I don’t think Hughes is the greatest manager out there, but he’s an improvement for me on Puel and MP2. I think the key phrase used above is that he “has created a team”. He deserves the job, absolutely, and it’ll be very interesting to see if he can keep a team in slightly less emotionally intense circumstances.
Whatever happens the board are in a difficult position. If they don't offer Hughes a contract, bring someone else in and they start off poorly in their first 10 games, the pitchforks will be out. Offer him a deal, and then say the same happens again with our previous two appointments. Unless there is someone out there that the board really like, and can get them to come here, sticking with Hughes for another season isn't the worst idea in the world.
No manager is going to come to us, That is well reputated... And I imagine a lot of fans still think we could allure another Koeman.., People need to manage our expectations. We clearly need to rebuild..., And with Hughes at the helm for a couple of years.. We wil have stability.. I'd bite your arms off for a couple of 9th place finishes now!
IMO, if we stay stable for two years we are more likely to finish 9th place in Championship two years from now than we are in PL. We are on a sinking ship. We need massive instability to reverse direction. Not saying that the change has to be at manager, just that aiming for stability is completely the wrong goal.
Yeah, the difference between my assessment of the teams talent and current direction vs others is probably what accounts for my relatively cool mood towards Hughes. I want big changes, starting at the top with the people hiring Hughes in the first place.
I get most of your points and agree with them, but why after inheriting a poor team and having done the job, by any means possible, in looking likely to keep us up, would next seasons play replicate the level and style of play of this last 8 games? Hughes had little time to make things pretty, and given time to develop a strategy, I don’t know, say over the off season perhaps, could integrate what he currently wants to keep, get others he wants to play a new system to improve upon what he built in the short term.
Yep. Hughes has done what he was asked to do, and kept us in the division. As job interviews/workplace assessments go, it's hard to envisage a better outcome. Ffs let's not wait six weeks before appointing someone completely unproven in the PL. That would be intolerable.
Because he's not Luis Suarez and he can't carry a team on his own. He's been our best player all season, but without the outlets around him. He doesn't go missing, but he can't shine in s team that's gone missing. Hughes is as close to another Koeman as we will get - both were legends as players, both have been a bit hit and miss as managers. The first was an excellent fit for us; I see no reason why the latter can't be either.
What do you mean by your first sentence? When was the last time we appointed a manager with a good reputation? I agree with your other comment.
Hughes seems to have got something close to his best out of him, something which Pellegrino er......didn't. Think Tadic could work well with a certain Swiss footballer at Sparky's former club.
I understand Mark Bowen and big Edd have a very good reputation in the game. Like Hughes great PL experience and we are getting a complete package. They managed the Swansea hotel/escort debacle very well and fired up the team. I would say an improvement on Eric Black and some of the boys MP 2 had in place. Like most are saying, they deserve their chance, if they want it next season. I really like how he has conducted himself and his determination so far, and I really want it to work out for him. If he gets it right on the pitch who knows where he could take us.
Short term contract - no more than two years. He got Stoke to mid table but stagnated. They were glad to see the back of him. There will be some big names applying - ANY premier league club is a major pull for a decent manager.
Did Hughes stagnate or was it the club. I don't know enough about them but the investment in players seemed like he had his hands tied. Taking over from pulis was never easy and he changed their style with the resources he had. Lambert had time to improve things there but he couldn't either. I think they got what they deserved.
That is complete bollocks. Outside of the top 8, any team can finish in any position in the Premier League these days. Just takes something relatively minor, like the right manager, a good team spirit, or a 20+ goal striker. There is every possibility we could even end up top eight next season. No one would be surprised by this.
Most pundits seem to be surprised at our position in the premier with the quality of players we have. While I'm not the best followers of pundits, with so many saying that or similar. Perhaps they are not far off with the truth. I would agree we have had two very ****ty seasons but the majority of the players were with us in the good days. I'm not saying we have the best we can get but what we have is not that bad. With the right additions in the closed season I cannot see any reason why we cannot be up the top half. Assuming of course the board get off their ass and start doing their jobs properly.........
