Would Brighton defender Shane Duffy get in Everton’s starting XI now? A few Toffees fans seem to think so.
Is there a better centre-back partnership in the Premier League right now than the one tearing up trees at Brighton?
Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy have been simply superb in The Seagulls’ debut top flight campaign, ensuring that Brighton went into the second international break of the season sitting pretty in eighth place.
Chris Hughton’s surprise packages have conceded a goal-a-game on average, a record only bettered by five other top flight clubs. The John Terry-esque Dunk has dominated the headlines and claimed most of the praise, however, The Mirror linking the 6ft 4ins powerhouse with a big-money move to West Ham on Wednesday.
Duffy, however, has been equally impressive – even if his performances have gone somewhat under the radar. The Republic of Ireland international may not be the quickest or most technical of players but he has compensated for those weaknesses with a willingness to throw his body on the line and do everything to protect his clean sheet.
It’s the sort of commitment and fighting spirit that his old club, Everton, have been sorely missing all season long. The Toffees have been breached 22 times in 2017/18 – conceding double the amount of goals that Brighton have let in.
Thus, with Ashley Williams a shadow of his former self and Michael Keane looking more like Per Kroldrup than David Weir, a few Everton fans are wondering just why they let Duffy go.
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