Mark Hughes - NEW POLL

Stuart’s extended contract also had the same severance package as prior to it being extended, according to Sparks at the time.
It didn’t cost us any more to extend it (granted it would have had it been a success)

 

Doubt it, never has much to say that would keep folk awake let alone interesting....

 

To be totally honest, very little was said. and my lad doesn't like to pry either. Which I like to be fair, young lads remaining 100% professional and refusing to give away any snippets as it could potentially land them in bother

 

I imagine both Sparks and Rupp are more than concerned about the state of the current regression, so I have no doubt in my mind that words have been spoken and expectations laid on the table both in the short and long term.

 

I know everyone wants stability at their club, and there is always a crowd of "sacking him wont change a thing" when any manager is rumoured for the chop at any club. But, is there any long term future under Hughes? His contract is up in June, unless he suddenly finds a way of getting about 20+ wins from the remaining 36 league games, can anyone realistically see another contract being offered? I honestly cant with the squad assembled and the way we play. We'll get the odd Newport style game and scrape a few dodgy ones but it's midtable at best football. It's almost like everyone in the stands and maybe even on the pitch is waiting for the inevitable and seeing if we sack or he walks.

Don't know if anyone listens to Under the Cosh podcast, but the lads on there have said it before and loads of ex pros, who are on to talk about their careers have said it, that the squad always sense when a sackings coming. Some players go one way of trying to overplay to avoid the sacking as they don't want to start again and some practically down tools, train and play at the bare minimum rate to try save themselves to look impressive under the first sessions of a new manager. I wonder if any of ours are at that stage? Ben Foster brought this up on his podcast about his time at Watford, when they went through 3 or 4 managers a season. You'd get players who try for 4 weeks then go missing completely. Something that seemingly happens up and down the pyramid.

 

I honestly believed he was stubborn in his set ups and the way he has us playing. I now know he doesn’t know any other way. With the pace and attacking players we have in the side, any average manager would get a better tune out of this lot and average more than 2 shots on target per game at home. Even Trueman found a way until his inexperience found him out.

 

"2 shots on target per game at home"

That rings a bell, you would have a heart of stone not to laugh at City replacing the scottish derek adams
With the welsh derek adams

 

I think one of the really annoying things is the missed opportunity to capitalise on what appears to be yet another inconsistent league 2. If we'd have won all our home games in September (Grimsby, Harrogate, Walsall) then we'd be joint top now

Mega frustrating

 

..and they were hardly difficult games either.

We have definitely gone backwards massively so far this season and we are now in no better position than when Hughes took over 20 months ago.

 

This is a standard line that the media like to use for any manager under pressure. There is no logic behind having 1 game to save a job, if we win tomorrow then that shouldn't mean his job is suddenly safe and if we lose on Saturday does that mean he's sacked. If a manager is 1 loss from being sacked then just sack them now unless you are expecting a miraculous turnaround of results or you are just putting the inevitable off for a week or 2.

 

Hughes owns Sparks.

 

Agree

 

Neither were the ones we dropped points in during the run in last season that could have seen us end up in the autos had we capitalised on the opportunity that opened up for us. It's like he's leant nothing.

 

I really find that scenario so annoying, but not questioning it, why would anyone who has the ability to play professional football not want to train correctly to make a point to the new man.
To wake up each morning to go training and keep your body in shape is something most can only dream of, yet so many times we hear from managers A or B were bad trainers.

 

@Rogered Tart and myself were discussing that last night, many saying it's a tougher league this season but so far it looks like everyone is capable of beating each other.
As someone pointed out if we'd won Saturdays game we were 4 points off the division leaders.

 

Can you explain your comment ?.

 

Makes zero sense to me, and probably 99% of the people outside of the sport. But like you say, you hear it time and time again. It must then creates divides in the dressing room? When it becomes clear as day that some lads are trying and some lads you know are just giving the bare minimum in case a new bloke comes in.

 

I think he's implying that Sparks hasn't got the bottle to sack Hughes.

 

Does he? How?

 

I think you are right.

However, this is starting to have the feel of the 06/07 when, despite some pretty woeful performances, the general gist was we were too good to go down.

Yes, if we had won on Saturday, we would be much nearer the top. Equally, we played Newport at a good time. Does that result show the potential or is it like the 4-0 win at Rochdale a few years back that turned out to be an abberation.

It could go either way at the moment imo.