Issue 11: The squad - Defenders

Once you have your goalkeeper sorted, your next cause for concern should be your defence.

We have plenty of defenders, but there are question marks over most of them as to whether or not they are good enough.

We can assume that Stan Varga will not be retained. David Unsworth has spoken this week about his desire to stay, but Owen Coyle may decide to let him go too. Personally, I'd keep him for another year as back-up. Steven Caldwell has flattered to deceive this season and hasn't really looked fit after his injury. Clarke Carlisle has proved himself a worthy replacement for the erstwhile Wayne Thomas.

Michael Duff is returning from injury (he made the bench in our most recent defeat) but Coyle may see him as the answer to our woes at right-back, where Graham Alexander has shown we signed him at least five years too late. Dean Stott, a young full-back, is highly thought of by those who watch the youngsters regularly, and may come through next year.

On the left, Stephen Jordan has rarely impressed at left-back but has had flashes of competence at centre-back and may be worth keeping as cover. Jon Harley, as good a left-back as there is in the league, has bafflingly yet to be offered an extension to his contract.

Harley staying is incredibly important. Good full-backs are hard to find, and we may be needing one for the right flank too. We surely won't find one better than Harley. He's solid defensively and excellent going forward, and with us likely to be fielding a new signing on the left wing, it is imperative we don't have a brand new flank that would take weeks to gel, together, and with the rest of the side.

Owen Coyle will most likely be making a new centre-back his priority at the back during the summer break. I can see him letting Caldwell go and appointing a new Captain. Duff and Harley will probably be our first-choice full-backs so we will want someone to partner Carlisle. CC's strengths are in his calm head and his tackling. He also has enough pace to cover a slower defender alongside him. His ideal partner would surely be tall and dominant in the air as well as strong on the floor. They will also need organisation skills as we concede too many goals from set pieces at the moment.

Someone like Gary Cahill when he was on loan here from Villa. Players like that are not easy to come by. Another area where Coyle has his work cut out, then.