By Lee Dixon
Match of the Day 2 pundit
If ever there was a side striving to find a balance to their starting line-up, it is Manchester City.
Lest we forget, manager Mark Hughes has not even been at the club six months, and he is still trying to find a formula whereby the team's natural attacking flair is offset by a good shape and work ethic.
"With Ireland and Wright-Phillips keen to attack, Kompany was the last man standing in the midfield, allowing Hull to overwhelm the Man City backline"
This was very much in evidence in Sunday's 2-2 draw against Hull City - an entertaining match that showed the best and worst of Manchester City in defence and attack.
Hughes set his side out in a fluid 4-3-3 formation, with Benjani, Darius Vassell and Robinho playing ahead of Vincent Kompany, Stephen Ireland and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
It quickly became evident, though, that Kompany was often going to be left exposed.
I actually like Wright-Phillips on the right of a three-man midfield as he works hard and has plenty of pace and creative ability.
But, on Sunday, Ireland - who you might expect to give a bit of defensive cover in that team - pushed forward as well, often beyond the front three, making Manchester City's an extremely attacking line-up.
I lost count of the times Ireland, clearly given licence to go forward by Hughes, was the furthest man forward, looking to pick up flick-ons and get into the box. The formation was almost 4-1-5 at times.
And to an extent it worked. In many ways, Ireland has been City's most impressive performer this season and he took both his goals - one an opportunistic strike, the other more crafted - very well.
However, with Ireland and Wright-Phillips keen to join the attack at every opportunity, it left Kompany as the last man standing in the midfield, allowing Hull to push numbers forward and at times overwhelm the City's backline.
I know from when I played that a defence is only as good as the two central midfielders ahead of them. I was lucky enough to play behind some very strong midfielders - Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit and so on - and it makes the defenders' job so much easier.
Yes, Manchester City have made individual errors at the back this season, and yes, Hughes has been unable for a variety of reasons to really pick a settled defence, which has not helped.
However, the way the midfield is set up lends itself to success at home, but potential problems away. They are vulnerable because Kompany cannot cover the back four on his own - and with respect to Hull, better teams than them will expose those weaknesses and make City pay.
Ironically, it's not the type of team Hughes normally produces. With Blackburn and Wales his sides were typified by balance and work ethic and he won't be happy with how Manchester City are defensively right now.
So it will be interesting to see what Hughes does in the January transfer window - but I wouldn't mind guessing that a defensive midfielder will be high on his wish list.
A Xabi Alonso or a Lassana Diarra would be just what Hughes needs to balance up his side a bit, although who he loses out of the current line-up to accommodate them, I don't know. I just think a bit of flair may have to be sacrificed for a bit more steel and balance.
Until then, I think Hughes will continue to play to Manchester City's strengths as he did on Sunday - and that may mean Robinho playing a little deeper than he is used to.
606: DEBATE
But it did mean Robinho played more responsibly, more like a deep-lying playmaker than usual, and that in turn allowed Ireland to get forward more without Manchester City completely abandoning their shape.
It's clearly not a long-term solution, though.
Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Vassell, Robinho and Benjani - they are all a lot better going forward than back and while they have been able to overwhelm teams at times at home, away from Eastlands they will get picked off.
I am sure Hughes will get it right, it just may take a bit of time - and money.
Lee Dixon was speaking to BBC Sport's Sam Lyon
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