Mark Hughes - NEW POLL

I think Lincoln have played with wing backs all season, which makes the signing very strange. Vernam just wouldn't fit into that system. Unless he signed before Kennedy was announced as Manager.

 

April Fools day again

 

Would be VERY shocked
Put good money on he gets nowhere near the Spurs job
Do your "sources" still believe in Father Christmas

 

Hughes to Spurs ? Yeah, right.

 

Swansea interested in Birmingham boss Eustace
Swansea are interested in Birmingham manager John Eustace as they look for a replacement for Russell Martin.

Martin is expected to be confirmed as the new Southampton manager and Swansea want to move quickly to appoint a replacement.

Eustace has impressed the Swansea hierarchy with the job he did keeping Birmingham in the Championship amid a backdrop of financial and structural difficulties.

He took over the club mid-way through pre-season with the club at a low ebb, epitomised by fan protests against the owners, a stadium half-closed because of safety concerns and an outdated training ground which was then badly damaged by fire.

Birmingham finished the season 17th, nine points above the relegation places.

It is not yet clear whether Eustace would be interested in speaking to Swansea, however, with Birmingham under new ownership in the form of American businessman Tom Wagner.

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So you know that rumour about Birmingham City wanting Hughes, but stumbling block, Birmingham City had a manager...?

 

He was their first choice before Swansea brought Martin in but he wasn't interested in talks. I'd imagine the package would have to be something big to pull him away from Birmingham at the minute as he is a boyhood fan.

 

I think if Birmingham City themselves are looking to move Eustace on, he'd probably go - one to keep an eye on.

Source was Sky Sports, BTW.

 

All depends on those new owners, I think the sale is still to be completed? Looks like the intent of SPA over two separate share sales to the same holding company (new American guy) was signed on May 8th, but still in holding. But if the new owners want to start fresh and Eustace has an offer, it would make sense.

If I'm honest, I can't see why any championship club would be after a manager who was out of the game for so long and then has managed in L2 for just over a year without anything to plaster on his CV from his time here.

I did hear Rob Dowsett mention this on SSN earlier but I think it was minutes before Poch to Chelsea was confirmed so it was swept away quickly. Completely forgot about the Hughes story.

 

Part of me thinks Hughes is enjoying it here and trying to build something.

He's never been a manager to just drop a club, and has generally stayed where he's welcome for several years.

He's still got time to build back to a higher level. People talk about Hughes' age, but he's younger than Steve Evans.

 

I think he's enjoying the job too. This will be the first job to test his patience.

It's the first job where he has an expectation to finish around the top of the pile, no lower than 7th in the coming season. Whereas at all his Prem jobs, he was never expected to be as successful. Most his clubs, a midtable finish and a cup run would have been seen as a great season, so he can have time to build something.

I feel at City, he has one more shot and one if not both parties might think a change is needed if we are in this position again this time next season.

 

Agreed.

I think we've a good chance to win the league next season, and I've never thought that before.

Had us finishing last season in 7th preseason.

I think top 2 this year.

 

I think we'll progress nicely. With 3, 4 or 5 new first teamers, and a core that knows exactly what is expected of them tactically, I think we'll master the modern style.

For a club that hasn't mastered any aspect of the game since Parky was here, I think we'll all be feeling quite positive come the start of the season.

We've got the best striker and one of the best keepers in the division. With improved input from midfield and the wings, we're gonna go places!

 

All down to that midfield. Stick Elliott Watt or Owen Moxon in and I think we have a real chance. Smallwood and Gilliead ain't getting you promoted together. If he fixes that, gets the best from a frustrating Chapman and adds another goal threat we won't be far off.

 

The poll makes it very clear most supporters want to stick with M.H..
I've backed you ante-post for the last few seasons but if Hughes is in charge I won't do so for 23-24; so that's one albatross the team won't have round their necks.
The only chink of light is the remote (and inexplicable) possibility of Birmingham coming in for him. If he goes to Brum and you replace him with the Cowleys then I'd be off to the turf accountants to get my money on you pronto.

 

I think what's been the most disappointing thing has been the style of football Hughes wants us to play, overall he came so close, I think most would agree if you are going to be in with a shout of promotion then it has to be built on home form (although ours was built on our away form) last season.
I don't think many teams were thinking a point will do from a trip to Valley Parade we were so predictable, the first building block is in place with Cook resigning now we have to build a team that can provide more chances for him and hopefully his strike partner, its going to be a very interesting closed season as we know with the teams that have come up and come down they will not be resting on their laurels, the likes of money bags Wrexham and quite possibly Notts County will believe they can go one step further than Stockport County and get back to back promotions, whoever gets out of League Two next season will have had to graft for it defiantly a far more competitive league than last season IMO.

 

Only 1 year left, not sure he will be here next season if we do not get promotion.

If he isn't, be interesting to see where Sparks goes next. We've tried the club legend, we've tried the young unknowns, we've tried the proven at this level and now we are at the big name.

Only really foreign to go next....or an out of the box like a woman manager