...I know there have been many people on here for the past few days saying Hughes needs to go, but is that really going to work for the better? Does changing the manager so early after giving him so much backing really worth it? As some will have read from my match report I, like many others was left fuming after the Wet Spam game, and still am. It was a ridiculous performance against one of the newly promoted sides. However, I also explained I am still in support of Hughes, for now anyway. But the point of this thread is to try to emphasise the positive, and all round impact Hughes has had on the club, most not even seen by us fans. When Hughes came in the club was pretty much on its knees in terms of backroom staff and organisation, not to mention the poor state of affairs on the pitch. He kept us up (however you put it we stayed up). I dont buy the argument that is was more luck than anything - we beat Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool, Stoke and Swansea at home in a run that did save us. Hughes got the tactics and gameplan spot on in all five games. THAT kept us up. In the summer he brought in countless members of his trusted staff to overhaul the clubs academy, scouting system and first team staff. People like Mike Rigg who is in charge of the academy overhaul - a crucial step in the right direction. He is certainly one of hughes's men. And that academy system that in time will complete, is a proven system at Man City. Hughes has also overseen a complete restructure of the first team playing squad, something never seen in such a short space of time. How many of our squad have been here less than a year? It takes time to build the squad together and to get the players used to eachothers thinking and split second decisions. We have already seen this season some bright sparks, and yes, some worrying times. But Hughes teams have a history of starting slowly and turning round. I remember Fulham were in the bottom 5 around christmas and came back strongly to finish in the top 10. Things take time, and are none of the points above are a quick fix. To make so many changes all at once is bound to cause disruption and take time to bed in, but as they say - good things come to those who wait. Lets give Hughes time to get it right - he is a good manager and one with considerable experience. What good will sacking him do? We will be right back to square one again and will all his staff want to stick around and continue the project? Perhaps, but also maybe not. Can we afford to take that massive step back? The negative points of Hughes time at the helm have been raised on here already, but in time I am sure Hughes will get it right.
Spot on Judo. I was bitterly disappointed on Monday night but even then couldn't get round to the idea of changing managers.
far too early to be changing managers anyone remember the revolving door and how nice to read something positive for a change
Well that's one view judo and I respect your opinion however for me just sticking with a bloke who hasn't delivered an away win ever at this club and who continually plays the right players in the wrong places and leaves key players on the bench due to his ego cuts no ice with me Finally yes winning those home games in that run in was key, but so was stoke winning on the last day. Hughes didn't deliver us premiership safety, it was a combination of other factors outside his control I personally lost respect when he started making 'promises' that he can't guarantee. That's the domain of 2 faced politicians Let's just all come together and pray for a win or at least a bloody point on saturday
how far away are the injured players from returning two weeks off soon for g*****g anyway we will win the next game
I'll continue to criticise him where it's warranted, because he just hasn't performed this season for me but I won't call for his head (yet) because we don't need another change and another 2 months of 'gelling'.
You're probably right that it's too early to sack Hughes, but I don't share your surety that he will "get it right". I said that I'd not call for his dismissal until we'd lost three games on the trot, though... but I certainly did not expect those three games to come about thst quickly. It was not unreasonable of me to expect home wins (or at least draws) against Reading and West Ham, was it? As with most other PL seasons, relegation or survival will probably be decided on the results within the mini-league of about 6-8 clubs. Whilst Reading was a cup tie, we might find that the losses to the Hammers and Swansea will cost us dearly in May. Mind you, our record was poor against our fellow strugglers last time out, and it was more our surprising home form against the likes of Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool that did the trick. So who know? If TF does oust Hughes this season though, I hope he does it late-Nov/early-Dec to at least give his successor time to assess the playing staff he inherits and tinker with formations, tactics etc. before we have another wholesale spending spree in January.
Superb post Judo. No doubt that frustration is building among the fans and understandably so. Your points on MH are spot on IMO. We need to give him time. It would help however if he at least played our best players. I think that he is caught in a vicious circle at the moment. He is picking our hard working players to try and grind out points and its not working. At this stage he might as well go for broke and play our flair players and at least give it a proper go. His job now depends on it.
Sorry don't agree Judo. I don't think he got our tactics right against Liverpool, when they p*ssed all over us in 70 odd minutes before his forced subs came on, or Spurs when only Adel's free kick and Friedel's error gave us the points, or Stoke when we struggled about the whole game, or WBA away, a game we could have and thought we needed to win but where we were way over cautious and without any fire, or Chelsea away and lost 6-1. Then how many points did we take from the "easier games" last winter. No, I think Hughes has been poor since he arrived apart from some good purchases, and arguably the back room. he's had plenty of time and to date this season it seems to only get worse. Hope we are already looking for his replacement.
I think the knives will be out if he starts SWP and Park yet again against WBA. It would be clear that his stubborness will lose us games. Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.
Only they didn't win - it was a draw - I was there! http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/144725-Just-back-from-the-Britannia
Morning Sku - yes you're right there, my memory is in the same shape as our defence these days. You know what I meant though, all those stunning home wins would have counted for nowt if Crouchie hadn't done the business for us.
Managerial revolving door, that's insanity. If at first you don't succeed, try try try again; that's not insanity. Practice makes perfect. He made changes but too late. That happens in life. He brought on Diakete, he got a red. Stick with him, he will get it right. Eventually. And in time.
Thats one game, what about all the others? What about starting SWP and Park on the wing virtually every game?
He's had six PL games with virtually a new squad, his defence has been ravaged by injuries. Yes he has made serious errors but if he is sacked how many games should his successor be allowed; six too? At that rate we would end up with six for the season and possibly a caretaker for the last two. Im as disappointed as anybody else here, bit a change at this stage would be damaging and pointless; the new man would have to start from scratch. I think we have no choice but to stick with him for now, at least until January (although I personally would give him the season) and stop wasting energy and deflecting support in the meantime; it's counter-productive.
