I didnt like how Ayala broke down in his first game.
For me, everything you described I agreed with. Downing was the only actual Centre Half we have had in years. Lenihan is a midfielder converted. Williams fancies himself as one. I dont believe either are core defenders at heart.
You will not be able to rely on Ayala Aucks. Ok, I will accept I was maybe harsh calling him crap. Injury prone is a far more accurate description. It matters little what my opinion is, or yours. He will always be injured. So we wont see a great deal of him either way.
The one who has appeared and I feel performed well, is Wharton. Who is everything you describe. A defender. And when Lenihan is asked to concentrate and look after his young partner, I feel he steps it up. And I quite like that partnership.
If you take Armstrong and Kaminski to one side. The 2 bright sparks of this season, for me the only other is Wharton. Who I do feel has stepped up.

Johnson? Looked good vrs Wycombe, Derby and Cov.
Was poor vrs Watford, Cardiff, Forest etc.
We are in dire need of the likes him tonight.
For a senor player to dive in like that on Sat and get himself booked spoke volumes of the lad.
Its ok looking good vrs Wycombe who had 10 men. When we actually need someone to step up in a tough tight game, where was Johnson then?
Nowhere.
You cant rely on these people, and I hark back to my original statement. There is a reason we are going absolutely nowhere and why they are lower than midtable. And also why they will be closer to the relegation places if we lose tonight, than the heading up the league. Johnson is doig excatly what he did last season. Playing 1 decent game in 4 or 5. And even then, he dives in in his first game back and gets suspended. Joke, absolute joke.

Another prime example. On Sat Joe Rothwell got MOM.
If we had won this game, and he had actually done something for once, the I could start to understand.
He sideways. Never once opening them up.
Your creative midfielder, gets MOM and creates nothing. There are big reasons we are not going anywhere. He had no impact on a game that was poor. Didnt create anything, didnt score. Ran around, like a headless chicken and passed
When was the last time Holtby or Rothwell or anyone in midfield scored? Weeks or months ago?