City XI (89-09): Defence

Picking standout City defenders of the last couple of decades has proved unsurprisingly difficult given the garbage that we've filled our back four with season after season. With that in mind i've had to consider those who simply served the club well, became cult heroes, or in the odd case, actually defended a bit. Being short of options, and with a wealth of players to consider for midfield, i had little option than to go three at the back.

The first name that came to mind, though he left the club in unfortunate circumstances, was Sylvain Distin. During his five seasons here he proved to be the most competent defender i've seen at the club, even making Dunney look good. He was, indeed still is, a very composed defender; quick, strong, comfortable on the ball, and an extremely good reader of the game. Like many, i expect, i was extremely disappointed to see him move on, and to Portsmouth especially. I still think he's one of the better centre-halves in the country and would serve anyone well, even bigger clubs. He seemed to slot right in when he came here, and for two of his five seasons him and Dunney were probably as good a partnership as any in England. I'm probably in a minority of fans who would have him back, i don't see him as any lesser a player than Joleon Lescott, who we sound like we're on the verge of a big-money move for.

Alongside him i've gone for Andy Morrison. I was surprised to find out that Andy only played for the club on 48 occasions, i'd assumed he'd appeared much more. There's no doubting the impact he had, though. When signing from Huddersfield on loan in winter '98 we'd been on a very bad run after starting the season relatively well, only managing to win one of ten games before Joe Royle brought in reinforcements in the shape of Andy and Michael Branch. Morrison's signing impacted on the squad in several ways; he was a very good defender for that level, brought leadership qualities we were previously lacking, and also chipped in with the odd goal that year, including strikes in his first two games. We were all well aware that he wasn't the most technical of sorts, but as fans you occasionally just want to see the sort of passionate no-nonsense approach that Morrison certainly brought. He picked up a few bookings, sure. He wasn't afraid to give the odd opposition player a kick up the arse, what's wrong with that? Football needs more Andy Morrisons, infact, we could do with one now. It should be noted that Morrison, after picking up a couple of serious injuries, only ever represented the club three times at Premier League level, but his impact on the club on arrival cannot be underestimated. I don't think we'd have made the Play-Offs that year had he not signed.

Making up the three-man defence is Gerard Wiekens. There weren't many candidates, in all honesty, but his consistency earnt him the spot. He seemed like a great professional, too, hard-working, no problems for the club in any way shape or form, your Mr Dependable. Like Morrison, he was by no means a top player, but he was a calming influence around a time when most were losing their heads, indeed we were relegated or promoted in each of his five season's in the first-team.

I guess you'd have to mention Ian Brightwell and Richard Dunne, both great servants to the club, amassing over 700 appearances between them. Brightwell, sixteen years at the club in total and a member of the successful '86 Youth Cup-winning side, allegedly played in every outfield position for the club, and his 'wellied' strike at Old Trafford will live long in the memory. Dunne, well, for all his faults he was capable of defending very well on his day. He lacked pace, made a few howlers, at times frustrated the hell out of us, yeah, but let's not forget the player on the verge of being sacked under Kevin Keegan, who knuckled down, got himself in shape, captained the club for three seasons and won four successive Player of the Year awards.

Finally, a more sentimantal nomination, Danny Tiatto. Six seasons at the club following a £300k move in 1998, Tiatto embodied the frustrations of the souls on the terraces like few others. Frequently carded (6 reds and 36 yellows in just over 100 starts), never afraid to put his foot in, bit of a nutter, handy enough going forward. Nearly snapping David Dunn did for him in the end, but for a while he was a valuable member of the side, particularly during the 01/02 promotion season.

Picks: Gerard Wiekens, Andy Morrison, Sylvain Distin