MARK HUGHES BLASTS BENITEZ

with money anything can happen, once manchester city get a very good back four like united they will have a very good chance of doing something special asap

By steve.. Posted July 29 2009 at 8:25 AM.

If it was'nt for the likes of Barry signing for City, how is anyone suppose to break into the top 4. The top 4 have been using their Champions League money to buy the best players and keep the status que. Benitez is scared of what City can become, his statement reeks of insecurity.

By dot.. Posted July 12 2009 at 3:01 PM.

I think hughes has taken things a bit to far. rafa was making a comment that it's hard to break into the top 4 because they're have no experience in handling the pressure of maintaining top flight football.
I agree with what's been said, Man city haven't signed any better players than they had last season, all they have done is give higher wages to players who would struggle to get a game week in week out in a top 4 team.
Hughes was a good player, but as a manager what's he won worth talking about?
He thinks an overrated terry will give him something more in ateam of no marks.
Terry's record at chelski is that they have won mor egame swithout him, less points when he's played, and he's prone to injury's with a bad back.
He's only going to get about 30 games next season because he will be out with a back injury.

By bonnythescouser.. Posted July 12 2009 at 1:10 PM.

Hey gmc, dignity and professionalism is hardly what is happening at Citeh you goose. 300K a week is stupid no matter how much cash you have to waste, and no matter who it is! Very dignified.

By Laughing hard!.. Posted July 12 2009 at 11:49 AM.

If Hughes gets Terry or a big name defender they will definately break the top 4. They have a complete spine of the team if they get Terry to challenge. They are close to being there, and the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool should be worried, both who are going backwards.

By BEN.. Posted July 12 2009 at 10:48 AM.

Rafas right - even with the players Mark HUghes hasnt got the talent to manage them into the top 4. its not just about the players on the pitch. Personally I ike City always have my bro supports em and used to take me the matches, but you have to be realistic about this. Although if Chavski carry on the same as they have been yu may just wrestle them out of the top 4, not Arsenal, Wenger always pulls it out the bag. Of course not my LFC either we are going for number 1 again this year, reckon it'll be us and United again battling it out.

By lea.. Posted July 12 2009 at 10:51 AM.

Hold on! -City challenging for top 4..

This seasons expectation is set to 'TOP 6' - With the additions of Santa Cruz and Barry to the already established quality in the squad.. City will certainly progress this season.

Top 6 is certainly achievable and if we continue to source and actually recruit any of the targets we have aimed for then the top 4 and further will also be on the cards in the seasons to come..

What I think is great is that the City board understand their goals and have put realsitic targets in place - For a Great, Young Ambitious Manager.. Who has coped immensly well under extreme pressure placed on him by The Press, Rafa, Sir Alex and the like.

Watch this space.. and the top four this season will certainly have Man Utd and Arsenal... Chelsea and Liverpool will have their own expectations dashed when they realise they are just NOT good Enough.. Let's see how Ancellotti and Benitez cope under the pressure.

By jde.. Posted July 12 2009 at 11:08 AM.

Yes Barry went to City for money otherwise Villa offered him more footballling reasons to stay and Liverpool offered him more Champions league football yet he went for money just like Owen going to Newcastle for money and failled to win anything.

By ottoman.. Posted July 12 2009 at 11:11 AM.

eric wots your favourite colour green because it goes well with ENVY and on the Barry deal how much wages was Raffa goin to pay him less than Villa for the honour of playing for the famous Liverfool if Everton had your money you wouldn't see the Champions league Moyes is a class manager Raffas a whinger who throws his toys away when he's doesn't get his way

By robbieblue.. Posted July 12 2009 at 11:17 AM.

Well if the bookies say you're in with a chance who can argue with that!!! I expect Mystic Meg has bolstered your chances with some insightful predictions of her own too!!!!
For all the talk, who have man city actually signed that will propel them into the top four, let alone right to the top? No one and with every knock back they receive from a star player the next on their wish list is even more likely to say no also. So to hughes, 'GMC' and other city fans lets just wait till the end of the season and see who has the last laugh! I'll be sure to remember this (as I did for spurs last season with their fans' pre-season top four talk) and will be having a little chuckle to myself come May!

By Ben.. Posted July 12 2009 at 10:40 AM.

Rafa Benitez was spot on!

By elnino.. Posted July 12 2009 at 7:40 AM.

Eh!!!!! Title!!! am I missing something here?

City will not make the top 6 period. The bookies will lengthen and shorten their odds as the season progresses!

Rafa Benitez has won 2 Spanish titles, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 F.A.Cup, Champions League, been in numerous other finals and now assembled a very good Liverpool side which if stays together will be around the top of the table for quite a few years.

Mark Hughes has won nothing despite having money to spend. Their first eleven need at least 5 players to challenge for Europa League and their squad lacks depth which can only be obtained over time. Big players win not join city and sit on the bench! They're just not big enough!!!!

What odds are the bookies giving out on Everton, Spurs and Villa? None will make the top 4 but I'd put my money of at least 2 from the maned 3 above finishing ahead of city!

Get a grip!!!!

By RafaTheRed.. Posted July 12 2009 at 7:30 AM.

It is funny how people continue to suggest that Arsenal will be knocked out of the top 4. Man. City will knock someone out of the top 4 but it won't be either Arsenal or Man. Utd. It could well be Liverpool if Gerrard doesn't stay fit, and it could be an old Chelsea squad even!!!

By Linus.. Posted July 12 2009 at 6:40 AM.

I don't know how Hughes reckons they're at better odds now. With Barry, an overpriced Santa Cruz and a new back up keeper? He's just not good enough a manager for a club with any ambition. Man Citeh need a decent manager first, a big name to get in more players of Robinho's calibre. But this time they should actually know who they were signing for.

By Eric.. Posted July 12 2009 at 6:04 AM.

man city top 4 ha ha what a joke spurs villa everton will be fighting for that 5th 6th 7th spot. sorry man city fans 8th at best hughes to be sacked after 8 to 10 games bellamy and robinho to have off field bust up barry wished he didnt listen to his mrs take the money take the money!

By nick.. Posted July 12 2009 at 4:54 AM.

Mark Hughes is not a good enough manager. The squad he had last season was good enough to mount a pretty good challange but he couldn't get them to gel. The same will happen this season although they will do slightly better then the last. They should look for more players like Barry who will play for the tem rather than stars who are there too look good first and play for the team second.

By sonicsloth.. Posted July 12 2009 at 4:10 AM.

Never take any notice of the fat Spanish waiter,He keeps signing players.......Who are already under contract........Good luck Mark....Just remember success can not be bought it has to be worked and fought for.

By David.. Posted July 12 2009 at 4:11 AM.

Notice how Hughes responds to provocation with dignity, and a reasoned argument. In contrast to the fat waiter, emitting spiteful rubbish in every press conference. Liverpool's transfer budget went on the skillful but brainless Glen Johnson, and he has now announced that his main targets for the Summer are merely to KEEP Alonso, Mascherano and Torres! Even Stevie Gerrard only stayed after leeching even more money out of them. A realistic target for City this Season is to unseat one of the Sky 4, most obviously Arsenal of course. But it will be done with dignity, and professionalism, and yes rather a lot of money. But do you all really want to see the same boring faces monopolising everything? No? Well we City fans are loving it anyway.

By gmc.. Posted July 12 2009 at 3:09 AM.

Hardly "Slamming" Benitez

By Torres9.. Posted July 12 2009 at 1:04 AM.

Benitez was spot on. Man City need at least two more seasons to groom before they can challenge for the title. 'Cause a) players need time to gel, and b) MH needs more Europe experience.

By Aspee.. Posted July 12 2009 at 1:03 AM.