Defending in numbers

Today, in a futile attempt to win the Close Season Cup, Celtic signed Christopher Jullien from Toulouse for £7m.

Of course, that is a sum that Mr Let’s Go can only dream of spending on a single acquisition as he attempts to strengthen his Sevco squad.

Despite that, the Close Season Cup will remain in the virtual trophy room at Ibrox.

It always does.

So, who is Christopher Jullien?

I am indebted to the clever Bhoy behind the Celtic By Numbers website for his assistance in trying to answer that question.

He let me have a couple of data snippets on the centre back this afternoon.

However, his entire evidence-based analysis on what Christopher Jullien will bring to the Parkhead party will be available tomorrow on his own site.

Here is what he shared with me this afternoon in the immediate aftermath of the announcement:

“Aerially he ranked 1 for most aerial duels won in Ligue 1 in 17/18 and ranked 2 in 18/19. Not as many duels won as any Celtic centre backs, but different styles of football I expect.”

So, if Neil Lennon was looking for a commanding presence in the air then it would appear that the six foot five inch Frenchman might well fit the bill.

Of course, any signing by Celtic in the days and weeks ahead will do nothing to wrest away the Close Season Cup away from Sevco.

Indeed, it would be silly to suggest otherwise.

For the avoidance of doubt, if you think that Sevco’s resident MBE is putting together a squad that can go head to head with Celtic when keep taking the tabloids.


Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

13 thoughts on “Defending in numbers”

  1. Brilliant statement released by Bolton on Luca Connell singing. We had an option to pay 250k but have substantially met that price and more.

    Now there’s integrity and generosity toward a club? Company? Facing extinction.

    Well played the hoops makes that fire in my belly roar.

    Reply
  2. I have noticed a wee change in tactics deployed by the media in recent weeks.
    There seems to be a definite move to suggest Celtic is not a Professionally run outfit.
    First we had Dembele
    Then the Turnbull saga
    Then the Burke episode
    Now we have Scott Allan suggesting likewise
    Now given we have a rather large pot of money sat in the Co-Op waiting to be spent on reinforcing the Treble Treble ,8 in a row Champions it would appear their only weapon now is to suggest coming to Celtic is not a great career move.
    Well there are several mitigating factors that need to be acknowledged before anyone swallow swallows this unfounded pish…
    1 Dembele was already looking at a move he had outgrown the SPFL
    2 Motherwell caused the issue by releasing the details on he Turnbull saga
    3 Burke is not a goof Footballer
    4 Allan has failed to make an impact at Celtic under 2 Managers due to being simply not good enough for Celtic.
    Celtic thankfully for a change are going on the offensive on these claims now and taking the control of the narrative away from the Stenographers.
    Signing £7m proven quality will soon shut these wanks up.
    Keep em coming Celtic.
    HH

    Reply
  3. I’m sure there’s a way to spin this. Perhaps the 7m shows how desperate Celtic have become to shore up their defence; perhaps it shows how far they think they have slipped behind in the transfer market that they need to play catch-up. And after all, big name signings (e.g. Joey Barton or Carlos Pena) don’t always work out…

    Reply
  4. I see that the Record has no fewer than 4 articles concerning Aribo while the £7M signing of Julian isn’t even the top story of their digital edition. Aribo is obviously the big story of the week. The Ibrox side having no money for transfer fees is quietly ignored.
    Journalists . . . . Or what?

    What!

    Reply
    • Its getting beyond ridiculous. Barry Ferguson talking up Aribo as the next best thing.
      I guarantee that Bazza has never seen the boy play yet makes him out to be the second coming.
      Looking at Gerrards squad, 8 wingers and all, there’s going to be lots of unhappy players in the dressing room who won’t be getting much game time.

      Reply
  5. Phil, halp me out here please – Celtic have won 8 titles in a row and 3 trebles in a row. How many close season cups in a row have been won down sevco way?

    Reply
  6. Jeez I’m absolutely shocked and astounded!!!!

    Where the hell did Celtic get that sort of mmm….

    Oh wait…heh…I forgot, they are a well managed club who have again been daring to break records, their fan.base is truly worldwide and their merchandising operation is second to none, their reputation for being able to pay bills, wages, face painters etc is exemplary, they have a structure that allows players a platform to win and develop careers and it just pinged in that this Jullien is now Scotland’s most expensive defender ever.

    Silly me I read a so called newspaper and like the fan base at ibrokes, well almost, I nearly swallowed the Deludamol

    Reply
  7. As a Glasgow taxi driver we hear some rumours and stories today I got a cracker that a certain famous man was taking a new house in the west end just u off hyndland Rd the man in question had been in a rented house but was uncertain about his wobbly contract and had to wait until start of June to confirm his contract was solid for another year before he took the rent for this house which is quiet expensive.

    Reply
  8. Very noticeable across the SMSM that they have decided not to include the ‘quantum’ of £7M in their headlines.

    Might be too eye-catching / impressive / depressing / foaming mouth inducing?

    You have to read the p!sh articles to confirm that this is most definitely NOT a Bosman or a loanee.

    Happy days.

    Reply
      • I suppose when you do your shopping on Rodeo Driver or Knights bridge, £7 million could be considered “cut-price”. However, there is no price war between the various Pound Shops scattered throughout the UK – unless you consider a 99p Shop to be a cut-price store. 😂

        Reply

Leave a Reply

error: Content is protected !!