[Archived] Sparky - Not A Great Manager?

[Rover4ever]

Is there an ironic parallel here? Ince failed with premiership players who had certain expectations. Hughes is failing on the next rung of the ladder because he cannot cope with so-called superstars?

Not much irony there' its just that Hughes is suited to deal with Premiership players, but not primadonnas, whiel Ince's "level" is the Championship at best

[philipl]

Goal doing their bit to say good bye to Sparky

[DeadlyDirk]

Is there anyone in the world that thinks Sparky will be in charge of City when the opening day of the next season kicks off? I'd bet my house on it he won't be, I doubt even Sparky expects to stay.

[Billy Castell]

Thing is, who would be insane enough to work with Mansoor and Cook? This guy perhaps?

Honestly, anyone who'd want to take over with these clowns in control must be stupid or desperate. You would have to play Kofi Annan up front for a start . I guess there is always Paul Ince wanting to rebuild his reputation.

[Guest Kamy100]

Good Interview With Hughes

Although he does come across as someone who is fighting to persuade the people incharge and the fans that he is the right man for the job. For what it is worth IF they give him time, let him sign the players that he wants then he will eventually take them forward, but I suspect that the Owners have been seduced by Mr Mourinho.

[philipl]

Very detailed profiling interview.

I was struck by how much he refers back to his time at Rovers directly and indirectly. The pride in the way RSC came to Ewood without feeling any difference in the way we do things and the way Bayern do them (no wonder the players were in revolt after two weeks of Ince!).

The most telling comments are where he says he knows who is undermining him at City and when he reflects that the City people are not football people. You get the sense that he was immensely frustrated that if he had done things his way in the Kaka saga, he thinks he could have secured the player.

Of course his way is the way he learnt with John Williams at Rovers. If you think back to Sparky's time at Ewood, he had a fantastic track record of getting the players targetted working closely with JW. At City, they have all that money and an attrocious record of getting the players they want when you look at that Guardian chart this morning.

He says that he might still get Given and RSC.

My hunch is that Cook is an ignorant football snob. He had no problem caving in and paying £17m over the odds to Hamburg to get De Jong now. Yet when it comes to behaving decently with Rovers and Newcastle, he cannot do it and thinks it is fair game to prevaricate and talk about big numbers to the press but in reality offer derisory amounts to the two clubs involved.

[BuckyRover]

If he believes he could have persuaded Kaka to join City he has lost the plot.

[thenodrog]

My hunch is that Cook is an ignorant football snob.

He has a typical corporate marketing background! i.e. Massively driven but with a 2 ears 1 mouth syndrome, a bullshit baffles brains mentality with a dash of bullyboy and a huge dollop of snout in the trough mentality. The fact that he has held a high position at a company like Nike is proof of this.

All gob and briefcase..... don't we all just hate em really?

[John]

In the grubby world of football, Cook comes across as naive.

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

"You're disgusting Hughes," says Steve Bruce.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce has launched a fierce attack on Manchester City's conduct in the transfer market - accusing them of disgusting hypocrisy.

Bruce claims that Mark Hughes had no intention of signing Wilson Palacios before his £14m move to Spurs. The Wigan boss claims that Hughes deliberately used the player as a weapon to sign Craig Bellamy.

Bruce has described City's executive chairman Garry Cook as a hypocrite. Bruce said: "When I saw Cook criticising AC Milan about Kaka I thought he had a big cheek after what Manchester City did to us. It is so hypocritical it's scary."

Steve Bruce not my favourite manager and I don't believe the allegation but it is good to see another PL person speak out about the disgusting behaviour of Man City

Like yourself Philip, Mr Bruce has never been my favourire manager. The word "loyalty" doesn't exactly spring to mind when you think of Steve Bruce - the man who walked out on Wigan in his first spell with the club in 2001 to join Crystal Palace, and just six months later walked out on Palace to join Birmingham.

The former Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Crystal Palace and Birmingham boss has had more different clubs than most managers in the top flight and I disliked Bruce's hypocrisy when he preached about Robbie Savage's lack of loyalty towards Birmingham. However, I do think Bruce has a fair point about the disgusting way that Man City are conducting their business this season.

When Hughes was at Ewood Park he was widely admired for his quiet dignity and the professional way he conducted himself. Sadly that has gone out of the window since he jumped into bed (metaphorically) with Garry Cook and the rich Arab camel riders.

Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes have had a frosty relationship for some years. Sparky's pal Mark Bowen was sacked by Bruce as Birmingham City's assistant manager in acrimonious circumstances five years ago. The relationship deteriorated further during the Robbie Savage affair of 2005.

Bruce said of his relationship with Hughes last year: "I was never a big mate of Mark. We played in the same team at United, but we haven't spoken to each other in years. I'm not friends with Mark like I am with other former United players like Gary Pallister and Bryan Robson."

...............................

"I'm not a rapist," says Robinho

On his official website, Robinho's spokesman Chris Nathaniel says: "We can confirm that Robinho met the police as part of a criminal investigation. He strenuously denies any allegation of wrongdoing or criminality."

(I presume Mods that as Robinho's arrest has been widely reported by the BBC, Sky and all other national newspapers, as well as being confirmed on Robinho's official website, that we are allowed on here now to say that he has been arrested by police and also that Robinho strenuously denies any wrongdoing.)

The Brazilian samba boy was arrested on Tuesday over the rape claims – two days after flying back from Brazil to Manchester. The rape is alleged to have happened in the early hours of January 14th, in the VIP area of the Space nightclub in Leeds. It was reported to police that afternoon.

The girl who alleges she was raped is a student at a Yorkshire university, but from the south of England.

Earlier this week Mark Hughes denied claims that he had a "softly softly" approach to disciplining Robinho after he went AWOL to Brazil. Hughes claimed that he would treat Robinho just like any other player.

[67splitscreen]

Heard he was checking, if the girl had had a Brazilian before.

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

The Sheikh Shakes His Head In Disgust...

Khaldoon Khalifa al Mubarak, the Manchester City chairman and the right-hand man of City's owner His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan - to give the bugger his full name - was a spectator at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

As the Sky TV cameras focused in on Mubarak in the directors box, his face appeared to be a picture of disgust at what he was seeing on the pitch.

I suspect that City's multi-billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour - if he was watching the match in his palatial mansion in the Middle East - is likely to have been similarly peturbed and disgruntled with events as well.

Stoke were reduced to 10 men for more than half the game after Rory Delap was sent off in the 37th minute, but Man City's team of fancy dans were pitifully inept in their attempts to break down Stoke's defence.

Hughes has spent over £100m on players since he took over at City - if you include the signing of the Brazilian Jo who joined City a couple of days after Hughes arrived at Eastlands and who one suspects may not have been Sparky's choice as his first major signing.

There remain question marks as to whether Hughes has complete full control over the transfers into the club or whether, as with the Jo deal, the people behind the scenes are pulling the strings. Jo, together with Ben Haim, are two of the alleged "plotters" who reportedly met with the chief executive Garry Cook to raise their concerns over Hughes's managerial methods.

Hughes has managed to ship both those players out on loan during the transfer window, with Ben Haim joining Sunderland and Jo going to Goodison Park.

Despite Mark Hughes's £100m expenditure, their attempts to carve out chances against a Stoke team with 10 men who were promoted from the Championship last season were feeble and embarrasing for the watching Khaldoon Mubarak.

It makes one wonder for how much longer will such embarrassment be tolerated by the rich Arabs? Having heavily invested in players since their takeover last August I'm sure they didn't envisage watching a City team who would be humiliated by losing 0-3 at home to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup, humiliated in the Carling Cup against Brighton and a team who would perform abysmally against 10 men from Stoke.

Stoke's midfielder Glenn Whelan suggested after the match that Man City "didn't fancy it" and had a lack of desire on the pitch at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke were able to capitalise on this apparent lack of desire. Some of Man City's highly-paid mercenaries, like the exasperating Elano, appeared to be going through the motions on Saturday. All of which must have left Mark Hughes and the watching al Mubarak deeply frustrated.

I don't want to upset the mods on here, but I daresay in the past that Arabs haven't been noted for their tolerance, understanding, equanimity and patience. Indeed Robert Kilroy-Silk five years ago suggested that such people were women repressors and limb amputators.

Whilst I'm not suggesting that Sheikh Mansour will want to amputate Mark Hughes's hands and feet, I do question for how much longer will the patience of the Arabs last? With City out of the FA Cup, the Carling Cup and probably unlikely to win the UEFA Cup, it may be the case that a top six finish and European football for next season will possibly be the minimum requirement that the Arabs will be satisfied with come May.

After all, Sven-Goran Eriksson was sacked last season (by the repulsive Thaksin Shinawatra) for finishing 9th. If there's no improvement for Hughes on finishing 9th after heavy investment in the transfer market, then the Arabs may well question if Hughes is the right man to lead them in the long-term.

Jose Mourinho's name has been linked in the media as a possibility to take over in the summer. Frank Rijkaard, Louis Van Gaal and Guus Hiddink may be other candidates that the Arabs will look at.

Mark Hughes can probably not afford to be humiliated many more times this season before the patience of those pesky Arabs finally snaps.

[imy9]

"I don't want to upset the mods on here, but I daresay in the past that Arabs haven't been noted for their tolerance, understanding, equanimity and patience. Indeed Robert Kilroy-Silk five years ago suggested that such people were women repressors and limb amputators."

So an entire race of people tarnished in one sweeping statement, I daresay you had much to say when the good Doc was on board, considering he IS a criminal and has been sentenced as such.

Maybe try engaging your brain before making down right offensive and stupid points.

[1864roverite]

I dont know Imy, he has it spot on without being racist, arabphobic or whatever.

They have a background of Sharia Law, amputate limbs for theft, stone women for adultery in public and still carry out beheadings.

Everyone knows they dont tolerate failure sp what is your point exactly?

[leftfooter]

"I don't want to upset the mods on here, but I daresay in the past that Arabs haven't been noted for their tolerance, understanding, equanimity and patience. Indeed Robert Kilroy-Silk five years ago suggested that such people were women repressors and limb amputators."

So an entire race of people tarnished in one sweeping statement, I daresay you had much to say when the good Doc was on board, considering he IS a criminal and has been sentenced as such.

Maybe try engaging your brain before making down right offensive and stupid points.

Here's another sweeping statement Imy; more books are translated annually in Spain than have been translated in the entire history of the Arab world.

Source: Financial Times summer 2001.

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

I daresay you had much to say when the good Doc was on board, considering he IS a criminal and has been sentenced as such.

Absolutely. I was very strongly critical of the thuggery of Dr Thaksin Shinawatra, whose torture methods in Thailand apparently included having people beaten to death and also burning people's hands and feet with hot coals.

(See the link here)

There was no desire to tarnish an entire set of people - the repulsive Shinawatra is not an Arab - however a lot of people have concerns over the beliefs, methods and repression of Sheikhs in places like Abu Dhabi. I'm sorry imy if you are sensitive to the concerns that many people have.

Moving back on to football matters, so as not to divert the thread, Mark Hughes is currently the third favourite with the bookmakers to be the next Premiership manager to leave his post. The current favourite is Tony Adams at 1/2. Nicko has suggested that Portsmouth recently had a crisis meeting where the board were split on whether or not to replace Adams.

Gareth Southgate is the second favourite at 11/2. However 'Boro chairman Steve Gibson is noted for being patient with his managers - unlike Dr Shinawatra. I feel that Gibson may keep faith with Southgate until the end of the season.

Hughes is the third favourite to be the next to go at 6/1 with Sky Bet.

A full list of the current odds is here

[Rover4ever]

I dont know Imy, he has it spot on without being racist, arabphobic or whatever.

They have a background of Sharia Law, amputate limbs for theft, stone women for adultery in public and still carry out beheadings.

Everyone knows they dont tolerate failure sp what is your point exactly?

While clubs here are very intolerant of managers they dont like; its not uncommon to hear of people getting the sack 3 games into the season, I am really curious as to when there ever was an amputation or stoning or beheading in the entire UAE....given that I missed inspite of living here 20+ years.....

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

I dont know Imy, he has it spot on without being racist, arabphobic or whatever.

They have a background of Sharia Law, amputate limbs for theft, stone women for adultery in public and still carry out beheadings.

Everyone knows they dont tolerate failure sp what is your point exactly?

Really? Can you provide any real proof of this?

(The Sun won't count).

[philipl]

Some of the posts on here are risible.

It is a bit like arguing that because an evangelical fundamentalist President in the USA was all for starting wars and torturing people in the USA, you will get waterboarded if you spend a night in Blackburn nick.

As has already been pointed out Jack Walker fired Don Mackay far more quickly for the same things that Hughes is guilty of:

- taking the team downwards as opposed to promoting them to another level

- being perceived as a problem when it comes to signing the top players your project needs.

I suspect that reports that Mansoor is preparing a far more fundamental set of changes at City are correct and that six months from now none of Cook, Aldridge or Hughes will still be there.

As to Sparky the Manager I listened to the Times podcast for the first time last night as audio wallpaper when doing other things and two things struck me as being spot on:

1) You cannot win in the Premier League with a team of smurfs. City are physically very small players in midfield and up front. A big team like Stoke just needed to be well organised and stand strong and City had no answer. In this respect you have to wonder at the loaning out of Jo whilst if true, you have to put City back in the at risk of relegation category. There is no shortage of physically big well-organised tough PL teams.

2) Sparky the player gave everything when he was on the field. He could communicate and enforce that work ethic when he was amongst players who respected him but he is totally lost when it comes to the skills needed to coach City's Brazilians and a bunch of kids who already believe they are the new Chelsea.

That second point I think applied to Ince in spades who was doubly hampered in not having the work ethic himself and must have looked massively defficient in every respect to players who had just been coached by Hughes and co.

[thenodrog]

2) Sparky the player gave everything when he was on the field. He could communicate and enforce that work ethic when he was amongst players who respected him but he is totally lost when it comes to the skills needed to coach City's Brazilians and a bunch of kids who already believe they are the new Chelsea.

That second point I think applied to Ince in spades who was doubly hampered in not having the work ethic himself and must have looked massively defficient in every respect to players who had just been coached by Hughes and co.

Oh I don't know. He was respected by the players at Macclesfield.

[leftfooter]

Really? Can you provide any real proof of this?

(The Sun won't count).

Since you asked ADB I did a little bit of research and found the website: uae prison.com

The website claims inter alia that justice in the United Arab Emirates is subject to the whims of the Manchester City lovin' (and Tal Ben Haim a' hatin') royal family who rule these areas with an iron fist. Torture is practiced, human rights are ignored, and the court systems are subject to influence and duress by the royal family and corruption in general.

http://www.uaetorture.com/

Not quite in the public beheading and stoning Champions League placings currently occupied by the likes of Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Iran (technically not Arab) but certainly in with a shout of a UEFA position in respect to lack of democracy and civil dissent.

Let's not forget, UAE is regarded as one of the most enlightened and progressive Arab countries in the world.

Comparatively, it is!

[leftfooter]

Some of the posts on here are risible.

It is a bit like arguing that because an evangelical fundamentalist President in the USA was all for starting wars and torturing people in the USA, you will get waterboarded if you spend a night in Blackburn nick.

Honestly Philip, if you're juxtaposing a handful of Guantanamo jihadis (who were in the main captured on the battlefield) with endemic human rights abuses, suppression of democracy and civil dissent then you should really stick to the finances.

Let's look at one homely example of what the Abu Dhabi royal family use their money for when not promoting themselves (and Islam and Arab culture generally) over at Middle Eastlands.

The Zayed International Centre for Co-ordination and Follow-Up, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, was established in 1999. The centre was named in honour of UAE President Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan with the aim of funding Islamic Cultural, Scientific research, health and educational institutions. On its website (http://www.zccf.org.ae/) the Zayed Centre claimed to be 'the official think-tank of the League of Arab States, an association of 22 Arab nations' as the fulfillment of the vision of Sheikh Zayed".

The 'International Religious Freedom Report 2004', issued by the US Department on September 15, accused the centre of "providing a platform for some anti-Semitic individuals" and "publishing...books with anti-Semitic themes." One book published by the centre claimed that the American government masterminded the September 11 attacks, hosted notorious Holocaust deniers, and featured a lecture by a Saudi professor who claimed that Jews use gentile blood for holiday pastries.

In 2003 Harvard University's School of Divinity was forced to return a 2.5 million dollar donation made by the Zayed Center to fund an Islamic Studies Chair, after the Islamo facist agenda of the Zayed Center was revealed and thousands of peoples signed a petition urging Harvard to return the 'tainted money'.

Faced with these publicly embarrassing disclosures the government of the UEA announced the closure of the Zayed Center in August 2003. The closure followed increased attention by the international community to the extremist speakers featured at the Zayed Center podium.

Like the Dubai based Maktoums and the Saudis, the Abu Dhabis are interested only in exporting their own brand of fundamentalist Islam. The aim is to ingratiate themselves with a gullible western public, who are either happy to be indulged, bribed or flattered in to to the lavish petro dollar financed tent. Whilst many of these despots are publicly funding the likes of the useful idiots at Citeh, they are by the same token funding the indoctrination of Moslems in this country and abroad. They teach worshippers and students to despise the West, the Jews and democracy (not necessarily in that order).

Sponsorship is via Gulf/Saudi trained mullahs who preach this venemous message through thousands of Gulf funded mosques and madrassahs.

Their ultimate aim is to replace floodlights with minarets.

This is why they are in it.

If you think an elected President, for a defined term, of the United States, who's powers are circumscribed by the Judiciary, Congress and the Constitution is on a par with unelected desert despots driven by Jihadi principles then you are either stupid, naive or both.

[philipl]

I am sorry but that is absolute rubbish.

The police system in the Emirates was set up by a lad from Accrington by the way.

[leftfooter]

I am sorry but that is absolute rubbish.

The police system in the Emirates was set up by a lad from Accrington by the way.

Name me one Arab nation Philip that respects human or civil rights, freedom of thought and worship such as are enshrined by law and in the US Constitution?

[BuckyRover]

Sparky