With Coleman more or less retired and without Pickford and Tarkowski on the pitch, we looked lost with no cohesion.

Let's just hope Branthwaite and Tarkowski stay fit in the coming season and we supplement them with a couple more leaders.

All was quickly forgiven though and he was soon back to his best.

Frank Lampard, who I absolutely loved, got a lot of things wrong at Everton, but James was a masterstroke. He's been an absolute colossus for us and reminds me a lot of Dave "Waggy" Watson, hard as nails and always pops up with vital goals.

Him and Jarrad are in my opinion one of the best partnerships in the game, but Sky and BBC would hate you saying that, it's obviously true.

I thought he was going to be out til October but, hey ho, he's back.

Let's not imagine they were world beaters now that they've gone.

However, it was a sensible move to release them. Time for new leaders to step up to the plate.

Hard work, digging deep, flashes of unexpected brilliance and a bit of nous too. Not to be sniffed at.

But we can now do much, much better now thank goodness.

But the pairing was terrible as we had two very similar players, both of whom were used to being the boss.

That said, there were signs that O'Brien and Branthwaite can form a very good future partnership. Still early days, and young players, especially for centre backs, but more than promising for when the day comes and what happened to Coleman, and us all, happens to our captain; the legs catch up with you. He still has a couple of seasons I him though.

Robert @5, Young was important for us last season. Doucoure had a poor last season for us, but some bright moments before that. A very unpredictable player. I'll lay off Keane as I've bashed him enough over the years. He just wasn't good enough a lot of the time.

Just a minor point on Angus's article. I don't think we'd played 5 at the back in those first two matches in the US series. It more of an Amorim's United set up of 3 at the back, 4 across the middle, with the wide players doubling up as wing backs, 2 in front of them and one up top. 3-4-2-1. The problem being, we only had one recognised centre back.

David @7, I would think that as long as Seamus is at the club, we'll adopt what is common throughout football. Coleman as club captain, Tarkowski as team captain, with Pickford filling in if nether are available.

He gets my nod for what it's worth to be made team Captain. A true leader and rarely has a bad game.

Love to see him as captain.

Tarkowski is a good lad and a leader.

I'd personally make him the fulltime captain now.

Next summer may be the time to spend on a promising young CB with the potential to replace a player who has been so reliable for us whilst adding a little more pace and progression at the back.

But for now I hope Tark comes back from his injury as strong as he was last season, his partnership with Branthwaite was crucial in giving us one of the best defensive records in the league.

I know not everyone agreed, but I loved his full-blooded tackle on Mac Allister in the Anfield derby right in front of where we were stood. Talk about putting your mark on the game and getting the crowd going.

I agree though Sam. Although he's got a couple of good seasons left in him, we will need to be thinking about another CB, but that can wait for now. We have other priorities and defence is one area I'm comfortable with if they all stay fit.

Yes, definitely not the priority yet though ideally a new youngster might have a season to learn that excellent reading you mention from him. Next summer I could see Keane leaving and being replaced by the next young CB talent hopefully.

I don't think that Crealish is out of the question, since his other English option is Spurs, who are in disarray.Man City will have to pay part of his wages. Their attempt to front load the Transfer fee to cover this isn't going to work and European sides would balk at the demands.

The defence needs to operate as a unit. At the moment we effectively go down to half a defence if we lose either of James or Jarrad.

Jake has done okay but it’s hardly ideal for him to play that position. We get away with it when the two first choices centre backs are lined up next to him.

When the right back slot is filled by a proper top class right back it will be easier to deal with occasional absences from either of the first choices, especially if Jake can slot in.

We still all know that rightback position needs a better resolution, don’t we?

At present Jake can best serve the club at right back. Although he missed a good chance the other night he has shown an ability to put the ball in the opposition’s net; something which is of considerable value in a team short of goals.

For Patterson I am afraid the word is never. Now has gone. He is just not equipped to be an effective Premier League player. If he had come through the academy ranks I think we would have released him two years ago.

James was captain last season more times than not and I think his influence on the team is as good as Seamus’ if not better. I will happy to see the two of them lining up together at the start of the season because we need to focus on starting well for once and not playing catch up again.

Every leader has a different style. Tarkowski is a calming influence on those around him and the team. He explains and points out rather than bark and shout.

I agree with you on the Seamus comparison, even though I nothing but respect for Donegal's greatest export. Tarkowski surpasses him in the captain role.

Both as a player and supporter, I've always preferred captains to be centre backs. They can see more of the game in front of them.

Midfielders are pre-occupied winning the ball back or creating. Wide midfielders and full backs, out on the flanks.

Strikers? No. They are selfish beasts and rightfully so, but they focus on themselves and complain if a ball isn't put on a six-pence for them. Two yards away and the arms go up in the air.

As for Goalkeepers. Avoid. Angry people who shout at everyone if they have to make a save. That's their job.

Obviously, I'm stereotyping and being generalist, but I hope everyone get's my point!!

Tarkowski is a better leader than Jagielka was. In someways similar, as in they weren't or aren't shouters. But for me, Jagielka was a bit too nice. Tarkowski seems better at organising and putting players right without criticising. And everything I've seen, he commands respect and is listened to.

Of course, we still need a right sided winger.

Waggy Watson, David Weir, Yobo, Lescott, Jagielka, Branthwaite and Tarkowski are all in that category — having to play out of their skin for our club to merely survive.

I'm grateful to every one of them but, after decades of gross, self-serving malfeasance in our boardroom, I'd really like for once to be able to eulogise a creative player or two, or three, in our team rather than, with genuine respect, stalwart players in our defence having to graft like hell every week to salvage but one point.

I'm sure Tarkowski would like that too.