FA Cup Preview: City v Barnsley

The match today is not so much about Manchester City against Barnsley. Barnsley, bless them, are currently 3rd from the bottom of the Championship, in a fight for survival in that division. They've had a good run getting to this point, but have no realistic chance of winning a match at the Etihad.

This match is really about whether or not City can get themselves some breathing room. This has been a good week for getting some of the attention off. Between Manchester United losing in the Champion's League in controversial fashion (well, not so controversial. A decision went against them. They lost. It happens to everyone, especially those who play United. Deal with it), and a host of other headlines (Tevez's arrest, Rooney transfer speculation, and Gareth Bale being Gareth Bale), there hasn't been much room for a non-stop discussion of City's faults.

That discussion will pick right back up again if we fail to dominate this game. I think that Bobby knows that, and won't be in any sort of mood to mess around. I fully expect to see the full squad (sans Vinnie for another week, no point in pushing him back for this match) in a dominating win against a club that is 39 teams lower in the overall table.

Starting lineup - Pantimilion, Zabaleta, Francois Toure, Matija Nastasic, Clichy, Javi Garcia, Yaya Toure, David Silva, James Milner, Edin Dzeko, and Carlos Tevez??

Will we see Tevez play just days after a high-profile arrest? With Balotelli gone, and Sergio Aguero with his own knee problems, Roberto Mancini doesn't have a lot of options. I suppose there is always a chance that we might see John Guidetti. Or Mancini could play Nasri on the right with Milner in the middle. Or Sinclair on the left with Silva in the middle. That will be an interesting selection.

Let's hope that City can get on a good run of form, as we head towards the end of the season.

Come on City!!!

Discussion - Who do you want to see up front? Is it ok if Tevez plays, or should Mancini try something different?