Shane Duffy’s Turf Moor redemption another string for Potter’s bow

Brighton’s Premier League season opener against Burnley on Saturday saw Shane Duffy make his first competitive appearance for the Seagulls since a four-minute cameo as a substitute in the penultimate game of the 2019/20 season.

He returned to the club this summer after a disappointing loan spell at Celtic that went so badly that he was roundly applauded by fans of Rangers when Brighton visited Ibrox for a pre-season friendly in July. Expecting him to immediately feature in Graham Potter’s first team plans would therefore have seemed ambitious.

Despite Ben White’s departure to Arsenal, Brighton are well-stocked in terms of central defenders, and the way in which Potter seemed to phase Duffy out of the side in his first season in charge suggested he was unlikely to be a direct replacement.

Following the 2-1 victory at Turf Moor, Duffy went as far as to admit he had been unsure if his Brighton career would continue into a sixth season.

“When you hit rock bottom that is the reality check. A lot was going wrong off the field, which was difficult for me and I had to get through that and that was tough mentally.

“After the year I had I was in a really low place and thought the Premier League was probably over for me. But I have got good people around me and at the club; this club is so good for me and it feels like home.

“The manager has been really honest and he has been great with me. With a little bit of luck here and there I thought I could end up playing on Saturday (at Burnley).

“I feels like I can help the squad, even if at times I am not playing, and it was really nice to get back on the grass.”

– Shane Duffy, speaking to Brighton’s official website 

Whether or not Duffy would have even started in Lancashire may well become one of those sliding door moments in the 29-year-old’s career. It was only revealed on the day of the game that fellow defender Joel Veltman, who played 28 times last season whilst Duffy was in Scotland, would be absent due to coming into contact with someone had tested positive for Covid-19.

Duffy wasted no time dwelling on the unknown following kick-off. Even though the home side took an early lead when James Tarkowski escaped the eyes of the officials to bundle Neal Maupay over and head in Ashley Westwood’s corner, Brighton’s returning centre-back was at his defiant best to prevent Sean Dyche’s Clarets extending their lead.

After Ben Mee had struck the crossbar from another set-piece soon after, Duffy reacted sharply to steer the loose ball away from goal in a chaotic scramble. He ended the game having won nine aerial duels, the most of any Premier League player on opening weekend, and he also made two interceptions, two tackles, and a remarkable 10 clearances – more than double the amount that any other player on the Turf Moor pitch made.

Whilst Duffy’s inclusion in the starting line-up might have been a surprise, the fact that he defended his box so effectively should not have been. He was awarded the club’s Player of the Year in Chris Hughton’s final season in charge in 2018/19, averaging the third most clearances per 90 among Premier League players as well as the second most blocks, but this style of defending was not thought to be as highly-valued by Hughton’s successor.

Duffy was selected for Graham Potter’s first Premier League game in charge, a 3-0 win at Watford in August 2019, but he went on to only start another 11 league matches that season. Having only missed four games in Brighton’s previous two seasons, all of which had been due to suspension, the change of manager seemed to signal the beginning of the end for the former Everton and Blackburn defender’s time on the south coast.

In the 2019/20 season, whilst Duffy’s fellow centre-backs Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster both averaged over 50 passes per 90, the Republic of Ireland international was making 37.3, and in terms of ‘progressive passes’ – essentially an effective pass that moves the ball towards the opponents goal  – Webster was averaging 3.18 per game, Dunk 2.28, and Duffy noticeably lower on 1.67.

The numbers indicate that Duffy was quite possibly deemed by Potter to not be the type of centre-back that he envisaged adapting to his revolution of Brighton’s playing style.

Following his bit-part role for a season, the move to Celtic seemed to be the ideal move for Duffy’s career. He had supported the club as a child growing up in Belfast, and despite his influence being limited at Brighton, he was expected to be one of the best defenders in the Scottish Premiership.

However, a poor campaign personally was compounded by a miserable season for the green and white half of Glasgow as they lost out on the league title for the first time in 10 seasons to eternal rivals Rangers.

Duffy lost his father just months before the loan move, and following the game on Saturday he stressed how happy he had been to return to familiar surroundings ahead of pre-season.

Although the defender was returning to an environment he knows well, Potter’s willingness to involve him may still have come as something of a surprise.

Other stalwarts of the Brighton team that was successful under Hughton have been moved on. Anthony Knockaert went from being one of the team’s primary attacking forces to being loaned out to Championship Fulham without playing a competitive game for Potter, and although Glenn Murray remained at the Amex along with Duffy in 2019/20, he started just seven league games before leaving the club, first on loan and then permanently.

What is noticeable about the way Potter has moved on players is that it has not always been the ruthless process that would perhaps seem necessary to bring about stylistic change on the pitch.

When an incoming manager has a drastically different footballing philosophy to his predecessor, it is not uncommon to see them marginalise key components of the previous regime. Pep Guardiola’s decision to move on Joe Hart when he arrived at Manchester City is a prime example, and there are numerous examples of experienced players being told to train with the youth team and therefore not considered for first team selection.

Whilst the on-field changes have been fairly drastic and sudden, the way in which Potter has re-shaped the playing squad at Brighton has been more subtle and, by extension, forgiving for players that did not appear likely to fit into his system or philosophy.

Murray scored a crucial late equaliser in a 3-3 draw at West Ham during a difficult run of results in Potter’s first season in charge, Hughton signings Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Davy Propper and Mat Ryan all contributed either important goals or performances before being moved on this summer, and Duffy’s first showing after his return suggests another way to replace White may have been unearthed.

This willingness to keep the door open has arguably helped avoid any serious relegation battles over the last two seasons and, with Duffy kept on side, it helped to yield an opening day win for the Seagulls.

“I thought he (Duffy) was immense.

“He has been fantastic since he came back. His attitude and professionalism, his approach to the team and group. He has been really good.”

– Graham Potter on Shane Duffy’s performance against Burnley

The victory at Turf Moor not only showcased Potter’s capacity to affect matches through his tactical nous and use of the substitutes’ bench – Alexis MacAllister scored the winning goal just two minutes after being introduced – but also proved to be a victory for his personal skills and ability to keep players like Duffy feeling involved even if he cannot guarantee them regular playing time.

Although Duffy will face greater competition for his place when Veltman returns from isolation and Dan Burn recovers from a knee injury, his performance at Turf Moor, as well as his commendable resilience in the face of a difficult situation, surely means the shirt is now his to lose.

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