Michael Turner will remain irreplaceable unless one day we find the next Rio Ferdinand, Franco Baresi or, indeed, the next Michael Turner. But at least the defence shorn of his considerable presence remains relatively tight and unified.
We still conceded three at Arsenal, but that was Arsenal. For the most part since the back four of Anthony Gardner and Kamil Zayatte in between Andy Dawson and Paul McShane was first constructed (after Bernard Mendy was sent off against West Ham United, prompting Phil Brown to pick a right back at right back), it has caused the fewest concerns and the fewest suggestions for change.
If anyone does have a preference away from the current set-up, it is to drop the gamely but limited Dawson for the, er, gamely but limited Kevin Kilbane. Kilbane has more top flight experience and 100 international caps but Dawson is also in his 30s and no fool, plus he swerves in a mean set-piece. It'd be essentially replacing like for like, and to many Dawson wins on a tie-breaker decided via sentiment when the evidence claims that the two are alike as peas in an overtly left-sided pod.
McShane is finally beginning to add some footballing astuteness to his crunching tackles and capacity to relieve skilful opponents of the skin on their shins, while the centre back partnership of Gardner and Zayatte, brainstorm moments aside, is as good as we're likely to have.
Zayatte especially has been the Tigers' player of the season, arguably. And Gardner's new-found ability to stay for for more than three games in a row has been both timely and handy. Only the sprogs Steven Mouyokolo and Liam Cooper, plus the versatile Kilbane, are available as replacements so the continued fitness and form of these two is paramount to City's ambitions - unless Brown has someone who is both brilliant and affordable in mind next month. It's also a matter of great relief to read tales of Ibrahima Sonko, the panicky panic buy in the aftermath of Turner's exit, being informed that he is too woeful to be considered again.
The debate will rage on about our best midfield while Jimmy Bullard remains sidelined, while the discussion on strikers is tantamount to applying one's forehead to the nearest brickwork construction with substantial force. At least we know that the defence is actually okay right now, results notwithstanding. It is the only bit of real reassurance as one ponders the fixture list over the next half dozen matches.
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