It may not be this year.

[*singingtheblues*]

not exactly BB, I was just doing my head in with that crazy game someone posted on yesterday, and waiting for Andy to get back to me with a PM on the matter... but cheers anyway!

it is encouraging to hear (for what it's worth) that Mourinho likes our current squad and also believes that Hughes has got what it takes to lead them to the title - I believe he said this whilst over here in the USA. It isn't just the players of course, he reckons you also need the right manager to set things up and gel them correctly. Apparently the special one likes our special strike force in particular, and it's our attack that impresses him the most. How much he may have been digging at Chelsea saying this I don't know, and all the above caveats I already mentioned above still stand.

it'll be an interesting season ahead of us, no matter what happens!

It will indeed be interesting.

What I find amazing however is the praise and optimism lauded on Hughes during the close season, when last year was such a failure. City have made some good signings, but that in itself hasn't made Hughes any better or worse in terms of managerial ability. He has simply bought the best players he can get. I strongly believe that a Mourinho or a Sven could have attracted better, but that's another story.

The extent to which Hughes and Cook have lowered expectations really is a PR triumph. The point has been made before, but give our resources to Rednapp, O'Neil or Moyes and you could be sure that 'top 6 and a decent cup run' would be the least of their aspirations. Yet here we are already proclaiming the same as success!

The main excuse/reason for this is to do with 'building'. The average age of Hughes' signings ( he did not sign Jo or Robinho) surely gives the lie to that. All he is doing is buying established premiership players. Solid performers to create a solid, hard to beat team. Definite top 6 contenders.
In my opinion, Hughes lacks the wit to take us any further than that. He is a limited manager with aspirations to match. My opinion is based on everything he has achieved as a manager to date. MCFC need a better leader. That's all.

Exactly how I feel.

To those of you with your pitchforks at the ready, I've already prepared my own noose, so there's no effort required on your behalf.

 

[blueinbolton77]

Yup everything comes that easy! Why didn't we think of this. Newcastle have proved that all you need is a good manager with leader qualities, so keep sacking until you find one !!

And look at ferguson! One day at united and he.....oh no, wait a minute, it took him six or seven years for his first major success and learning to become a leader of the club.

And lets face it, we deserve success with a top notch proven world class manager, because of the all the cup wins and leagues we've won over the last 30 years. Bet the special one can't wait to walk through the door.

Sven was a half decent manager, was given England and Mexico and did a pretty sh*te job for the most part.

I think I'll keep onto my season ticket though and look forward to, after 30 years! We get some stability back. I think Mark Hughes is gonna do a cracking job, he's changing things and building a club not just a team.

:-)

 

[mammutly]

Yup everything comes that easy! Why didn't we think of this. Newcastle have proved that all you need is a good manager with leader qualities, so keep sacking until you find one !!

And look at ferguson! One day at united and he.....oh no, wait a minute, it took him six or seven years for his first major success and learning to become a leader of the club.

And lets face it, we deserve success with a top notch proven world class manager, because of the all the cup wins and leagues we've won over the last 30 years. Bet the special one can't wait to walk through the door.

Sven was a half decent manager, was given England and Mexico and did a pretty sh*te job for the most part.

I think I'll keep onto my season ticket though and look forward to, after 30 years! We get some stability back. I think Mark Hughes is gonna do a cracking job, he's changing things and building a club not just a team.

:-)

Ferguson had achieved with Aberdeen before he went to Utd. Hughes has no such record.

As for "building a club not just a team". I'm sorry, but I find that fucking annoying! We are City! With or without Mark Hughes.

 

[Dhenry]

Yup everything comes that easy! Why didn't we think of this. Newcastle have proved that all you need is a good manager with leader qualities, so keep sacking until you find one !!

And look at ferguson! One day at united and he.....oh no, wait a minute, it took him six or seven years for his first major success and learning to become a leader of the club.

And lets face it, we deserve success with a top notch proven world class manager, because of the all the cup wins and leagues we've won over the last 30 years. Bet the special one can't wait to walk through the door.

Sven was a half decent manager, was given England and Mexico and did a pretty sh*te job for the most part.

I think I'll keep onto my season ticket though and look forward to, after 30 years! We get some stability back. I think Mark Hughes is gonna do a cracking job, he's changing things and building a club not just a team.

:-)

Everything he said.

 

[blueinbolton77]

Ferguson had achieved with Aberdeen before he went to Utd. Hughes has no such record.

As for "building a club not just a team". I'm sorry, but I find that fucking annoying! We are City! With or without Mark Hughes.

I think you need to check Mark Hughes managerial record with Wales, he's probably one of the most talented "young" managers at the moment.

Oh yeah and we're city with or without mark hughes, but currently without any silverware despite 30 years of changing management, so find it as annoying as you like, it still wont change the facts as they are. And some of us have been waiting 30 odd years for any sort of real success, so don't need reminding who we are.

 

[mammutly]

Ferguson had achieved with Aberdeen before he went to Utd. Hughes has no such record.

As for "building a club not just a team". I'm sorry, but I find that fucking annoying! We are City! With or without Mark Hughes.

I think you need to check Mark Hughes managerial record with Wales, he's probably one of the most talented "young" managers at the moment.

Oh yeah and we're city with or without mark hughes, but currently without any silverware despite 30 years of changing management, so find it as annoying as you like, it still wont change the facts as they are. And some of us have been waiting 30 odd years for any sort of real success, so don't need reminding who we are.

Is Hughes one of the best 4 managers in the Premiership?

That's really the only criteria that should apply.

I crave success for City. I just don't think that MH is the man for the job. His record with Wales was OK but it doesn't alter the fact that as a manager he has won nothing. He's a 'might be' at best, and from what i saw last season he has a very long way to go.

 

[blueinbolton77]

I think you need to check Mark Hughes managerial record with Wales, he's probably one of the most talented "young" managers at the moment.

Oh yeah and we're city with or without mark hughes, but currently without any silverware despite 30 years of changing management, so find it as annoying as you like, it still wont change the facts as they are. And some of us have been waiting 30 odd years for any sort of real success, so don't need reminding who we are.

Is Hughes one of the best 4 managers in the Premiership?

That's really the only criteria that should apply.

I crave success for City. I just don't think that MH is the man for the job. His record with Wales was OK but it doesn't alter the fact that as a manager he has won nothing. He's a 'might be' at best, and from what i saw last season he has a very long way to go.

I can't argue with the manager criteria, because we're not a top four club yet, and it's doubtful the top four managers will leave and come to us. You could be right, and it's sounds reasonble, I just don't know.

I'd just say silverware was never possible with Wales or Blackburn, but he met his targets well and more so. He stopped the downfall of the welsh team and brought them unprecendented wins at the same time he was playing, and stepped in and saved blackburn from relegation, which would have been a disaster for them and then made them better than they'd been for years, Sam's doing his best to destroy that though ;-) Most pundits agree he is just going to get better given a good club, he's now got one.

Anyway, we share common ground, like everyone on here, we want success and frankly we deserve it. I just don't want one year of it, I want it to be sustainable.

 

[1894]

The ADUG takeover moved the goalposts once and for all. Its a new era, with a new owner and new chairman. They are business savvy when it comes to putting their identity on the map. I keep saying this in various posts - just look how well Abu Dhabi has developed from a scratchy fishing village 50 years ago to a global player in the oil markets today. They have the same vision for City. Misty-eyed sentiment does not come into it.

This headline comment : Sheikh Mansour has been ahead of the game on Barclays

Our owner bought Barclays shares when they were underpriced, and sold 9 months later for a whopping £1.4 billion profit.

Source <a class="postlink" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/5431878/Sheikh-Mansour-has-been-ahead-of-the-game-on-Barclays.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comm ... clays.html</a>

I'll bet some of that profit is channelled into MCFC now.

This is an owner who is wants the BEST in everything. Being an underdog is not for him. I believe we have to balance what Mark Hughes is saying, with what the owner wants. And the owner will prevail. City need to get 3 wins out of 3 in August to have any realistic chance of competing with the Sky 4. Considering the new squad we have, dropping points against these teams will not be acceptable. OK, 7 out of 9 points may keep some fans happy, but the bar's been raised...

 

[Blue4ever85]

Like I said previously, I think we'll finish 8th, because of Hughes.

 

[Anonymous]

It will indeed be interesting.

What I find amazing however is the praise and optimism lauded on Hughes during the close season, when last year was such a failure. City have made some good signings, but that in itself hasn't made Hughes any better or worse in terms of managerial ability. He has simply bought the best players he can get. I strongly believe that a Mourinho or a Sven could have attracted better, but that's another story.

Regarding the players attracted this summer, yes, you're probably right that Mourinho (Sven? Nah, no chance) could have attracted better players. What baffles me is that while the footballing world at large tend to fall over themselves to praise our manager, and our owners believe in him enough even after last seasons "failure", that segments of our support are still so vitriolic in their criticisms of him...

The extent to which Hughes and Cook have lowered expectations really is a PR triumph. The point has been made before, but give our resources to Rednapp, O'Neil or Moyes and you could be sure that 'top 6 and a decent cup run' would be the least of their aspirations. Yet here we are already proclaiming the same as success!

Lowering expectations, is another way of saying "managing expectations" - which is clearly failing with you since you are positively foaming at the mouth at the prospect of City finishing anywhere but in the Top 4.

The main excuse/reason for this is to do with 'building'. The average age of Hughes' signings ( he did not sign Jo or Robinho) surely gives the lie to that. All he is doing is buying established premiership players. Solid performers to create a solid, hard to beat team. Definite top 6 contenders.
In my opinion, Hughes lacks the wit to take us any further than that. He is a limited manager with aspirations to match. My opinion is based on everything he has achieved as a manager to date. MCFC need a better leader. That's all.

Your opinion, although a valid one, is lacking in any real insight, forethought, or objectivity. It's based solely around the notion that "we're richer, therefore we deserve better". Criticism of some of the team's performances last season are not without merit. However, to suggest that there were not literally a half a dozen mitigating factors, to suggest that last season was not one of incredible upheaval, transition, and change, is....well it lacks insight, forethought, and objectivity.

I respect fully the possibility that Mark Hughes will not finish in the top 4 this season. I do not and cannot respect those so called supporters who are demanding top four, and are suggesting that by not finishing in the top 4 our season will be an abject failure. I cannot respect those posters who from day one have had anti-Hughes agendas for various reasons ranging from his Rag past, to the fact him and Cook were Dr Shinawatra's appointments.

No doubt we have a big season ahead of us, and certainly from my point of view there's a temptation to fuck this board off completely if we don't win our opening dozen games, because no doubt the agenda driven, anti-Hughes brigade, will be swinging from the rafters screaming for his head on a plate.

The poor guy is a football manager, not a messiah. And frankly, when compared with our last fifteen or so managers, he's in the top...well top 2. Perspective that is lost on too many people...