It’s been coming for a while and you can argue that it’s come too late, but Celtic have finally unveiled the signing of Shane Duffy from Brighton.
It was always a giant risk to enter the season with only two proper centre-backs, while it also looks like a mix of no competition and a potentially want-away defender has led to a serious drop in performance levels.
Ajer and Jullien are both fantastic footballers who are comfortable with the ball and won’t really be challenged on a regular basis in the league, but you can see they don’t like a physical challenge and Duffy should change that.
The BBC reported on some comments from Celtic great Paul Lambert about the signing, and he’s detailed what sets Duffy apart from the current duo:
“He’s wholehearted, he’ll throw his body into things. It’s a great signing. He will head things you think people aren’t even going to put a foot in for.”
“They’re getting someone who is proper physical. He will put his body on the line, that’s for sure.”
Great defending is a mindset as well as a skill, it requires players who will take to the field with the attitude that they will do everything possible to stop the ball going into the net – you don’t get that feeling from the Ajer-Jullien partnership.
It will be interesting to see how Neil Lennon adapts with this signing because he’s either going to have to sell Ajer, go with three at the back or someone is going to miss out.
Duffy should bring a physical element and leadership to a Celtic defence that was desperately crying out for it, so he should be an excellent signing.