Can I just ask for clarity. What is Spence actually supposed to be?
Right back?
Right wing back?
Right attacking midfielder?
Right forward?
I haven't seen him play well in any of those roles.
The squad has a lot of players in it.
Dijksteel is first choice right back.
Fisher is cover right back but injured.
Peltier was signed as further right back cover.
McNair can deputise if essential. Even Howson could at a push.
The club has a premier academy and strong U23 set up, there are others who could play right back.
The glaring gaps are left sided, where only Bola looks capable. He has no cover.
Could Coulson have done a job, maybe, but he looks far more suited to a wing back or more forward role. He is defensively short.
I've no doubt Warnock expected cover to be signed at left back, but it was clear Coulson was not prepared to stay as cover.
It is unlucky to lose both Dijksteel and Bola, especially as Fisher is out long term, but I'm not at all sure keeping Spence would have made sense in any of this, nor an unhappy Coulson.