Most liked posts in thread: Sign 'Em Up

Mark Hughes is in the very enviable position of not needing to work if he doesn't want to. I might be completely wrong but I get the impression he wanted a bit of a different challenge to the ones he's had before, and the opportunity of trying to take a team from the lowest league in the EFL to as high as he can get them, certainly fulfills that criteria. I can see the attraction from his point of view because with the right backing, he could achieve a couple of promotions with us. The best of the alternatives higher up the pyramid for him would probably be a bottom half Premier league just wanting to maintain their status in the top tier. Where's the fun in that?

 

Who would you sign up?

Vernam, Cooke and Sutton are the obvious ones but I'm happy letting all 3 go if the demands are too high.

Let's not let 2 decent games gloss over everything that's gone before. If they want to stay on a reasonable contract then great, if they don't then fine, we move on.

 

Not to put a downer on the good feeling but the most important people to ensure we keep at the club is Hughes and Glynn. It has been an exceptional appointment We have got to back him next season or a club higher up will be after him

 

I think Callum Cooke could finally reach his potential under Hughes too. He's already looking better by being played further forward and for whatever reason looks to get his shots off earlier. He's got all the ability and could be an asset if we tie him down.

 

I agree it’s nice how we’re doing now, but we heard the same when we were second at the start of the season and after 5 wins on the bounce under T & S. We need a better squad regardless of how the season ends, improvements must be made on and off the field. Bringing Sparky in needs to be a catalyst for change and higher standards at the club not accepting that everything gets solved with a couple of wins when there’s a chance of reverting to type.

 

Hughes came to us. Hes not the type of guy who once managing bradford city would then be like "oh great Doncaster now want me, im going up in the world".

Any club lower than the prem i would guess he would not be too dazzled by.

 

Exactly, It's easy to dish out contracts on the back of a couple of victories.
We need to be very judicious here, and look at a bigger picture of what we require, and where we want to go with the squad.
The one I'd really want to tie down is Vernam, he'll really shine under MH's guise.

 

Exactly this. Let's not forget that a lot of the players that will be out of contract in the summer are the same ones who suddenly became world beaters when T&S took over, but buckled when the prospect of getting into the play offs became an unexpected possibility. The same players that started this season so well but up until last night, hadn't been able to put back to back wins together since August. A few weeks ago, many were saying they couldn't wait to see the back of all of the players out of contract in the summer, but now some seem to want all of them signed up for next season. Like you say, 2 or 3 are worth offering new deals to but anymore than that would be setting us up for another underwhelming and unsuccessful season next year. We have a new manager in place who with the right backing, will get us promoted. Let's not hinder his chances by filling next seasons squad with this season and last seasons failures.

 

Let’s not discuss headhunting yet. I doubt he will volunteer leaving us before we are back at the very least into LG1 but probably Championship, and he may be enjoying himself so decides to stay with us who knows. I just have this feeling that he is here because he wants to be here, a lifestyle choice rather than an ultra competitive stance. Although he wants the best from the players.

 

The other outstanding thing for me is, he wasn’t worried about the quality of our players he just knew he could get the best out of them. That level of positivity is worth its weight in gold.

 

That's a very moot point which may become clearer as the remainder of this season unfolds.

Mark Hughes has openly stated that he believes several of our squad can play at a higher level so he obviously believes that there is potential to work with among the current bunch of players. The difference he's made to Callum Cooke in three weeks is glaringly obvious.
I know it's very early days, so much too soon to get carried away, but the difference between Sparky and Dull Derek is like chalk and cheese. Hughes has this air of calm authority, clarity and purpose, from years of experience at the highest levels. But he also has humility, humour and seems a genuinely nice bloke. I'm sure our players must warm to him and relish playing for him, in contrast to the authoritarian cold fish who could throw them under a bus at any moment. When I watch an interview like this I feel a level of enthusiasm for and reconnection with the club that I haven't had since our L1 playoff days:

 

Agree with many of the comments here - Hughes doesn’t seem the type of person to jump ship for a different opportunity. I would like to think he’s in for the long haul, which will be great for us if we stroke the ball around like we did last night, keep clean sheets and win games!

 

The fact is that there will not be a PL club come calling because he has turned our club around. Plus their collective obsession with foreign managers continues unabated.

There might be championship boards interested, but I doubt he would leave. I think he has done his research on our club and he has chose us, not just any old lg 2 club. One of the first things he mentions is potential, the next thing he mentions is the following. I have no idea where he lives atm and whether he is considering moving his family here or not but he looks the real deal to me.

 

Huw knows?

 

Did they buckle under the pressure or was Adams just such a bad mana manager that he pissed them all off and they couldn't perform to his style or requirements because he had neither.

 

100% Dave , I said he was a different player under MH tother day. He’s been given freedom to roam . A different player altogether. Why he was sidelined under the Adams straight jacket I’ll never know?

 

Came across this tonight. Very thoughtful approach to the game.
Buckle up guys n gals-we are in for a ride of a lifetime.

 

Cook and outrun don’t often get found in the same sentence. But fair play to the lad, I was gasping for air on the sofa after watching that.

 

Its similar to Championship Manager 01/02 where you fancy taking on Hull in Division 2 for a change. You don't ditch them after getting promoted. You try and win the premiership first

 

Oh the 3rd thing is the investors wanted him as manager.