State of the Wanderers: Defence

A look at our defenders this season

It’s time to look at our dedfenders this season. It’s largely a happy article, because when you have the best defence in the division, the players are largely doing stuff right.

David Wheater
Magnificent. This site`s Player of the Year, it`s hard to think now that he had been released initially before re-joining on reduced terms. Effective at both ends of the pitch, and has celebrated by embarking on a one man mission to drink the North West dry. You can`t say he doesn`t deserve it.

Mark Beevers
The summer signing who at the time seemed the biggest, and that prediction came true more or less. You can say the same as Wheater on a lot of things. At the back, a terrific defender, as well as someone capable of popping up with the odd goal.

Dorian Dervite
Had to be content with waiting in the wings for a while. When he came back in, people sighed, people were worried. But no need for that, as he became part of the core of the team in the last two months of the season, joining the Beevers-Wheater duo in a back three.

Derik
Sometimes the victim of his versatility, as often can be the case. Some very good performances, and certainly has the ability to pick out a pass which none of our other centre backs really have the ability to. But sometimes his performances weren`t so great, struggling away at Fleetwood was one that springs to mind. Needs to be played in central defence or central midfield.

Filipe Morais
Can`t really call him a defender as such but for this article I have. He was absolutely sensational when he came into the right wing-back role, including the March purple patch when he delivered assist after assist after assist. You`ll struggle to find a Bolton fan who doesn`t want him to be signed up for next year.

Lewis Buxton
Got injured, never played after that, got released. Nothing against him, sometimes it doesn`t work out.

Lawrie Wilson
Solid enough at right back, but then his season was brought to an early end. Cracking goal against Port Vale too with, without checking, may have been his only shot. Lethal.

Reece Wabara
Came in as short term cover and never looked up to speed, then Filipe Morais and Dorian Dervite came into the revamped back five, and from then on that picked itself. No surprise to see him released.

Andy Taylor
Excellent, and back in the nick of time to help us over the line. Was released by parent club Wigan today, that is a deal that should be top of the list to be completed.

Dean Moxey
Bye! Showed flashes of ability in the wing back role in the absence of too much defensive responsibility, but overall was inferior to Taylor. He`s out of contract and while his future has yet to be confirmed, not too many will want to see a new deal offered.