mancityblues.com

Despite what many of the "Hughes-outers" may say, the Carling Cup is a competition that the level-headed amongst us hope City will win, not to save Hughes and the Taffia from the sack, but because City and the fans deserve some success.

After all the wailing and gnashing of teeth regarding the Hull debacle (and debacle it certainly was) City have the opportunity to rebound against the ruddy-cheeked Sporting Young Boys of Wenger (aka the Arsenal kids).

That being said, I would not put money on a positive result come Wednesday. As Hughes somewhat reluctantly admitted after the Hull game, his team is "suffering from anxiety", whatever that means. Considering that the Arsenal kids come into this tie with little pressure on them, it's likely that they will play with the skill and flair that has come to be expected; conversely, in recent games, City have performed like the woes of the world are on their shoulders. So can Hughes change the paradigm? If he is prepared to make significant changes to the team and show more guile in the tactical arena, then winning the Carling Cup is a possibility, but Hughes has to pick players who really play for the shirt.

With this in mind, and with the Chelsea fixture looming, I'd go with the following team for the upcoming game -

-----------------------Given-----------------------

Zabaleta------Onuoha------------Lescott-----Sylvinho

----------------------Kompany-----------------------

---------Johnson------------------------Barry--------

---------------------Ireland-------------------------

----------Adebayor--------------Bellamy-------------

Bench; Taylor Richards Bridge DeJong Weiss Petrov Tevez

Robinho, Toure and SWP are rested in anticipation of the Chelsea game. I've chosen Kompany and Johnson to join Barry (hopefully without the diving boots he's been wearing recently) and Ireland in a diamond formation midfield - witness what Chelsea did to the Arsenal first team on Sunday with a similar system. This quartet is, for me, a much more complete midfield than City have been playing, each player having the ability to tackle, pass, create and destroy in good measure. I'm not sure if Johnson can go for even 60 minutes, but I'd like to see the lad get a meaningful run-out. At the 60 minute mark, I'd bring De Jong on for Kompany (again with an eye on the Chelsea tie - I'd like to see the Belgian face the league-leaders) and introduce Richards to allow Zaba to move into Johnson's midfield position. Sylvinho and Zaba will need to get forward to provide width - both are decent crossers - leaving Kompany to drop back alongside Ned and Lescott when required.

Despite Adebayor's recent lacklustre form I've picked him hoping he can use the Arsenal connection to re-ignite the flame we know he possesses. Bellamy starts alongside him, but if an injury/tactical/formation change is needed, the likes of Weiss, Petrov and Tevez are available.
BLOOVIC