A NEW POLL - Hughes, IN OR OUT?

[Blue Mooner]

Ireland - has improved having done his own pre-season training and sorting himself out
Given - agreed mind you he is an already established top quality player
Zab - a good signing who in my opinion would be better if Hughes hadn't kept moving him around positions
SWP - agreed
Kompany - agreed
Ned - a slight improvement but that might be down to the fact that he seems to be fit enough now for a string of games.

You didn't mention Hughes' other signings:-

Jo - got few games and looked out of sorts, loaned to Everton where he seems a different player and is scoring goals
Robinho - big name signing, played well in early season but has done very little in the last few months...doesn't look motivated
Ben Haim - looked ordinary at best and then loaned out to Sunderland
Bridge - has done little to show that he is a top quality proven Premiership player
Bellamy - good in the dressing room and has scored a few goals but looks like his injury problems continue
De Jong - bought for £18m yet had an escape clause of £2m in the summer, has done very little so far

And what about the other players who were already here when Hughes came in...have they improved or gone backwards:-

Hart
Dunne
Garrido
Richards
Fernandes
Caicedo
Vassell
Sturridge
Elano
Evans
Benjani
Etuhu

I'll leave Petrov and Bojinov off as they've struggled with injuries.

The final list above with the exception of perhaps Elano, Dunne, Hart and perhaps Richards and Sturridge are of the quality we need going forward. The list above highlights why we have struggled at times, they are just not good enough to take us where we obviously want to be.

The problem Hughes has had is that for most of this season he has had to rely on the above players to perform and even since January due to suspensions and injuries he has had to rely on these players.

The problem you have is a new guy comes in and doesn't fancy Hughes signings and suddenly we have another load of players brought in and more dead wood that you can't get rid of and so it goes on.

This is like judging a salesperson 10 months into the financial year when the salesperson still has his biggest deals still to be done that could take you way over target but you decide that because things don't look good at this particular point in time that now we will sack you.

So I ask the question again 'if' we were to get through on Thursday do the Hughes out brigade still believe a semi final place in the UEFA cup is worthy to get the manager the sack 8 months into a 5 year project - if so - we as City fans really have lost perspective of where we have come from, plus we haeven't even tackled the issue of who is out there to replace him........

 

[scousemanc]

It's tough if they don't like him, they get paid to play.

With respect, you're missing the point! Players aren't robots, they need to be sent on to the pitch focussed, motivated, feeling respected, and clear about their roles in the team. If one player isn't performing to his maximum, then maybe he is carrying an injury, has problems away from the pitch, is suffering with a temporary lack of confidence, and maybe, just maybe, you could be right and the guy just doesn't give a toss. But for a whole team to be seemingly disinterested, that's definitely a management issue in my eyes.

Agree. Something's not right. So is it every single one of the eleven, or is it the one?

 

[DontLookBackInAnger]

So I ask the question again 'if' we were to get through on Thursday do the Hughes out brigade still believe a semi final place in the UEFA cup is worthy to get the manager the sack 8 months into a 5 year project - if so - we as City fans really have lost perspective of where we have come from, plus we haeven't even tackled the issue of who is out there to replace him........

However, next to the fact that we will finish with around 10 less points and got put out of both domestic cups by the teams 21st and 22nd in their respective divisions, it seems perspective is clear.

 

[moomba]

So I ask the question again 'if' we were to get through on Thursday do the Hughes out brigade still believe a semi final place in the UEFA cup is worthy to get the manager the sack 8 months into a 5 year project - if so - we as City fans really have lost perspective of where we have come from, plus we haeven't even tackled the issue of who is out there to replace him........

I think Thursdays match is make or break for him. Go out, he goes. Win through to the semi's and he is a fair chance to stay.

We shouldn't forget either that Steve McLaren made a final of the UEFA Cup (and won a league cup), Juande Ramos won the UEFA Cup twice.

As for tackling the issue of replacements, many names have been mentioned in the last 24 hours, as they have been for weeks now.

 

[squirtyflower]

Spot on Bluemooner

 

[DontLookBackInAnger]

So I ask the question again 'if' we were to get through on Thursday do the Hughes out brigade still believe a semi final place in the UEFA cup is worthy to get the manager the sack 8 months into a 5 year project - if so - we as City fans really have lost perspective of where we have come from, plus we haeven't even tackled the issue of who is out there to replace him........

I think Thursdays match is make or break for him. Go out, he goes. Win through to the semi's and he is a fair chance to stay.

We shouldn't forget either that Steve McLaren made a final of the UEFA Cup (and won a league cup), Juande Ramos won the UEFA Cup twice.

As for tackling the issue of replacements, many names have been mentioned in the last 24 hours, as they have been for weeks now.

Do you think a UEFA-Cup SF saves him at this point?

 

[Blue Mooner]

We had a team that demonstrated relegation form in the second half of last season

Our results in 2009 are roughly 0.277778 of a point per game better than the results from the first half of 2008. A point better nearly every 4 games we play, thats certainly £120m well spent.

Well it shows progress ! However, that is far too simplistic a comaprison as it takes no consideration of the teams played home and away. It's also clear that the premiership this year has been far more competitive than previous seasons so all point totals will be lower. I think that's where the phrase lies damn lies and statistcs comes from. The rags are 6 points worse off than last season and I think if you looked at most teams that would be true.

It's league position that tells you how far you have progressed as that is the only true and fair comparison. On that basis I think we will show progression from last season.

 

[moomba]

Do you think a UEFA-Cup SF saves him at this point?

I suspect it might, but thats just a gut feeling.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Talking to a well-known ex-player yesterday and he was quite outspoken on the subject:

"It's not possible to transform a club in the position City was last season and the seasons before, in just one season. Not with all the money in the world."

So while I was very annoyed at the level of individual and team performance yesterday, I'd still give him another season unless things are so bad behind the scenes that the owners feel they have no choice.

 

[DontLookBackInAnger]

Do you think a UEFA-Cup SF saves him at this point?

I suspect it might, but thats just a gut feeling.

Interesting.......