[Archived] Sparky - Not A Great Manager?

[philipl]

And Mark Hughes...

Gosh some people seem incapable of sticking to the subject at hand in their desire to parade their ignorance.

[philipl]

An interesting apologia for not getting RSC from a City old timer.

The problem with his argument is that when Summerbee and Lee were doing there stuff, there was one centre half and not two and if the centre half was above 6 ft tall he was a giant.

One marked change over the past twenty years is that lack of significant height (above 6 ft) now rules players out of about half the positions in most PL teams.

[Majiball]

One marked change over the past twenty years is that lack of significant height (above 6 ft) now rules players out of about half the positions in most PL teams.

Sorry Phil, not trolling.

Funny how we seem to hang on to height here and on the continent they really only consider height key for two positions, Goalies and centre backs. Dutch clubs place Mental and Vision/perception skills above talent and Physhical comes in fourth (last).

[philipl]

Interesting point.

I think the Big 4 have reached such a level that they can have everything. I believe Ronaldo is 6ft 2ins for instance.

One thing you notice when playing the Big 4 is just how physically strong they are and the way they disposess the opposition one-on-one pretty well all the time when facing non-Big 4 opposition.

In last year's Champions League, they did this to all the big name European opposition as well- Arsenal destroyed AC Milan not just for skill and pace but AC couldn't live with the physical pressure either.

This is why whenever I watch City, even when they were pasting Pompey 6-0, they looked a million miles away from being a challenger to the Big 4. Villa on the other hand are getting there and Everton pose far more problems than City ever do.

[gumboots]

Sorry Phil, not trolling.

Funny how we seem to hang on to height here and on the continent they really only consider height key for two positions, Goalies and centre backs. Dutch clubs place Mental and Vision/perception skills above talent and Physhical comes in fourth (last).

But whilst the majority of premier league teams have tall players then having small ones is usually a disadvantage. Remember going to Highbury in the season we got promoted and lost to Arsenal in the cup. They brought on Henry and vierra off the bench and they were massive. City suffer because unless they get the ball right over the top to quick runners when they need to make a clearance the opposition centre halves will just mop up those high balls all day. It's ok having forwards and midfielders who can play the ball on the ground but they have to get it there and keep it there, because once the opposition get it they have the option of playing it on the ground or putting up high balls that City can't deal with. It's about options. Teams with height have them. teams without have fewer.

[Majiball]

Not gonna argue when looking at it from the perspective of a team, but when looking at it from the point of an individual its becomes far less important.

[philipl]

Not gonna argue when looking at it from the perspective of a team, but when looking at it from the point of an individual its becomes far less important.

Fair enough.

But it does leave me totally puzzled as to why Sparky didn't go for the kill in signing Roque right at the start of the window.

Very odd behaviour indeed.

[Majiball]

Fair enough.

But it does leave me totally puzzled as to why Sparky didn't go for the kill in signing Roque right at the start of the window.

Very odd behaviour indeed.

I also don't get the loan of Jo, with no RSC signing. Rubbish so far he may have been but he was Hughes best Ariel option.

Odd behaviour since he left us has been the norm. All our staff, all our data and the rest, using his inside contacts/knowledge to try and do us over, I never expected that of Hughes, never.

[gumboots]

I also don't get the loan of Jo, with no RSC signing. Rubbish so far he may have been but he was Hughes best Ariel option.

Odd behaviour since he left us has been the norm. All our staff, all our data and the rest, using his inside contacts/knowledge to try and do us over, I never expected that of Hughes, never.

Nice to know he met his match then in the chairman and club he thought he could deal with with such absolute contempt.

[Majiball]

Fortunately I only know one City fan, he was very keen for RSC to come, and persistent in his bragging of how we would fold in our stance.

I'm delighted RSC is still here.

He got his text message on Monday at 5pm putting his big gob back in its rightful place.

[philipl]

Bayern Munich's Uli Hoeness slags off City for signing a bunch of flops

[gumboots]

Bayern Munich's Uli Hoeness slags off City for signing a bunch of flops

I think that's harsh in view of the fact that we all know what belamy can do if motivated, fit and played in the right system. However, he is not a 14 million pound player so I guess he could be right.

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

Another one of Sparky's boys is arrested again....

Following the news last week that Brazilian striker Robinho was arrested over an alleged sex attack on a University student in a Leeds nightclub, it's been reported today that defender Micah Richards has become the second City player to be arrested this year.

Richards was arrested yesterday over an alleged assault on a man outside a nightclub in Hale, Greater Manchester.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "A 20-year-old man has been arrested after an assault outside a Hale nightclub, at about 12.30am on December 24 2008. The man was arrested on suspicion of assault on Wednesday February 4. He has been bailed until April 8 pending further inquiries."

In January 2008 it was reported that Micah Richards had been told by his club bosses to stay away from Manchester's city centre nightlife. This followed an incident a year ago when a downmarket tabloid newspaper claimed that Richards had filmed himself and a friend allegedly "roasting" a girl in the toilets of a nightclub.

Pictures emerged of a grinning Richards in the toilets after he and a friend had allegedly performed sordid sex acts on the teenage girl.

The Daily Mirror reported in January 2008 that there were concerns among Man City's bosses that Richards could lose his focus because of a champagne-bling lifestyle. "They go to nightclubs and flash the cash, order bottles of champagne and draw unwanted attention to themselves," a source told The Mirror.

A rather distasteful lifestyle if the reports are true. I would hope that Mark Hughes would take a dim view of such conduct if it was proven.

Link: 'Bad lad' Richards warned to stay away from Manchester's nightclubs

Link: The news today that Richards has been arrested for assault

[gumboots]

I also don't get the loan of Jo, with no RSC signing. Rubbish so far he may have been but he was Hughes best Ariel option.

Perhaps he prefers Daz?

[dj54nna]

Surely not, he's too Bold a character.

[Gus Gus]

Seems like every day, or at least several times a week, there is a story/comments in the media about Sparky. He comes across like he's saying "Please don't fire me, please please please." He must be under a lot of pressure. Surely he will be sacked in the summer at the very latest.

[thenodrog]

Seems like every day, or at least several times a week, there is a story/comments in the media about Sparky. He comes across like he's saying "Please don't fire me, please please please." He must be under a lot of pressure. Surely he will be sacked in the summer at the very latest.

He does appear to have aged considerably this past year.

[rebelmswar]

He does appear to have aged considerably this past year.

Fear for your appendages does that to a man.

[Majiball]

Perhaps he prefers Daz?

LOL.

[jodrell]

Is it good or bad news for sparky and santa

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/1409...GE-OR-QUIT.html

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/1776...NT-SCOLARI.html

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

Sparky unhappy with Pele accusing Robinho of taking drugs....

Pele has been quoted as claiming that both Robinho and his Brazilian team-mate Ronaldo have taken recreational drugs. Comments broadcast by a Brazilian radio station have caused a stir with Pele also accusing Diego Maradona, a former cocaine addict, of being a "bad example". Pele cited Kaka, Michel Platini and Franz Beckenbauer as ideal role models to follow.

After Man City's 1-0 win over Sunderland, Mark Hughes hit out at Pele, saying: "He needs to be very careful saying things that have not been substantiated."

A spokesman for Robinho said: "We strenuously refute any such suggestions." The Man City striker has also strenuously denied claims that he raped a student at a nightclub in Leeds.

Link: Pele claims Ronaldo and Robinho took drugs

Stan Collymore - not exactly a wonderful role-model himself - having by his own admission in his autobiography punched his former girlfriend Ulrika Jonsson and also participated in rather seedy sexual acts of 'dogging' in car parks, said last month that Robinho was "a disgrace" who would get Mark Hughes the sack.

Speaking after a feeble away performance from Robinho at Fratton Park against Portsmouth last month, Collymore said: "Robinho and Elano weren't interested in playing for their team, and for me, they are putting intense pressure on Hughes to be sacked."

Collymore said: "It's clear to me that Robinho and Elano don't want to play for Hughes, and instead of talking it through behind closed doors, they are putting it out there for everyone to see in their performances."

Link: "Disgraceful Robinho will get Hughes the sack," says Collymore

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

Hughes under pressure as Mr Al Mubarak pays a rare visit to Manchester...

According to a report in The Guardian, the Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is to travel to England for City's Uefa Cup quarter-final 2nd leg against Hamburg on Thursday and will make an assessment as to whether Mark Hughes still has the backing of the club's supporters.

City have lost five of their last six matches and there was a chorus of boos at the City of Manchester Stadium at the end of their 1-3 home defeat to Fulham on Sunday.

Hughes was barracked by supporters throughout City's lacklustre performance against Fulham, with fans chanting "You don't know what you're doing" at the manager.

The natives at Eastlands are getting restless, with fans unhappy at recent results and Hughes's decision to leave Robinho on the bench for the Fulham game. Vocal dissent from City fans included chants for Robinho to be brought on and and shouts of "Hughesy, sort it out".

During the period that Alex Ferguson has been at Old Trafford since November 1986, Manchester City have had no less than sixteen different managers - Jimmy Frizzell, Mel Machin, Tony Book, Howard Kendall, Peter Reid, Brian Horton, Alan Ball, Asa Hartford, Steve Coppell, Phil Neal, Frank Clark, Joe Royle, Kevin Keegan, Stuart Pearce, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Mark Hughes.

If, as seems likely, City are knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Hamburg on Thursday, then it will increase the pressure on Hughes, who has spent over £120m in the transfer market this season, but is currently in a worse league position at the moment than Eriksson managed - who was sacked last summer for finishing 9th.

Whether Man City will soon be looking for their 17th different manager since November 1986 remains to be seen. The Arabs have been publicly supportive of Hughes, but that could change if vocal dissent at Eastlands increases.

Mr Al Mubarak hasn't been seen at a City match since they were beaten 1-0 by Stoke at the Britannia Stadium in January. He is travelling to England for the Hamburg match on Thursday - travelling by plane not on a camel.

Link to Guardian report here - Hughes feels the heat as Mubarak flies in

[philipl]

"Mr Al Mubarak hasn't been seen at a City match since they were beaten 1-0 by Stoke at the Britannia Stadium in January. He is travelling to England for the Hamburg match on Thursday - travelling by plane not on a camel." From the post above.

But AESF goes to matches wearing clogs and a flat cap with a whippet tied on a piece of string...

[den]

There's nothing in that report Smithy, that backs the claim that he's going to assess the reaction of the fans.

Pure speculation.

[gillibrand]

"Mr Al Mubarak hasn't been seen at a City match since they were beaten 1-0 by Stoke at the Britannia Stadium in January. He is travelling to England for the Hamburg match on Thursday - travelling by plane not on a camel." From the post above.

But AESF goes to matches wearing clogs and a flat cap with a whippet tied on a piece of string...

Is that what smithy wears everytime you see him at Ewood?