Duffy will consider his future

, 28 March, 53comments  |  Jump to most recent
Shane Duffy will consider his Everton future in the summer — as David Moyes ponders whether to allow Thomas Hitzlsperger out on loan.

“I've still got three years left on my Everton contract, but I need to be playing games,” said Duffy. “We'll see in the summer.”

The 21-year-old has been restricted to just 48 minutes of first-team football for Everton this season spread over three substitute appearances.

The centre-back — who has previously spent spells on loan at Burnley and Scunthorpe United — hasn't started a senior game for Everton in 14 months.

Quotes or other material sourced from Liverpool Daily Post



Reader Comments (53)

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Phil Sammon
1 Posted 28/03/2013 at 13:51:27
Would love him to stay...but if I were him I'd be forcing my way out the door.

How Heitinga wasn't dropped after the Villa game is beyond me. How bad does the defence have to do for the lad to get a chance.

Just to cap matters, Moyes won't even let the lad out on loan – that's when we had Jags, Syl and JH all fit. What's he supposed to do, let himself rot?

Awfully managed situation.

James Flynn
2 Posted 28/03/2013 at 13:59:55
Unless Duffy is the reason Duffy isn't getting games. But that couldn't be it, could it?
Phil Sammon
3 Posted 28/03/2013 at 14:02:49
Seen him play much, James?
James Newcombe
4 Posted 28/03/2013 at 14:05:55
I hope we keep him, Distin surely can't go on forever. Duffy could potentially save us a lot of cash. I can't see the point in not allowing him out on loan at present though.
Nick Entwistle
5 Posted 28/03/2013 at 14:47:43
With Distin not long before his legs go... unless he's super human... and Heitinga possibly staying around next season, I'd loan Duffy out for a season and you've then got Lundstram I think in the pecking order Duffy was last season.

I've won the league cup on Football Manager, me.

Al Reddish
6 Posted 28/03/2013 at 14:58:41
Moyes stated recently that Duffy is getting really close to where he wants him to be now in terms of form and fitness. I think we will see more of him next season as Distin is phased out.
Sam Hoare
7 Posted 28/03/2013 at 15:16:10
I hope Duffy makes it but I think its fair to say that none of us really know how good he is do we?

If he was really phenomenal (a young Rio Ferdinand lets say) then I suspect he would have been given more game time.

Anyone remember Peter Clarke? He was captain for England U-21 and looked pretty solid in a few games for us but never got a long run in the team and I could never understood why.

In retrospect, it makes sense as he found his level at Huddersfield and never made the step back to the top. It may be that Duffy is a similar case though, as I said earlier, I hope he can do a little better, preferably with us.

Phil Sammon
8 Posted 28/03/2013 at 15:32:33
Why are we phasing Distin out? He's our best CB and has anyone seen any signs of decline? He seems to be fitter, stronger and more mentally aware than he's ever been.

I'm quite sure Duffy doesn't think he should be in ahead of Jags and Distin...but to see Heitinga play so badly for so long and still Duffy doesn't get a sniff.

Get him on loan with an option to recall. It's an absolute no-brainer

Steavey Buckley
9 Posted 28/03/2013 at 15:41:05
Duffy needs to play because Heitinga has been so bad. But when Jags is fit and well, Distin should be allowed to continue, because he is playing better than ever.
Paul Andrews
10 Posted 28/03/2013 at 15:53:12
Nick at 292

Was it a pirate copy?

John Lundstram plays in midfield.

Denis Richardson
11 Posted 28/03/2013 at 16:03:02
James 282 – in the 4 games he played back to back last season he did a decent job, so its not like he's totally out of his depth in the first team.

He's obviously behind Jags and Distin and when on form Heitinga; however, there is a thing call squad rotation which the manager should/could have used to give the lad more than 48 mins game time so far this season. It's not like we play Man Utd or Chelsea every game.

The youth discussion has been done to death mind, Moyes is simply a cautious manager who will always choose experience over youth (see substitutions against Cheltenham as a prime example).

Duffy, Barkely, McAleny, Vellios should all have been sent out on loan for extended periods so that they gain decent experience. None of them has been near the first team this year so no idea why they're weren't sent out on loan for most of the season, if there was no plan to use them much.

We may have a small squad but some of the resulting problems are self made when we don't fully utilise the players (Oviedo another example – Naismith is shite!).

Mark Frere
12 Posted 28/03/2013 at 15:56:47
Have any of our center backs been that good this season? We've hardly had any clean sheets all season. I can't believe how bad we've been at defending set pieces. What has happened to all the clean sheets we used to get in previous seasons?

It seems quite clear to me that Moyes doesn't fancy Duffy that much, this must be the case because how dire has Heitinga been this season? Duffy either needs to go out on loan or move on for his own good.

Tony J Williams
13 Posted 28/03/2013 at 16:41:31
Tara then, Shane. It just wasn't to be.
Liam Reilly
14 Posted 28/03/2013 at 16:47:07
One to come back and bite us in the future, I fear, à la John Ruddy.

Tony J Williams
15 Posted 28/03/2013 at 17:17:15
Ruddy is not biting us at all Liam. He had to go because Howard was never going to lose his place.
John Crawley
16 Posted 28/03/2013 at 17:29:28
Well, Callum McManaman certainly came back and bit us!

If I was Duffy I would hang on and see if Moyes is still the manager next season. If he isn't then stay and hopefully he will get some game time. If Moyes is the manager next season (God forbid) then I would get myself out of Everton as quickly as possible.

Paul Dark
17 Posted 28/03/2013 at 17:38:19
He should've played more. A tremendous prospect – we should NOT let him go.
Liam Reilly
19 Posted 28/03/2013 at 17:50:28
Tony,

Before he was injured and in the games I saw of him, Ruddy looked like he could be the real deal, but he was never going to displace Howard here, regardless of form.

That to me is coming back to bite us.

I'm not saying Mucha is the answer, but what's the bet Howard will be straight back in the team when fit, regardless of Mucha's form.

Colin Glassar
20 Posted 28/03/2013 at 18:15:03
You'd think Duffy would be a natural replacement for Distin but knowing Moyes........
Phil Sammon
21 Posted 28/03/2013 at 18:36:35
He is no way a 'natural replacement for Distin'. In fact Distin's main strength, his pace, is Duffy's biggest weakness.

I like the lad and I want him to get games or go out on loan. He has plenty about him but let's not draw inaccurate comparisons.

Jeremy Benson
23 Posted 28/03/2013 at 19:35:36
A 21-year-old first-choice centre-back? At Premier League level?

Very rarely happens. There's a good reason for that — top class defenders take years to develop, learning how to read the game, gaining experience, etc.

If he has a burning desire to play more games, then he might have to accept playing at a lower level. I wish him well if that's the case.

John Smith
24 Posted 28/03/2013 at 19:52:57
Can't blame him. He is a talented player who isn't getting any game time
Ross Edwards
25 Posted 28/03/2013 at 20:21:31
Apply for the job in the summer Nick when Moyes leaves.
Mark Rankin
26 Posted 28/03/2013 at 20:09:45
Everton need players able to perform consistently at the top end of the Premier League, one of the best leagues in the world. Only a few therefore will ever come through the academy and those that do will likely be the wingers/strikers who peak earlier. Unless a real freak, most centre halves/centre mids tend to peak later and need to play regular first team football in order to reach the above standard.

I like Shane Duffy, he may make it, he should take Jose Baxter's route and find a club were he can play regular first team football and develop. David Moyes should be looking to get shut of Heitinga and sign a new centre back at or nearing his (or her) prime.

Ian Smitham
27 Posted 28/03/2013 at 20:22:04
Have I got it wrong, but he plays on the right of a CB partnership, so how does he replace Distin?

Much publicity today and then with the Tweet issue the other day.

Mike Green
28 Posted 28/03/2013 at 20:38:00
Is Andy Crooks on holiday.....?
Ian Bennett
29 Posted 28/03/2013 at 20:45:53
Just watching a show 442 on Sky. Soccer dreams, winner gets a youth contract at Everton. I think it's Canadian or American. I had never heard of it before.
Brian Garside
30 Posted 28/03/2013 at 20:52:51
He should be playing now. Next season SD should be his coach and understudy.
James Flynn
31 Posted 28/03/2013 at 20:51:14
Denis (311) - I saw it as you did. Duffy looked good, composed for one so young. Also recall it mentioned subsequently (was it Round?) that the kid had hit a wall, fitness-wise. That's on Duffy, not Moyes.

Don't know the question asked that got the answer quoted here. Sounds like the usual stuff to me.

But Moyes sees these guys day-in and out, not me. He's kept Duffy on the team, so sees his potential. But he hasn't been letting him into the Side. My guess is Duffy wasn't ready for regular EPL physical demands.

Remember all the negatives on here 2 years ago about young Coleman? What about now? I say, in 2 years, he'll be mentioned among the best (as Phil Sammon refers to it) Backliner-In-the-Right-Corner. A fine description, as much as Ian Bennett laughs at Phil for describing it so.

Perhaps, just maybe, Moyes has been setting young Duffy up for the same success. Hate to think a 22-year old is demanding he be given playing time just because . . . . What the fuck is his reason?

Phil Sammon
32 Posted 28/03/2013 at 22:52:05
James

Either you've lost it, or that's a joke.

I'll assume it's the latter as my Yorkshire vocab doesn't extend to such Americanisms. So you can take your jibes and stick em in't trash can.

James Flynn
33 Posted 29/03/2013 at 00:22:50
Phil - No context for my comment? OK.
Barry Curran
34 Posted 29/03/2013 at 00:29:24
Players can only show what they can do on the pitch during a competitive game, in real pressure situations, not in training where they can mess about and run for fun and a mistake means nothing but a slagging. I bet even Bily looked good in training.
Phil Sammon
35 Posted 29/03/2013 at 00:55:44
What?
James Flynn
36 Posted 29/03/2013 at 02:27:28
Phil - Consider them in the trash can. But, we'd be good to get Gonzalez in, backliner speaking.

He'll be in Europe soon; deservedly. Hope he's to EFC.

Anto Byrne
37 Posted 29/03/2013 at 06:03:23
Under Moyes, none of the kids get any game time. How are they supposed to progress?

I want some changes at Everton next season and that means Moyes needs to move on. Without doubt the most frustrating and stubborn manager we will ever have.

Kieran Fitzgerald
38 Posted 29/03/2013 at 07:44:05
Sam @300, didn't Hibbert come through just as Clarke broke into the first team. I remember Clarke getting a run of game at right back and then just disappearing. Hibbert stepped into the position from there.

Mark @378. It looks like Duffy may need to move alright to develop his game. If it is true that centre halves develop later in their careers, you think that Moyes would know this as a former defensive player. Either loan the kid out or let him go to another club permanently.

Andy Crooks
39 Posted 29/03/2013 at 13:40:11
I decided not to comment till I'd calmed down. Allowing Duffy to go would be, in my opinion, a monumental error that David Moyes would not be foolish enough to make. If Moyes goes in the summer I believe that Duffy will soon be getting games and will be a top centre half for Everton for many years.
Nick Armitage
40 Posted 29/03/2013 at 14:13:56
Duffy is too young to step into the role full time, but a gradual phased introduction of youngsters is what seems to happen at other clubs. But not at Everton.

Under Moyes, Phil Neville will be a regular centre half at Everton before Duffy. I hope he does stick around though, from what I have seen he has potential.

Alan McGuffog
41 Posted 29/03/2013 at 14:28:39
If he doesn't ever get his chance, having been touted as a bright young thing, and with Barkley supposed to be nowhere near a regular start, then can anyone tell me what is the purpose of having an academy. Would it not make more financial sense to shut the whole thing down and rely on buying in workmanlike rejects from the leading clubs ? Then again that would suppose that we had someone at Goodison with a plan.
Mike Green
42 Posted 29/03/2013 at 15:40:50
Thank God! I was worried about you for a bit Andy, great to see you back :)

Joking aside, if he was really that good surely he'd have forced himself into the first team by now... wouldn't he.......?

Wayne Smyth
43 Posted 29/03/2013 at 16:47:49
Duffy was one of our best players when he had 2 or 3 games a few seasons ago. Then Hibbo was played at centre half against Man Utd and we never saw Duffy again.

Duffy was on record as suggesting that "Moyes knows best" a few months ago. I argued on here that he was being diplomatic and just saying what Moyes wants to hear in order to get into the side. Others were saying that it shows that Duffy was fully behind Moyes decision not to play him.

Looks like I was right and the others – can't remember who they were but it'll probably be one of the usual Moyes apologists – were talking complete bollocks, as usual.

Duffy is well within his rights to look elsewhere, as would any of our other players who are good enough to get game time, but never given a looking if there is a shit Scottish alternative, or teachers pet to play instead.

These young players probably don't need a lot of time. They just need a 10 or 20 minutes here and there to find their feet and determine if they can make it at premier league level. They can get general game time in the ressies until we're happy they're good enough to play week in week out.

Moyes is no good for Everton any more. He wants the club to borrow more and more to fund his push for trophies, yet is unwilling to make use of our academy players. If we're paying big money for a top manager, I expect him to use all the resources the club has to offer, and for a club like ours that definitely includes developing and using our youth players.

Ajay Gopal
44 Posted 29/03/2013 at 17:17:28
Wayne (#626), well said. I too am getting more and more frustrated with Moyes' youth policy. Duffy (and Heitinga) were at the heart of our season's revival last year. I think out of the 3 games that these 2 played together, we won 2 and drew 1 to begin the turn-around. And as someone pointed out earlier, what happened? Duffy was replaced by 5'-10" Tony Hibbert as Centre Back.

Yes, Everton did well to draw that game (I think) against Man City, but that must have been a crushing blow to Duffy's self-confidence. I suspect that Moyes and Duffy fell out after that game, and Duffy's appearances became rarer and rarer. For his own good, Duffy should move on, and then Moyes can spend 10 million out of our 12 million transfer budget on a Centre Back that nobody's heard of.

Gavin Ramejkis
45 Posted 29/03/2013 at 17:50:24
You cant really claim fitness and form against Duffy if the only chance of a game is in the stiffs, thats solely down to Moyes and his stubbirn reliance at all costs on his older pros no matter what they do. He isn't going to be above the pecking order over Distin or Jagielka but how many mistakes did Heitinga make that cost us games? A player isn't going to improve or gain either fitness or form if he's left to rot and not rotated in even if for a 20-30 minute slot of a game.

I'l await the tired "Moyes sees them in training" trotted out or "question of attitude" but have ready the responses of what did he see for years in Saha that gave him such a long run without a sniff of a goal, or Cahill towards the end of his time with us, Coleman MoTM then sent out on loan and attitude pretty much game set and match with Anichebe before this season.

The club can't afford not to play its younger players as it hasn't got any money and as far as the investment in potential players goes they may as well not buy those either as hardly any have gotten near the first team before disappearing without trace and a single line on Pravda saying they have been released or sold.

James Stewart
46 Posted 29/03/2013 at 18:43:54
If he has any ambition then good on him. Clearly won't be given a chance with Moyes in charge. How many points did sheitinga cost us in his nightmare spell while duffy sat on the bench?
James Martin
47 Posted 29/03/2013 at 19:23:27
Duffy has just become a club by which to beat Moyes over the perceived weakness of his youth policy. Any objective judgement of Duffy's game would show that he's painfully slow and has the worst distribution of any of the centrebacks. He's very good in the air but at the moment is our fourth best centreback. Heitinga at his best is better than Duffy at his at the moment. We all saw the best of Heitinga in the City game, like we did last season, so is it not worth sticking with him to try and get him to that level?

The way people go on you'd think he was a Nastasic or something. He's not, he's just an average premier league centreback who doesn't have the required pace to play the sort of game we've been playing recently. he's not going to turn up at Real Madrid if we let him go. For those saying he hasn't been out on loan didn't he go to Sc**thorpe? We've just had an injury to Jags, why would we loan out our only reserve centreback?

As far as I'm concerned young players who are not precocious specimens like Wilshere or Rooney need to do their time on the bench after coming up from the reserves before demanding a spot in a team like Everton's every week. Duffy's already tasted European and premier league football at such a young age which is rare for most junior centre backs at other clubs. If he stays I have no doubt Moyes would carve out a good career for him be that at Everton or away from it. If he goes then he's not going to find the top 7 teams with opening arms and a spot in the first team for him, it will be lower leagues football. Just because Duffy did ok in a few games does not mean he will keep that up for a long period of time (young players rarely ever do).

Phil Brown
48 Posted 29/03/2013 at 19:50:50
Think that you're all missing the point.

This has nothing to do with Duffy's ability, it's to do with Moyes mental state. He's going at the end of the season and wants to either win something - he blew that against Wigan - or finish in the top 4. To achieve this end he's at his worst ultra-cautious self and won't take the slightest risk of anything going wrong, even if it's in the longerr term interest of Everton FC, such as giving playing time to Barkley, Duffy and Vellios.

Time for Kenwright to grow some balls, show him the door and get Martinez in..

Phil Sammon
49 Posted 29/03/2013 at 20:27:08
Heitinga at his best is better than Duffy at his at the moment.

-------

That is absolutely true. However Heitinga has just endured the most horrific run of form I've seen from a centre back in years. He was directly at fault for 5 out of 6 goals conceded in a two week period - and the remaining goal he slid into his own net.

Duffy is not some 16 year old kid. He is a man and he is built like one. I don't think anyone is saying he's our first choice CB, but to not give him a game after watching Heitinga is criminal and a real slap in the face to anyone knocking on the first team door.

The same goes for Barkley, Junior, Lundstrum. Nobody is asking for these players to start games but, come on, they are infinitely better than Neville. These are the players we should be bringing on with 20 minutes to go, not fucking Naismith.

And yes, Duffy did go to Scunthorpe. He did well there in 2011. So is that his development over?

Our loaning policy is all over the place, Barkley being the prime example. What good is a month at Neil Fucking Warnock's Leeds? How could anyone be expected to settle in one month? The same at Wednesday.

And just to show how disorganised our management is: after the U21's beat Boro a bit ago with McAleny, Barkley, Lundstram, Junior all in the team, all linking beautifully – Stubbs came out and said, "If we can keep this group together, they can really go places." The NEXT DAY Lundstram is sent out on loan.

Does that sound like a management team singing from the same hymn sheet? Or a haphazard situation where nobody has the slightest clue what the fuck is going on?

Andy Crooks
50 Posted 29/03/2013 at 20:11:08
James Martin, Duffy is not painfully slow and he has never in the many times I have seen him play resorted to hoofball. Had he not suffered a life threatening injury I believe he would have made a case for first team football that even David Moyes couldn't deny.

Mike #594 I believe it is difficult for a defender to force his way into the team, For that to happen the coach must have faith in youth and the courage to drop experienced players who are totally out of form. Moyes fits the bill on neither count,

The failure of Moyes to drop an out of form Heitinga epitomizes the stubbornness and conservatism that have blighted his time as manager.

Duffy was the best young defender I have seen and he will be top class. Moyes's handling of him has been confidence destroying and inept. I have no confidence in David Moyes to bring through young players. Apparently David Moyes has seen enough in training to convince him that Phil Neville is a premier class midfielder. He isn't.

Max Murphy
51 Posted 29/03/2013 at 20:58:11
Liverpool Echo — 20th February 2013:
"David Moyes is set to put his faith in Shane Duffy as Everton enter a pivotal spell in the Blues boss’ Goodison reign.

The Republic of Ireland U-21 international has been told he is right in the mix to challenge favoured pair Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin for a first-team place as the Toffees chase a top four finish and FA Cup glory.

Duffy had previously been fourth in line to start in central defence and Moyes had considered allowing him to go on loan to gather experience, but has been impressed with his development in recent months.

And with John Heitinga’s poor run of form proving costly in recent weeks, Moyes has informed Duffy he will be going nowhere as the club attempts to compete on two fronts which could yet prove crucial to Moyes’ own Goodison future."

Since this article was printed, Shane Duffy has played 5 minutes as late sub in the drawn cup game at Oldham.

Moyes talking SHOITE again!

Mike Green
52 Posted 29/03/2013 at 23:05:34
Fair comment, Andy – and I guess we will only know if / and when he gets his chance, besides if he's half as good as the faith you've got in him he'll be great. I can sympathise with him to be honest, he needs a crack.
Jack Wilkinson
53 Posted 29/03/2013 at 23:05:23
Phil Brown's right it's to do with his mental state. Great diagnosis.

Since this article he's come out on twitter and said its untrue and that he's completely happy, and I've never suspected anything different. In fact the whole group of lads seem to love being at the club.

On another note, do people forget that in loan transactions, as with transfers, both teams have to agree on a move – it's not as easy as merely sending a player somewhere and even if it was it wouldn't mean that they would play. Most of our lads have been playing 3rd tier football when out on loan – it's the level of professional football that seems to suit them most at this moment in time. Remember our best young player went out on loan to the Championship and had to return because he couldn't get a game. The question is whether or not League One is better for them than the U21 league. I imagine the argument centres around in which league the quality of the football and the pace and physicality of the game are more similar to the Premier League.

I do think too much is made of the young players at Everton not being good enough or the clubs youth policy failing etc. It seems to me that there is a decent batch, and I'm confident players like Duffy, McAleny, Barkley will get their time but they are young – very young. If not I'll be as disappointed as the rest if you.

Phil Sammon
54 Posted 30/03/2013 at 07:49:38
Remember our best young player went out on loan to the Championship and had to return because he couldn't get a game.

-------

And as a Loiner I can tell you Leeds fans were screaming at Warnock for sending him back. He's as loyal to Michael Brown as Moyes is to Neville.

Sick of people alluding to Barkley not being good enough when in actual fact it was Warnock making a point to the fans. He's as stubborn as Moyes – which is really quite a feat.

Jack Wilkinson
55 Posted 30/03/2013 at 14:53:51
Fair enough Phil, but he's one of the only one of our lads that's been picked by Championship teams. And surely if he really was that good compared to the other Leeds midfielders he would be put in regardless? Hmm maybe I shouldn't suggest that.

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