A side challenging can afford to accommodate players. United have been doing it for years, players like Evra, Jones, Park Giggs(in cm) are average players who have got runs in their side, yet they still manage to challenge.
Barry does a job for city, but like i said he is their most disposable player and i will be very surprise if he doesn't make way next season for a more technically adept player with a similar style of play like Banega.
Evra has been a very good left back for Manchester United, he's a twat, but he is very good.
Ferguson is doing with Jones what Kenny is doing with Henderson, giving a young player experience, yet he is being praised for it when the performances of the two players relative to their players and sides expectations is not much different.
What Ferguson has done with Ji Sung Park is the exact opposite of accommodating, he is a squad player used when necessary and has been a very useful player.
As for Giggs, good grief....
Barry performs an important role for Manchester City, he won't be there much longer, how often do top sides, in physical league have 32 year old centre midfielders?
In that case, purely based upon his age he is disposable.
But to suggest Barry is playing, ahead of such a wealth of other potential options for any other reason than he is performing well enough to be selected is farcical.
Again, he might not be Xabi Alonso, but he ain't bad.