Shane Duffy, Shane Duffy, SHANE DUFFY - cult hero?

[NWC 332]

Its fair to say our CB is on a current run of good form, and has seemed to have turned a massive corner after last season's poor performances on and off the field. This was topped off by another strong performance against Hull.

My youngest son is showing me montages of his skills (not much in our colours) that are trending on tiktok, and he has a starring role in the hilarious "Pronunciations" video below.

So, from social pariah only a few months ago, is Shane Duffy in danger of becoming a cult hero?

 

[Feedthewolf 5,931]

Hoff doesn't strike me as the kind of person to tolerate 'bad apples', it's all about the team unit. With Cordoba being a more dynamic, ball-playing kind of centre-back (and indeed Doyle when he plays in that position), Duffy looks to be the ideal foil to deal with the 'nuts and bolts' and physical duels.

One can only hope that Hoff has been working hard behind the scenes to bring Duffy back into the fold and curb his off-field dalliances. If he keeps performing like he is at the moment, there's no reason that he can't be a key player for us for the whole season. Really loving his recent resurgence.

[hogesar 10,949]

It wasn't that long ago the club was being criticised by plenty on here for not illegally terminating Duffy's contract because he done something really f*cking stupid in his personal life.

Speaking of which, there has been less of Duffy in and around the local pubs which can only be a good thing. 

He's been our best pure defender this season, in my opinion. 

[cambridgeshire canary 7,932]

Cant really call a drink driver a hero but he is playing well 

[S_81 1,138]

Still of questionable consistency and ability, IMO. And his off the field alcohol antics are now well documented and hopefully have led to him buckling down and his recent upturn in form. Hero status I very much doubt, ever. 

[NeymarSmith 136]

Is he not just doing whats expected and we think hes playing well as before hes been pretty below average?

Shame hills hasnt stated more a claim

[Barham Blitz 908]

57 minutes ago, Feedthewolf said:

Hoff doesn't strike me as the kind of person to tolerate 'bad apples', it's all about the team unit. With Cordoba being a more dynamic, ball-playing kind of centre-back (and indeed Doyle when he plays in that position), Duffy looks to be the ideal foil to deal with the 'nuts and bolts' and physical duels.

This exactly.  With the addition of a more functional midfield set up which actually provides both simple passing options and a degree of cover and the fullbacks inverting slightly, his lack of pace isn't exposed to the same degree as last season.

It leaves him to do the Duffy things that he is good at, not the other stuff which he isn't so good at.  

A vast improvement - and I say that as one of his harshest critics last season.  Although before this looks too self-effacing it does rather validate my opinion before he signed that him and Hanley would be a disastrous combination for the sort of role that Wagner expected his centre backs to play ... 😉

Edited October 7, 2024 by Barham Blitz

[AJ 1,377]

8 minutes ago, S_81 said:

Still of questionable consistency and ability, IMO. And his off the field alcohol antics are now well documented and hopefully have led to him buckling down and his recent upturn in form. Hero status I very much doubt, ever. 

with Gibson going, Hanley injured and 2 incoming new younger CB's he's really had to look inwards I would think. Perhaps that car crash was a blessing in disguise in hoping him refocus his career efforts. He has been very good this season, in fairness. 

[TheGunnShow 7,470]

Let Duffy do the fighting and the basics, and he's excellent at this level. Not every centre-half has to be a ball-playing defender and there's always room for one old-school defender who blocks and defends first.

[Mr Tea 140]

A change in the way a team plays shifts what is required from each player and this can mean you play to their strengths or weaknesses.

Pukki is a prime example of this .

But as @cambridgeshire canary says above unless there is a huge change in his personal life , which is part of being a hero, then not yet he isnt. 

 

 

[Google Bot 3,995]

1 hour ago, Feedthewolf said:

Hoff doesn't strike me as the kind of person to tolerate 'bad apples'

Said at the time, and maintain it today, just because he done something stupid doesn't make him a bad apple.  We know he's struggled with losing his dad, who'd he would call after matches. Some people can switch those emotions off and adapt a logical reasoning, others it can affect for years.

Anyone who's been in such a place knows how hard it is to escape your inner thoughts, you have to break the cycle, and sadly drink can get you there quick.  I doubt that Hoff has had to do any additional work with Duffy, the incident alone would be a wake up call to himself, and those around him on how much he may have been struggling and not letting on about it.

btw, not saying you're calling him a bad apple, just making a general point.

[hogesar 10,949]

12 minutes ago, TheGunnShow said:

Let Duffy do the fighting and the basics, and he's excellent at this level. Not every centre-half has to be a ball-playing defender and there's always room for one old-school defender who blocks and defends first.

Funny thing is, 5 years ago Duffy would be classed as a ball-playing CB - it's evolved considerably over the pep years but at Brighton that's how he was regarded. He's certainly not poor passing out.

[Feedthewolf 5,931]

1 minute ago, Google Bot said:

Said at the time, and maintain it today, just because he done something stupid doesn't make him a bad apple.  We know he's struggled with losing his dad, who'd he would call after matches. Some people can switch those emotions off and adapt a logical reasoning, others it can affect for years.

Anyone who's been in such a place knows how hard it is to escape your inner thoughts, you have to break the cycle, and sadly drink can get you there quick.  I doubt that Hoff has had to do any additional work with Duffy, the incident alone would be a wake up call to himself, and those around him on how much he may have been struggling and not letting on about it.

btw, not saying you're calling him a bad apple, just making a general point.

All totally fair points. And yes, by saying that I doubt Hoff would tolerate 'bad apples', the clear implication is that he's not one 🙂

Whatever the whys and wherefores of his personal life, it certainly seems like he's in a better place now. Long may it continue.

[pete 375]

Maybe playing with better defenders has led to the reincarnation of Duffy.  Significant upgrades on Gibson and Hanley.

Duffy seems to be enjoying himself along with rest of squad.  Improvement on team spirit and much better game management than which seen latterly. 

[Kenny Foggo 1,205]

Duffy likes a drink and so do many other players. He made a mistake and he has paid the prices for it.

We now move on and I think he has been exceelent so far this season and fits in well in the back 4.

[yellow 63 29]

Definitely stepping up this season, still prone to the odd stray pass, but aren't they all.Seems more vocal as well this season.

[shefcanary 3,081]

I wonder if privately he was helping an-anti alcohol abuse charity or something similar?

[cambridgeshire canary 7,932]

3 hours ago, Kenny Foggo said:

Duffy likes a drink and so do many other players. He made a mistake and he has paid the prices for it.

We now move on and I think he has been exceelent so far this season and fits in well in the back 4.

Many people like I drink. I do too and yet not once have I got into a car and driven it after downing pints.

Edited October 7, 2024 by cambridgeshire canary

[Capt. Pants 5,152]

He's playing well alongside Cordoba but I'll stick my neck out and say had it been Gibson or Hanley then it could well have been an absolute car crash. 

We don't know if and what's been said behind the scenes, maybe Thorup has laid the law the down and Duffy has responded. Perhaps Duffy has taken it on himself.

I used to work in car insurance and often saw the absolute devastation left by drunk drivers. He'll never be a hero for me but respect to him for Knuckling down and getting on with the job.

[Petriix 3,250]

Someone can be both a decent player and a total kn0b. These things aren't mutually exclusive. 

[TheGunnShow 7,470]

If he's used last season's incident to fire himself up, learn from it and really take on a leadership position in the team I say more power to his elbow, personally. And I'll argue that is a quality of a role model - someone who really owns their mistakes and uses them to become as good as they can be, taking advantages of second chances if given.

[Midlands Yellow 4,714]

2 minutes ago, TheGunnShow said:

If he's used last season's incident to fire himself up, learn from it and really take on a leadership position in the team I say more power to his elbow, personally. And I'll argue that is a quality of a role model - someone who really owns their mistakes and uses them to become as good as they can be, taking advantages of second chances if given.

Fingers crossed. I doubt that was the first time he drove home pissed but hopefully the last. 

[lake district canary 4,878]

Got to say that there is always a way back for offenders - if they want it. Not one of us can say we didn't do something that could have been seen in a bad light in our twenties. Drink driving is pretty bad on the scale of things, but if he has learned from it, all to the good. 

On the playing side, with a clear plan and with a strong CB next to him, it's no surprise he looks a bit more comfortable - as we do right across the team. 

Smiles all round, long may it continue. 

 

[Robert N. LiM 6,442]

2 hours ago, Petriix said:

Someone can be both a decent player and a total kn0b. These things aren't mutually exclusive. 

More often synonymous.

[Robert N. LiM 6,442]

56 minutes ago, TheGunnShow said:

If he's used last season's incident to fire himself up, learn from it and really take on a leadership position in the team I say more power to his elbow, personally. And I'll argue that is a quality of a role model - someone who really owns their mistakes and uses them to become as good as they can be, taking advantages of second chances if given.

 

16 minutes ago, lake district canary said:

Got to say that there is always a way back for offenders - if they want it. Not one of us can say we didn't do something that could have been seen in a bad light in our twenties. Drink driving is pretty bad on the scale of things, but if he has learned from it, all to the good. 

On the playing side, with a clear plan and with a strong CB next to him, it's no surprise he looks a bit more comfortable - as we do right across the team. 

Smiles all round, long may it continue. 

 

Yeah, think this is where I am. Personally find drink driving very hard to forgive. But generally I am a strong believer in the second chance. Hope he is sorting himself out and can help others learn from his mistakes. And it's obviously great for NCFC that he's playing well.

[Mason 47 2,024]

In a Gary Doherty sort of cult hero status, I think he's going that way.

Interesting to hear that part of the coaching approach has been to go over clips of his time with Brighton with the player. A little reminder maybe of where the bar needs to be set.

Also having had a lot of experience in and around this sort of thing, happy people don't have a hard time staying off the drink. I should think the apparent repairs to the atmosphere around the club have helped massively.

[TheGunnShow 7,470]

17 hours ago, Feedthewolf said:

All totally fair points. And yes, by saying that I doubt Hoff would tolerate 'bad apples', the clear implication is that he's not one 🙂

Whatever the whys and wherefores of his personal life, it certainly seems like he's in a better place now. Long may it continue.

I think we already know what Thorup (or indeed Knapper for that matter) is like with those who are perceived to be "bad apples", or at least those who don't quite fit the team. Rowe and Kamara were shifted out pretty quickly, after all.

[Rupethebear 29]

While it’s fair to say the beginning of the year was a disaster for the boy on and off the pitch, life is all about getting a chance and taking it, right now looks like he’s grabbed it with both hands.

[BobLoz3 622]

I think Duffy has always been a decent defender, he just looked horribly exposed in previous seasons with different partners at CB. If we play like Hoff wants us to, there should be fewer heart in mouth moments from our defenders because the emphasis is on dominating the ball and possession. 

Duffy has shown that he can play some nice passes, keeping it simple, along with being strong in the air. 

And let's put it this way. His drinking and driving was a stupid idea but there are plenty who have done similar. I can think of Grealish, Matty Pattison in his pants and Ant McPartlin for starters. 

I suppose with alcohol abuse it's a case of getting the right help which I'm sure the club have done for Duffy. 

Edited October 8, 2024 by BobLoz3

[Indy 3,499]

Amazing, having watched the last three games it’s noticeable just how good Fisher, Cordoba & Doyle have been, all three exceptional in movement and covering, personally Duffy hasn’t look bad at all but just look back and he’s the one link who gives the ball away causing pressure on us! I think people are overrating Duffy by those around him, you could play Hanley there and you’d be no worse off.

Cordoba is the one who’s really changed it up, high energy, no nonsense and gets forwards at pace, solid start from him. Doyle & Fisher have been excellent.