Last week, we talked about Moneyball, Barnsley and data, so naturally, that leads us to Celtic defender Jack Hendry.
Hendry has had an impressive season in Belgium, with experimental side KV Oostende. The side are owned by the same management firm as Barnsley, the Pacific Media Group. It was their focus on analytics that, somehow, led them to the former Dundee and Wigan centre-back.
Over just a year, they’ve built a side that’s genuinely competitive in the Jupiler Pro League. Their use of data scouting led them to bargains, including a loan deal for Hendry, but also 20-year-old Belgian centre-back Arthur Theate. Formerly of the Genk and Standard Liege youth academies, Theate arrived on a free transfer last summer. He’s since become a key part of a very solid defence.
While Hendry has picked up plaudits, Theate is also more than worth a look. Not just a robust defender, Theate has scored 4 goals as a centre-back. At 6’3″, he provides an aerial threat, as well as winning 3 aerial duels per game [WhoScored?].
A more traditional, physical centre-back compared to Hendry’s ball-playing role, the two have combined for one of the best defences in the Belgian top-flight. Comfortable in either a back 3 or 4, Theate tends to do the dirtier work in defence, normally with Anton Tanghe, with Jack Hendry given more license to roam.
Arthur Theate; team-mate of Jack Hendry, Celtic target?
Obviously, we don’t have a manager currently.
However, whoever we hire, we’re going to need centre-backs. Specifically, young centre-backs with potential resale value. Even more specifically, young centre-backs with potential resale value, who can defend set pieces. That’s something Theate excels at. Oostende have only conceded 8 goals from set-pieces this season [WhoScored?].
By comparison, Celtic have conceded 38% of their total goals from free-kicks and corners.
While it still might read as a bit jarring to aspire to a defence with Jack Hendry in it, the fact is that he’s worked alongside some impressive young defenders. If we’re likely to lose Hendry, we’re as well picking up a potential Belgium international who’s already being called up the U21s.
We’d do well to learn lessons from how Oostende have approached transfers. Their league might not be as strong, but they’ve turned a squad outcast into an international player. They’ve turned from relegation candidates to a side battling for a European place.
These things are worth considering; and so is 20-year-old centre-back Arthur Theate.
READ MORE: Of course Kristoffer Ajer could do a job in the Premier League
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