Indeed it is JM. Something cold, wet and alcoholic plus a Test Match later = a perfect day. Have a good one pal
ONB, Just had two falls and a submission with a washing machine door seal so looking forward to the cricket and a cold one myself, cheers mate.
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1461224?&cc=5739 Stoke City hope to discover on Monday whether Mark Hughes is willing to make a return to management at the Britannia Stadium, ESPN understands. Stoke chairman Peter Coates has made preliminary contact with the former Queens Park Rangers manager about making a return to the Premier League as Tony Pulis' successor. Coates held brief discussions with Hughes last week, and the Welshman asked to be given the weekend to consider the situation before letting the Potters know whether he wanted to be considered for the post. Hughes is eager to return to management after six months on the sidelines following his departure from Loftus Road, and is ambitious to rebuild his managerial reputation. It is believed he has strong support within the Stoke boardroom from Coates, his son John and chief executive Tony Scholes, all of whom are in favour of appointing the 49-year-old. The ex-Manchester United striker has been given a briefing on how Coates wants the new man at the helm to take the club in a fresh direction following the departure of Pulis. Stoke want a change of football philosophy and a more continental managerial structure after the recent appointment of technical director Mark Cartwright. It is understood Hughes has been told he would have to work with Cartwright and would not be allowed to bring in Mike Rigg - his technical director at a number of his former clubs, including QPR, Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers. That is believed to be one of the stumbling blocks for Hughes, as well as the fact that he will be asked to place a greater emphasis on the club's academy and producing home-grown players, with Coates looking to reduce the amount spent on transfers. Departing director of football John Rudge has confirmed the desire of the Coates family to implement changes, saying: "They are trying to change the structure of the club to take it away from the more traditional approach to a more continental approach. "That means the club dictating the policy more and the manager getting on with the first team. "The manager, in the past, had control over players' contracts etc, but that's changing more to owners and chief executives. In general, they are definitely taking more responsibilities off the manager." If Hughes decides he wants to be considered for the post, Stoke hope to arrange a formal interview within the next couple of days. However, they also expect to speak to other candidates on their shortlist. Roberto Di Matteo, Gus Poyet and Malky Mackay remain under consideration, although Coates wants to accelerate the appointment process this week.
Good points, he is shocking hate to suggest this but mick McCarthy is a decent manager and you know the drill.
Mark "Sparkless" Hughes will probably go down in history as one of the worst managers in QPRs history. Was given loads of money to sign players of his choice after 6 months in charge and in doing so promised so much and delivered very little. Got rid of a load of players who were good as part of a team putting it all week in week out (Kenny, Smith Buszaky, Helgusson etc) and signed loads of has been mercenaries(Park, Zamora,Green, Boswinga, Cisse) and some players from abroad (Granero, Mbia, Diakate) who could just not cut it in the top flight. Having just managed to keep QPR up last year thanks to results elsewhere going our way he promised fans Never again will this be club in a relegation scrap whilst im in charge. 4pts in 14 games at the start of the season says it all and if he remained in charge I think we may have struggled to 15 pts all season.
Wouldn't wish Mark Hughes (great player though in his day) on anyone as a manager but good luck if he becomes your gaffer.
well the rumor mill is well in swing lets just wait and see what mr coates has in store and just ba k who ever he put i ther except mark hughes zorry mark ut you ha e failed to many times
Scary stuff all this and to be honest I'm totally peed off with the thought that this tool is even being considered for the Stoke job. If Coates and Co. appoint Hughes there will be riots down the Brit as a lot of the Stoke faithful have not forgiven Hughes for his comments against us whilst the Fulham manager and also his refusal to Shake Pulis's hand after a game. Lots of Hughes out stuff already and i cannot honestly see him being accepted whatsoever. I'm just hoping that Hughes is the bait to catch something bigger!
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/next-stoke-manager-mark-hughes-1918082 Cheap and cheerful: Stoke tell wannabe manager Mark Hughes to improve their football while cutting costs 28 May 2013 22:29 Potters' chiefs want a more expansive style and to replace high-earners Tony Pulis bought in with their own youngsters Mark Hughes will be under orders to slash Stoke’s budget and change the playing style if he is appointed as their new manager. Hughes spent Tuesday in lengthy negotiations with the Potters' hierarchy, who hope to confirm him as Tony Pulis' successor within the next 48 hours - as we revealed yesterday. The 49-year-old, who is set to agree a one-year rolling contract, will be expected to make radical changes from the Pulis regime. Hughes and fellow Welshman Pulis were bitter enemies after a string of touchline bust-ups and the irony is that the former will now be under orders to right the wrongs committed by his countryman. Pulis bought a string of high-earners and kept them on big deals, and chairman Peter Coates has made it clear he now wants the club to go in a “different direction.” That will mean more opportunity for younger players, greater emphasis on 'growing their own' via the academy and a look into cutting back on ageing players who have no resale value. Hughes, set to bring in his trusted backroom team of Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki, will work alongside Stoke's technical director Mark Cartwright. One of the big criticisms of Pulis’ reign was the direct style of play, and Hughes will be expected to play more expansive football. He is hoping a deal will be sealed by the weekend so he can start to rebuild his reputation after his QPR failure and win over fans whose reaction to his potential appointment has not been entirely positive.
I disagree, I think although the majority of fans will not be happy we will support the team/manager until there is a reason not to. People forget thy TP was never over popular at Stoke even when he was at his peak, yet the city backed the team all the way - we ain't B'burn or Chelskie.
God love you lot if that useless twat comes antwhere near your Club. I'm totally serious here. No Wumming involved. He will blame everything from the type of grass to overflying seagulls rather than take any responsibility himself for his total mis-management. The only salvation I see for you is that he is to be on a one year rolling contract(thats if it doesnt suddenly become a 7 year one to ensure your Club is never seen again)I'll admit it. When I heard he was coming to Loftus Rd, I went,Mmm, Mark Hughes, not bad. Never have I been more wrong in my life, ever. Sorry about this post, nothing positive here. Its just I really wouldn't wish him on my worst enemy. Pray he thinks he's too good to take the one year rolling contract, and then go and have the biggest piss up you've ever had to celebrate! That is all.
Going to be even more boring than I usually am; all the Coates family are worried about. is the SKY TV Money. To hell with the fans, as we have seen, people will roll up to the Brit, no matter what rubbish is served up in the name of football. Well for the past 3 seasons to be sure. It has been often said on here, rather than a pleasure it had become a job/chore. Season on season, same old rubbish and the same old excuses. Hughes, as our Irish friend correctly says, 'Hughes will blame everybody and everything but himself, same as Pulis, AND Benitaz by the way. There are very few totally honest managers around, Holloway springs to mind and strangely enough 'Arry (in regards to football results at least) I think that the only chance we have of Hughes NOT coming, is him having to work with Cartwright, not having the say in transfers and not been able to bring his 'Welsh Hangers-on' - We live in hope. I'll ask it again, Di Matteo appears to have dropped off the radar, wonder why?
Sorry to disappoint, Harold, according to him, hasn't been responsible for anything negative at QPR since he joined, especially not dropping 25 points out of the last 27. Players, the pitch, anything else has been blamed. I wouldn't recommend Hughes to anyone, but I don't recall him blaming anyone else for our disastrous start to last season, and we tried to play better football under him than Redknapp. And even Ollie, a great man, has been less than honest with fans of clubs, promising undying commitment then leaving 2 days later. Conclusion: there are NO honest men in football management.
