Argh... Stephen Ireland out for at least two weeks with a hamstring problem. I'll be very curious to see how this is addressed in the upcoming FA Cup 3rd Round tie against Middlesbrough. Do Bellamy and Robinho both start? Given the Brazilians away form this would seem to be unwise and even if you did would you play Robinho in the hole or Bellamy? Neither gives that late running onto the ball threat that makes Ireland so deadly.

Bellamy is much better when given the opportunity to run with or after a ball. The same can be said for SWP although there is no indication of the wingers return from injury. Another option might be Vladimir Weiss, but in limited action he also seems like a player more suited to being on the ball.

If it weren't for all the injuries in the defense I would suggest that Kompany partner de Jong while Barry fills the Ireland role. But Barry has been excellent in Mancini's first two games in charge mainly because he and de Jong have formed such a solid first line of defense. I'm loathe to see that broken up.

Of all the players in the squad Ireland is the outfield player that City could least afford to lose until another attacking midfielder is added to the squad in the January transfer window.

I think, all things considered, that Robinho gets another chance away from home. Might well be make or break for him with the transfer window opening.

Away from City to no surprise the axe has finally fallen on Gary Megson at Bolton. Why he was hired in the first place was beyond me. For a variety of professional reasons I was tracking West Brom during the time when Megson was in charge. The former City player, something that a lot of people forget, was an excellent manager in the Championship. His hard nosed grafting style of play gets teams promoted, but once in the Premier League the wheels came off rather spectacularly.

The exception was Megson's time at Nottingham Forest where curiously he also had a bad time as a player. But there was nothing, absolutely nothing, in Megson's resume that led you to believe that this was anything other than the anticipated conclusion. Preston, where Alan Irvine just left, is the sort of place where Megson would thrive.

Speculation of course has immediately started around Mark Hughes for the now vacant Bolton post. Wednesday February 10th is the date you are all looking for, Manchester City at home to Bolton. Now personally I think Mark Hughes is not a good fit for Bolton in the short term. At both Blackburn and City Hughes struggled the first year until he brought in the players that he preferred. That's the last thing that Bolton need already in the relegation zone. Hughes would be an excellent Bolton hire in the summer if they remain in the Premier League and his ability to get value in the transfer market would serve Bolton well.

I suspect that this weekend's opponents, Middlesbrough, would actually be a better fit for Hughes once Gavin Strachan flames out.