Are City's Fan Favourites Costing the Team?

We all love a player who puts a lot of effort in. Tevez and Bellamy have been putting other players to shame, tracking players everywhere and playing their hearts out. Tonight, against Bolton, SWP and Adam Johnson did the same. But is this costing City dearly?

Much has been made of City's formation and from the 909 phone in's i've listened too, I dont think the fans are getting where Manicini is coming from. He is Italian, and such enjoys nothing more than a defensive 2-0 victory. He loves to play 4-3-3 with 3 defensive midfielders holding strong, and letting the front 3 (a lead man, with one winger and one flexible winger/deep striker) counter attack for goals.

This has worked well, especially early on, with Bellamy, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Petrov able to break quickly and supply Tevez. Ultimately, though I feel the fan favourite style of Bellamy and Tevez is costing Mancini (more his formation) his (its) reputation

City often find themselves winning the ball back, sometimes through one of the aforementioned workhorses, and then only having one or two men forward on the break and therefore outnumbered and lacking any bite. This was evident more than ever, in the Carling Cup 2nd leg versus United.

The solution? Either tell the supporting players they can stay forward, dont track back and be ready to receive the ball and break. Or, exchange one of the defensive midfielders for a link up man in the ilk of Stephen Ireland. Unfortuantely, I think its going to be the first one we see Mancini go for.

Peopl don't like change, but I see fans favourites SWP and Ireland heading for the door because they just don't suit Mancini's style.