Hughes needs to head for January sales
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Mark Hughes suggested recently that he might not need to do much transfer business in January. He will likely need to revise that assessment now.
Hughes required Shay Given's penalty save to salvage a point at St Andrews
After such a bright start to the new era of being the wealthiest club on the planet, Manchester City have stalled with just one win in their last six games. The chill wind of winter is closing in on Hughes, who started the match in his best suit and ended up covering up in a City tracksuit top.
With arms folded on the bench for most of the match, Hughes looked far from happy. He perhaps thought he had the basis of a squad that would make an impact, but City have lost the impetus of a bright start which promised so much, and where even a tilt at the title seemed a possibility. Now he urgently needs to get them back on track.
Hughes has been trying to play it cool about City's transfer window intentions in January, but there is no disguising that the Middle East owners are going to have to dig deep to maintain their challenge.
Robinho is Hughes' trump card, one he can cash in, or swap, and despite numerous denials about selling the brilliant Brazilian, there is little doubt that a parting of ways is a certainty. It's just a question of when because the if is no longer in question.
Sooner, rather than later, is the word and, with Barcelona still anxious to recruit the former Real Madrid star, Hughes has the upper hand in demanding the players he would want from Camp Nou in part exchange.
Hughes would like Thierry Henry, but the former Arsenal legend is more likely to move onto the States, as he has made it clear it would be tough to play for any other Premier League side after Arsenal. The Welshman would need to be at his most persuasive to change Henry's mindset.
But if Hughes does give up on Robinho, as expected, then City need a fantastista, someone to pop up with a piece of magic. Roque Santa Cruz still looked short of sharpness after a long injury against Birmingham, and City missed Emmanuel Adebayor. City have so many options in attack, yet drew a blank. That must be frustrating for Hughes, who also had to shore up a leaking defence and, though he succeeded there, the department where City are supposedly strongest let him down.
Fortunately for City, recent failures at Anfield ensure that a place in the top four can still be achieved, but that is this club's minimum requirement. Make no mistake: City want to be champions and, with Chelsea and Manchester United locked in conflict on Sunday, there is an opening to close the gap at the top.
But City failed to make an impact at Birmingham and Hughes had to thank goalkeeper Shay Given for a penalty save against James McFadden to save them from defeat. Most highly successful teams require a top quality keeper. City have that in Given. Despite huge investment in the defence, two holding midfield players are still required to protect it.
Birmingham are also under new owners with promises of £40 million investment in new players in January. Normally a quiet time for the big spenders, January might well be far more interesting than usual.
Rafael Benitez is under most pressure to drop out of the 'big four', with City still favourites to take over their coveted status as one of the Champions League elite, but Birmingham have their own Benitez. Another Benitez who is going through a lean patch, he still hasn't scored for his new club this season.
Of course, Christian Benitez has managed to change his name: the moniker that appears on the back of his Birmingham shirt is 'Chucho'. Perhaps Liverpool's Benitez should change his too. I am sure there are plenty of ideas for Rafa's new nickname.