Hughes bites back at unrest rumours

[bobmcfc]

Brucie perhaps cook and hughes are both a pair of clueless idiots and are tryin to pull the wool over our owners eyes.
Cook may have had a sporting role in previous employment but does he know the football world ?

this is hughes biggest job to date and after previously " favorable" signings in kompany, zab and swp he has shit his pants, gone full circle and reverted to his below par budget comfort signings. it reeks of panic.

our chairman isnt a football man either so will probably trust what hes told by cook and hughes who are desperately trying to paper over the cracks and make it look like all in the garden is rosey and we just need to sign a few "experienced fighters"

Hughes has all his bum chums as backroom staff so no problems there and no revolts.


our owners are very trusting but getting the first wifs of the shite eminating from our club.

ANALYSIS

we are being run by two incompetent morons ?

ok brucie....is this shite or plausible ?

(spelling and grammar may be suspect)

 

[Anonymous]

Think he runs with an "out the door" policy.

As for not speaking about other players, I must have dreamt the "he's a player we like" Redknapp-esque comments on Santa Cruz.

You got anything to back that up? Just curious...

 

[mike o]

Any of the selling clubs will want to have replacements lined up before they sell their players. Its the same every transfer window.

Its incredibly naive to expect us to have signed 4/5 players within 7 days of the window opening.

Yet another example of fans thinking that the fact that weve got a few bob in the bank means we can dictate to other clubs when we sign their players. Hughes wants value for money and isnt going to be ripped off. If he pays well over the odds for players in this window he sets a precident for future transfers.

I think its a fantastic interview that should put to bed all the nonesense thats been written over the last few days.

 

[Blue Mooner]

Brucie perhaps cook and hughes are both a pair of clueless idiots and are tryin to pull the wool over our owners eyes.
Cook may have had a sporting role in previous employment but does he know the football world ?

this is hughes biggest job to date and after previously " favorable" signings in kompany, zab and swp he has shit his pants, gone full circle and reverted to his below par budget comfort signings. it reeks of panic.

our chairman isnt a football man either so will probably trust what hes told by cook and hughes who are desperately trying to paper over the cracks and make it look like all in the garden is rosey and we just need to sign a few "experienced fighters"

Hughes has all his bum chums as backroom staff so no problems there and no revolts.


our owners are very trusting but getting the first wifs of the shite eminating from our club.

ANALYSIS

we are being run by two incompetent morons ?

ok brucie....is this shite or plausible ?

(spelling and grammar may be suspect)

Quite frankly nonsense ! So David Gill at Utd is a football man ? Is he f*ck. You need a businessmen with business acumen to run a business and to negotiate contracts etc

He has been in the sports business for most of his business career and just because he hasn't been a footballer doesn't mean he can't see what you and I see and that he doesn't understand football. It's called 'opinions' mine is different from yours as is obviously Cooks.

FFS when will City fans trust anyone to run our club !!

I'm not a statistician but what I would love to know is the statisitical probability of ALL the boardroom members and managers that have been custodians of our club having been morons over the last 30 years. If any people have to go in my opinion its some of our so called 'supporters'

 

[Balti]

What would Joe Mercer make of all this?! He wouldn't want the trouble makers at the club that's for sure. And he'd sure as hell behave honourably on behalf of the club without feeling the need to 'tap up' players in Harry Twatknapp fashion. Allison would have thumped Elano by now and rightly so. City are better than that. And where the fook is the quote from MH where he slags off his own players in the press?

I am not convinced that he is the best man for the job. How can anyone be convinced of that on the evidence to date? But, let's not become as bad as the rumour-mongering rag medja wankers who are always so desperate to run this great club down and will laugh as we panic and shoot ourselves in the foot again by helping to create and exacerbate a feeling of unease and disharmony.

Roll on Feb.

Balti: he's either an apprentice manager (we can only give a provisional grade to) or a B-grade manager. I'd worry about anyone who was convinced by him. Why are we playing with a manager who has proven himself little better than Sam Allardyce (who isn't too bad in the transfer market himself given his resources).

Brucie. I've always thought this was a two stage process. Stage one = MH level manager that can take us to the fringes of the CL which MH has shown he can do. Then if it looks like thats his limit stage two is to bring in a big name CL standard manager and players.

I'm not convinced that we can attract that Stage two manager now. Or many of the players. But we can lay the ground-work. I still believe that MH can do that after this window and maybe just maybe he can show that he is capable of improving beyond that. I doubt it too but you never know. The rest of the season and his new signings will give us the clue.

 

[Anonymous]

It's fair to say I'm pretty much over all of this. Was getting there last night, but this morning the feeling is much worse. I'm tired of the flip flopping from Hughes, tired of the "we won't pay over the odds, we've got bids in..." etc. stuff regarding transfers. Tired of the media being used as a way of spreading all sorts of rumour and innuendo, only for the man to then go back and refute it all...

Tired of Elano, tired of Hughes, tired of TBH, tired of the bullshit, lying, gossiping...but most of all, tired of the garbage performances and results...

If it were up to me this morning...they'd all be packing their bags. Hughes, Bowen, Eddie whatever the fuck, Elano, TBH, Jo, Vassel, Fernandes, Benjani, Ball...

 

[bobmcfc]

Brucie perhaps cook and hughes are both a pair of clueless idiots and are tryin to pull the wool over our owners eyes.
Cook may have had a sporting role in previous employment but does he know the football world ?

this is hughes biggest job to date and after previously " favorable" signings in kompany, zab and swp he has shit his pants, gone full circle and reverted to his below par budget comfort signings. it reeks of panic.

our chairman isnt a football man either so will probably trust what hes told by cook and hughes who are desperately trying to paper over the cracks and make it look like all in the garden is rosey and we just need to sign a few "experienced fighters"

Hughes has all his bum chums as backroom staff so no problems there and no revolts.


our owners are very trusting but getting the first wifs of the shite eminating from our club.

ANALYSIS

we are being run by two incompetent morons ?

ok brucie....is this shite or plausible ?

(spelling and grammar may be suspect)

Quite frankly nonsense ! So David Gill at Utd is a football man ? Is he f*ck. You need a businessmen with business acumen to run a business and to negotiate contracts etc

He has been in the sports business for most of his business career and just because he hasn't been a footballer doesn't mean he can't see what you and I see and that he doesn't understand football. It's called 'opinions' mine is different from yours as is obviously Cooks.

FFS when will City fans trust anyone to run our club !!

I'm not a statistician but what I would love to know is the statisitical probability of ALL the boardroom members and managers that have been custodians of our club having been morons over the last 30 years. If any people have to go in my opinion its some of our so called 'supporters'

not saying gill is anything , he has fergie to do the football while he does the business side. cook is a great busness man but who does he have other fan hughes to help him in his new footballing role ? gill has bobby charlton not to mention aa few others.


Everyone at board level and management level is new at our club. our chairman isnt a football man and trust what he is told by cook, cook trusts what he is told by hughes and huges only trusts his inner circle.

and things arent going tits up at the swamp

anyway, what i said is just one of a hundred theorys im

 

[Brucie Bonus]

I don't think I have yet come to terms with the fact ADUG did not fire Cook and Hughes as soon as they bought the club. I can only think our friendly, trusting Arabs were trying not to kick up a stink given the mood in the country about foreign owners / clueless foreign owners and Franks recent hands-on approach. I always thought this business about "best young British manager" was a potential stick to beat them with; as though being "young" and "British" is any recomendation in a job where merit is the only qualification: I don't like the sound of City being Mark Hughes training ground in some sort of home nations affirmative action scheme. I think the Arabs made a mistake in not getting their own men in from the off.

At the time they took over they could have removed him with no loss to the club, even at this stage they could. A quality manager and his team could still make use of the time left in this window. I'm not worried about that. I understand some people say a new manager would be unable to get anyone in, but it is in the best interests of those satisifed with the staus quo to opine about how long and hard is the road to transfer heaven. I do not believe them. If all parties are agreeable and moved by a sense of urgency it can happen rather quickly. What we need is a manager with authority and a record in the game. We do not have that.

I don't know mate, really don't. I feel though that his latest interview is a pack of half-truths, as though I am being manipulated. Losing 0-3 to Forrest is the equivalent of getting beat 8-1 by Boro imo (given the relative positions of both opponents). I am amazed he still has a job. I knew this would happen: during the Autumn it was too early to fire him, now, it's too late. I know a lot of people think it would just be plain unfair to fire him now. I think I've said the same thing myself - but what does fair have to do with anything? What exactly has he done to warrant "fairness" anyway? He's a professional, he gets well paid, he knows the score in football, it's about results. Why would firing him be unfair? I'm sure his contract stipulates some sort of liquidated damages or severance package, something he bargained for. So long as he gets the benefit of his bargain I don't see what fairness has to do with it. What does City owe him?

 

[Soulboy]

It's fair to say I'm pretty much over all of this. Was getting there last night, but this morning the feeling is much worse. I'm tired of the flip flopping from Hughes, tired of the "we won't pay over the odds, we've got bids in..." etc. stuff regarding transfers. Tired of the media being used as a way of spreading all sorts of rumour and innuendo, only for the man to then go back and refute it all...

Tired of Elano, tired of Hughes, tired of TBH, tired of the bullshit, lying, gossiping...but most of all, tired of the garbage performances and results...

If it were up to me this morning...they'd all be packing their bags. Hughes, Bowen, Eddie whatever the fuck, Elano, TBH, Jo, Vassel, Fernandes, Benjani, Ball...

As that fat bastard once warbled..."You took the words right out of my mouth!".

Spot on.

 

[bobmcfc]

I don't think I have yet come to terms with the fact ADUG did not fire Cook and Hughes as soon as they bought the club. I can only think our friendly, trusting Arabs were trying not to kick up a stink given the mood in the country about foreign owners / clueless foreign owners and Franks recent hands-on approach. I always thought this business about "best young British manager" was a potential stick to beat them with; as though being "young" and "British" is any recomendation in a job where merit is the only qualification: I don't like the sound of City being Mark Hughes training ground in some sort of home nations affirmative action scheme. I think the Arabs made a mistake in not getting their own men in from the off.

At the time they took over they could have removed him with no loss to the club, even at this stage they could. A quality manager and his team could still make use of the time left in this window. I'm not worried about that. I understand some people say a new manager would be unable to get anyone in, but it is in the best interests of those satisifed with the staus quo to opine about how long and hard is the road to transfer heaven. I do not believe them. If all parties are agreeable and moved by a sense of urgency it can happen rather quickly. What we need is a manager with authority and a record in the game. We do not have that.

I don't know mate, really don't. I feel though that his latest interview is a pack of half-truths, as though I am being manipulated. Losing 0-3 to Forrest is the equivalent of getting beat 8-1 by Boro imo (given the relative positions of both opponents). I am amazed he still has a job. I knew this would happen: during the Autumn it was too early to fire him, now, it's too late. I know a lot of people think it would just be plain unfair to fire him now. I think I've said the same thing myself - but what does fair have to do with anything? What exactly has he done to warrant "fairness" anyway? He's a professional, he gets well paid, he knows the score in football, it's about results. Why would firing him be unfair? I'm sure his contract stipulates some sort of liquidated damages or severance package, something he bargained for. So long as he gets the benefit of his bargain I don't see what fairness has to do with it. What does City owe him?

exactly my thoughts. they would be wary of rocking the boat and being johnny foreigner who came in a sacked another up and coming british manager. they are a friendly bunch who would want to get their bearings, make friends and get to know the business before making rash decisions.

 

[Brucie Bonus]

Any of the selling clubs will want to have replacements lined up before they sell their players. Its the same every transfer window.

Its incredibly naive to expect us to have signed 4/5 players within 7 days of the window opening.

Yet another example of fans thinking that the fact that weve got a few bob in the bank means we can dictate to other clubs when we sign their players. Hughes wants value for money and isnt going to be ripped off. If he pays well over the odds for players in this window he sets a precident for future transfers.

I think its a fantastic interview that should put to bed all the nonesense thats been written over the last few days.

Okay Mark.

 

[Anonymous]

Any of the selling clubs will want to have replacements lined up before they sell their players. Its the same every transfer window.

Its incredibly naive to expect us to have signed 4/5 players within 7 days of the window opening.

Yet another example of fans thinking that the fact that weve got a few bob in the bank means we can dictate to other clubs when we sign their players. Hughes wants value for money and isnt going to be ripped off. If he pays well over the odds for players in this window he sets a precident for future transfers.

I think its a fantastic interview that should put to bed all the nonesense thats been written over the last few days.

Okay Mark.

C'mon Brucie...

Just as people are entitled to change their minds, people are entitled to continue to defend Hughes...

I'd hate to see you leap straight into bed with Jay et al...

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think I have yet come to terms with the fact ADUG did not fire Cook and Hughes as soon as they bought the club. I can only think our friendly, trusting Arabs were trying not to kick up a stink given the mood in the country about foreign owners / clueless foreign owners and Franks recent hands-on approach. I always thought this business about "best young British manager" was a potential stick to beat them with; as though being "young" and "British" is any recomendation in a job where merit is the only qualification: I don't like the sound of City being Mark Hughes training ground in some sort of home nations affirmative action scheme. I think the Arabs made a mistake in not getting their own men in from the off.

At the time they took over they could have removed him with no loss to the club, even at this stage they could. A quality manager and his team could still make use of the time left in this window. I'm not worried about that. I understand some people say a new manager would be unable to get anyone in, but it is in the best interests of those satisifed with the staus quo to opine about how long and hard is the road to transfer heaven. I do not believe them. If all parties are agreeable and moved by a sense of urgency it can happen rather quickly. What we need is a manager with authority and a record in the game. We do not have that.

I don't know mate, really don't. I feel though that his latest interview is a pack of half-truths, as though I am being manipulated. Losing 0-3 to Forrest is the equivalent of getting beat 8-1 by Boro imo (given the relative positions of both opponents). I am amazed he still has a job. I knew this would happen: during the Autumn it was too early to fire him, now, it's too late. I know a lot of people think it would just be plain unfair to fire him now. I think I've said the same thing myself - but what does fair have to do with anything? What exactly has he done to warrant "fairness" anyway? He's a professional, he gets well paid, he knows the score in football, it's about results. Why would firing him be unfair? I'm sure his contract stipulates some sort of liquidated damages or severance package, something he bargained for. So long as he gets the benefit of his bargain I don't see what fairness has to do with it. What does City owe him?

exactly my thoughts. they would be wary of rocking the boat and being johnny foreigner who came in a sacked another up and coming british manager. they are a friendly bunch who would want to get their bearings, make friends and get to know the business before making rash decisions.

Come on lads...isn't a just a touch naive to assume that Sheikh Mansoor is the benevolent moron entrusting two men he'd never met before with hundreds of millions of pounds worth of investment without first doing his homework properly on the pair of them...

That's not an endorsement of what they've subsequently achieved, more a case that plenty of people (City fans and not, football people and non-footballing people) thought Hughes was a great appointment.

 

[Brucie Bonus]

Okay Mark.

C'mon Brucie...

Just as people are entitled to change their minds, people are entitled to continue to defend Hughes...

I'd hate to see you leap straight into bed with Jay et al...

I couldn't have been more lighthearted (but I forgot to put a winky thing). I'm too stunned to be mean anymore, well, almost too stunned. ;-)

 

[JohnMaddocksAxe]

There are parts of that interview that I like. Well, the bit about analysising the defeat and making sure that everyone is in a position to address deficiencies on Monday.

That's all I want from a manager in this area. To take responsibility and admit it's his job to ensure that everyone is in a position to do this.

Regarding the main point about the denial of player unrest. Well, it's far too late imo and slightly hollow. These rumours have been circulating for weeks and have been in the papers for at least the last week. The immplication that the squad's character is not up to his high standards have also been as good as backed by his own comments and refusal to deny these allegtions.

I honestly feel that the denial now is part of a 'mananging by numbers' approach and not part of a considered plan to get develop things.

I get the impression that with Hughes, as with many managers, there is a tendency not to answer questions with his own opinions and thoughts but to answer them how he thinks 'a top manager would answer them'. Therefore, when faced with a blunt question of 'is there any unrest' instead of being honst or giving a genuine, heartfelt opinion many managers will think 'Jeez, what's a top manager's response to that question? Well, top manager's are in control, aren't they? They don't have dissent. I'll deny it. That's what Fergie would do, It'll make me look strong'.

Of course, that ignores the fact that many top managers like Jose are very honest with their personal thoughts but many, no, most, lesser managers are obsessed with replicating the cliched version of a powerful manager in control and respond accordingly.

That's what I would see as the driver for this denial now as it's at odds with everything else we see and his own actions.

I would be inclined not to see it as a complete denial of problems with the players, more so an almost kneejerk reaction, driven more by the desire to be publicly seen to be in control than anything else.

Saying that, it's not really that remarkable an interview for me. Yes, if he really wants to follow it through and deny that some players have grave doubts bout him and his methods and he's alienated a number then it does remove the fig leaf of an excuse he has been hanging on to. I don't think he goes far enough for him to be able to refer back to it though.

Notice that he focuses mainly on the alleged player going to Cook. That is easily denied and easily forgoten about. The player is hardly likely to admit to it in public. If he had really gone to town denying the rumours of mass unrest and that being the reason for poor results then I would agree he couldn't return to it. I have no doubt though that this interview isn't enough for him not to return to that, even if it's just the vague mnner he hints at it in public now (whilst others fill in the gaps), further down the line.

One other thing. I totally agree with what someone has said about Bailey having little credibility with opinion pieces. His opinions reflects only wht those in charge at the time are preaching. It was the same with the bs from Wardle about the financial situation, the same with Thaksin and the same with every manager until he received the green light to say otherwise. Once they go, suddenly he airs the opinions and doubts that he always previously argued against.

I have no doubt that if Hughes goes bailey will soon be referring to his flaws in any review piece. Flaws that he denies at present in efforts like his weasel like opinion piece from yesterday.

The club says jump, Bailey says how high. In a way it is understandable but if this is the case he should retain dignity and stick to news pieces and refrain from opinion pieces.

 

[bobmcfc]

If hughes is out of his depth then he wouldnt be admitting it now would he?. he would be trying to sort it out by trying to get in the tried and trusted old dogs of wales and blackburn to dig him out of the poo but its leaking out about revolts and dressing room bustup. maybe the owners are asking questions about results so he tells the press everything great but he cant put his finger on why things arent working. maybe now cook knows its not working and we need a bigger man to steer this huge ship

these are not measured signings by hughes they are panic buys. the richest club in the world with ambition to be the best doesnt buy craig bellamy to play alongside robinho.

let us think for a few weeks its the players fault so he can get his own men in. now the owners want to know why its in the press the players are unhappy with his managment skllls he decides to go public and say that everythings great and its media mischief. owners think its made up junk and his arse is saved

 

[Brucie Bonus]

exactly my thoughts. they would be wary of rocking the boat and being johnny foreigner who came in a sacked another up and coming british manager. they are a friendly bunch who would want to get their bearings, make friends and get to know the business before making rash decisions.

Come on lads...isn't a just a touch naive to assume that Sheikh Mansoor is the benevolent moron entrusting two men he'd never met before with hundreds of millions of pounds worth of investment without first doing his homework properly on the pair of them...

That's not an endorsement of what they've subsequently achieved, more a case that plenty of people (City fans and not, football people and non-footballing people) thought Hughes was a great appointment.

I don't understand why there is so much confidence in him given his record is wafer thin. Surely confidence in a manager shouod bear some relation to earnings. He has little in his account. I do NOT think our owners are morons, not in the slightest, I do not think they are naive, I just got through (somewhere else) saying I do not think they are football ignoramuses either.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why there is so much confidence in him given his record is wafer thin. Surely confidence in a manager shouod bear some relation to earnings. He has little in his account. I do NOT think our owners are morons, not in the slightest, I do not think they are naive, I just got through (somewhere else) saying I do not think they are football ignoramuses either.

The thing with Hughes is that, much like Fat Sam, twitchin' Arry, et al - the impression has been that although they did very well with modest resources at various clubs, they were never given a chance with a "big" club...

The media have been very careful about how they treat Hughes because last summer they were touting him as the next Chelsea manager, and were suggesting that he was in fact the natural heir to Ferguscum's throne...

Anyway, whatever the rights, wrongs, ins and outs of it all...it's clear it's become a farce of Man City proportions once again...

I've half a mind to jump on a plane to Abu Dhabi, and go and demand a meeting with Khalid or the good Sheikh to try and get some fucking straight answers...;- )

 

[JohnMaddocksAxe]

There is definitely a lot of credence to be given to the theory about the Arabs being acutely aware of the potential reaction to them sacking Hughes from the media, old players and the general 'jobs for the boys' cronies that hold court in the papers and on TV.

It would immediately be painted by many of them as a disgrace with these 'non football people' ruining the game and treating someone who knows more than them, and in many cases happens to be mates or mates of a mate with the person speaking, with disrespect. Regardless of results and performances, it would come. It has started to come already with 'If they do this......' comments and they have shown no sign of wavering.

Personally I see this as the major factor as to why I don't see him going before the end of the season at the earliest

 

[BobKowalski]

It's fair to say I'm pretty much over all of this. Was getting there last night, but this morning the feeling is much worse. I'm tired of the flip flopping from Hughes, tired of the "we won't pay over the odds, we've got bids in..." etc. stuff regarding transfers. Tired of the media being used as a way of spreading all sorts of rumour and innuendo, only for the man to then go back and refute it all...

Tired of Elano, tired of Hughes, tired of TBH, tired of the bullshit, lying, gossiping...but most of all, tired of the garbage performances and results...

If it were up to me this morning...they'd all be packing their bags. Hughes, Bowen, Eddie whatever the fuck, Elano, TBH, Jo, Vassel, Fernandes, Benjani, Ball...

Amen to that brother Billy