I still don't get the Hughes hate, almost everyone else has established sides with minor changes, Hughes is playing what 5-6 players today that are new this season and several that were new last season. He's only a few points off the top 4, and iirc weren't they flirting with the relegation zone this time last season?
As for the defence, its had more changes than any other area on the pitch and they haven't really played a settled back 4 this year at all, as of Richards going off, 3 first team defenders weren't on the pitch. If you look at another club in a similar situation, Utd, well City don't look to be doing to bad in comparison.