1.  De Gea

Last 10 overall defensive record  1    Fixture ease 1 DGW    Team clean sheets in last 10 gameweeks:   6

United have well and truly sorted their defence out and its 6 clean sheets in a row before the City Game.  De Gea is the only certainty for game time in a highly rotated back 5.  Even the remaining  negative of the fact that once the league is won then Lindegaard may get some gametime has diminished after the City loss will defer it slightly

2. Fabianski

Last 10 overall defensive record  6    Fixture ease 3 DGW     Team clean sheets in last 10 gameweeks:   3 

 Overall defensive record has fallen down but its a kind fixture list and a double gameweek coupled with incredible value at £4.3m.  Only negative is gametime risk if Szczesny gets his place back.

The rotation keepers

1.  Robles

Last 10 overall defensive record  8    Fixture ease 13    Team clean sheets in last 10 gameweeks:   2 

Taken over from Al Habsi on an “in form will play” policy. Extremely cheap at £4.0m and the defence is  surprisingly strong in underlying stats.  Only difficulty is that he’s only played the last 3 so vulnerable to a return from Al Habsi and also its difficult to assess when to play him as Wigan are often better away than home    

2.  Boruc

Last 10 overall defensive record  7    Fixture ease 6     Team clean sheets in last 10 gameweeks:   3

A vastly improved defence under the new managers pressing high up the pitch policy and with good fixtures he looks like a good candidate for a rotation defence.  Much better at home than away

Unfortunately these 2 don’t rotate home and away well but it is possible to play Southampton at home and Wigan away as Wigan are better away than at home

Defenders

1.  Sagna

Last 10 overall defensive record  6    Fixture ease 3 DGW     Team clean sheets in last 10 gameweeks:   3

Nothing is certain in the Arsenal back 4 or GK position thats for sure and Sagna has competition like anyone else but history has shown faith in him from Wenger above Jenkinson and the price is a steal.     Great fixtures have made for a slightly faltering defensive performance from the team.

2.  Clichy/Nastasic

Last 10 overall defensive record  2    Fixture ease 2   Team clean sheets in last 10 gameweeks:   5  

With Kompany back City will return to be the best defensive team in the league and with Maicon and Richards back in training I can see a couple of rotations for Zabaleta given the high amount of games played this season.  Clichy and Nastasic then becomes the best value and less rotatable given the lack of games Kolarov has been having and the excellent form of Nastasic including in the derby.  Lescott and KToure exist but have not been in favour.

 3.  Agger/Carragher

Last 10 overall defensive record  3   Fixture ease 8   Team clean sheets in last 10 gameweeks:   4

Now in my mind overtaken Johnson as the best asset.  Similarly priced but shown better attacking stats than Johnson recently.  Carragher’s cheaper but has less gametime security given his age.

4  Distin

Last 10 overall defensive record  10    Fixture ease 7 DGW    Team clean sheets in last 10 gameweeks:   3

If you’re swimming in cash then go for Baines but at £2.4m cheaper then I think Distin is a better bet.  No attacking potential with only 1 assist all season but secure gametime at a reasonable price for what will be a few clean sheets before the end of the season given a relatively good fixture list.

5.  Dawson

 Last 10 overall defensive record  5   Fixture ease 15      Team clean sheets in last 10 gameweeks:   1

Having very good underlying stats despite the lack of clean sheets and surely this will recity itself although the fixtures arent great.  However the key to this is that at £4.6m you get a defender in the 5th best defensive team who’s started the last 13 games despite CB rotation.    The fixtures being difficult when he’s at this level and can be rotated for the better games without over pricing your bench.

Budget options under £5.1m

 Demel – DGW cheap home rotation also has the advantage of being often subbed at just after 60 minutes before West Ham concede 

 Clyne – A good budget option for an improving defence with good fixtures.  Has good attacking potential

Hangeland – 4th best fixture ease and a DGW33 cant hide a 13th ranked defence but if youre using your WC and want to go all out he’s the best option

Martin –  An ok defence at home and he’s good value for a home rotation and the best chance for attacking returns

Figueroa – A very improving defence when its in the mood and DGW36.  Unpredictable when to play him though as they are often better away than home making rotation a difficult choice

 Please note I’ve removed Bertrand Wilson and Smalling due to injury scares