DAMIEN DUFF insisted he will be back in his bunker this weekend plotting the Shelbourne attack’s “freedom.”
Shels drew 0-0 with Bohemians on Friday night at Dalymount Park in a stalemate that summed up what is good about Duff’s team, but also what is lacking.
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No one in the league has more clean sheets than Conor Kearns’ eight, but they have also failed to score in seven games, with only UCD having a worse record.
And Duff admitted that he is driven by the belief that there is so much more potential in his team’s attack to complement that defence.
He said: “The one criticism tonight and maybe over the course of the season is of myself because I still don’t think we’ve clicked into gear with a real freedom.
“Did we look like scoring tonight? Possibly not. Did they? Possibly not. It gets aimed at us a lot and maybe that goes hand in hand with playing a bit more freedom.
“We play with intensity, try to create an environment as befits a PL team in England, intense standards, a real culture.
“The lads have bought into it. It’s just up to me. I love coaching, but it’s management as well.
“As a team as a whole…it sounds mad because we’ve won a lot of games….but I don’t think we’ve played with a real freedom yet. It’s up to me to figure out.
“Everyone talks about us being so well set up defensively and we work for each other, we press so well and are so organised.
“We do. We’ve only conceded four goals from open play which is an incredible stat, but when you see the other side of it that’s up to me and the staff to figure out.
“I’ve had the conversations a lot in what we call the bunker. Our office is a shipping container – glamorous! – but I still think I can free them up more.”
Last season’s top scorer Seán Boyd’s first appearance since the opening day on Friday as he returned from injury could also boost Shels firepower.
Duff added: “As good as we’ve been, he’s a big personality on and off the pitch. He occupies defenders. Coming on, the first action we get a corner off him. He gets our fans off their feet.”
But he also hopes to strengthen in the July transfer window with on-loan Kian Leavy a target as his contract with Reading expires next month.
Duff continued: “His deal will be up in the summer. He’s one I’ll look to re-sign. He’s been released by Reading. He gets bums off seats. He excites people.”
