That unit was largely due to having the best footballing centre back in the league as captain alongside a good young English defender at top form. Not to mention one of the most mobile and industrious left wingers and powehouses like tiote in midfield. The likes of Ryan Taylor have certainly been made to look at lot better than they are because of it. It must have been the intention to blood Santon in as a replacement? Besides Ryan Taylor is a solid professional, an admirable quality of his, so he'd be able to handle moving aside. Seems wasteful given the expense of the signing.