Middlesbrough have occasionally looked shaky at the back this season as Jonathan Woodgate introduces a new, enterprising brand of football.
The blame, by and large, has been a lack of midfield cover leaving the defenders exposed rather than ineptitude from the centre-backs.
Bedding in two young full-backs unfamiliar with the second tier has also complicated matters.
However, after a crazy 3-3 thriller at Luton on the opening weekend, Boro have looked better at the back, keeping two clean sheets in their last four games.
Aden Flint's departure left Woodgate with limited cover in central defence, especially as Dael Fry was injured for the opening games and Dani Ayala picked up a knock at the back end of August.
But Ryan Shotton's finding his feet after a sticky start and is starting to forge a useful partnership with the returning Fry.
Last season, Flint was an important part of the joint-best defence in terms of goals conceded. But, by his own admission, he failed to make an impact in the opposition box.
Flint showed at Bristol City that he was capable of scoring upwards of 10 goals a season from set-pieces but managed just one for Boro.
That was a mystery, especially as Tony Pulis teams tend to be effective from corners and free-kicks.
The blame wasn't just Flint's to shoulder, Middlesbrough were generally woeful from set-pieces last season and poor delivery just as much as wayward finishing was the reason.
Flint's presence at the back would have been an asset this season though there are suggestions he would have struggled to adapt to Boro's new tactic of playing the ball out from the back.
That may have been a fair summary but it must be said Woodgate's team are not trying to copy Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
Yes, they will pass from the back when the opportunity arises, but they are just as likely to use other methods when in possession.
We'll never know whether Woodgate would have utilised Flint had he still been on the books. He'd have definitely played games due to the aforementioned injury issues, but it's far from certain that he'd have been a first choice selection with a fully fit list of defenders to choose from.
