Alan Pardew is desperate to create that at Newcastle, and at the moment he has probably the best 'spine' in recent years.
The down side to it - he could lose the whole lot come the summer!
Tim Krul is the most settled, and although Italian clubs are rumoured to be on his case, he doesn't want to go.
But Fabricio Coloccini; Yohan Cabaye and Loïc Rémy are the class Pardew wants, but all three have made noises that they want to leave.
Cabaye is certain to go, and it doesn't seem as though he's that concerned where to!
Remy is a money-grabber; offer him 10p more than he's getting now and he'll be off.
Colo is in limbo; he WANTS to go, but until a club coughs up big money, he will not be allowed to go.
But he could have been the easiest to replace, what with centre-half Steven Taylor being called into Roy Hodgson’s England squad in March.
However ... Taylor's fortunes have taken a downward turn since then.
He was sent off in the first match of the season at Manchester City and has been hampered by a hamstring strain.
But he is now on the comeback trail and could go out on loan to regain match fitness after being offered a new deal with the Magpies.
The problem with Taylor is simple - he is ALWAYS injured.
And that means he is never going to be the king-pin you can rely on in the back line.
He grew up supporting the Toon Army, and his agent Willie McKay told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: ‘Steven’s now fully fit, but he’s frustrated not to be playing as that’s what he loves doing.
‘He’s not been involved for the last six games, and of course it’s frustrating.
‘Steven fully understands that the team have been on a good winning run, and the manager does not want to change a winning team.
'Joe Kinnear has promised Steven a new deal in January, and he could be made available for loan if he is not going to be playing.’
Taylor made his debut for Newcastle in 2003 and has since mace 236 appearances for the Magpies.