Roberto Mancini is ready to wield the axe on his Manchester City squad ahead of Sunday's FA Cup fifth-round tie at home to Leeds United.
The City manager has warned his players he will only pick those who are ready to fight every inch of the way for the rest of the season.
Mancini was furious at the limp manner of City's 3-1 defeat at Southampton at the weekend which now leaves the reigning champions 12 points behind leaders Manchester United in the Premier League with 12 games left.
Mancini said he will make significant changes for the FA Cup fifth-round visit of Leeds on Sunday.
He told the Manchester Evening News: "I am sure we will change that, because I will change players next week.
"I only want players who are ready for the fight in the last 12 games.
"I am very angry with a lot of my players, and very disappointed at the performance, because it is impossible to play the way we did.
"We didn't fight for every ball. We can't always win by playing well - that is normal. Sometimes we play well and win, but you also need to be able to win because you fight for every ball, and fight against an opponent who also wants to win the game.
"Every team that plays against us treats it like a Champions League final, but we should know this, it is normal.
"We now have 12 games left, (we) need to do well in the Premier League, and we have the FA Cup - there are games left and we can do better. We need to finish the season the way we did last year."
Carlos Tevez is expected to return to City this week after a family problem, and Vincent Kompany should also be available again, as will Matija Nastasic and Kolo Toure who were not risked after late returns from international duty.
Mancini branded the fixture demands caused by the international fixtures "ridiculous" but did not hold his defenders - including midfielder Javi Garcia in a makeshift centre-back role - responsible for the Southampton defeat.
He added: "The fixtures are ridiculous sometimes, as we played on Saturday and then had six players who came back on Friday, and five who came back Thursday night.
"Sometimes it is impossible. Nastasic came back Friday and Kolo came back three or four days ago - plus the last time Javi Garcia played there, he played really, really well.
"On Saturday we played well in defence, but the problem was that we didn't give the defenders any help. They were left to play alone, and we conceded two goals the like of which I have never seen in my life."
Update:
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what do you think?
Robert Mark Ferry
He had better players equipped to play centre back, and his squad is so big he has two full strength starting elevens. What will the players care if he picks them their are still on stupid money to sit on there bums
jay marty
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MadRedDog4
Okay well have a Gazza like whip round for your treatment.
Name witheld
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Name witheld
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andy hanson
He can't blame losing on players coming back from the African cup of nations and international duty as most teams in the whole of the football league would have at least 1 or 2 players away playing for your country.
MadRedDog4
12:42pm on 11/2/2013
The gun must be loaded & cocked for Mancini champions league out premier league almost over fa cup maybe, Blames players for lacking fight & determination has the biggest squad but should realise the fight & determination should be instilled by him it's his fault as master of the ship. Mancini only has to look at his neighbour saf (a winner & leader) money can't buy that.
Lorgar Aurelian
3:11pm on 11/2/2013
Boring...
MadRedDog4
4:15pm on 11/2/2013
Not as boring as you, and your answer (anti saf)
Name witheld
5:30pm on 11/2/2013
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Lorgar Aurelian
6:11pm on 11/2/2013
No, what's boring is hearing the same thing over and over again. You lot are good at that. Just change the record. P.S. Darren, i don't expect you to know but Trafford is not in Manchester. Look it up. And unlike you i can also accept my team don't deserve to win anything this season. I won't blame refs or an FA conspiracy, as certain supporters of certain teams do. We just ain't good enough.Like your boys were made to look chumps last season... Viva the Glaizers.
Name witheld
6:41pm on 11/2/2013
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MadRedDog4
6:51pm on 11/2/2013
Skin of teeth last year, Chumps this year, are you still the ropey league?
Lorgar Aurelian
10:44pm on 11/2/2013
Skin of teeth? 7-1 aggregate score. Sounds convincing to me. And yes this season you have been the better team, RvP was a great signing and the only player i wanted to sign for us, aided by refs but that's par for the course. Even you guys have to admit without RvP you would be as ordinary as we have been.
MadRedDog4
7:30am on 12/2/2013
Skin of teeth was last kick of last game. Aided by refs lol still turning your backs or frightened to now. come back in 19yrs & see how you've done?