Most liked posts in thread: Mark Hughes - NEW POLL

I voted twist. Firstly, not taken with the view that this season was a “free hit” for Hughes. He had the end of last season and a full pre-season. We ended 21/22 level on points with Orient and well above Stevenage (and Carlisle). MH was therefore dealt a comparatively strong hand as a starting point compared to most of this season’s promotion contenders.

Yesterday was such a huge chance - the opportunity was right then and there before us, and we failed to grasp it in the most exasperating manner. It’s all very well trying to quickly brush aside the disappointment and look ahead, but a massive opportunity was passively wasted and much of the blame lies with MH for me.

Banks’ substitution was appalling, no matter how poor we’d been before we were suddenly on level terms and the momentum with us and ten minutes to win it. Off goes the creative spark and on comes a defender. Carlisle in contrast go for it, leave a defender pushed up in an attacking situation after a corner had been cleared and he wins it for them. Hughes skulks in the dugout with a blank face while the Carlisle bench urge their team on.

His post match demeanour also didn’t sit right with me. There’s always been this undercurrent that MH himself feels he is too big to be a League 2 manager and that he’s not fully buying into the club, he doesn’t really feel the highs and lows because he’s done bigger and better things before. As if him simply being Mark Hughes should be enough to get us promoted.

He didn’t look or sound gutted or gutted for the fans yesterday, just a little tetchy and embarrassed that the mighty MH hasn’t succeeded in lowly League Two.

So many things need to come together to win promotion, recruitment, team spirit, luck with injuries, luck with referees etc. On paper next season’s League 2 looks stronger at the top end and that’s not accounting for any dark horses on lower budgets that might emerge as Stevenage did this season. There’s no guarantee we wouldn’t end up in the play offs again next year even after a good season. Would we want MH to lead us into those again?

I personally believe we’ll get off to a mediocre start to next season and he’ll leave by mutual consent end of September or early October.

 

There are a couple of comments Hughes has made which are intriguing too. Might be just wishful thinking, and it probably is, but there’s the comment he made to Sky Sports when he was unveiled:

‘People might think its strange that I’ve arrived here, but maybe they don’t realise what’s about to happen here and what I’m going to do’

And then after the game yesterday:

‘Once everybody sees the road we’re going down with the work we do then they’ll be encouraged by that’.

Could all be just his own confidence and belief about what he expects to achieve, but I keep coming back to why a manager at his level chooses this club, at this time, when its fairly well known that beyond our league position and squad capability, we’re a bit of a basket case and something of a poisoned chalice for managers. He’s taking a hell of a risk - think about it; if he comes here an fails, where else is there for him to go? And he’s joining a club that on the face of it doesn’t have great budgets, is known for continually hiring and firing managers and has a reputation of ‘think twice before going there’ in the game.

Genuinely, I think there’s something else going on behind the scenes. Hughes has great business and footballing contacts, and it could be that his arrival is a precursor to something/someone else.

 

Well if Smallwood is still the captain next season then we have issues if all this is true.

A true leader doesn’t allow this to happen.

 

Well it can’t be denied this is a very ambitious appointment

 

I was going to post similar Fordy, to all our fans lets please not forget he is going to be working with a very underwhelming squad of players that Adams has left him with - nothing evolutionary should be expected until the summer and then we HAVE to show a bit of patience for the bigger picture to start to take shape

 

Let's not beat about the bush, there's not another league two side he'd have joined.
He's not here because of the owner, nor RS's.
He's here because of us
I quote :- "The supporters come here in their numbers, and that is a thing I have missed since being out of management"
Now, let's make him welcome and make some noise. who knows we may even get a reaction out of that lot on the pitch !!

 

Just caught the last minute of the post match interview. What a class act compared to DA.

He has a clear plan for the players in training this coming week. Lets see who starts V Swindon.

 

I have to say, for a person who has won umpteen cups and leagues and managed huge teams, I am really impressed by the way he has come in and spoken and just the general respect he seems to have for the club.

He has bowled me over to be honest. I've been so impressed with him so far.

 

Quote:
“We want to go straight up next season; the intention is to be right in the mix next year as the bare minimum requirement. I’m not going to beat about the bush in terms of that. For me, it was quite clear that the Club has huge potential, it’s got a huge fanbase and it’s underachieving. “The excitement is there and I want the new season to start now. I’m ready and want to take this Club forward.”

 

Yeah, let's happily lose a manger who we have seen strong progress under! I mean, it's not as if we are wanting to establish strong foundations and continuity to build a successful team from?!

Let's keep that manager merry-go-round spinning. It's been such a great success for us in the past! NOT.

 

If choosing the right man is critical then surely it’s not about looking in your spam box when application deadline date has closed.

Hughes was big name and it seems that is all that mattered to us.

 

Well I am going to be positive. I think he will galvanise this bunch at the very least.
Welcome Mark and good luck

 

It doesn't really matter if we believe that statement, it's a case of if the club delivers on it for Mark Hughes, if the club doesn't deliver on those promises I should imagine he will have something to say about it.

 

Interesting appointment, I have no doubt at all he will be backed. Could this mean there is something going on behind the scenes that we don't know about ?

 

OMG, cheer up Trev!

 

I think this guy sits behind me at city. Same opinions, same lack of realism.

Half way through the second half on Tuesday. "SACK THE MANAGER", "TAXI FOR HUGHES". We were sat there watching a team push for a win, hit the cross bar and peg back a top 3 team. Yet this plonker is shouting how we need to get some real footballers on the pitch.

 

Yesterday’s performance has. not improved overnight. When I read the team sheet yesterday I had no idea what formation we would play. I thought it was some cunning plan to confuse the opposition.

I could witter on about players not being good enough and tactics but the stark truth is staring us in the face. Our club is being run really well behind the scenes but nobody behind the scenes appear to know how to run the main event. Manager after manager fails. Why? We are told our ST money is being put to good use. so why can’t we recruit? Why did we all watch that shambles yesterday and know what is required?

It looks like Hughes is trying to have at least two styles of play within his squad. Great in theory but we probably cannot afford it so we end up with some kind of hybrid.
What is of great concern to me is it looks like the club has wasted our ST money again. It is early days, and we will have to see how the campaign pans out but any thing short of promotion and the fans will not forgive.

it is not just the manager but a whole rethink on how we run the football side of the club.