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Hughes needs stars who are fit to wear the shirt as boss looks to ring new year changes
By Lee Clayton
Last updated at 9:54 PM on 22nd December 2008
Comments (0) Add to My Stories Positive news and raised eyebrows from Manchester City's training ground: Brazilians Robinho and Jo were seen training on Monday.
Not so positive is that both had declared themselves unavailable to play in an important Barclays Premier League fixture at West Bromwich 24 hours earlier. Still, Mark Hughes will rejoice in their rapid recovery, especially the return of his magical No 10, Robinho.
Hughes needs all the help he can get as City prepare to play Hull on Boxing Day, looking up from the bottom three and gasping for the transfer window to open.
Under pressure: Manchester City boss Mark Hughes will be hoping to drag his team out the relegation zone and sign, from top, Marcos Senna, Wayne Bridge, Roque Santa Cruz and Craig Bellamy
Hughes wants fit and hungry players - his former Blackburn team were among the fittest in the Premier League - but it's fair to say the reaction of his new players to his training methods has been mixed: Stephen Ireland, on the positive side, has been a revelation, scoring seven goals this season and claiming the regime is 'fantastic'.
Others, however, complain to each other about a daily hydration programme, questioning the value and routine of the tests. Hughes believes it to be directly linked to helping prevent muscle injuries. For what it's worth, it is a system trusted by both Barcelona and Bayern Munich. So if it's good enough for them . . .
More...Big Sam to thrash out Santa Cruz's Blackburn concerns as Manchester City hover
Hughes insists City must get over 'negative mindset' to lift Manchester City out of relegation zone
Manchester City turn from Buffon to Villarreal keeper Lopez
MANCHESTER CITY NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET
Shaun Wright-Phillips and Vincent Kompany are two others with gold stars from Hughes and his management team for their attitude, but many players are struggling to cope with the demands on the training ground, let alone during 90 minutes in the Premier League.
Working hard: Shaun Wright-Phillips has earned the plaudits from Hughes for his attitude
Highly paid athletes, many of them from abroad, have responded to intensive training sessions by falling ill, pulling up injured or complaining about the demands placed on them by their determined manager.
One international asked his wife to phone in sick before a high intensity session and, when a suspicious Hughes sent a club doctor for a surprise visit to his home, the medical diagnosis confirmed his fears. The player was welcomed back to work the next day with a fine which was heavier than his cold.
After the defeat at West Bromwich on Sunday left City in the bottom three, Hughes hinted at some of the problems. 'We're not happy. There are frailties in the team and we are looking to strengthen where we can. It's clear to everyone. There are certain elements to our game which aren't as strong as they should be if we want to compete at the highest level,' he complained.
Hughes and his highly qualified staff, including Mark Bowen, Eddie Niedzwiecki and Kevin Hitchcock, know they have the experience to overcome the recent difficulties. As well as their impressive playing CVs, Hughes and his team worked for four years in international football with Wales and took a very limited Blackburn team into Europe twice and into three domestic cup semi-finals having taken over when they were in the bottom three.
Hughes and his staff have the know-how but do they have the quality of players? Character as well as performance was being questioned yesterday after defeat at the Hawthorns ended any hopes the players might have had of a day off shopping for Christmas.
What did I do? Wing wizard Robinho has been unable to stop the rot at Eastlands since his mega-money move from Real Madrid
The home game with Hull beckons - that's the same Hull team which won at Arsenal and Spurs, drew at Liverpool and scored three times at Old Trafford. It is an uncomfortable fixture. At least Robinho's presence for the training drills yesterday was a welcome, albeit belated, relief.
They need senior players to stand up and be counted. Micah Richards, for example, is low on confidence. He has been guilty of two vital lapses in concentration in the closing stages of recent matches, costing City two points. Against Everton, he lost Tim Cahill as the attacking midfielder scored a dramatic late winner in a 1-0 win for the visitors and another poor reaction allowed Roman Bednar to grab three points for West Bromwich.
It brought criticism from Alan Hansen on the Match Of The Day couch but Hughes will work closely with Richards - especially on his concentration and all-round fitness - and remains confident the powerful young defender can emerge from his run of poor form.
Mark of faith: Hughes is backing Pablo Zabaleta to improve for Man City after a lacklustre game at West Brom
Others, such as Jo and Elano, have struggled to cope with the demands of City's fitness regime. Elano was 'just not selected' at West Bromwich, according to the manager. Talent alone is no way into a Hughes team. He had a side at Blackburn - mainly cast-offs from other clubs, cheap signings and inspirational finds - who would run through a brick wall for him. Not so for many of the players he inherited at City, it seems. Yet Hughes expects the Argentine right back Pablo Zabaleta to come good. He had a poor game at West Bromwich but the manager is confident he will prove to be an inspired signing.
This is why Hughes will be given the chance to mould his own team, buy his own players and create his own vision for Manchester City before he is judged by the owners from their base in the Middle East, where they are impressing onlookers in and around the club with their calm support for the manager.
Signings such as Roque Santa Cruz, Craig Bellamy, Wayne Bridge and Marcos Senna may not be the stellar cast predicted when City first started counting the riches from the Middle East but they are players Hughes trusts. He can't afford to get it wrong, for they are the signings who will determine his future.
Hughes needs stars who are fit to wear the shirt as boss looks to ring new year changes
By Lee Clayton
Last updated at 9:54 PM on 22nd December 2008
Comments (0) Add to My Stories Positive news and raised eyebrows from Manchester City's training ground: Brazilians Robinho and Jo were seen training on Monday.
Not so positive is that both had declared themselves unavailable to play in an important Barclays Premier League fixture at West Bromwich 24 hours earlier. Still, Mark Hughes will rejoice in their rapid recovery, especially the return of his magical No 10, Robinho.
Hughes needs all the help he can get as City prepare to play Hull on Boxing Day, looking up from the bottom three and gasping for the transfer window to open.
Under pressure: Manchester City boss Mark Hughes will be hoping to drag his team out the relegation zone and sign, from top, Marcos Senna, Wayne Bridge, Roque Santa Cruz and Craig Bellamy
Hughes wants fit and hungry players - his former Blackburn team were among the fittest in the Premier League - but it's fair to say the reaction of his new players to his training methods has been mixed: Stephen Ireland, on the positive side, has been a revelation, scoring seven goals this season and claiming the regime is 'fantastic'.
Others, however, complain to each other about a daily hydration programme, questioning the value and routine of the tests. Hughes believes it to be directly linked to helping prevent muscle injuries. For what it's worth, it is a system trusted by both Barcelona and Bayern Munich. So if it's good enough for them . . .
More...Big Sam to thrash out Santa Cruz's Blackburn concerns as Manchester City hover
Hughes insists City must get over 'negative mindset' to lift Manchester City out of relegation zone
Manchester City turn from Buffon to Villarreal keeper Lopez
MANCHESTER CITY NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET
Shaun Wright-Phillips and Vincent Kompany are two others with gold stars from Hughes and his management team for their attitude, but many players are struggling to cope with the demands on the training ground, let alone during 90 minutes in the Premier League.
Working hard: Shaun Wright-Phillips has earned the plaudits from Hughes for his attitude
Highly paid athletes, many of them from abroad, have responded to intensive training sessions by falling ill, pulling up injured or complaining about the demands placed on them by their determined manager.
One international asked his wife to phone in sick before a high intensity session and, when a suspicious Hughes sent a club doctor for a surprise visit to his home, the medical diagnosis confirmed his fears. The player was welcomed back to work the next day with a fine which was heavier than his cold.
After the defeat at West Bromwich on Sunday left City in the bottom three, Hughes hinted at some of the problems. 'We're not happy. There are frailties in the team and we are looking to strengthen where we can. It's clear to everyone. There are certain elements to our game which aren't as strong as they should be if we want to compete at the highest level,' he complained.
Hughes and his highly qualified staff, including Mark Bowen, Eddie Niedzwiecki and Kevin Hitchcock, know they have the experience to overcome the recent difficulties. As well as their impressive playing CVs, Hughes and his team worked for four years in international football with Wales and took a very limited Blackburn team into Europe twice and into three domestic cup semi-finals having taken over when they were in the bottom three.
Hughes and his staff have the know-how but do they have the quality of players? Character as well as performance was being questioned yesterday after defeat at the Hawthorns ended any hopes the players might have had of a day off shopping for Christmas.
What did I do? Wing wizard Robinho has been unable to stop the rot at Eastlands since his mega-money move from Real Madrid
The home game with Hull beckons - that's the same Hull team which won at Arsenal and Spurs, drew at Liverpool and scored three times at Old Trafford. It is an uncomfortable fixture. At least Robinho's presence for the training drills yesterday was a welcome, albeit belated, relief.
They need senior players to stand up and be counted. Micah Richards, for example, is low on confidence. He has been guilty of two vital lapses in concentration in the closing stages of recent matches, costing City two points. Against Everton, he lost Tim Cahill as the attacking midfielder scored a dramatic late winner in a 1-0 win for the visitors and another poor reaction allowed Roman Bednar to grab three points for West Bromwich.
It brought criticism from Alan Hansen on the Match Of The Day couch but Hughes will work closely with Richards - especially on his concentration and all-round fitness - and remains confident the powerful young defender can emerge from his run of poor form.
Mark of faith: Hughes is backing Pablo Zabaleta to improve for Man City after a lacklustre game at West Brom
Others, such as Jo and Elano, have struggled to cope with the demands of City's fitness regime. Elano was 'just not selected' at West Bromwich, according to the manager. Talent alone is no way into a Hughes team. He had a side at Blackburn - mainly cast-offs from other clubs, cheap signings and inspirational finds - who would run through a brick wall for him. Not so for many of the players he inherited at City, it seems. Yet Hughes expects the Argentine right back Pablo Zabaleta to come good. He had a poor game at West Bromwich but the manager is confident he will prove to be an inspired signing.
This is why Hughes will be given the chance to mould his own team, buy his own players and create his own vision for Manchester City before he is judged by the owners from their base in the Middle East, where they are impressing onlookers in and around the club with their calm support for the manager.
Signings such as Roque Santa Cruz, Craig Bellamy, Wayne Bridge and Marcos Senna may not be the stellar cast predicted when City first started counting the riches from the Middle East but they are players Hughes trusts. He can't afford to get it wrong, for they are the signings who will determine his future.