[Archived] Sparky - Not A Great Manager?

[DE.]

I can't see Hughes being there next season. Rich new owners don't care about stability, they just want instant success. Hughes has had a lot of issues this season, and the team have not performed for him in enough matches. I get the feeling the owners will not feel he is the correct man to handle the 'big' players, aka the ones that are liable to throw their toys out of the pram when they don't get their way.

[Mr. E]

7th placed or sacked?? Surely City need European football to attract top, top players??

There are those who simply go there for another 0 or two to their bank accounts - Robinhio, Given prime examples.

Very glad that City are out though. Hopefully Hughes will get the sack soon.

[Hughesy]

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes will be given one more season to prove himself at Eastlands. (Daily Telegraph)

Good News for us if true.

[Billy Castell]

I think I'm with the majority here and want Hughes to stay long enough to buy RSC for £20m+ (or £15m+Sturridge and Fernandes), and in time for us to strengthen our squad. After that, I'm not too bothered. And I'd hate Robinho to play for us, he seems a right rotten egg.

[Majiball]

I agree totally about stability. + £20m would be good!

If I was in charge id get rid of Robinho - he just seems to undermine the manager because of who he is.

Well I'm glad he has one more year, the arabs have surprised me with that one, perhaps they do listen.

I would not be surprised to see Robinho leave in the summer, and good ridance. I've gone to watch him a few times this season and the only time he impressed was aginst us. At 30M+ I'd rate him worst signing of the season.

[CAPT KAYOS]

Coming back to the game last night - did nobody else feel similarities to our game against Bayern Levrkusen with the chances going to waste etc.

[Ozz]

Cap-I thought that also last night, uncanny! Also the game at home against Larissa, 3-1 down after the home leg, early goal for the away team then a goal just before half time etc. Very similar.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Talking with a friend of mine who's well in at City, the feeling amongst some of the players is that Hughes won't be there next season. Martin Jol's name has been mentioned as a replacement.

[thenodrog]

Talking with a friend of mine who's well in at City, the feeling amongst some of the players is that Hughes won't be there next season. Martin Jol's name has been mentioned as a replacement.

Richest club in the world seems like a rather hasty appraisal with that news doesn't it?

btw Do the city 'faithful' still wear tea towels around their heads?

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

An article in yesterday's Guardian claimed that "While Hughes has received ­assurances about his job security from City's ­billionaire owners in Abu Dhabi, the ­manager's relationship with a number of senior players has been tested to the extreme."

The article claimed that "Earlier this season Hughes ­identified a small but influential group of ­dressing-room troublemakers after discovering they had held a meeting about his ­methods."

Hughes was reportedly involved in a training ground confrontation with Micah Richards during the week, with the City defender disobeying the instructions of Hughes to join the players for a meeting following the end of a training session.

While Hughes and Richards have now apparently kissed and made up after their heated row, there remains concerns over whether the City players are fully responding to Hughes's managerial methods, with Sparky keen to impose more of a disciplinarian regime since taking over from the softer and more lenient Sven‑Goran Eriksson.

A link to the Guardian article I'm referring to is here

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

It obviously doesn't pay to get on the wrong side of the new owners. There's a story in the Sunday Observer today about a guy that fell foul of them. He was beaten up with a plank with a nail in it, had a cattle prom shoved up his back side,had lighter fuel poured over his testicles and set alight. Finally they ran over and broke his legs with a car !

Not surprisingly the guy isn't pressing charges !

[RibbleValleyRover]

I don't think Hughes will be there at the start of the season, too many ego's both in the dressing room and on the board. You just get the feeling that the owners will always back the big name players over Hughes if there is a major bustup.

Theres some more speculation about what happened between Richards and Hughes in The People today:

http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html

"The pair clashed when Hughes accused the defender of laughing during a team meeting.

And Richards was furious that his gaffer then labelled him a "f****** d***" in front of shocked team-mates.

Richards responded by telling Hughes that none of his players liked him, before angrily storming off."

===

It wouldn't surprise me if this is true, Richards comes across as a bit of a big time charlie and we all know how vocal and aggressive Hughes can be.

[thenodrog]

I don't think Hughes will be there at the start of the season, too many ego's both in the dressing room and on the board. You just get the feeling that the owners will always back the big name players over Hughes if there is a major bustup.

Theres some more speculation about what happened between Richards and Hughes in The People today:

http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html

"The pair clashed when Hughes accused the defender of laughing during a team meeting.

And Richards was furious that his gaffer then labelled him a "f****** d***" in front of shocked team-mates.

Richards responded by telling Hughes that none of his players liked him, before angrily storming off."

===

It wouldn't surprise me if this is true, Richards comes across as a bit of a big time charlie and we all know how vocal and aggressive Hughes can be.

From what I have seen lately Richards career peaked 2 years ago. Big time big headed Charlie with associated attitude problems. He'll be as large as Titus Bramble soon.

[blue/white]

Ex. Argentina Mgr. Alfio Basile has confirmed that Man City ownership

has made an approach to determine level of interest in Sparky's job.

Source: Ole Sports daily.

That would be brillant, now Robininho can get that octogenarian wingman he's been

crying for. If the Toon do drop, this might be just the ticket for those of us that enjoy a good cockup

as Basile can be labelled the homeless mans' Scolari.

[1864roverite]

Lets see how good a manager he is in this weekend build up to our visit to coms. I wonder how much he will slate us off and bring to the fore the memories of having to unearth diamonds and do his job properly without the billions of pounds from the arabic backers.

after all, with all of his resources he still only finds himself 7 points clear of Rovers having spent £100m on stars.

[leftfooter]

Lets see how good a manager he is in this weekend build up to our visit to coms. I wonder how much he will slate us off and bring to the fore the memories of having to unearth diamonds and do his job properly without the billions of pounds from the arabic backers.

after all, with all of his resources he still only finds himself 7 points clear of Rovers having spent £100m on stars.

I can understand his frustration with the owners/trustees, but his indifference (at best) to the club itself has led to the lowering of my estimation for the man. Compare that with Souness' positive ('proper club') spin about us, despite bailing on us in similar circumstances.

[Eddie]

The Souness and Hughes post-job comparison is a good one. Even when Souness still had a job he said nice things about us. Also have to note that they left under very different circumstances: Hughes had a squad that was, for the most part, moving in the right direction and was lured away by the prospect of extra money, whereas Souness was close to the sack and had an escape route from a relegation fight. Both disappointed me for the clubs they chose to go to, but I continue to lose respect for Hughes every time he opens his mouth.

[Guest Vinjay606]

Hughes was always arrogant. Not really surprised if he is being indifferent. I no longer really pay attention to anything he says about this club.

[tony gale's mic]

As a manager, I still hold Sparky in the same regard as I did when he left Ewood. Yes things haven't gone well at City but it's a very strange situation to manage in and he hasn't had time to mould the squad really with last summers goings on.

As a man though he's massively dropped in my estimation too.

[JC4LAB]

Citys Bluemoon forum is the one to visit if you wish to see what the fans think of Hughsie and the Santa scenrario..Their (names for Big sam thread is quite funny)In Todays MEN says he has" a soft spot for Blackburn" and left " to experience greater pressure and expectation "..Wonder what next for Husghie if if City do get rid...In can see him at Cardiff one day..Just the man to bring them to the Premiership

[philipl]

Oh dear, is this sparky's ultimate boss?

[leftfooter]

Oh dear, is this sparky's ultimate boss?

I last highlighted this matter 4th February Philip. This was your response back then:

QUOTE (philipl @ Feb 4 2009, 10:41 )

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.

This is what I wrote that so provoked your contempt:

"...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. ..."

What's changed?

[Billy Castell]

All I know is that the UAE is one of the better Arab/Persian countries, but that is a relative term. The ruling class of businessmen and royalty hold all the power, and the labourers and Philipina maids get treated like crap. If you break the rules, you find out that their justice system is pretty dire.

[sanlorenzo]

Does anyone know where RSC is? Is he back training yet and what is the status of his recovery? Would love to see him on the pitch for at least the last 2 matches. Am I dreaming?

[den]

Does anyone know where RSC is? Is he back training yet and what is the status of his recovery? Would love to see him on the pitch for at least the last 2 matches. Am I dreaming?

Rocky's desperate to prove his recouperration from his knee surgery. Given even a half chance, he'll be there for the last couple of games.