Hughes appointed City Manager

CHD

Well its official now!

jameshayes

Mark Hughes has been unveiled as the new manager of Manchester City.

City parted company with Sven-Goran Eriksson on Monday and were immediately given permission to talk to Blackburn manager Hughes, 44, with a compensation package agreed yesterday.

Hughes was also believed to be interesting Chelsea after a successful four years at Rovers but has opted to move to Eastlands on a three-year deal.

City’s new chief executive, Garry Cook, told [url]www.mcfc.co.uk:[/url] “I am delighted to welcome Mark on board. In our view he is the brightest young manager in the game and he was our number one target for the manager’s job.”

http://breakingnews.ie/sport/mhgbeyqlmhid/

Xavi6

"Leslie, Leslie give us a wave!"

Well chuffed.

Another double over us to look forward to next season I wonder....Sparks has always had a bogey factor over us.

Killme00

Great move for city and also for Sparky. Im sure he will be a sucess as long as he gets financial backing and as little interferance from above as possible. I think Dunne will stay now too.

estebancambias

A massive step back for City.

With Sven, they had a top manager, now they just have a decent one.

Xavi6

estebancambias wrote: »

A massive step back for City.

With Sven, they had a top manager, now they just have a decent one.

Sven was sacked for a number of reasons -

1. Our woeful post Christmas form
2. Ineptitude in the January window
3. Reluctance to change tactics when they clearly weren't working

I could go on. Frank is a ruthless business man who takes no shit, hence him sacking Sven for piss poor performances.

We will not lose 8-1 under Hughes.

Mitch Connor

maybe if it wasn't clear Sven was getting the sack you wouldn't have lost 8-1 under him either.

estebancambias

Xavi6 wrote: »

Sven was sacked for a number of reasons -

1. Our woeful post Christmas form
2. Ineptitude in the January window
3. Reluctance to change tactics when they clearly weren't working

I could go on. Frank is a ruthless business man who takes no shit, hence him sacking Sven for piss poor performances.

We will not lose 8-1 under Hughes.

Come on Xavi. Now Svens gone, so your man was completely right to sack SGE, and replace him with a guy who has really done nothing. If City wanted to take a step up, they would have gone for Mancini, Scolari, Rijkaard, Lippi etc.

Hughes could be a success, but SGE was taking that club in the right direction. He needed the summer to get rid of some of the deadwood, and players who didn't fit into his long term plan. Like the way Keane bought players to get them out of the Championship, Sven bought players to form a good base in the EPL. He achieved this getting into the top 10.

So what if Hughes doesn't get 4th, is this deemed an unsuccesful season for City?

_blank_

Where's your siggy gone, where's your siggy gone?

Xavi6

Tauren wrote: »

maybe if it wasn't clear Sven was getting the sack you wouldn't have lost 8-1 under him either.

Possibly but some managers would never lose 8-1 no matter what the situation.

estebancambias wrote: »

Come on Xavi. Now Svens gone, so your man was completely right to sack SGE, and replace him with a guy who has really done nothing. If City wanted to take a step up, they would have gone for Mancini, Scolari, Rijkaard, Lippi etc.

Hughes could be a success, but SGE was taking that club in the right direction. He needed the summer to get rid of some of the deadwood, and players who didn't fit into his long term plan. Like the way Keane bought players to get them out of the Championship.

So you realistically think that the likes of those managers would come to City? I don't.

Hughes has experience in the Premiership as well as at international level. Oh and he speaks English unlike most of those managers you mentioned. He's the best available realistic choice.

So what if Hughes doesn't get 4th, is this deemed an unsuccesful season for City?

What are you on about? Anywhere in Europe would be successful. Who mentioned Champions League?

Mr Alan

Xavi6 wrote: »

So you realistically think that the likes of those managers would come to City?

realistically i didnt think Sven would go to City being honest.

Hughes will **** off to Utd if he does any way decent with City too.

Xavi6

Mr Alan wrote: »

realistically i didnt think Sven would go to City being honest.

Hughes will **** off to Utd if he does any way decent with City too.

If that means we'll have finally won a trophy then so be it.

_blank_

Mr Alan wrote: »

Hughes will **** off to Utd if he does any way decent with City too.

That's probably his plan tbh.

Show he can do well in the transfer market with a decent amount of money to spend, City probably won't break the top four in the next three years or so, so when Ferguson breaks the Liverpool record, and then steps down, if Hughes has consistantly brought City to the UEFA Cup, perhaps won a Carling or FA Cup along the way, he'll be primed for a takepver of the United hotseat.

This is a good move for him, imo.

Xavi6

DesF wrote: »

That's probably his plan tbh.

Show he can do well in the transfer market with a decent amount of money to spend, City probably won't break the top four in the next three years or so, so when Ferguson breaks the Liverpool record, and then steps down, if Hughes has consistantly brought City to the UEFA Cup, perhaps won a Carling or FA Cup along the way, he'll be primed for a takepver of the United hotseat.

This is a good move for him, imo.

Why does everyone presume he actually WANTS the United job? He's a lifelong Chelsea fan.

MIN2511

How long did Sven manage the club? You can't base the sacking on that, same goes for Avram... These owners think they know soccer, they have the money but money isn't everything!

I wish him all the best, it would be interesting to see how he fares

_blank_

MIN2511 wrote: »

they have the money but money isn't everything!

Yes, it is.

SantryRed

Can seriously see this turning out just like Newcastle did under Allardyce. Hope Hughes isn't a manager like that( who's very good with average teams) but it could possibly happen.

Santa Cruz, Bentley and Pedersen to City now?

estebancambias

SantryRed...I doubt it. Santa Cruz most likely in my opinion.

Petrov is better than the two of them, but there is a need for a class right winger at City, so yeah maby Bentley for 8-10 million.

Xavi6

Esteban to further answer your question on why Sven had to go, here's a post from another City fan that sums it up -

You'd have to say Sven. (when asked who's fault it is for the slump)
Couldn't get any strikers scoring, Sturridge came on twice, scored twice, and was promptly moved back to the U18s, tactics were all wrong in the 2nd half of the season, no plan B, couldn't get the players firing in the games against "lesser" opposition, wrong players brought in in January (he WAS backed finacially by Shinawatra)

kryogen

you sort of jumped ship really didnt you Xavi? werent you a main man in the Save Our Sven campaign? strange to see you can be swayed so easily.

the man had one season at the club, for the last few months of the season he knew he was getting the boot, what did he do wrong? improve the squad? raise the clubs profile by having his name attached? improve the league position? record a double over bitter enemies?

i am amazed Sparky touched the job, how could you get excited about taking over a club when the owner is like that?

Then again, maybe thats why ye couldnt attract a top class manager

(i am a fan of hughes,but i dont think he has proved himself at the highest level yet,in the way a Lippi or a Capello has)

Mr Alan

Mr Alan wrote: »

realistically i didnt think Sven would go to City being honest.

Hughes will **** off to Utd if he does any way decent with City too.

I dont think so. He's not a particularly popular figure among United fans anymore these days after it emerged that he supports Chelsea.

this should be called the Xavi U-Turn thread. Seriously man, all of a sudden Sven was crap but a week ago he had to stay?! And in that time a ball hasnt been kicked?!

Unearthly

DesF wrote: »

That's probably his plan tbh.

Show he can do well in the transfer market with a decent amount of money to spend, City probably won't break the top four in the next three years or so, so when Ferguson breaks the Liverpool record, and then steps down, if Hughes has consistantly brought City to the UEFA Cup, perhaps won a Carling or FA Cup along the way, he'll be primed for a takepver of the United hotseat.

This is a good move for him, imo.

Exactly my thoughts. I'm interested to see how we will do as I always thought he was a good manager, but no proof he can do it when given money etc

Also will he change his style of play now that he can afford players that don't only know how to foul

Unearthly

Unearthly wrote: »

Also will he change his style of play now that he can afford players that don't only know how to foul

I wondered that myself. Is Michale Ball still at Citeh though? Guaranteed started next season.....He's been more the nearly man though hasnt he, he NEARLY got Wales to a tournament, he nearly got Blackburn to Cup Finals, he nearly got Blackburn to a consistent outing in Europe.

Necronomicon

Unearthly wrote: »

Exactly my thoughts. I'm interested to see how we will do as I always thought he was a good manager, but no proof he can do it when given money etc

But wouldn't logic suggest that if he succeeded with no money he'll do even better with a big transfer kitty? To get two Champion's League winners to a mid-table club for relatively nothing was a great achievement (plus, he probably won't base his assessment of the players on youtube videos like Sven :pac:).

Deleted User wrote: »

He's been more the nearly man though hasnt he, he NEARLY got Wales to a tournament, he nearly got Blackburn to Cup Finals, he nearly got Blackburn to a consistent outing in Europe.

But those two nearlys were fantastic achievements; think about Wales now and how far they are away from getting anywhere near a major tournament, and how Blackburn were rock-bottom when he took over (close to Christmas iirc) and within a season were challenging for Europe and got to two Cup semis.

I thought he was going to hold out with all the rumours of Chelsea declaring an interest, but it's a good move for both parties.

Little-Devil

DesF wrote: »

That's probably his plan tbh.

Show he can do well in the transfer market with a decent amount of money to spend, City probably won't break the top four in the next three years or so, so when Ferguson breaks the Liverpool record, and then steps down, if Hughes has consistantly brought City to the UEFA Cup, perhaps won a Carling or FA Cup along the way, he'll be primed for a takepver of the United hotseat.

This is a good move for him, imo.

I agree with DesF, great move for hughes but suprised at the same time. I expect hughes to do well and hopefully if he does well and continues then he might be on the short list once SAF retires in 2/3yrs.

Little-Devil

Deleted User wrote: »

this should be called the Xavi U-Turn thread. Seriously man, all of a sudden Sven was crap but a week ago he had to stay?! And in that time a ball hasnt been kicked?!

I was thinking the same myself while i was reading Xavi first couple of post

kinaldo

Xavi6 wrote: »

Sven was sacked for a number of reasons -

1. Our woeful post Christmas form
2. Ineptitude in the January window
3. Reluctance to change tactics when they clearly weren't working

I could go on. Frank is a ruthless business man who takes no shit, hence him sacking Sven for piss poor performances.

We will not lose 8-1 under Hughes.

Wait a second, weren't you the one saying City fans didn't want Scolari or another manager and that Sven was the ONLY man to lead City forward... ? Now you're giving reasons as to why he HAD to go!? Piss poor performances yes, but what about the WHOLE season? And were you not defending Sven after that 8-1? Am I imagining things or have you just done a complete u-turn since Hughes was announced?

estebancambias

Can't wait 'till Xavi logs back in.

aidan24326

Deleted User wrote: »

I dont think so. He's not a particularly popular figure among United fans anymore these days after it emerged that he supports Chelsea.

I'd imagine Hughes will always be held in some esteem by the United fans. Anything less would be an insult to a guy who wore the jersey with distinction.

kryogen

I for one will always remember Sparky in high regard for United, his goal in the FA cup was fantastic and he in general was a hero of mine, regardless of who he supports in his private life, sure John Terry supports Man U, John O Shea supports Liverpool! does it matter?

Mark Hughes could make his case for being a top class manager next season if he makes the right signings and gets the team playing well, but if what Sven did this season wasnt good enough, then i cant see him doing any better tbh

+1 for cant wait til Xavi logs back in!!:D

Xavi6

kryogen wrote: »

you sort of jumped ship really didnt you Xavi? werent you a main man in the Save Our Sven campaign? strange to see you can be swayed so easily.

the man had one season at the club, for the last few months of the season he knew he was getting the boot, what did he do wrong? improve the squad? raise the clubs profile by having his name attached? improve the league position? record a double over bitter enemies?

i am amazed Sparky touched the job, how could you get excited about taking over a club when the owner is like that?

Then again, maybe thats why ye couldnt attract a top class manager

(i am a fan of hughes,but i dont think he has proved himself at the highest level yet,in the way a Lippi or a Capello has)

Deleted User wrote: »

this should be called the Xavi U-Turn thread. Seriously man, all of a sudden Sven was crap but a week ago he had to stay?! And in that time a ball hasnt been kicked?!

Little-Devil wrote: »

I was thinking the same myself while i was reading Xavi first couple of post

kinaldo wrote: »

Wait a second, weren't you the one saying City fans didn't want Scolari or another manager and that Sven was the ONLY man to lead City forward... ? Now you're giving reasons as to why he HAD to go!? Piss poor performances yes, but what about the WHOLE season? And were you not defending Sven after that 8-1? Am I imagining things or have you just done a complete u-turn since Hughes was announced?

estebancambias wrote: »

Can't wait 'till Xavi logs back in.

God this is better than my birthday! City actually being a big topic of conversation! :eek:

Ok I'll answer you all in one foul swoop.

Firstly, yes I defended Sven to the ground. He did a great job getting (some of) the players in that he did considering how little time he had preseason. He also delivered some memorable victories including the obvious. The way he was treated towards the end of the season was poor and for that reason I, like most other fans, supported him.

However......the club is owned by Thaksin Shinawatra, not Sven Goran Eriksson. He calls the shots and deemed our second half of the season to be unacceptable, which quite frankly it was. How could a squad go from the most exciting in the league to getting dumped out of the cup by Sheffield United, being played off the park by Birmingham and struggling for a point at Derby? We were toothless and lacked fight. Even the most avid of Sven supporters can admit that. Apart from the derby and a spell in the home game against Pompey we were average at best post Christmas.

One of the other big issues were his tactics. 4-5-1 with Elano was super until he got injured and teams found us out. After that we struggled to create chances up top while the natural replacement for Elano, Stephen Ireland, was dumped out wide. As much as I liked Sven that decision pissed me off no end. When Ireland finally did move inside he was the most effective player on the park in every game. Sven also never went two up front even when it was clear his tactics weren't working and we were behind. Thaksin didn't like that.

Look the bottom line is that no man is bigger than the club. I supported Sven most definitely in all his time at the club and I will do the same with Mark Hughes, not because I love Sparky, but because I love City. I haven't made a U-turn, I've merely moved on in line with the club. An era is ended and there's no point crying over spilled milk. We go on with Hughes and look forward to these big signings we've been promised.

kinaldo

Xavi, hypothetical scenario, say City's two halves of the season were reversed, would you support the sacking of Sven in January based on the recent results and piss poor performances? And would this be much different from the way that other club OWNER and RUTHLESS BUSINESS MAN treated one Sam Allardyce (which you ridiculed Newcastle for if I recall)? And say Sven had survived this wretched first half of the season and finished brilliantly, the way you started, would and should that be enough to save Sven?

Xavi6

kinaldo wrote: »

Xavi, hypothetical scenario, say City's two halves of the season were reversed, would you support the sacking of Sven in January based on the recent results and piss poor performances? And would this be much different from the way that other club OWNER and RUTHLESS BUSINESS MAN treated one Sam Allardyce (which you ridiculed Newcastle for if I recall)? And say Sven had survived this wretched first half of the season and finished brilliantly, the way you started, would and should that be enough to save Sven?

Of course he would have stayed if the season had been reversed. A manager in charge of a team on the up is always going to last longer then a manager in charge of a team on a down. We were steadily going downhill from Christmas. If we had have been shooting up the table post January then no one, not even Thaksin, would have contemplated sacking him. I would have thought that goes without saying.

kinaldo

Xavi6 wrote: »

Of course he would have stayed if the season had been reversed. A manager in charge of a team on the up is always going to last longer then a manager in charge of a team on a down. We were steadily going downhill from Christmas. If we had have been shooting up the table post January then no one, not even Thaksin, would have contemplated sacking him. I would have thought that goes without saying.

So in effect, the season as a whole is not what really matters, it's only the second half of a season that defines the manager and the team's progress?

Xavi6

kinaldo wrote: »

So in effect, the season as a whole is not what really matters, it's only the second half of a season that defines the manager and the team's progress?

No the second half of the season represented a massive decline in both performances and results. The second half therefore is relative to the first.

kinaldo

Fair enough. Are you a budding sports journalist by any chance? This is like reading something from Oliver Holt or Neil Custis or one of them about 3 games after they've prematurely penned Fergie's obituary.

Xavi6

Ha ha you've got it in one! I am a journalist, just not in sports....yet!

As I said, I support City not Sven or Hughes or Keegan or Alan Ball or whoever the hell we've had over the years. If this is the direction the club chooses to take then I've no choice but to follow and support it. I'd rather have a problem like this than the one we had ten years ago when we were staring a campaign in Division 2 square in the face.

Xavi6

Ok here's an interview with Thaksin published in the Daily Mail. He outlines the reasons why Sven left, his ambitions for City and how Gary Cook's arrival from Nike will benefit the club -

Tales of the unexpected: lunching with the former prime minister of Thailand in China and hearing in detail, for the first time, his plans to sign Ronaldinho for Manchester City.

Let's clear up the choice of location first. Why here in Beijing instead of Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai homeland? It's safer this way (we don't need to be shadowed by his personal armed guard the size of a football team nor to perfect the trick of booking a series of restaurants for the same time, then swapping at the last moment so his enemies don't provide an alternative ending to the cheese and port).

Just now, my wife asks me to stay away and, if I have to go to Thailand, not to stay for long,' explains Thaksin. 'We have intelligence that there may be more danger.'

He has survived three car bomb attacks and six assassination attempts. 'I should be a man who drives around in a nice sports car, not an armoured car,' he adds with a smile.

Even here, almost five hours of flying from his home, the Lincoln Navigators of his security unit skillfully flank Thaksin's car on his way to a business meeting.

After avoiding real bombs in the Far East and dodging verbal grenades in the North West, where the Manchester locals have been restless, losing 8-1 to Middlesbrough on the last day was not how the season was meant to end.

Now Mark Hughes has been captured from Blackburn, an appointment that will surely go some way to restoring calm. Well, at least until the Ronaldinho carnival comes to town.

Thaksin has invited Sportsmail for this rare private audience at a secluded escape about 50 minutes outside China's Olympic City. The exact location is best kept a secret, just in case. You never know who might be reading.

Today, he wants to explain for the first time why you would give a new manager more than £50million, see him complete the double over Manchester United, finish ninth in the Barclays Premier League, qualify for the UEFA Cup (admittedly through the back door) and then axe him after one season.

Also, in this wide-ranging interview, Thaksin - I am advised to call him Dr Thaksin before we begin - talks about the ambitious pursuit of the former world player of the year, the future of Micah Richards and his long-term ambitions for Manchester City, including the appointment of new executive chairman Garry Cook from Nike.

Cook may not score goals, select the team or even yet support the club (he's a Birmingham fan by birth) but Thaksin believes he is a 'special signing, a football man who will inspire great things by leading from the front'.

Any more special ones planned, Doc? 'Ronaldinho - you know, he is a great player. Whatever the club in your heart, you would want to see this player in England, wouldn't you?'

True, but this is crazy talk. Who will pay the wages? 'It is not a risk. Sponsors will contribute. It will not damage our wage structure. Garry and Pairoj, my chief advisor, they are taking care of this transfer. I am very excited.

'I am 59 next birthday, so I am not a man who can wait for many years to see my dreams come true.'

How will City know the Brazilian doesn't just want to take the money? 'Ronaldinho is 28. He has much still to offer, he is a star. You need a combination of new players, existing players, quality, young and old.

'I admit also you need a player who is more than just winning the match. You need a star who can play on the pitch, but who can achieve much more for the club. Ronaldinho is that player.

'I am hearing good things about his hunger. I have spoken to his brother (his agent). Ronaldinho wants the new challenge, the chance to play his best football again, to return to the days when he was really, really famous. The magic is still in his boots. Let us hope we can bring him.'

City will also announce the signing of Jo, a new breed of Brazilian. 'He will cost a lot of money,' continued the City owner, who has agreed to pay £20m. 'But he is fast, he is a goalscorer; he will be special and a very good player in the Premier League.'

Eriksson has left the building, with a rather tasty pay-off. Here's why, according to Thaksin. 'I want you to know that Sven is a good man. I brought him to the club and supported him with investment (more than £50m spent last season) and we still have a good friendship.

'But I want this club to advance faster, much faster. Sven is a good football general, but we need more. We must play with more consistency, much more urgency. In the second half of the season, the slide was too bad, too much. We lost 8-1 at Middlesbrough! The shame of that.'

City supporters will know that the players had downed tools by this point, seemingly disputing the treatment of their manager. Thaksin begins to throw his arms around and raises his voice.

'The team stopped playing! They stopped working! I could not take this. I understand you cannot win every game. A football is round; it does not bounce along a straight line. I can accept the unpredictable, but not such a fall. We had to make a change.

'Mark Hughes is an excellent appointment. The players need to be motivated, instead of playing like people who are not being paid any money!'

He pays his money, he does his homework: Thaksin has researched the past and family background of every City player. 'I have heard of Premier League players with a garage full of sports cars and almost a girlfriend for each one. That is no way for an athlete to behave. He should be in the training ground, working.

'We need a culture of discipline at our club,' he continues, hinting that Eriksson was too weak. 'I want strong leadership from the manager, motivation for young men and I want players who can cope with that.

'If not, they can go. I want players who work hard to make their luck, not players who are lazy. We are not a selling club, but I want players with talent, who will exercise and improve. I want desire and commitment.

'Some may fit, some not. That is a decision for the new manager. Look, you cannot all live together for ever. Some will go, but not our best young players.

'We will pay the best for the best and to the best. That is my strategy, which is why I want a player like Ronaldinho. We need to breed success. Right now, we have a negative cash flow, but within two years we will be making money. You will see.

'The supporters, I hope, will also see what I am trying to do. They have loved the club longer than me, but I am with them because I have invested my money, a lot of money.' Most recently the £4.6m paid to Blackburn for Hughes and his coaching team.

'There are times when I wish I could be closer to the fans and to talk to them, but they will have to trust me and to see that, instead of words, I show them my intentions with actions.'

Richards, sought by Manchester United is staying. 'He is our star. He will not leave,' says a determined owner with £900m in reserve to back up his promise. Will the other team in Manchester be as lucky keeping their star attraction?

'You can see why other teams want Cristiano Ronaldo. Watch him in the penalty box when the ball is arriving. He comes alive, he wants the ball, he does not wait for it like some others. He makes it happen,' says Thaksin, illustrating his words by flashing his head at an imaginary ball.

It can be a surreal fantasy talking football with Thaksin (but he has the money to make it reality) so it would not have surprised me if he had declared Ronaldo to be his next transfer target, right there and then over the organic chicken soup.

Don't worry Fergie, he didn't. Blackburn's David Bentley is a more realistic purchase. 'Every owner of a Premier League club has a duty to play Englishmen in his team.

'We won the Youth Cup this season and I am very proud of the young men (he reels off at least six names and descriptions of players who may soon appear in the City first-team squad) and the staff there, like the academy director Jim Cassells.

'There should be at least five English at the core of every team. We are the English Premier League,' he adds. His English is fluent, mastered during his years studying for a doctorate in criminal justice in Texas.

A decent knowledge of the law has come in handy during the turbulent past two years during which he spent 17 months in exile and his vast fortune was frozen.

'That is why I bought a football club, to give myself a job after I was the subject of a military coup,' he explains simply. How does he respond to those who say he should never have been allowed to own City, given the persistent criticism of his human rights record?

First, he tells me he is revered by many in Thailand for making medical attention available to all Thais - even the poor from the rural areas - for the first time, at a cost of less than 50p.

'It didn't go down well with everyone,' he reports. 'The dentists, for instance, had so much work. Some people had never been to a dentist in 60 years and suddenly everyone could afford treatment. I paid them more money, but maybe not quickly enough.'

He also launched a national lottery, fought an HIV/AIDS crisis, built a new Bangkok airport and stabilised a creaking economy. But what about the corruption allegations? Untrue; a smear campaign, he responds.

What about the reports of almost 3,000 killings in an aggressive offensive against drugs? 'Sometimes, as a leader you must have an angry face. In the past, I have ignored these allegations published in the Thai media, with whom I have no relationship. The foreign media has since picked them up and this is damaging. Now you are asking me these questions and I am happy to answer.

'These figures you have read are not true. They are figures created by the military. I was not a ruthless dictator. No. There have been investigations: The Premier League, for example, has ways of investigating these matters, I welcomed the Fit and Proper Persons Test for new owners for that reason.'

He is now free to return to his homeland in return for agreeing to stay out of politics for five years and to concentrate on his 'football interests'.

That's another sticking point with the critics - the fact that 40 per cent of clubs in the top two divisions are now in the hands of foreign owners - but he has little sympathy with their concerns.

'Clubs do not collect enough revenue from TV and advertising. If they want to try to challenge the top four, if they want the best players, they need people with deep pockets.'

He is here for the long term, too. 'Tell the fans from me that they cannot love the club more than me. We have the same goals and they will understand me now.

'Mark Hughes, Garry Cook, Jo, maybe Ronaldinho. They will see by the new season.'

Thaksin may be guilty of football decisions triggered by a sense of urgency and a crazy, infectious will to see City walk with the giants, but his pockets are deep and his desire is fierce. Doctor Do-Little he isn't.

If you've taken the time to read that then you will realise why City fans are now firmly supporting Thaksin and his plans for the club.

gucci

Good article, but how much propaganda do you think is in that article?

Interesting to see that he hinted that Sven hadn't enough discipline, and that 8-1 result against 'boro was the clincher on the end of his reign.
I remember seeing quotes from players (Robbie Fowler is just one that springs to mind) that Sven was very laid back, and maybe this is why he felt the need to get rid of him, seeing as he has such a love for discipline and hard work.

Really hope this works out for Hughes and City, hes an up and coming young manager that i have a lot of respect for what he has achieved on a relative budget and with poor players (Blackburn and Wales) and hope hes given the time and support to do what he can do.

Obviously the next manager in after Hughes will be Roy Keane considering his quotes about the players with garages full of cars etc.

Xavi6

gucci wrote: »

Good article, but how much propaganda do you think is in that article?

Oh I've no doubt there is plenty, he is a politician after all but if you look simply at the facts involved then that's reason enough to be excited.

cournioni

Madness from Hughes. This move is a step down rather than a step up. Why move from Blackburn to City? The club isn't any bigger, and is far more unstable than Blackburn.

It could well set Hughes back another five years. He should have waited for a big club to come in for him...

Xavi6

PORNAPSTER wrote: »

Madness from Hughes. This move is a step down rather than a step up. Why move from Blackburn to City? The club isn't any bigger, and is far more unstable than Blackburn.

It could well set Hughes back another five years. He should have waited for a big club to come in for him...

Are you taking the piss? We're a FAR bigger club than Blackburn. We have a bigger stadium, bigger fan base, bigger support worldwide (as emphasised by our newly opened superstore in Thailand) and a massive transfer budget.

Hughes spent his career at Blackburn bargain hunting because the purse strings were so tight while City were the fourth highest spending club in the world last year.

gucci

Xavi6 wrote: »

Oh I've no doubt there is plenty, he is a politician after all but if you look simply at the facts involved then that's reason enough to be excited.

Yeah I suppose, the politician side of things means he is an expert at this sort of thing, and you know how easily journalists are charmed or can be bribed :)

I remember when those Americans took over Liverpool reading rosey articles about them too, I hope it turns out well for City!

Juan Pablo

Press conference with Cook and Hughes was held this morning

Mark Hughes has been unveiled to the world’s media as Manchester City’s new manager, and he has vowed that his City team will be an attacking one.

After arriving at the Carrington training ground early on Tuesday morning, Hughes told a packed press conference:

“I am absolutely delighted to be here, I have already had some great support from the fans and I’m pleased with the positive reaction to the appointment.

“They will know from my experiences as a manager that my teams work extremely hard and are committed, but I am an advocate of attacking football. The players that have played for me week-in, week-out in the past are technical players that play the type of football that I want to be played. Hopefully the fans will see that very quickly in the teams that I will produce.

When asked about the speed of his appointment, Hughes added: “It was made plain to me very, very quickly that there was a huge project here that I wanted to be part of, it was a very easy decision for me. I am at a club that matches my ambitions.”

MCFC.co.uk will bring you further reaction throughout the day.

Link

Mr Alan

bit ****ing rich him harping on about Bentley being under contract last week and then jumping ship as soon as he gets a better offer himself.

gucci

Xavi6 wrote: »

City were the fourth highest spending club in the world last year.

Have you got a list for that? I dont doubt your stats, just would like to read up on it a bit.

Xavi6

Yep Her she is

I got it wrong. We were the second highest spending, not fourth.

gucci

Xavi6 wrote: »

Yep Her she is

I got it wrong. We were the second highest spending, not fourth.

At least you admit it, you could be like the government and do that "seasonally adjusted" bull when they are talking about budgets and unemployment numbers!

Reason I wanted to know anyways was because i figured Sunderland were up there *inserts list in pocket for future sunderland slagging*

edit, actually the first list has liverpool spending 26.8million, yet torres was 23million-ish, and babel was 13 and they also paid for yossi?
Ah well this thread isnt on debating that list, lets leave it!

pickarooney

Interesting interview, especially the bit where he raves about lazy players not giving a toss and needing to bring in serious grafters, as exemplified by.... Ronaldinho.