The Owners

[Anonymous]

When I started this thread, it's pretty obvious I was taking the piss...but sitting watching the match tonight, I began to wonder early on where Khaldoon was. And Sheikh Mansoor. And if they were watching...

......and if they were watching, I wondered what were they thinking.

Because we can debate Hughes In/Out until you're all blue in the fucking face - but the fact remains. We can't pull the trigger. Only the owners can. Equally, they can give him a public vote of confidence, or do something to strengthen his position within the dressing room...

Only they truly hold the power to do something. Personally, I think for all the "softly softly" approach which they have taken, now wouldn't be a bad time to send out a message to the supporters, and as importantly, the rest of the footballing world. You don't spend 200 million plus over 12 months unless you want to be taken seriously...

 

[JohnMaddocksAxe]

Their desire to paint themselves as men of patience, happy with apparently sensible and limited targets and willing to give the man in place more than a fair crack of the whip has put them in a very awkward position.

The ludicrous and vague (in terms of it's relationship to other teams and points totals) sixth place aim means that any change before the last day of the season could, possibly would, see them branded as exactly what they have done everything to avoid since they got here. Ie: more not to be trusted, no knowledge, knee jerk, reactionary money men.

I don't think that would be justified or true, but I'd have money on it being accused from some quarters.

FFS, I remember having arguments on here last season with people who could not understand that the odds of us finishing seventh were massive, based on simple statistics. Some people, apparently including the manager, were convinced that spouting that this was a reasonable expectation was actually the product of rational thought right up until the final couple of weeks of the season.

I'd be surprised if we were in a situation where the same people would not be arguing that sixth is definitely possible, even though it might only be mathmatically possible and not realistic, until very close to the end of the season. And that being the case, it will provide the ammunition for the sort of accusations and incorrect impressions that the owners have done their utmost to avoid.

It's no secret that I believe a decision to get rid now, for a better candidate, would benefit the club in the short, medium and long term. I still can't see it happening though, for the above reasons.

 

[Anonymous]

Their desire to paint themselves as men of patience, happy with apparently sensible and limited targets and willing to give the man in place more than a fair crack of the whip has put them in a very awkward position.

The ludicrous and vague (in terms of it's relationship to other teams and points totals) sixth place aim means that any change before the last day of the season could, possibly would, see them branded as exactly what they have done everything to avoid since they got here. Ie: more not to be trusted, no knowledge, knee jerk, reactionary money men.

I don't think that would be justified or true, but I'd have money on it being accused from some quarters.

FFS, I remember having arguments on here last season with people who could not understand that the odds of us finishing seventh were massive, based on simple statistics. Some people, apparently including the manager, were convinced that spouting that this was a reasonable expectation was actually the product of rational thought right up until the final couple of weeks of the season.

I'd be surprised if we were in a situation where the same people would not be arguing that sixth is definitely possible, even though it might only be mathmatically possible and not realistic, until very close to the end of the season. And that being the case, it will provide the ammunition for the sort of accusations and incorrect impressions that the owners have done their utmost to avoid.

It's no secret that I believe a decision to get rid now, for a better candidate, would benefit the club in the short, medium and long term. I still can't see it happening though, for the above reasons.

To be honest, I'd like to think the owners decision to keep a low profile, and not strangle Hughes' position with instantly lofty targets was a very good, and smart one. The money alone bought enough negative publicity, that their temperate approach was a nice counter-balance.

But this season is a whole different beast. Everyone now accepts to a certain extent, that the owners are serious and are here long term. Hughes has been given an unprecedented amount of money to literally build his own team, a team which was close to the best team money could buy last summer. If they just prevaricate and say nothing, it could make things worse.

This club has seen in the very recent past that when a squad mentally accepts that the manager is going in the summer, performances begin to drop significantly. We're not there by any means. But it would be horrendous should we find ourselves there, when a place in the top four is right now wide open for any one of four teams...

 

[BobKowalski]

Their desire to paint themselves as men of patience, happy with apparently sensible and limited targets and willing to give the man in place more than a fair crack of the whip has put them in a very awkward position.

The ludicrous and vague (in terms of it's relationship to other teams and points totals) sixth place aim means that any change before the last day of the season could, possibly would, see them branded as exactly what they have done everything to avoid since they got here. Ie: more not to be trusted, no knowledge, knee jerk, reactionary money men.

I don't think that would be justified or true, but I'd have money on it being accused from some quarters.

FFS, I remember having arguments on here last season with people who could not understand that the odds of us finishing seventh were massive, based on simple statistics. Some people, apparently including the manager, were convinced that spouting that this was a reasonable expectation was actually the product of rational thought right up until the final couple of weeks of the season.

I'd be surprised if we were in a situation where the same people would not be arguing that sixth is definitely possible, even though it might only be mathmatically possible and not realistic, until very close to the end of the season. And that being the case, it will provide the ammunition for the sort of accusations and incorrect impressions that the owners have done their utmost to avoid.

It's no secret that I believe a decision to get rid now, for a better candidate, would benefit the club in the short, medium and long term. I still can't see it happening though, for the above reasons.

To be honest, I'd like to think the owners decision to keep a low profile, and not strangle Hughes' position with instantly lofty targets was a very good, and smart one. The money alone bought enough negative publicity, that their temperate approach was a nice counter-balance.

But this season is a whole different beast. Everyone now accepts to a certain extent, that the owners are serious and are here long term. Hughes has been given an unprecedented amount of money to literally build his own team, a team which was close to the best team money could buy last summer. If they just prevaricate and say nothing, it could make things worse.

This club has seen in the very recent past that when a squad mentally accepts that the manager is going in the summer, performances begin to drop significantly. We're not there by any means. But it would be horrendous should we find ourselves there, when a place in the top four is right now wide open for any one of four teams...

Agreed.

 

[Pam]

The Real Madrid job, mark my words, will be up for grabs this summer. If Mourinho had a straight choice, he'd go to Madrid over City.

I..

A perfectly fair assumption but for the time being at least, he keeps saying he wants to come back here.

 

[Soulboy]

Up until tonight I would have gone along with the view that Hughes would see the season out, and a decision made then. But what I saw tonight suggests things may move a whole lot quicker.

As an avid watcher of City for many years, you get the "vibe" when you can read body language and attitudes... and tonight it stank!

The manager looked even more distracted than normal, and most worringly, the players, for the first time this season, looked like they couldn't give a shit.

Do they know something? Do they smell blood?

Persionally, I think a decision will already have been made as I doubt Hughes can turn this round quick enough. We look to be getting worse, which sort of goes against all the "gelling" arguments!

Maybe a transitional manager until the summer? But who? Hiddink? I'll stick my neck out and go for a trendy foreign coach to inspire us!

 

[BLOOMUEN]

Up until tonight I would have gone along with the view that Hughes would see the season out, and a decision made then. But what I saw tonight suggests things may move a whole lot quicker.

As an avid watcher of City for many years, you get the "vibe" when you can read body language and attitudes... and tonight it stank!

The manager looked even more distracted than normal, and most worringly, the players, for the first time this season, looked like they couldn't give a shit.

Do they know something? Do they smell blood?

Persionally, I think a decision will already have been made as I doubt Hughes can turn this round quick enough. We look to be getting worse, which sort of goes against all the "gelling" arguments!

Maybe a transitional manager until the summer? But who? Hiddink? I'll stick my neck out and go for a trendy foreign coach to inspire us!

Haven't read through whole thread but kind of agree with your summing up of our owners sense of purpose. If they were unsure about Hughes, they now have an opportunity 'lose' him and still retain their own integrity: We backed a man we didn't appoint to the tune of £250M and felt that a single win in 10 games wasn't acceptable, especially in a season when it appeared that the 'cosy Sky 4' were vulnerable. If they delay a decision they give Hughes the chance to string a couple of results together. I do believe that our owners will, ultimately, act in the best interests of the club (i.e. their own) and given their desire for the Champions league and world superstars (ffs we bidded £100M for Kaka!) Hughes will be sacked for a European coach with the ability to attract these players. Interesting few weeks ahead!

 

[Freestyler]

If the owners knew what was goods for their money they've given us and for the football clubs sake, they would get rid of hughes now.

Robinho's tunnel display proved that tonight, if someone asled robbie would you have Mh in charge, he would say no, but he can't say that can he.

I've always said it and i'll say it again, hughes CAN'T handle big players

I personally dont think him and hughes get on, thats what happens when you have a world class player and an inept manager, robinho needs someone to look up to like a fatherly figure, hughes has no man management skills and that is becoming more and more obvious as the season goes on.

 

[Pam]

I don't think he'll be sacked mid season, but only because the owners will want to have the new man installed before they get rid of him. I don't see a new manager coming until the summer.

What about Arsene Whinger? Things have gone a bit sale for him at the Arse. Then again, I don't think he'd want to manage any other premiership team.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Please pull the trigger.