[Albion] Josh Duffus, reported interest from Marseille and others

[GT49er]

If you look at post #44 you will see it is reported that a loan move to Denmark for Duffus was blocked in January as he wouldn't sign a new deal with Albion.

Yes, I know. I suggested he could have tried it.

 

[GrizzlingGammon]

…..apart from when he played in it

I thought that was part RDZ's point proving that he needed more first teamers. Was he ever seen again?

 

[jackalbion]

Sadly his last couple of appearances for the U21s he was really starting to show his potential, I thought. Strong and skillful and may develop into a decent player.

I think my argument here and I don't fully agree with it, but I referenced on another thread that we seem to be losing our best prospects as they can't see a pathway. For all the praise we have had of bringing through talent, its a worrying trend that this has happened, I think with the big money moves it definitely makes us a less attractive prospect for some young players in the academy. I think for all good Fabian has done, I've been very disappointed with his lack of minutes for Academy players (albeit because of the plethora of attacking talent we've had so far).

 

[Reddleman]

The evidence is in front of you, that there must be something there, otherwise we wouldn’t want him to sign a new contract

He has not played a competitive game at any level in six months, he has one very brief substitute appearance for the first team. What evidence are you talking about.

 

[jackalbion]

He has not played a competitive game at any level in six months, he has one very brief substitute appearance for the first team. What evidence are you talking about.

He has not played a competitive minute at any level because he hasn't signed a contract, he was probably one of our strongest U21 performers before Christmas. There would have been no question he'd be sitting on the bench now, possibly even a couple of appearances if he had signed that deal.

 

[albionalex]

I know almost nothing about Duffus, but I am pretty sure he could have offered as much as Adingra or Gruda this season.

 

[AZ Gull]

Yes, I know. I suggested he could have tried it.

It was blocked by the club.

 

[GT49er]

It was blocked by the club.

Not really. The deal was to send him if he signed a new contract before he went; he wouldn't. I'd regard that as more blocked by the player than the club.

 

[chaileyjem]

I think my argument here and I don't fully agree with it, but I referenced on another thread that we seem to be losing our best prospects as they can't see a pathway. For all the praise we have had of bringing through talent, its a worrying trend that this has happened, I think with the big money moves it definitely makes us a less attractive prospect for some young players in the academy. I think for all good Fabian has done, I've been very disappointed with his lack of minutes for Academy players (albeit because of the plethora of attacking talent we've had so far).

Its more likely that the pathway is still incredibly rare - Evan and Jack Hinshelwood have come through in the last 5 years . We bought Evan at 16 i think ?
And perhaps we have Freddie Simmonds and Harry Howell next . But the PL has very few teenagers - and we often buy them ! rather than Academy graduates.

But Giving minutes to Mark Mahony, Cameron Peupion, Offiah, Baker Boitey as RDZ did sounds good but in hindsight more of a red herring - might well be the only PL minutes they'll ever have.
Not sure there's a trend either. Toby Collyer has left us (to Man Utd). Who else has left and gone on to have regular PL minutes ?
But agreed it sounds like the Duffus thing is not ideal for either party.

 

[ewe2]

Signing a new contract,could mean more money for us in the transfer market,not necessarily more game time for him.

 

[GT49er]

Its more likely that the pathway is still incredibly rare - Evan and Jack Hinshelwood have come through in the last 5 years . We bought Evan at 16 i think ?
And perhaps we have Freddie Simmonds and Harry Howell next . But the PL has very few teenagers - and we often buy them ! rather than Academy graduates.

But Giving minutes to Mark Mahony, Cameron Peupion, Offiah, Baker Boitey as RDZ did sounds good but in hindsight more of a red herring - might well be the only PL minutes they'll ever have.
Not sure there's a trend either. Toby Collyer has left us (to Man Utd). Who else has left and gone on to have regular PL minutes ?
But agreed it sounds like the Duffus thing is not ideal for either party.

Regular? No, not yet, but Shim Mhueka has recently played for Chelsea.

​

 

[GT49er]

Signing a new contract,could mean more money for us in the transfer market,not necessarily more game time for him.

He would have likely had quite a lot if he'd signed the new contract (and no doubt a pay rise) and gone on loan as he wanted.

 

[Hiheidi]

He would have likely had quite a lot if he'd signed the new contract (and no doubt a pay rise) and gone on loan as he wanted.

Maybe he looked at the likes of Jeremy Sarmiento (and his bench warming) and decided he'd rather have more control.

 

[GT49er]

Maybe he looked at the likes of Jeremy Sarmiento (and his bench warming) and decided he'd rather have more control.

Yes, he made his choice - and it may turn out well; or not. Who knows. He's not playing anywhere at the moment though - and that is the result of his choices.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Its more likely that the pathway is still incredibly rare - Evan and Jack Hinshelwood have come through in the last 5 years . We bought Evan at 16 i think ?

Robert Sanchez and Ben White have also made their PL debuts for us in the last 5 seasons (although White had played a few cup games in previous seasons to his PL debut).

Dunk, March, White, Sanchez, Ferguson and Hinshelwood over the last 10 years or so is probably better than most academies produce, especially at PL level (yes I know Dunk and March predate the PL but they’ve stepped up with the club).

For those getting a bit worried about players like Duffus leaving, we’ve given more time to players under 21 than any other PL club this season. The path way is still there, wether it’s like Hinsh etc coming from the youth system or for players like Ayari and Van Hecke joining us after they’ve turned pro but still needing to develop to get a shot at the first team here.

 

[albionalex]

Maybe he looked at the likes of Jeremy Sarmiento (and his bench warming) and decided he'd rather have more control.

Sarmiento has not done much in his loan spells.

 

[Reddleman]

I know almost nothing about Duffus, but I am pretty sure he could have offered as much as Adingra or Gruda this season.

In a million years Duffus doesn’t get 5 goals and two assists this season like Adingra has. I am baffled at the level of hype we are putting on a player with almost literally no first team action.

 

[Bozza]

In a million years Duffus doesn’t get 5 goals and two assists this season like Adingra has. I am baffled at the level of hype we are putting on a player with almost literally no first team action.

When you;re as shit as we are - I mean look at the table - we're 10th in the Premier League FFS - not playing sees your stock increase in value.

As such, James Milner is, to all intents and purposes, a Ballon d'Or winner, and Joshua Duffus came second.

 

[London Irish]

Five minutes at the end of a European game when he was only named in the squad to meet weird home grown player rules is all it was. Never played a single domestic minute even in the league cup.

Yep agree with you, look quite laboured in the EFL Trophy against Crawley against a defence that has conceded over a 100 goals this season. Might be a good player but it’s not clear he’s demonstrated it yet. We can’t keep everyone

 

[Reddleman]

I know almost nothing about Duffus, but I am pretty sure he could have offered as much as Adingra or Gruda this season.

Edit double post