HUGHES IN CRISIS AFTER FA CUP SHOCKER
Multi-million pound spending spree thrown into doubt by defeat
MANCHESTER CITY'S multi-million spending spree - and the future of Mark Hughes - was thrown into doubt after an FA Cup humiliation by Nottingham Forest.
The richest club in the world became a laughing stock as they were thumped 3-0 by the Championship strugglers.
David Villa's agent was at Eastlands to discuss a possible £50million move .
But don't be surprised if he's already told his client there's not enough money in the world - let alone in Sheikh Mansour's coffers - to bring the Spanish hit-man to this pathetic shambles of a club.
Boss Hughes claimed he was entirely comfortable and secure that his position was not under any threat despite the humiliation of losing 3-0 to a side whose combined worth of £5.4m basically amounted to Wayne Bridge's right leg.
And when the news filtered through to Abu Dhabi, you can rest assured the man who is bank-rolling City's spending spree will not have shared Sparky's comfort.
Trillionaires don't sign up for FA Cup shocks. They don't shrug their shoulders and simply move on. They demand to know why the club they bought for £230m has been humbled by a potless Forest side who won at a canter.
And they ask themselves whether this particular manager is the man to guide City to greatness.
Hughes fed the Arabs all the ammunition they needed when he admitted afterwards: "I am confident about my future because I know the situation and where we are at.
Performance
"We know where we need to go and we will aim to do that. It will not happen overnight. It will not happen in this window, it will not happen in two or three windows.
"We are bitterly disappointed with the level of performance we have produced today.
"Credit to Forest. I thought they worked extremely hard for each other and deserved to win. They showed more desire and more energy in their play and chased lost causes and forced us into errors.
"They took their chances when they presented themselves - and as a consequence we lost the game.
"We were never really in a position to win the game. Never really got a foothold in the game. Never really dictated for any length of time and as a consequence didn't deserve to win."
This is Nottingham Forest Hughes is talking about. A team battling to avoid relegation into League One, not some Premier League titan to whom City succumbed.
Hughes desperately scrabbled for excuses when, frankly, there should have been no need.
No matter that he was without Robinho and Stephen Ireland - or that Shaun Wright-Phillips limped off after just 24 minutes. There was enough talent at City's disposal to see off a side staring the Championship drop squarely in the face.
Yet Hughes still clung to the fact his squad lacks depth and issued another warning City would spend more of the Sheikh's millions to bolster his spineless squad.
The Welshman protested: "We were weakened by the loss of Robinho and Ireland and, within 20 minutes, Shaun Wright-Phillips.
"It just shows we have relied too much on those individuals anyway. When they are not available, we struggle to win those games.
"This has shown the strength in depth is not there. If we lose quality players it is difficult to address the quality and maybe we are not in a position to compete on all fronts.
"We are in the UEFA Cup as well and maybe we are unable to compete in that and the FA Cup as well as win important Premier League games.
"I wasn't happy Forest had more desire. I am trying to be honest but it was something most people can see.
"I have known from day one the frailties. We have to play with the nucleus of maybe eight, nine or 10 players playing to the best of their ability or we struggle to win games.
"We play well when everyone is on the front foot and showing the same desire. But when we are just off the pace we can look a poor side.
Spark
"You need leaders out there. People that drive the game when certain players are missing that spark on the ball.
"We need more in this window. Wayne Bridge has come in but we probably need three, four or maybe five other players to complement the good players we have here.
"The frailties of the team have been there for a long time.
"I have highlighted areas we need to strengthen and that has been highlighted to the owners.
"They know where we are. It is not as if this has happened overnight. We are disappointed with the result and performance."
'Disappointed' is probably a massive understatement. Outraged probably comes a lot closer . . . along with the myriad questions this rotten performance raised.
Despite the obvious pressures, Hughes remains steadfast. Although whether his employers feel the same is open to some debate.
"This has not shaken my faith in my ability," he claimed. "I know exactly what is needed here.
"The work we do on a day-to-day basis makes players better.
"What they have to do on a Saturday is be brave enough to perform. Maybe today some of them did not do that."
The Arab owners might argue it's up to the manager to instil the kind of bravery that no amount of money can buy.
This article has 43 comments
Regards the Forest game! well done Forest you were the better team. To say us the City fans are Bitter! is an unfair comment. As we were the fans that gave the Forest players and Forest fans a standing ovation on the final whistle. As being a City fan we understand what a great win is about. Enjoy the ride Forest in the cup and good luck in your league, as loyal fans are hard too find. so with this new chapter in City's history, is brilliant and will be a roller coaster ride, why? because we are City and we don't expect anything different. From buying a player in Jamie Pollock (who we thought was great) to a world class player of Robinho is still pinching arms stuff.THIS IS OUR CITY
By Being Blue is being manc. Posted January 7 2009 at 1:56 PM.
Other supporter used to like Manchester City Fans because we never won anything but stayed loyal to our club, a shared dislike of Manchester United also helped. Since the money men bought the club the level of contempt for the club and it's fans is totally out of proportion. Mark Hughes isn't the right man for the job - his people and man managment skills are weak. The performances of Dunne and Richards show just how bad he is at motivating his players. I'd also like to know why we have so many thigh injuries amongst the squad - his training is probably not up to much either. Let's get ourselved a Manager of the calibre of the players we are trying to keep and attract - Hughes like Keane belongs in the lower divisions.
By Terry Jones. Posted January 5 2009 at 4:54 PM.
Slow down everybody. Sven put together a squad of small, skillful players who got lucky for a while and were then rumbled. Any well organised team with large, quick, tough and committed players found MC a soft touch: 'keep the ball in the air and get stuck in'. The latin players hid when the going got tough.
MH knew this all along, since his BR team were as described above. MH's style was a culture shock and references to 'work in progress' has undermined the confidence (and commitment) of several players. Furthermore the attacking style has exposed the defense and both full backs go awol at key moments.
MH knows what the team needs and has every chance of getting some of it in January. His challenge is to knit that together quickly: if he fails then things get really difficult for him. I remain optimistic.
By MARTIN. Posted January 4 2009 at 8:40 PM.
I guarantee that the sheikhs in Abu Dhabi will do more bad than good to city. They know nothing at all about British football, and the club will be a soulless shell in a few years. Some brilliant players with no spirit or knowledge of the club they play for.
Go to the UAE and see what they've done there. The place is full of swanky sky scrapers but it has no soul. An impressive, yet ugly country where the oldest building is 30 years old.
The arabs have no taste, no clue ...
all the gear, no idea!
By craig. Posted January 4 2009 at 3:31 PM.
I have just read ALL the comments below, some City fans ( who have obviously like me, been through it all in the last 40 years ) have stated good common sense, City ARE a disgrace to the shirt, however praise to Forest who won easily and I hope you nail another big team in the next round. However, the money will talk and City's team will evolve, getting stronger over the next 2 seasons or more, just like Chelsea, just like Liverpool, just like United. The thicko who brands City a money grabbing club clearly would have turned the billionaires down if they had opted for his chosen team ? No, I don't think so either. City have been in the doldrums off and on for nearly fourty years, the true City faithful have waited a long time to see an excellent team being put together and when we finally get to that level, nothing you can say or do will stop us enjoying that moment. The great thing about being a blue is that you understand IRONY and never forget a touch of HUMOUR, but also you remember your MANNERS to other people.
By Paul Pearson. Posted January 4 2009 at 3:21 PM.
hahaha come on u reds, city got turned over, the reds r stayin up, were goin 2 wembley lol
By smurf. Posted January 4 2009 at 2:53 PM.
Well done Forest.
I was there yesterday and I am so proud of the boys, we ripped them to shreds and deserved everything we got.
And to the morons who were chanting ''Who the f**k are Forest?!'' at us yesterday...
THATS WHO WE ARE!!!!!!
Hahahahaa!
By Nffc. Posted January 4 2009 at 2:36 PM.
i have been in smirk mode all day,
thankyou reds. . . back to the beautiful game !
By A.EDWARDS. Posted January 4 2009 at 2:35 PM.
City hated because of their wealth? City are a joke; they're ridiculed in spite of their wealth. All that money and nothing to show for it. Every day they're buying Messi, Kaka, Ronaldo, Buffon. Why would any self-respecting footballer from any league want to waste his career languishing in the doldrums at Wastelands?
Also, the comments made by some City fans that Hughes has some kind of pro-United agenda: well by saying that you're insinuating that City are somehow United's closest rivals... I think not.
By RedLee58. Posted January 4 2009 at 10:57 AM.
There are too many people at City transfixed by seemingly unlimted cash and see it as a gravy train, WRONG its a football club in the Premiership and the players have to achieve results otherwise they will be the richest club in the Championship. Give the manager the time to do what he wants, get rid of the dead wood and prima donna`s. Then and only then can the fans support a club they are proud of.
By bob. Posted January 4 2009 at 11:11 AM.
If clubs could spend what they generated then Man Utd would surely have to clear a £760m debt before they could buy any players!!! We're not the only club being bankrolled...even the most successful team ever to come from England which is ofcourse Liverpool, have rich American owners but also Man Utd, Chelsea and Villa all have rich owners. Some of you guys are just jealous cos your bankrollers can't compete with ours!!!
CTID
By JDT. Posted January 4 2009 at 12:56 PM.
All you reds may be laughing now but give it two more seasons, remember the saying those who laugh last laughs longest.
By jimmy. Posted January 4 2009 at 1:00 PM.
QUITE SIMPLY YOUR NOT FIT TO WEAR THE SHIRT, YE YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE
By JAY. Posted January 4 2009 at 12:58 PM.
3.0 to the famous team
By Tommo. Posted January 4 2009 at 1:34 PM.
'Massive dissappointment getting beat by forest today, this was a huge game as it is our only chance of silverware'
Some mug on Sky said this as well yesterday. Utterly wrong, you always had more chance of winning the waffa cup.
I don't mind City but seeing them get hammered by Forest was just beautiful. Spending 12m on Bridge is a disgrace. You can't not hate a club that do that in the current climate. Too many Premiership clubs have sold their soul, and City are the worst of the lot. Hopefully they'll have two more games with Forest next season to get revenge. Football needs a club like city to go down.
By roger. Posted January 4 2009 at 11:51 AM.
overpaid over rated players not one pulls the shirt on with pride or cares about club&fans only here till better offer comes along just mercinanaries.totol crap
By kentheblue. Posted January 4 2009 at 12:37 PM.
its quite clear to me, as city can now afford any player in the world, everyone bar one or two players know they will be replaced so or later, that is why most of them are under performing, including the manager; newcastle fan.
By phillip mcguire. Posted January 4 2009 at 12:04 PM.
I don’t blame Hughes; it’s all down to player power. Just like at Spurs when the team got rid of one manager and the same players turned their season round for the next manager (Harry Rednap).
By David from Macclesfield. Posted January 4 2009 at 12:16 PM.
its quite clear to me, as city can now afford any player in the world, everyone bar one or two players know they will be replaced so or later, that is why most of them are under performing, including the manager; newcastle fan.
By phillip mcguire. Posted January 4 2009 at 12:12 PM.
city are to football what tommy cooper was to magic. you watch them as they bumble along, messing everything up every now and then they produce a real bit of magic. most of the time they dont know what there doing and thats why they make you laugh. The problem is if tommy cooper stopped messing about and started tp produce would everybody still like city, or would they be less popular,
By mike donnelly. Posted January 4 2009 at 10:10 AM.
I was there to witness the 2nd but 1 performance i have ever seen/Hughes will be another ex RED who will get sacked (Ince,Keane,Bruce until he saw the light)who think they can talk to players like dirt and get away with it.
He was a bully at Blackburn and is trying it at City but it does not work with the modern day player.
Hughes only gets out of his seat to moan at refs and complain about time wasting.
He simply does not have a plan B against the long ball merchants.We have been waiting for this money for years and it does`nt matter who we get you need a manager who can motivate and drive a team not bully it.
Come back Sven/last season at home was amazing
By Steve B. Posted January 4 2009 at 10:09 AM.
theres only one man for the city job..................................................................jose mourinho
By the maz. Posted January 4 2009 at 10:28 AM.
Hughes is a fine manager, but he's in the wrong place at the wrong time. City are now like the Harlem Globetrotters. An exhibition team. The Sheikhs should bring back Sven. He'd been only too willing to waste their millions and completely ruin the club. Mark - take over at Sunderland or Newcastle.
By Philip Hexter. Posted January 4 2009 at 10:23 AM.
Im a man u fan and im so glad that forrest stuck it up the blue noses, the most miserable fans in the world. I hope city get relegated and the sheikh realises what a mistake hes made and takes his money to forrest (a miles bigger club by the way)and brings the glory back to forrest (a club thats won something of note)ha! ha! ha! bye ! bye! city how long since you won a trophy? Rubbish
By damo from manchester. Posted January 4 2009 at 10:38 AM.
Rumours are abound here in the UAE that the manager will be sacked..and there's no smoke without fire..
Also mansoor is not the guy running it now..apparently he bought the team and asked his ''bosses'' '' what do i do with it now?'' they were none too pleased at his spendthriftedness..it was just a plaything to him..
By Tob. Posted January 4 2009 at 10:39 AM.
Response to MO! (2 comments above)
I bet you would soon change your mind if a billionaire bought the club that you support
By Karl. Posted January 4 2009 at 9:28 AM.
City losing to Forest at home by that margin is absolutely embarrassing, there should be no hiding from it! The old City, before Sheikh's money, would win the game without the SWPs and Robinhos!
The fact of the matter is that there is there has been more concentration on how much money there is and which big name players it will buy instead of the basics of building a good team with strong squad and togetherness. Robinho alone has sparked controversies with the treatment and favours he receives. More problems and possible divisions will occur when a few big name players are added to the squad and treated like 'gods'
Sparky would have won such a match with a lesser squad at Blackburn, he should be given authority to build a team he knows that will succeed rather than be dictated to buy names for the sake of popularity; there is no popularity without winning!
By Wilfred Shirima. Posted January 4 2009 at 8:41 AM.
Cheers to all Man City fans for praising Forest your a credit to your club. I think this news article is unfair to both of us! Calling City a pathetic shambles of a club is very harsh words, also to call Forest potless is unfair as we do have money in reserve for players its not like were skint, we are VERY stable, it also says were worth £5.4m dunno where this figure comes from but that is an awful valuation, were staring relegation in the face are we? Well under Calderwood we were playing great football but with nothing at the top end of the pitch, he was tacticless and ran out of ideas and we are now getting fresh input and ideas, we have a fantastic young team who are outplaying most sides in the champ and the table doesnt really do us justice, I would say that we are inconsistant tho and 1in4 games we cant play and look shambolic note Donny, Sheff utd, wolves. Watch us climb this league now, by the way to nffc fans Billy Davies left Derby in NOV and it was Jewell who didnt win a game at all
By matt. Posted January 4 2009 at 8:53 AM.
YOU REDS!!
By Neal. Posted January 4 2009 at 7:58 AM.
Another piece of overhyped anti - city reporting- Perhaps we should praise Forest. Hughes has inheritted a shocking squad from Erikson-Hughes signings have been good,Kompany,Zabaletta,SWP,Robinho. - its not Hughes who crosses the white line its the players and players like,Garrido,Richards,Dunne,MILLS (YES HES STILL HERE),Hamann,Fernandez-Haim(only bad signing)-Jo,Benjani,Vassell - need I go on... all these players are poor and not good enough. We are now more hated than any other club even United-purely and simply because of our wealth. Oh dear boys,get used to it,theres another kid on the block now and all this anti city hype will only make us stronger-Villa won't sign for city - I'm sure he will fir 200k per week-loose change. Rant over - keep the faith,and well done Forest. Ctid
By Alex. Posted January 4 2009 at 7:22 AM.
Hughes is a good manager but nobody can live under this sort of pressure. lets face it big teams do get beat. Most of the team know that there is a world class player waiting to take their place at some stage, and the same applys for the manager.
By tom thumb. Posted January 4 2009 at 6:40 AM.
David Villa wouldn't go to man city even if they did get through to the next round.. or even win!... Neither would Torres, Ronaldo, kaka, Terry, Gerrard... or any other world class player...because money doesnt buy class or history or trophies! FACT!
By Kerry. Posted January 4 2009 at 2:37 AM.
So how did Chelsea manage it !!??
By Jim the Blue. Posted January 4 2009 at 3:20 AM.
RND - only able to spend what your team earn, what you mean like united? They spend money generated from winning cups and leagues and not from some owner pumping money into the club. Citeh make me laugh mate.
By andyp. Posted January 4 2009 at 3:32 AM.
David Villa wouldn't go to man city even if they did get through to the next round.. or even win!... Neither would Torres, Ronaldo, kaka, Terry, Gerrard... or any other world class player...because money doesnt buy class or history or trophies! FACT!
By Kerry. Posted January 4 2009 at 2:37 AM.
I think less Hughes bashing and more Forest praising is in order. Forest were great and will probably prove it by beating another big club in the next round. Saying that, i still think hughes will be sacked.
By shane.. Posted January 4 2009 at 2:35 AM.
@Mo
Clearly you have to be a Man Utd fan to know what Man City are going to do during the next few transfer windows. Oh wait, no you don't. Football being ruined enough as it is with all these people buying football clubs. You should only be able to spend what your earn, not what the amounts of money the owner coughs up.
By Rnd. Posted January 4 2009 at 2:21 AM.
Massive dissappointment getting beat by forest today, this was a huge game as it is our only chance of silverware. Our season is virtually over and I can't see any player wanting to sign for us at the moment. We needed a Goater type player today and someone to show a bit of passion and desire. Hughes has 3 games to save his job.
By Bert. Posted January 4 2009 at 1:53 AM.
cam...you say the spending is obscene well they have only bought robinho and bridge also you would like these to be the owner of your club and so would everyone else and i can see the press loving it everytime city lose and gloating it must be the that they all favour manure
By kev . Posted January 4 2009 at 1:35 AM.
I'm afraid that money talks and that we
will get there in the end despite results
like this one. As a City fan I am already
bored but how many fans would turn
down mega millions and bemoan their
club being owned by super rich sugar
daddies? Not many. Football is a bore
and we'd be better off listening to
Platini. Football needs to return to the
fans.
By SB. Posted January 4 2009 at 1:18 AM.
hughes just cudnt fill svens boots credit were its due sven was a great manger 4 city and england city cud go down once hes left an england defo crumbled under mclaren i didnt rate him much as england boss but now i fink we ad a good boss in him hughes shud walk away now he can take pourtsmouth job or newcastles cum wot may city need a sven or lippi type 2 bring dem back up lol
By ironlee. Posted January 4 2009 at 1:30 AM.
@ Cam
1. How has our spending been obscene, it has not even begun yet.
2. ADUG are not an oil company
3. Are you a United fan?
By Mo. Posted January 4 2009 at 1:05 AM.
Words can not express my delight at seeing this money grubbing club and its greedy owners endure further humiliation in the FA cup. The spending by the owners has been nothing short of obscene and anyone who calls themselves a true football fan should, in the same way as they celebrated Chelski's failures last year, be celebrating Citeh's latest failure. Lets get greedy foreign oil barons out of football!
By cam. Posted January 4 2009 at 12:33 AM.
brilliant win, yes this was nottingham forest hughes was talking about and we absolutely carved city apart.
YOU REDS!!!!
By Jamie. Posted January 4 2009 at 12:30 AM.