career.

Mind you, he seems to have been around for ages, and has had many chances to stake a legitimate claim. Maybe, he was always destined to be a Championship player at best.

I trust Bobby on this, and doubt whether this will be a Dier and Mustafi type mistake.

Ironically this is the position we are possibly weakest in, so trust quality reinforcement / s are getting kitted out as we speak.

Best of luck Shane, and if we ever draw Blackburn in the Cups, make sure you have a shit game.

How come if the defenders cant defend and our Roberto wouldn't know a defender if he fell over one, did we have the 3rd best defence in the Prem. last year!

In theory most goals could be stopped.

I like your post itÂ’s informative about those players and IÂ’m glad that each of them has gone on to make some sort of career for themselves.

But this is Everton Football Club weÂ’re talking about and none of those lads would have cut the mustard with us and none have proven themselves at the highest level despite the hundreds of league games they have collectively amassed.

I would say Duffy is of a similar standard and will have a decent career, being referred to often as a Â’good honest proÂ’.

Stones has everything to become the best English CB of his generation so we are ok there. We do need to give him time to develop.

It does seem that Martinez also feels that there will be change in the next few years with the contract extensions for Stones and Browning and the signing of Galloway, fact is if they thought Duffy was good enough he would also have been signed up,instead he was sold, tells you all you need to know really.

Distin has been a decent servant but his limitations have been exposed on so many occasions. His natural recovery strength and speed often made him look good despite the fact he was mainly making amends for his own poor positioning and decision making.

Now, the recovery speed and strength is going we are seeing him got what he is.

I'll add this caveat though, I never dreamed he'd have the ability or confidence to play out from the back as Martinez wanted but he's been nearly faultless in this way since - a shame he and Roberto cross paths at such a late stage in his career

After a decade of watching bore draws, holding on to 1-0 leads for dear life, and generally 'keeping it tight' whenever we played anyone with half a threat, I will put up with conceding a few more goals.

I want to see Everton go step over that line and say 'fuck you' to any club that comes visiting. It seems some are longing for the days of 'not conceding.'

Let me tell you something, I haven't been this entertained watching the blues since we won the League. I pay to go and watch us try and win a football game, and come away knowing we tried to out-score the opposition. If that means concentrating on attack, rather than twatting the ball towards the corner flag, whilst leaving a stranded lone striker up top then that suits me just fine.

Short memories on here alright.

Good luck to him and I hope he has a great career, but letÂ’s concentrate on the present and future of our club. I hope we have some cover for centre back coming in, but Shane obviously wasnÂ’t the answer.

Kevin Tully @ 82, couldnÂ’t agree more. We are much better to watch now and it is great to feel we have the attitude of this is what weÂ’re going to do to win, rather than how can we stop them beating us, even if results havenÂ’t improved to the level we all desire.

Finally, why are the Beeb saying tough draw for Everton. Tough draw for Wolfsburg, Lille and the Russian outfit!!

I would like to see that 1.5 million going on another Stones or Coleman though, one for the future.

Fingers crossed we bring in another CD, even if it's a loan, before Monday 11pm.

Doesn't give us a lot of options at CB unless Martinez is ready to put some more serious trust in Browning.

As for the worries about our numbers at defence, we have Jags, Distin, Stones, Alcaraz, Besic could be moved there, plus the youngsters Galloway and Browning.

The bigger concern is if Jags/ Distin do prove to be on the decline this year....the younger lads will really need to step up.

The loss of a big lad who may be good in the air but can't play football is not something to be getting upset about and start forgetting yourself and slagging off our captain.

I'm in hospital here and need cheering up with a new signing. Will Henen sign in the next 48 hours?

I wish the lad well and if he proves Bobby wrong good on him,
I wont hold my breath though.

I'd be happy with what we've got even if no-one signed though. I wrote in April that we needed to sign six players for this season. Four of them needed to be the loan players we had at the time (Barry, Lukaku, Deulofeu, Traore) or replacements. We've done that.

The other two needed to be a central midfielder and a back-up right back. The only thing we're short of is a back-up right back, and between Ty Browning and the flexibility of people like Stones and Besic it's not exactly a disaster if it doesn't happen.

The fact we got a then record fee for Bally (£220,000) had little, or zero consolation to thousands of Evertonians & to this day it still has me upset when thinking about it! Had we received £5 or £7 mill for Duffy, I think most on TW would have been ecstatic & not thought too much about him after that..........maybe?!?

I'm sure both Roberto & OFM had their reasons in not playing Duffy, but why the obsession with him? Perhaps we all wanted him to be our future mainstay at the back, cos he came through the ranks, but if we had the 3rd best defensive record in the Prem last season, I can see why he was never given the chance...........maybe?

I must admit I do not like our younger players being sold, or having to leave, but sadly it is now worse than it has ever been at this level. Ideally I would like to have seen him go out on loan (to Blackburn) initially, with an option for them to buy, but also with a recall proviso, then that way I believe we could perhaps have negotiated a higher fee, if he was producing the goods, or brought him back at our convenience!!

Lastly, I think if we had won both games this season, I honestly believe Duffy being allowed to go wouldn't be of any great concern (to most), however it seems the anti Martinez brigade, see this as an opportunity to vent & have got their knives out........ to sharpen once again!?

Best of luck to you Shane, go prove to yourself & all those who think you couldn't make it!!

I had a turn yesterday and a fall. Bloody diabetes has me banjaxed.

He isn't going to get enough of those moments with us because, personally, I don't think he's good enough for the top end of the top flight, and most likely never will be.

He's certainly good enough to play at a high standard and reach his potential elsewhere so I'll keep an eye out and wish him the very best on his way.

As for sign ups if I'm not mistaken both Manure and the Gooners tried to pry Vlaar from Villa and we're told for-get-ta-about-it. I like Nastatic can't believe he's being out played by DeMecellis. Got to be a matter of trust by Pelligrini. Even if he's allowed to leave, City hardly need to sell so they can hold out for a kings' ransom. I for one feel like I maybe beating a dead horse here but those two boys at the back for Leicester are decent and have a few attributes that we sorely lack height and physicality. Maybe they don't have the passing skills that Martinez looks for. Sure would be very useful for set pieces.

However, in my disappointment today I criticised our manager our captain and was, frankly, a little over the top. I apologize for that. I believe he will make it as a Premier League player and wish him all the luck in the world. I am still bitterly disappointed but, later today we can beat Chelsea and move on and up. I don't expect other Evertonians to to believe it is the worse news since Alan Ball went. That is just how it feels to me. COYB

He went into the world cup after a spell out injured so I feared for him a bit but he did well, despite the southern journos claims that John Terry would have made all the difference. They even tried to blame him for Suarez’s 2nd. How can anyone anticipate Crease Head flicking the ball right into
Suarez’s path while in an offside position?

Regards the OP, I really hope Duffy carves a good career for himself. I never personally felt he was good enough for a top 6 Prem side but has enough about him to make it at the level just below. If he does well at Rovers I could see him ending up at someone like Stoke, Villa or Man Utd!

Now let's all gather round Andy and help him through it. He's had a very rough day.

The Mariners also got ex-Evertonian youth midfielder Scott Brown from Southport (from the Rooney-era youth team), both doing well, hopefully the pair of ex-Blues will emulate Jevons-type achievements too..... ;)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/worthington_cup/1584478.stm

Oh, and John Oster, remember him, is playing centre-midfield (honest) for Gateshead in our division.

I saw his home debut vs BATE Borisov – he looked good until he made a mistake and then his confidence just seemed to evaporate.

Not good enough for Everton; I expect Galloway to Â’take his placeÂ’ in the backup squad.

When he left, I felt that David Moyes had screwed his career and I was sure that he would succeed somewhere and show Moyes how wrong he was. Unfortunately, it never happened for James. Last season, he was the leading scorer in the Championship up until 15 games or so (when he scored something like 10-12 goals for Huddersfield), but then faded away dramatically.

I think at some point, we just have to accept that the Manager knows best what is happening. Finally, it is his call. If Shane does indeed make it as a top-class footballer, I will be happy for him.

Duffy leaving has a lot to do the with the European group I think. I don't know how many opportunities there will be for the younger players with the group we have (if we are serious about progressing in the tournament).

One comment about Duffy's ball skills being poor – are they any worse than Jagielka's?

One final thought, last time we made top four how many games did we win 1-0. Pretty football is fine but need to learn to close out game.

I hope this means cover is coming in before the window smashes shut.

Have to admit I'm always a little disappointed when one of the young lads goes as I'm never really sure if they'd have been great/cack (specially if they've never had a real run).

Still, that's modern football I suppose and one thing Rooney leaving taught me, anyone can arrive and anyone can leave and there's no point in getting too attached to any of them.

Up The Toffees!

If I had to choose between Jags and Distin, it would be Distin every time. Jags is great stopper but very poor on the ball – a bit like Tony Hibbert going forward.

,

Let's get some more centre forwards in. It's just more goals we wants !