The *OFFICIAL* Hughes Poll

[twinkletoes]

Re: *WARNING* 99% on here are likely to disagree with this post!

Are you ITK or just guessing?

I'm not ITK at all. Just saying that if he fails to meet the target his boss has set, the boss will get someone in who can meet it. It's a reasonable assumption.

People can argue all they want about whether the target is Top 4 or Top 6. I've seen enough evidence to make me believe it's Top 4. If we finish 6th and Hughes keeps his job, I'll be wrong.

So it's a guess. <a class="postlink" href="http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/2009/May/Top-six-our-goal-next-season,-says-Chairman" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/20 ... s-Chairman</a>


Mark Hughes has been given a top-six target for next season by Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak as the club prepares for the next step in the challenge to join the Barclays Premier League elite.

With this season's final match against Bolton still to come, manager Hughes and Chief Executive Garry Cook have already sat down with the Blues supremo to discuss their shared ambitions to finish the 2009-10 campaign with a ticket back to Europe.

UEFA Cup quarter-finalists City can still finish ninth on Sunday after missing out on an instant return to Europe with the 2-1 defeat at Spurs, and the Chairman said: "I think a reasonable target next season is the top six.

"I think people see me as a reasonable and realistic man, and I think given what we have done this year and the ambitions we have this summer, a top-six finish next year should be a reasonable and achievable target.

"There will be money for new players this off-season. The areas in which the team needs us to invest are clear. We need more depth and to fill the weaker areas within the squad and plans are already advanced.

"I have been talking to Garry and Mark for weeks now. We are pretty clear on what we want, and I am clear on what Mark has identified as the areas that need to be supported, and we will step up.

"We all know we are not going to splash money around, because that model, that formula, doesn't work. You're not going to buy 22 new players and then the next year you win the Premier League.

"It needs to be done sustainably, with quality management, quality infra-structure and a quality manager by the pitch. That's what we are doing. The players will come, and the results will come."

But while Hughes will sign "more quality players" this summer, Khaldoon stressed that the Academy, which has produced stars such as Stevie Ireland and Nedum Onuoha, has a major role to play in the future.

He said: "We will not forget the Academy. It is key to our discussions. We have to be able to create that nice balance between a quality, strong first team with depth but at the same time retain the ability to bring in young, talented individuals.

"We have all seen what they (Ireland and Onuoha) have done since geting in the side. They have had fantastic seasons and there are more within the Academy. We need a good platform to bring the young lads into the team.

"Garry has done a wonderful job bringing in some incredible talent that will help take us forward. We have grown a lot as a team, and Mark has grown too. The foundations are in place for a very strong second season."

 

[Rammy Blue]

At the moment I am Hughes in, although faith in him has been knocked due to our run over the last 7 games and the form showed.

For all the Hughes outers if we assume that Hughes goes, and Hidiink & Mourinho have been tapped up (mentioned a lot), and for a variety of reasons have both said no, then who do you want?

People on here have stated that either of these Managers would come / are available / could be persuaded etc. but unless they have asked them personally how the hell do they know that ?

Comments like "we will not struggle for top notch applicants and that is a fact" could be way wide of the mark. A top notch manager wants to manage in the Champions League, top notch players want to play there. At this point in time we are not a Champions League club, and because of that the level of manager we can get at present could well be set at the level of Hughes ?.

Roberto Mancini practically whored himself to us a few months ago.

why anyone doesn't realise that, for managers, City presents itself as one of the best jobs around god only knows.

 

[Danamy]

At the moment I am Hughes in, although faith in him has been knocked due to our run over the last 7 games and the form showed.

For all the Hughes outers if we assume that Hughes goes, and Hidiink & Mourinho have been tapped up (mentioned a lot), and for a variety of reasons have both said no, then who do you want?

People on here have stated that either of these Managers would come / are available / could be persuaded etc. but unless they have asked them personally how the hell do they know that ?

Comments like "we will not struggle for top notch applicants and that is a fact" could be way wide of the mark. A top notch manager wants to manage in the Champions League, top notch players want to play there. At this point in time we are not a Champions League club, and because of that the level of manager we can get at present could well be set at the level of Hughes ?.

Roberto Mancini practically whored himself to us a few months ago.

why anyone doesn't realise that, for managers, City presents itself as one of the best jobs around god only knows.

The thing is our Project will be very appealing to a lot of top managers in Europe as it's not every day you get the chance to build your own team with unlimited funds.
They also get the added bonus that we have won fuck all for so long that once they do deliver they will go down as a cult hero in the clubs history books.

 

[superwatsonwatson]

Hughes in for me. Only 3 dissapointing results this season -the 3 home draws. Sorry Richard Dunne left, but i am tired of seeing the list of managers we have had everytime we sack one. He has my support till the end of the season, at least.

 

[Blue Train]

Re: *WARNING* 99% on here are likely to disagree with this post!

I'm not ITK at all. Just saying that if he fails to meet the target his boss has set, the boss will get someone in who can meet it. It's a reasonable assumption.

People can argue all they want about whether the target is Top 4 or Top 6. I've seen enough evidence to make me believe it's Top 4. If we finish 6th and Hughes keeps his job, I'll be wrong.

So it's a guess. <a class="postlink" href="http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/2009/May/Top-six-our-goal-next-season,-says-Chairman" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/20 ... s-Chairman</a>


Mark Hughes has been given a top-six target for next season by Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak as the club prepares for the next step in the challenge to join the Barclays Premier League elite.

With this season's final match against Bolton still to come, manager Hughes and Chief Executive Garry Cook have already sat down with the Blues supremo to discuss their shared ambitions to finish the 2009-10 campaign with a ticket back to Europe.

UEFA Cup quarter-finalists City can still finish ninth on Sunday after missing out on an instant return to Europe with the 2-1 defeat at Spurs, and the Chairman said: "I think a reasonable target next season is the top six.

"I think people see me as a reasonable and realistic man, and I think given what we have done this year and the ambitions we have this summer, a top-six finish next year should be a reasonable and achievable target.

"There will be money for new players this off-season. The areas in which the team needs us to invest are clear. We need more depth and to fill the weaker areas within the squad and plans are already advanced.

"I have been talking to Garry and Mark for weeks now. We are pretty clear on what we want, and I am clear on what Mark has identified as the areas that need to be supported, and we will step up.

"We all know we are not going to splash money around, because that model, that formula, doesn't work. You're not going to buy 22 new players and then the next year you win the Premier League.

"It needs to be done sustainably, with quality management, quality infra-structure and a quality manager by the pitch. That's what we are doing. The players will come, and the results will come."

But while Hughes will sign "more quality players" this summer, Khaldoon stressed that the Academy, which has produced stars such as Stevie Ireland and Nedum Onuoha, has a major role to play in the future.

He said: "We will not forget the Academy. It is key to our discussions. We have to be able to create that nice balance between a quality, strong first team with depth but at the same time retain the ability to bring in young, talented individuals.

"We have all seen what they (Ireland and Onuoha) have done since geting in the side. They have had fantastic seasons and there are more within the Academy. We need a good platform to bring the young lads into the team.

"Garry has done a wonderful job bringing in some incredible talent that will help take us forward. We have grown a lot as a team, and Mark has grown too. The foundations are in place for a very strong second season."

I wasn't guessing on Khaldoon's 6th place public statement, and you've confirmed it. Thanks.

It's not imagining too much to think that 4th is the privately stated target, seeing as very few businessmen are open enough to state their real target in advance, and the fact that several players have since mentioned the club's Top 4 aim for this season.

Also, the Platini ruling came out after this statement, and subsequent comments by Khaldoon and Hughes that we'd sped up our transfer policy ('3 windows in 1') as a result.

We're all guessing, but we can make intelligent guesses, and none of us will really know for sure until Khaldoon gives Hughes his P45. If he does.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

I'm on the 'outside' and disagree with being 'inside' but so many on the fence?

Stand up and be counted, can you see darkness ahead or can you see a light?

 

[BlueLlama]

Letter sent to Chairman last year

Sitting here felling totally frustrated at Hughes I looked back at a letter I sent to the Chairman exactly one year ago. This is a genuine letter and it is copied below without one comma or later changed. In my view this letter could have been written this morning not 12 months ago.
I ask all those who support Hughes to read the letter and to justify their belief that the club is improving under Hughes.
As this letter shows in my view where it matters on the pitch there has been no improvement despite the outlay of £150M.

"1 December 2008
Dear Chairman,
Your support for the Manager Mr Hughes in many ways is admirable but I believe it to be misplaced. Allow me to expand on my argument.
We have a number of experienced and talented players who unfortunately at times do not appear capable of playing as a team. This has to be due to how they are coached and managed. As examples: - no other team has the ability that we display to give the ball away from most of our ‘throw-ins’. Many of the players do not work hard to take up a position to receive the ball when we have possession. Our defenders regularly appear to have no understanding between them, looking as though they only meet at matches. Our corners are regularly no threat because we do not have players in the team capable of taking an accurate one. All of the above should be basic coaching assignments.
The Manager also, too frequently makes obvious errors in his team selection and substitutions. These appear to have alienated the better quality players so that they do not look as though they want to play for him when they do eventually get a game.
Much has been said about judging the manager when he has brought in his own players after January. However, very little is said about the fact that we as a club were the biggest spenders last summer. All of the new players were not identified by Mr Hughes but many of them were. I could go on for pages but you are much too busy for me to indulge myself in this way. I would simply point out that you and your partners have not bought Manchester City to be a good Premiership side. You want us to be the best. Surely a Manager capable of creating the best team in Europe would not be in our league position today with so many talented players available to him. Mr Hughes may one day become a good manager but not good enough to achieve the level of success that we all are seeking. You will have to replace him one day and I suggest that it would be better to do it before January rather than wait for even more proof that he does not have the right qualities to deliver our mutual dreams.
Please try to persuade Gus Hiddink or a similar manager already proven at the highest level to accept the challenge.
Yours sincerely,"

 

[Slack]

Re: Letter sent to Chairman last year

Sitting here felling totally frustrated at Hughes I looked back at a letter I sent to the Chairman exactly one year ago. This is a genuine letter and it is copied below without one comma or later changed. In my view this letter could have been written this morning not 12 months ago.
I ask all those who support Hughes to read the letter and to justify their belief that the club is improving under Hughes.
As this letter shows in my view where it matters on the pitch there has been no improvement despite the outlay of £150M.

"1 December 2008
Dear Chairman,
Your support for the Manager Mr Hughes in many ways is admirable but I believe it to be misplaced. Allow me to expand on my argument.
We have a number of experienced and talented players who unfortunately at times do not appear capable of playing as a team. This has to be due to how they are coached and managed. As examples: - no other team has the ability that we display to give the ball away from most of our ‘throw-ins’. Many of the players do not work hard to take up a position to receive the ball when we have possession. Our defenders regularly appear to have no understanding between them, looking as though they only meet at matches. Our corners are regularly no threat because we do not have players in the team capable of taking an accurate one. All of the above should be basic coaching assignments.
The Manager also, too frequently makes obvious errors in his team selection and substitutions. These appear to have alienated the better quality players so that they do not look as though they want to play for him when they do eventually get a game.
Much has been said about judging the manager when he has brought in his own players after January. However, very little is said about the fact that we as a club were the biggest spenders last summer. All of the new players were not identified by Mr Hughes but many of them were. I could go on for pages but you are much too busy for me to indulge myself in this way. I would simply point out that you and your partners have not bought Manchester City to be a good Premiership side. You want us to be the best. Surely a Manager capable of creating the best team in Europe would not be in our league position today with so many talented players available to him. Mr Hughes may one day become a good manager but not good enough to achieve the level of success that we all are seeking. You will have to replace him one day and I suggest that it would be better to do it before January rather than wait for even more proof that he does not have the right qualities to deliver our mutual dreams.
Please try to persuade Gus Hiddink or a similar manager already proven at the highest level to accept the challenge.
Yours sincerely,"

It's Guus btw.
But you stated some very good points.

 

[SuperKevinHorlock]

Re: Letter sent to Chairman last year

I agree with the vast majority of what you have written we have looked a touch more dangerous of corners this season well apart from saturday.

 

[kp789]

Quite balanced