UNDER-PRESSURE HUGHES ON BORROWED TIME

we are playing tonight to be in our first semi final since 1981, we have only been beaten once this season..we have a game in hand which if we win we will be in the top 4....and use call urself city fans...jokers..it will take time, as for spending money, he's building a squad, teams dont win titles squads do...hughes will come good.. back ur team and stop being so thick

By madballs.. Posted December 2 2009 at 3:41 PM.

i have been saying for weeks rhat hughes must go. some of the comments above in supporet of him amaze me. lets face it sparky could not run a hot bath!!!!!!!

By john trader.. Posted December 1 2009 at 11:08 PM.

no tactics, no system NO CLUE...get rid we are wasting time...AND MONEY

By Alan Williamson.. Posted November 30 2009 at 3:06 AM.

I'm a Chelsea Supporter & what we are seeing is that the Players are obviously not playing for HUGHES.
A team with that caliber & flare should be flying high at the top of the premier League.

He has no idea how to make top flight football. His backroom staff have no top flight experience. Shouting the odds out on the touch line to world Class players, Give us a break for heavens sake!!

Its like doing a job & being very good at it then some individual higher than you who doesn't have a clue telling you what to do. You would just tell them where to go & stick it!

He has done very bad business with some of the List of players he gave to the Owners in pre season.
Bringing Lescot (a reported to be £22million), Santa-Cruz (£18 million) Thats £40 Million Pounds that could of been well spent.!!

I understand that City have all the money in the world & so on, but when you think of time of a season & money he has done awful business.
Adios Hughes!!

By Dawud Matta.. Posted November 30 2009 at 12:50 AM.

man.city must give hughes more time. of course they 're not going to win the league, but they are not going to be relegated either. give this very respected man time. why bring a foreign coach when hughes have a vast esperience of english football?

By mario zammit,mosta malta.. Posted November 29 2009 at 7:34 PM.

Need to change Hughes.His methods are not working at the moment.He is not making good use of the players at his disposal. Time to go.

By ME Annan.. Posted November 29 2009 at 6:23 PM.

I think that time has come to replace Hughes .City should bring Hiddink there is no contest that he is the best coach in the world !.

By ik.. Posted November 29 2009 at 4:25 PM.

I think that time has come to replace Hughes .City should bring Hiddink there is no contest that he is the best coach in the world !.

By ik.. Posted November 29 2009 at 3:20 PM.

Guus Hiddink is the MAN for the job. If not, Mancini is the other one ;-))

By Ramdev.. Posted November 29 2009 at 3:19 PM.

We were lucky to beat Wolves, Blackburn, Portsmouth and Arsenal. Even luclier to draw against Wigan Villa etc, we could easily be bottom 3 and that's with £200m spent.

Sheikh Mansoor - get on the phone to Hiddink

By Paul Carroll.. Posted November 29 2009 at 1:42 PM.

I am torn if I'm honest, As a blue and a season ticket holder straight after the gane I was raging and calling for Hughes' head and there are reasons.
1. I feel he is tactically naive and plays the wrong formation too often.
2. I think he has genuinely weakend the defence although this could easily be rectified. RB- Richards, CB- Onouha, CB- Toure, LB - Lescot. Bridge is not bad but comes inside too often and lets the ball vounce on him too much.
3. His tactics ssem to be overly negative aand cautious, our players seem to be reigned in when going forwards and do not play with freedom or any real verve. Our strength is in attack and not defence and if we go at teams there looks as if there will be only one winner. But this relies on confidence and ball retention two things Hughes seems to have weeded out of the team following an impressive start.
3. He should never have left Dunne leave!

Having said all of this once the dust has settled we have still only lost once and are well placed in the table with a game in hand. Look how long it took satan himself to achieve things down the road. If he stays he must grow a pair and be more positive and let the team play more. If he goes the replacement must be one of the above mentioned and must be told that the likes of Ireland, Richards, Onouha (the better of the two defenders), Johnson, Weiss, Ball etc are not to be sold and are part off the future of the club!

p.s. if Robinhio wants out £35m+ and get rid!!

By Manctastic.. Posted November 29 2009 at 12:11 PM.

come on give mark hughes a chance it will take a couple of years to get what we want nobody can build a team of world beaters over nighe

By frank lloyd.. Posted November 29 2009 at 11:41 AM.

When City used to come to Anfield, it wasn't even a contest. Usually our easiest 3 points of the season.

Hughes has made them hard to beat. The defence and attack will get better. Just one less goal conceded, or scored, i any of those draws and City would be top on 36 points.

Whether Hughes gets the boot or not, City are the future. They will get a top 4 position, at the end of the season and we won't.

Cue the loss of Torres, Benitez and maybe Gerrard. That would make Liverpool, not only still broke and massively in debt, but about as good as Fulham.

At the end of the day, it is all about money.

By dan.. Posted November 29 2009 at 11:34 AM.

I am not a man city fan but i think mark's time is over. Gus Hiddink can take the team to greater hights.

By B godie.. Posted November 29 2009 at 11:29 AM.

Yes Taxi Please!!

I have had enough! The players don't like him and are not playing for him! Get someone in before players start to leave.

We need someone Big to bring us what we want! Limelight, players, Europe and to cut down that oversized squad!

We need someone good and with more charm! Hinnink or Jose pls

By Simeon.. Posted November 29 2009 at 11:14 AM.

Makes sense. Media need a high profile sacking and as Newcastle aren't available this year, City have all the necessary ingredients. BTW, you can't have Rafa!

By Graham Stewart.. Posted November 29 2009 at 10:53 AM.

Hughes needs to be ruthless and pick a balanced side rather than one that keeps his expensive buys happy. Adopted a totally different approach when he was at Blackburn where teams were organised and workmanlike. There are too many attack minded players in the side. Ireland can't play central midfield role and gets badly exposed because he can't track players, can't tackle or head - Bullard destroyed him yesterday. Hunt on left hand side of Hull's midfield also had a good game and gave 110%. Needed to bring on Johnson or Kompany in second half yesterday when Hull took control of the midfield. Also De Jong, who was good again, was less effective after getting his yellow card. Our midfield weakness is making defence look bad and exposed. Lescott is doing ok and is getting better with every game he plays and fans should give him a chance and not make him a scapegoat. He didn't set valuation of 22 million. You have to defend as a team from attackers down - Tevez does this but Adabeyor is lazy and performances have dipped massively since first few games he played. He got bullied by Hulls centre halves yesterday and hardly won a single header. If only Adebayor had the heart of Uwe Rosler who was there yesterday. Tevez holds on to the ball too long and spends more time out wide than in the centre - seems to be more effective as an impact sub rather than as a starter. Santa Cruz looks way off the pace and struggles to run due to history of injuries and looks an extremely poor buy at 17 million. Looks a poor version of Bernardo Corradi. Bellamy is wasted out on the left and needs to play down the centre. Pleasing thing yesterday was performance of Robinho who did well when in possession and looked a threat. Lets hope Hughes sees sense soon to keep his job.

By Max Hobson.. Posted November 29 2009 at 10:21 AM.

Being a Manc, I remember city fans laying seige to Peter Swales for months,forcing him to resign after he spent millions of his own money keeping them afloat. I remember demo's against the likes of Reid,Horton,Keegan and more due to city fans high expectations,countless times over the years the boos resounding round maine road and c.o.m. stadium have highlighted the fans delusions of grandure!
Fans of Spurs,Villa,Everton and others have never behaved in the way city fans have conducted themselves whenever things have gone wrong!
As I said previously....worst fans in the game!

By steve.. Posted November 29 2009 at 10:18 AM.

t won't be hiddink hes going to chelsea as director of football is what ive been reading

By rick.. Posted November 29 2009 at 10:17 AM.

DRAW KINGS WELCOME TO MANCHESTER!!!!!!

Man City never started so well.They simply were counting their chicks before they were hatched.Mpney doesnt buy success.I would be happy if Mark Hughes got the sack for all the nasty remarks he has had especially for SAF.As for for players that went to Man City yes they have got the money but not the success.
CARLOS TEVES where are your goals despite starting almost all the games for city.

By obert musongo.. Posted November 29 2009 at 10:15 AM.

in response to bens comment,
although i do not thing fulham is a "big club" i thiink it is unfair to catorgorise them in the same bracket as wigan, hull and burnley. yes fulham have a small budget but they produce excellent performances and that is why they finished 7th (above "BIG CLUB MAN CITY who were 10th) they were 18 points clear from hull last season and qualified for europe! the reason man city can't beat fulham is because the team play as a team, are organised and have great tactics and a smart man manager. expensive indiviuals have no divine right to beat a good unit.
man city need to find someone who can control the wild egos of adabyor and robinho if they want to turn there draws into wins by getting the best out of the clearly talented and expensivly assembled sqaud, but i wish them all the best.....but i hope they show a bit less of the relentless bothereing and unsettling of players. reminds me too much of man utd and chelsea....just disgusting!

By matt.. Posted November 29 2009 at 10:08 AM.

They started the season well, however, it seems the team have taken the foot off the pedal. I think the players have become soft and maybe lack a bit of confidence. It is the role of the manager to get he best out of their players and he is not up to the task. Time for someone to toughen up the team, bring the team together and get the respect of the players.

Time for the Hinddink factor.

By Matthew B.. Posted November 29 2009 at 9:53 AM.

Man City should give Hughes a full season to prove himself, as has already been stated Ferguson at Man U had a terrible season before they started to win something and was one game away from the sack...

I think Hughes is worth sticking by, until the end of the season, as they have brought a lot of players that need time to gel.

However, it must be noted that the draws they have been getting over the last 7 games have been unacceptable, and I would not be surprised if Hughes was sacked before christmas now!

Drawing against the likes of Burnley, Hull and Fulham when leading, all small bottom of the table clubs when leading is unacceptable.

It is best for Man City to pump more money in Janaury and give Hughes the chance to make them top 4.

If Man City do not make top 4 this season then sack him. It is never a good idea to sack a manager during the season.

By ben.. Posted November 29 2009 at 9:24 AM.

dont be stupid course you can buy success just look at chelski

By lorraine costigan.. Posted November 29 2009 at 9:24 AM.

welcome to manchester

By james.. Posted November 29 2009 at 9:11 AM.

Lance Dixon, Sorry Barry is 1 of the worst players City bought, Overall the team is good, miles away from Fulham, Burnely, Hull. I love Mark but for the past two seasons he has been poor. Also He should have kept Dunn. Erskison had far better job than him

By Jackson .. Posted November 29 2009 at 9:06 AM.

Hughes paid 17 million plus for Santa Cruz which says it all really, clueless!!!!

By Chris.. Posted November 29 2009 at 9:02 AM.

It's the players fault?
What I've been witnessing this season is that Mark Hughes has no plan B. When things are going good not many changes are needed on the pitch. However, for those who go to the games it is plainly obvious that Hughes doesn't have a clue what to do in times of difficulty. It was plainly obvious that we needed to consolidate in midfield yesterday and go to 4-4-2 or even 4-5-1. However, Hughes swapped 2 strikers for 2 strikers. City had no players in the centre circle for the whole game much to Bullard,s delight.
We need a manager who has more formations up his sleave and a wider knowledge of the game .
Man City fans fickle? No, just a manager who knows what he's doing, when players need substituting, and what formation to be used.

By Stan barber.. Posted November 29 2009 at 8:50 AM.

Lets not be blinded by the amount of money he has spent but by the quality that he now has at his dispposal. Bellamy has been little more than a trouble causer wherever he has been. Sparky bought him and West Han, Liverpool and Blackburn will probably tell you that he is welcome to have him. Tevez, well did anyone ever stop and think why Ferguson put so little effort in to getting the guy to stay in red. Gareth Barry was probably a good buy but can not fight the battle alone and would have been far better off at Liverpool than with this bunch of mercenaries. How much of a deterioration have we seen ar Arsenal since Sparky raided them. Nothing, they are probaly still playing the best football in the Premiership. His other imports from Blackburn never ever performed better than mid table. Who ever thought that changing clubs woould change that. His top performer cost nothing and was at the Club when he arrived. Robinho appears by press reports to have had his disciplinary problems like so many other Brazlians and really hasnt been a huge boost to team spirit and morale.

No I am sorry this guy bought impatiently and poorly and mainly it appears because he could and that is probably the worst reason one could ever furnish for buying players. I trust that the Sparky remark on being patient means extremely patient because that was what it will take with this mob of mid table specialists. It takes a lot more than a " I want mentality" to build a side. Ruinning around chucking mopney left right and centre like this man has done never has and never will win anything significant. So probaly best he be on his way and leave some other poor dude to try and sort out the mess.

By Lance Dixon.. Posted November 29 2009 at 8:23 AM.

finally the hughes bubble has burst, been saying from start of season that hughes is not the man to deliver city into a top four spot ..time to chaange sooner rather than later ,,,bring hiddink to city now..

By jeff salt.. Posted November 29 2009 at 8:29 AM.

We played some belting attacking football yesterday and dropped 2 points thanks to a soft penalty decision (hence the booing at the end - shocking decision). If SWP had managed to control his volley in the first half it would have one of the best City goals I've ever seen. Robinho made a huge difference yesterday and we only ran out of ideas once he and Adebayor (both he and SWP were kicked relentlessly all afternoon to the point that I thought Darren Fletcher was on the pitch) went off. How did Hunt stay on the pitch. Hughes only needs to finish 6th remember and we will do - sorry 'steve' but the true City fans know the score and are backing him. Draws are frustrating but we're still on track and building the whole club from the bottom up. These things take time and our owners know that - no knee jerk reactions here. Debt-free and moving up!

By Labistaff.. Posted November 29 2009 at 8:28 AM.

Hughes is completely out of his depth and was appointed by the previous regime who were short of money and wanted someone to stabilise the club on a budget a la Hughes at Blackburn. The situation has changed dramatically and city need someone with a proven record of actually winning something, the squad is strong but the Manager is a complete liability and completely clueless.

By Chris.. Posted November 29 2009 at 8:17 AM.

You wonder who is picking the team at City, Bellamy been the best player this season, as soon as Robinho is fit Bellamy is dumped on the bench

By Andy.. Posted November 29 2009 at 6:22 AM.

The point is, we are playing awfully. The players, some of whom are quite good, look disinterested. The Lescott looks like he's never played in the premiership, as do many others. THe buck stops at the manager. He should go. If a new manager cannot make these players play, then there should be changes on the pitch

By canadianblue.. Posted November 29 2009 at 5:52 AM.

Let's kick off by saying that i'm am everton fan.

you really need to let hughes do what he needs to do.

moyes has been with us for 6/7 years and there's idiots calling for his head.

if you stick with the man for that length of time, you'll be european champions.

By Nick.. Posted November 29 2009 at 3:17 AM.

sorry guys but you cant buy the pemiership these days,it is far to tough of a league for that.man city will do very well in the future.13 games in,25 to play,give hughes a chance.stability comes after years .no 13 games.

By jonny.. Posted November 29 2009 at 3:29 AM.

A NEW MANAGER WONT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TRY FIELDING ELEVEN PLAYERS THAT GIVE 100%

By jimmy.. Posted November 29 2009 at 3:53 AM.

Why blame it on the manager? Its d players who will determine whether 2 make or break in every game. Maybe it is time 2 give more $$$ to yr moneybags players or they won't perform till they get more....That's d price u hv 2 pay when u give too much too soon.....
Time & again, it proves that money cannot easily buy success!

By ATF.. Posted November 29 2009 at 4:02 AM.

what a fickle and false society we live in today where instant success seems to take priority over any long term stability of the club now i am no city fan but they are going fantastically well this year and look certain to reach there target of top 6 this year anything else is a bonus sure they would like to win the league and get in the top 4 as any other club would but it takes time and the city owners are in it it for the long term sadly the pundits and journalists have other agendas and try to make out football is about instant success like some x-factor or big brother show where you have your 5 minutes fame and dissapear in the wilderness

By tony,kent.. Posted November 29 2009 at 2:33 AM.

hughes hanging on like a drowning man...time to go.

By tygerfeet.. Posted November 29 2009 at 2:09 AM.

Err.. City fans 'fickle' and booed off their team? United WUM on the board methinks.

By DeeJay.. Posted November 29 2009 at 2:05 AM.

Come on calm down. Sparky is in it for the long haul. City do not need to panic just yet. We are 2 seasons away from being champions league contenders. This really is the time for patience. Absolutely frightening going forward, a little nervous at the back makes for a very interesting season.

By Damian.. Posted November 29 2009 at 1:31 AM.

You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear as my grandma used to say. This seems to be the case with Man City. Over 200 million spent and they might not qualify (again) for even the Europa League at this rate. You cannot buy success in the Premiership.

By Terry C.. Posted November 29 2009 at 12:57 AM.

So once again the self styled "best fans in the world" show their true colours by booing off their team and turning against yet another manager!
Over the last 30 yrs countless managers have seen the true side of football's most fickle supporters. Not sure how many managers this club has had in that time but if the history of football proves one thing..it's the fans who have the patience where success is built over yrs and not mths that you find rewards.
So get a new man in who will make wholesale changes to players and staff and once again start a brand new dawn!
Worst fans in the world and they get what they deserve...failure!

By steve.. Posted November 29 2009 at 1:17 AM.

No - Hughes is the best manager they could have. Without Bellamy today they looked lost.
It is a player problem not a manager problem

By Keith Price.. Posted November 29 2009 at 12:49 AM.

Good guy, sorry it's not working out but he has to
go. Not Mourinho please.

By Stu.. Posted November 29 2009 at 12:48 AM.

Good players capable of winning prem.. just need a good manager..... time for change

By Rash Mahmood.. Posted November 29 2009 at 12:08 AM.