Et bra innlegg på det engelske forumet, viser hvor lite vi har investert i forsvarsspillere de siste sesongene :
£1.25 million = The total sum of cash transfer signings we have made for our defence in 6 seasons. £10.6 million = The total sum of cash transfer sales we have made for our defence in 6 seasons.
Shane Duffy - £400,000 - Everton - Since left
Elliott Ward - Free Transfer - Bournemouth - Since left
Gordon Greer - Free Transfer - Brighton & Hove Albion - Since left
Derrick Williams - £250,000 - Bristol City - Shouldn't be a guaranteed starter/inconsistent
Charlie Mulgrew - Free Transfer - Celtic - Awful defender
Wes Brown - Free Transfer - Sunderland - Since left
Paul Caddis - Free Transfer - Bury - Since left
Sam Hart - Under £100,000 - Liverpool - Meh at League One level
Paul Downing - £200,000 - Milton Keynes Dons - Released on a free to Portsmouth
Amari'i Bell - £250,000-£300,000 - Fleetwood Town - Shouldn't be in the 1st team
Jack Rodwell - Free Transfer - Sunderland - Since left
In addition to these signings (and subsequent departures), we have also seen the additional departures of Bradley Orr (no great loss), Josh Morris (talented), Tommy Spurr (solid), Grant Hanley (never replaced), Adam Henley (injury prone) and Matthew Kilgallon (solid if not unspectacular).
Our defence is currently made up of Ryan Nyambe (academy), Derrick Williams (Bristol City signing), Charlie Mulgrew (Glasgow Celtic signing - arguably not his natural position), Amari'i Bell (Fleetwood Town signing), Darragh Lenihan (academy), Sam Hart (Liverpool academy), Elliott Bennett (Norwich City signing - out of position), Tyler Magloire (academy) and Tosin Adarabioyo (Man City academy).
It should come as no surprise that we have a poor defence when it is made up from Free Agents, low cost League One players, injury prone players and academy players. The defence has suffered chronic under-funding for way too long now and that doesn't look as if it is going to end any time soon.