Next season is shaping up to be yet another exciting affair, with Barca likely to face a rejuvenated Real Madrid, who under the expected stewardship of Jose Mourinho will be desperate to wrestle the La Liga crown from our heads. Arguably next season will be the toughest faced yet by Pep and the boys, what with the shake-up caused by the incoming new presidential board, as well as all the world’s gaze being set firmly on the ‘Special one’ and his galacticos. So it seems El Mister will have some tough decisions to make.

With Pep already making moves in the transfer window to strengthen our forward line it may be at the back where he has to do the most thinking. It seems a back-up for Dani Alves is high on the agenda for this summer’s signatories, but what about those defenders already at the club – most notably the large amount of central defenders who are vying for a starting place behind our regular pairing of Pique and Puyol?

Over the last few seasons there have been a few names who have been ever present, pushing for more recognition and a more regular spot in the starting line-up, biding their time, hoping for the best. Of these players the most apparent are Rafa Marquez and Gabriel Milito, both of whom have shown great quality in their time at the club, whilst also showing a natural ability to get injured frequently – with Gabi losing a whole season of his Barca career to a knee injury.

Now it is unlikely Marquez will still be at the club come the start of next season, with many forecasting a move to MLS for the Mexican, and although he has been a loyal and hardworking servant of the club, most would admit it is time he moved on – his lessening pace and inconsistency proving too much for many fans. With a heavy heart it seems we can wish him well, and goodbye.

Milito on the other hand has had somewhat of a resurgence, proving himself a more than useful back-up when messrs Pique and Puyol are injured or suspended. After his long spell on the sidelines, there were many who thought Gabi would struggle to ever really make his mark in the first-team again, so terrible were the injuries he suffered and so numerous his challengers for the position. Instead, the Argentinian has pushed his way nobly up the pecking order, forcing Pep to leave his huge money signing Dymytro Chygrynskiy on the bench. As such it would not be a surprise to find Milito being the 3rd choice centre-back next season, his tough tackling and experience proving priceless in the challenges that lay ahead.

So what of that big money signing? Since arriving last summer with a huge price tag around his neck, young Chygy has seemed rather over-wrought by it all, with many of his performances seeming nervous and disjointed. Surely it must be the first time a player has arrived for such a fee only to fall so far down the pecking order as to have the elder statesmen and utility players of the team chosen ahead of him.

Yet there is something about the Ukrainian that inspires some sort of hope. Maybe it is Pep’s obvious passion to get his signature, maybe it is the performances we all saw him give at the heart of a steady and tough Shaktar Donetsk defence, maybe its just the fact that he has the same flowing locks as El Capitan?

Whatever it is, it seems unlikely that Guardiola will ditch a player he spent so much time and money acquiring. He may not be the fastest, he may not be used to zonal-marking, he may not even speak the same language as his team-mates, but expect Pep to work hard with him throughout the summer and for the young man from the Ukraine to feature a lot more next season, with his new found eligibility in the Champions League allowing him to find some much needed consistency. He may even find himself filling in for Yaya Toure depending on how circumstances transpire over the summer?!

And what of those Barca players plying their trade elsewhere?

Well it seems Martin Caceres may be Juventus bound if he can manage to sort out his own injury problems, what with his current abdominal injury apparently holding up the Turin team’s willingness to negotiate a deal. Once tipped as ‘one to watch’, Caceres arrived in the summer of 2008 with his very own large transfer fee hanging round his neck. But it seems the Uruguayan is seemingly out of favour with Pep and as such will not be given another chance to prove himself in Blaugrana colours. Like Chygy, it seems harsh on the lad but unfortunately he just doesn’t fit the bill – too lightweight, clumsy and positionally naive to fit into Pep’s plans.

Then there is the enigma we know as Henrique. After spending the last two seasons out on loan at Bayer Leverkusen and Racing Santander, and what with the arrival of Chygy, you’d be forgiven for thinking Henrique may never get his chance to shine at the Camp Nou. After all, many fans had high expectations for him during last summer’s pre-season matches, only for the Brazilian still to seem ill at ease in a Barca back four. Yet once again, it seems Pep is unwilling to sell him, preferring him to go out on loan for another season, this time to a more competitive club, one preferably playing Champions League or Europa league football.

It seems safe to say Pep can’t quite make his mind up with him. He reads the game well and is tough in the tackle but can be found wanting when it comes to his distribution and his positional sense leaves a little to be desired. Perhaps a consistent season in Italy or back in Germany may do the trick in convincing Guardiola, as well as Barca fans, what should be done with this strangely forgettable player. We wish him well.

Having danced around the precipice of the first-team, it is into the quarry we now venture, but what a lovely quarry it is – maybe we should rename it the hall of mirrors instead, what with the almost ‘puyol – pique’ doppelganger-esque visions of Marc Muniesa and Andreu Fontas both pushing for more first-team inclusion. Young defenders always face a tougher challenge when it comes to breaking into a recognised first-team; what with the obvious physical factors of the game having such high demands for young men to meet, they must also prove they have the mental strength to deal with the added pressures of heightened public scrutiny.

Requiring greater first team experience but with little chance of getting it, the possibility of making a breakthrough for any of the quarry’s young centre-backs seems unlikely next season. However, Pep has already shown his faith in the youth system, and as such he will undoubtedly bring along Fontas, Muniesa, et al for any upcoming pre-season matches Barca plays, thus allowing the youngsters a chance to catch his eye and prove themselves worthy of future squad inclusion, with possible opportunities given in the Copa Del Rey or later Champions League group games should qualification come early. One or two may also find themselves following Henrique out on loan for the season in order to gain that much needed top level experience.

So what about potential signings?

With the above mentioned players all competing for only two positions in the first team, it would seem highly unlikely that Barca will move for any more centre-backs. But with the press often linking us with moves for John O’Shea, Nemanja Vidic, Daniel Agger, etc, who knows, stranger things have happened – Chygy anyone?! Still it seems Pep’s targets lie elsewhere.

Of course all of this debate begins and ends with one very simple fact, sorry that should be two very simple facts – the immovable qualities of Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol. Two centre-backs so assured and technically astute that they often seem to be competing with each other as for just who is the world’s best defender.

Both men have been inspirational figures over the last two seasons, with Pique proving possibly the most inspired signature of Laporta’s presidency, whilst Carles’ form has been all but untouchable. If both stay fit and healthy they will undoubtedly continue their preference in the first-team, with only suspension seemingly set to deny them yet more appearances for the club. So maybe the question shouldn’t be who shall challenge them next season, but who shall challenge them in three or four seasons….

At least that will give Chygy and the quarry some time to find their feet, whilst Gabi fills in where and when he can and Henrique…well who knows with Henrique!!??