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The Cup is half full: City beat one of the better sides in Europe and were dominant.
The Cup is half empty: City's best chance at silverware in years is gone.
The Cup is half full: Robinho and Elano both started and played well.
The Cup is half empty: Richard Dunne got sent off, again.
The Cup is half full: City can focus on the remaining league fixtures.
The Cup is half empty: With 6 games to go City are 6 points behind 7th place.
The Cup is half full: Mark Hughes is the manager of City
The Cup is half empty: Mark Hughes is the manager of City
ok ok, you knew I couldn't resist that last one.
I'll be interested to see the reaction of the fans after this. As one of the first to call for Hughes to go after his early season decisions it's been rather bizarre to see a reversal where I'm supporting the manager and yet the Fulham loss seems to have been the tipping point for many that were on the fence.
Also we've been spoiled by the success of Torres at Liverpool and Elano and Petrov at City. Traditionally it takes at least 1 year for a foreign player to make a mark in the top English division. Hence the January spending pattern which made sense from a practical standpoint.
Lets look at pure self interest here. There is nothing to be gained by Hughes going after this defeat, and hopefully there will not be calls for this to occur. If European qualification does not happen then I expect there to be calls for Hughes to go this summer. As I've stated before, having made the decision in January to stick with Hughes then it is self defeating to go through the process in June. Hughes had his success at Blackburn in his second year. That's the standard by which we should realistically judge.
Comments
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Posted by Jimmy on 04/17/2009
A good team should have a good manager .
Liverpool is one of the example , without a good manger like Rafael Benitez , Liverpool will not reach such level , Steven Gerrard will not become one of the best player in EPL. YES , a good manager affect the whole team !
In fact, City has talented and quality players but doesn't have a good manager. City should replace a good manager in order to become a real strong team.
Merely splashing the money on transfer windows with good players will not guarantee for success ! City need quality manager ! Please be realistic , City Board !
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Posted by Martin Nazimek on 04/17/2009
wallace,
i agree that we should not sack him in the summer, though i am getting a little sick of watching some airhead tactics on the road which leads me to ask the following:
1. have the players tuned him out?
2. can city afford another year like this year with the high profile owners and their want of success in europe?
overall i will always love the blues and cheer from the states. hope they get it right, because there are some high profile managers on the market who would love the pocketbook sparky has.
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Posted by Z-Ball on 04/17/2009
I have been a Manchester City Supporter since the start of the season, since then I see a great deal of potential in this team. Elano's free kicks and penalties, Robinho's dribbling skills and his ability to get the ball where it needs to be, Bellamy's shooting skills and I can go on and on. They just need time to come together as a team and get on the same page so they can turn themselves into one of the big four in the premier league. I say give Mark Hughes one more FULL season and hopefully we will see City finish in the top four next season.
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Posted by gweedz on 04/18/2009
i think that since the some of the team is not performing to the level that is expected, the youngsters should be given a try. dump dunne, he has been atrocious this season, let's let our rising stars at the academy give it a go...there isnt much left to lose...
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Posted by roman on 04/18/2009
Elano is the best player on the squad. If Hughes can't see that, then he is not the right manager... it's that simple...
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Posted by Bob Hope on 04/19/2009
1. have the players tuned him out?
2. can city afford another year like this year with the high profile owners and their want of success in europe?
Yeah. In his current form Robinho wouldn't play in the Brazilian Championship. Maybe in a recently promoted team from the Second Division.
I think, besides the obvious mental problems he is facing, he's playing in the wrong position.
No offence intended, but City needs to use some intelligence when signing players. For the love of God just send some scouts here and you'll get young class players for nothing. In the South (with clubs like Gremio, Inter, Atletico-PR) many players already have EU citizenship. Your red rivals are doing just that.
Plan ahead for the future. Assess the situation and look for the best possible solutions. That's what City needs.
I kinda like the guy, but personally I don't think Hughes has it in him the ability to take City to the next level.
Why not win the League next year? Have a goal.
Best of luck
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Posted by Andrew on 04/20/2009
I feel that Mark Hughes has a chance to be a great manager if he can buy a great defense this summer. We have Petrov, Robinho, Sturridge, etc. up front, why change that? Get rid of Dunne, put Richards on the right and keep him there, and bring in a true, solid center back to lead that defense. You keep Joe Hart because he's a great goalie, but really focus on defense. I don't think the owners are expecting overnight results and knows that it will take time. It Ferguson 7 years to do anything on the other side of the city, so why not give us some time as well?
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Posted by Pete on 04/20/2009
I totally agree with Jimmy - a good team must have a good manager. With 5x games to go and no chance of silverware this season and only an outside chance of qualifying for Europe, City could a) pack it in ('Boro 8-1 last year) or b) fight. If they continue to fight as they did against HSV last week, then much of the "credit" should likely fall at MH's feet. City had a great run in the UEFA Cup and - hopefully - want more, and so should be willing to give all to qualify again.
If, on the other hand, they wash their hands of it and start their summer vacation early, then that will convince me that Hughes must go. Yesterday's game against WBA was far too close for comfort, but it could be explained away as an HSV hangover. If City rolls over against Everton, then Hughes has lost the team and should go.
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Posted by Robert on 04/20/2009
I was disappointed to see in the article the other day saying that Hughes would be given another year that he supposedly deemed Elano "surplus to requirements." Yeah, why would you want to keep an outstanding midfielder, easily one of the team's five best players if not better? If that's actually true it's hard to believe what he's thinking there - I know the two have clashed a bit personality-wise, but isn't some of that because Hughes insisted on having Elano - last year's breakout star - ride the bench for far too much of the year? It doesn't make a lot of sense.
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Posted by Tony Kennett on 04/21/2009
I have supported City since 1956, and watched from Canada since 1968,and have seen the failures and failures down the decades. Success takes time- we have good players and a proven successful manager. Give him time. I just hope I don't have to wait another 53 years( of cource there was that delicious blip in our performances from 1968-70)
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Posted by Chris Foo on 04/27/2009
Think of Busby, Clough, Shankly, Paisley, Jock Stein, Ferguson, Mourinho, Cruyff, Hiddink, Ancellotti, and you get the picture.
A reputably successful, charismatic manager DOES make all the difference.
If Man City wants to be a top 6 EPL side, to get to the QF of the FA & Carling Cups, then stick with Mark Hughes because those targets are realistic.
If City want to win big, regularly; to truly be a force in European football, then be as realistic...Hughes ain't gonna deliver. Get real.
Go out and hire a bona fide WINNER - none other than Jose Mourinho. Pay the bloke 10m quid a season, with a 250m quid kitty. The brief,
simple...4 trophies over the next 3 seasons. And Euro Champs within 4 years.
Bottomline. For a team to win, you need a winning manager. It's that straightfoward.
Stay with Hughes by all means, but don't whinge and moan otherwise.
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Posted by Sadiq on 04/27/2009
I strongly agree with the opinion of sacking Mark Hughes. Actually, City has a number of talented players who I may think even without any Manager can manage to gain a place in the so called super four of Premier. But let us know that when u have some one as ur manager who u think can't make a positive change is hardly for him to make a positive effect. For instance, Robinho is a very very talented player who can play in any team in the world and so Steven Ireland, Elano and some few others. But why the team loses most of the time even against a time that has nothing like even one of the above mentioned players. Unless Mark Hughes is sacked and an outstanding Manager is employed then the team can be able to make the desired effect.
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Posted by Brian on 04/28/2009
Robinho- is he a centre forward? is he a left winger? Personally I think we need to put him behind a centre forward and give him a roving free-ish role(pick of 6 or 7 players for centre forward). I think he's just too easy to mark out of games on the left wing. If hughes can solve this dilemma i think it'll be a start on him convincing me he's got the nouse for the job. The problem with Robbi in a central position is will Ireland and him overlap in terms of their role in the team ? In reponse to Jimmy's comment above, Benitez had very little to do with making Gerrard what he is today, in fact, Benitez played him out of position on right midfield and just off the centre forward, because he doesn't trust him to play in his natural position in centre of the park. Having Bentinez or Jose as managers would turn me off in terms of watchability. Someone with an Ajax background would be nice if Hughes doesn't work out.
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Posted by Durk on 05/03/2009
If it's true that Robben could be signed, then the left wing is taken care of. SWP takes care of the right. Therefore a new top striker is to be aquired, Robinho, Ireland and Elano behind the striker.
Given in goal, A whole new back four, as this is where City are 2nd rate. Dunne's time is passed.
Hughes given some extra time unless a proven top class, international manager becomes available.
Unfortunately for Hughes I do see him as a liability in enticing the very top players to come to City.
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About
Wallace Poulter is an award winning video game producer, designer, industry consultant and writer. He has been a football fanatic since the day he moved in next door to Brian Clough. "Cloughie" being the acknowledged genius that he was promptly moved out and went to manage Derby. A serviceable senior school left-back in his youth, Poulter played one season of Sunday league football as a striker proving conclusively that he was a serviceable senior school left-back! Today Poulter remains involved with football as a licensed referee and most recently as a consultant on a Football MMO.
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