Hughes Poll

[mcfc1632]

There certainly seems more hysteria on the message boards than the general City public.

However the simple fact is that if we beat Arsenal and Chelsea, and this poll is re-done on Monday the result will be completely different with a semi-final and a decent league position.

Which is why I voted 'wait and see' and also why the owners wont change anything in the near future.

Well well well.

This sort of poll now looks a bit foolish and ill-timed. Obviously everyone with a passion against Les will have voted, whereas most obviously cant be arsed with the same old dross.

The poll was set agaibst a backdrop of one defeat in all competitions. It now exists against a backdrop of a semi-final and a greatly deserved victory against the league's best side. City's best performance for a long time.

Some on here were recently even questioning whether Tevez was up to it.

Fuck me guys get a grip and park it for a while.

Well he is not going anywhere now is he?

And if that can be made certain by 2 results - you have to question just how sound the sack Hughes argument actually was / is

I am no great Hughes fan but would much rather stability than all the changing - Ramos is a better case study than most - a couple of late goals avoided and we would challenging for the title FFS

Some of the Hughes out gang post some thoughtful stuff but most just post shallow stuff

Lets just be grateful the owner(s) show more football sense and management loyalty

[Original Dub]

I'd imagine CittyTillIDieAged11 and Robinho_Is_God are fucking LIVID.

I believe they wanted us to lose these games "for the greater good" or some shit?!

Well I'm not saying I told you so because at the end of the day its only a couple of wins and we've far from lost our "typical city" tag after the past week's football.... but I'm so happy things APPEAR to be turning.

Like I heard some journo saying in the last couple of weeks - that run of draws we were on can't be measued until we either start winning or losing, then its the difference between looking back and saying we haven't won in months or we haven't been beaten in an age and I'm delighted its gone the way it has.

The man's going NOWHERE and I couldn't be happier because IF he proves to be the man from a football point of view, he has ALL the other credentials to see us stick with him and become a dominant force for maybe 20 years and to me that is far more important than grabbing a league title one year and having to start the process off again, ala Chelsea.

[Rag_hater]

There certainly seems more hysteria on the message boards than the general City public.

However the simple fact is that if we beat Arsenal and Chelsea, and this poll is re-done on Monday the result will be completely different with a semi-final and a decent league position.

Which is why I voted 'wait and see' and also why the owners wont change anything in the near future.

Well well well.

This sort of poll now looks a bit foolish and ill-timed. Obviously everyone with a passion against Les will have voted, whereas most obviously cant be arsed with the same old dross.

The poll was set agaibst a backdrop of one defeat in all competitions. It now exists against a backdrop of a semi-final and a greatly deserved victory against the league's best side. City's best performance for a long time.

Some on here were recently even questioning whether Tevez was up to it.

Fuck me guys get a grip and park it for a while.

Well he is not going anywhere now is he?

And if that can be made certain by 2 results - you have to question just how sound the sack Hughes argument actually was / is

I am no great Hughes fan but would much rather stability than all the changing - Ramos is a better case study than most - a couple of late goals avoided and we would challenging for the title FFS

Some of the Hughes out gang post some thoughtful stuff but most just post shallow stuff

Lets just be grateful the owner(s) show more football sense and management loyalty

The questions you ask about how sound the sack Hughes argument can be asked of the Hughes supporters aswell.
If a certain 2 results are all it takes to dispel any arguments over the suitability of Hughes what is the point of the games in the rest of the season.
To me yesterday just showed Typical City.We all know we can get up for big games and be a match for any team on our day.Its the performances through the rest of the season which are more of an indication of where we are.So far this season ther has been a lot of dissappointment mixed with the highs and those dissappointments.
So to say this poll is now pointless just goes to show the fickleness.
For me these two wins haven't changed my mind and I dont think I am so changeable that a couple of good results will sway me regardless of who they were against.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

But the poll isn't set against just two results. It's set against us being in the top4 mix and a cup semi fanal in December. At the same time they were two highly significant results and excellent displays that give an indication that things might just be coming right.

[Rag_hater]

But the poll isn't set against just two results. It's set against us being in the top4 mix and a cup semi fanal in December. At the same time they were two highly significant results and excellent displays that give an indication that things might just be coming right.

Youre right the poll isn't just set against two results therefore why would all us people who dont like Hughes change our minds cos of these two results.
We are a little way off where Hughes himself thinks we should be so being in the mix for the top 4 and a semi final is no more than to be expected.We are 6th at the moment which was the minimum target so if we want to excell, as some of us do,wanting too being on target is not enough.
I haven't seen much evidence of us overachieving,which is the accussation that has been levelled at Hughes.

[Chinners]

I still can't believe some people expect top 4 this season, next season I could see the logic. I admit I didn't/don't want Leslie as the manager of our club, but he is, so if he gets a tops 6 plus a decent cup run (currently on target) he gets my ' backing'

Sure 7 draws has been frustrating but how many people would have settled for 8 draws yesterday, 80? 95? 99%?

I'm just going to let the owners decide because ranting nd raving either way ain't going to change jack

[Rag_hater]

I'll say that I am very happy with the way the season is shaping up at the moment.
But it is about what I expected as the minimum considering the money we have spent.
Personally I dont think top players like we have need that long to gel because they are already at a certain level and so the team should be able to perform at a high standard.
The fact that the season has been pretty good so far isn't however reason for me to change my mind over Hughes which I will do at Xmas.If we continue in the same way as we are now I think I will think he should be given until the end of the year but for me I have not seen enough yet to be swayed into the pro Hughes camp.

[Beefymcfc]

I'll say that I am very happy with the way the season is shaping up at the moment.
But it is about what I expected as the minimum considering the money we have spent.
Personally I dont think top players like we have need that long to gel because they are already at a certain level and so the team should be able to perform at a high standard.
The fact that the season has been pretty good so far isn't however reason for me to change my mind over Hughes which I will do at Xmas.If we continue in the same way as we are now I think I will think he should be given until the end of the year but for me I have not seen enough yet to be swayed into the pro Hughes camp.

You've already decided mate, why wait 'til Xmas?

[Patrick]

I'll say that I am very happy with the way the season is shaping up at the moment.
But it is about what I expected as the minimum considering the money we have spent.
Personally I dont think top players like we have need that long to gel because they are already at a certain level and so the team should be able to perform at a high standard.
The fact that the season has been pretty good so far isn't however reason for me to change my mind over Hughes which I will do at Xmas.If we continue in the same way as we are now I think I will think he should be given until the end of the year but for me I have not seen enough yet to be swayed into the pro Hughes camp.

You've already decided mate, why wait 'til Xmas?

And by the way he hates rags and hughes is a rag dontchaknow

[Blue2]

Amazing how fans can be sooooo fickle.

[Beefymcfc]

I'll say that I am very happy with the way the season is shaping up at the moment.
But it is about what I expected as the minimum considering the money we have spent.
Personally I dont think top players like we have need that long to gel because they are already at a certain level and so the team should be able to perform at a high standard.
The fact that the season has been pretty good so far isn't however reason for me to change my mind over Hughes which I will do at Xmas.If we continue in the same way as we are now I think I will think he should be given until the end of the year but for me I have not seen enough yet to be swayed into the pro Hughes camp.

You've already decided mate, why wait 'til Xmas?

And by the way he hates rags and hughes is a rag dontchaknow

Never!!! I wonder who he really supported when he was a kid; I heard it was the Dippers?

[Bingo Lewis]

Amazing how fans can be sooooo fickle.

was just gonna put the same. my vote stays as originally as i'm not a ballbag.

[Beefymcfc]

Amazing how fans can be sooooo fickle.

Or easily swayed. People sometimes get into the hype that is put before them, ie. 7 straight draws. Some people further that hype knowing that it will not and should not happen over night, ie. the so called Mongers. Some people try to eradicate that expectation with calls for stability which could just lead the club to some sort of victory, ie. the so called Lickers. Some people are just.......some people.

So, when you say fickle, this board isn't quite that simple!

[BlueinBosnia]

39:60 now. 1%'s gone walkabouts.

It seems a lot who were teetering on the 'I'll decide later'/'Hughes stays' have fallen into the latter camp now.

[frannylee]

There certainly seems more hysteria on the message boards than the general City public.

However the simple fact is that if we beat Arsenal and Chelsea, and this poll is re-done on Monday the result will be completely different with a semi-final and a decent league position.

Which is why I voted 'wait and see' and also why the owners wont change anything in the near future.

Well well well.

This sort of poll now looks a bit foolish and ill-timed. Obviously everyone with a passion against Les will have voted, whereas most obviously cant be arsed with the same old dross.

The poll was set agaibst a backdrop of one defeat in all competitions. It now exists against a backdrop of a semi-final and a greatly deserved victory against the league's best side. City's best performance for a long time.

Some on here were recently even questioning whether Tevez was up to it.

Fuck me guys get a grip and park it for a while.

John - you are an established and erudite member of this forum and I read what you have to say with interest. However, I feel your posts above need to be ''challenged''

I am old enough to remember the City of the late 60's / early 70's and so I know what it is like to taste success. In recent years (decades) however, our tastes have become tainted with the sour tang of defeat

I was one of those who called for the head of Mark Hughes following the draw against Hull - my frustrations knew no bounds !! 7 straight draws and many of these against teams we should have beaten without breaking sweat.

It was not about having a passion [u]against Hughes[/u], it was about having a passion [u]for City [/u]

We are in a position where as a team we are damned if we do / damned if we dont. If we succeed it will be because of the money spent. If we dont succeed, it will be why not because of the money we have spent !!

The expectations of City this season from the media, other clubs, the City owners /City board and from the fans are very high. Having spent £200 million +, I think this is a reasonable expectation. We have to ask, what are the expectations of the players / manager ?

I run a business and I know that if we do not hit our sales, revenue and profitability targets in Q1, then we will struggle to achieve our full year targets

Football is a business !

A draw = 1 point, a win = 3 points - therefore let us not think in terms only having lost one game, let us think about not having won seven games !!

If Mark Hughes can take us into the top 4, into the Champions League and into the history books, then I will applaud him until my hands go numb. But I am very unsure as to if he can do this. Our next 5 matches are Bolton (A), Spuds (A), Sunderland(H), Stoke (H), Wolves (A).

In my mind, 10 points has to be a realistic target figure if we are to achieve our potential.

What do you think John ??

[john@staustell]

Thanks FrannyLee, no-one minds a well-thought, insult-free challenge - thanks for the 'erudite'.

My point is I am on the fence and still am really, and I was getting a little uneasy after the 7 draws. But the owners aren't serious businessmen for nothing, and they know the damage a change of manager - deserved or not - will do in setting us back, changing all the coaches, changing all the players, here we go again etc. And one defeat all season was never going to bring this change in a million years, which some of the originally-declared anti-camp appreciate.

Originally I said Xmas would be judgement time and now, with a semi in the offing and an excellent blow-for-blow performance against the league's best team, it looks like season-end will be judgement time.

So why are we discussing it every week still? And remember some of the comments directed at players, who all need time to bed in (obviously), over the past few months, and mostly also directed to the manager for buying them. Those attacked include:
Tevez - anyone attacking him today?
Lescott - shy at first but getting better all the time
Bridge - best we could get at the time, has his faults but sometimes, like Saturday, immense
Robinho
DeJong - fuck me all the crap this guy got and now he's awesome
Given - 'it will ruin Joe Hart' - bit of an old one I admit but it was said
Adebayor - 'lazy'
Santa Cruz - hasn't even played yet getting slaughtered!
Toure - no John Terry but seems bloody quick to me for his age and excellent on the ball. Like Bridge, best available at the time.
Barry - carrying a knock obviously but the England deep-midfield player. At times brilliant.
Bellamy - nuff said

Strangely the most dodgy player recently has been Ned, who gave away the pen, and the equaliser at Anfield. Yet he doesn't get the criticism because he's local, not bought by Hughes etc. Some will question it when he is dropped, despite those errors. Imagine the furore if a 'Hughes player' had made those errors? So why on earth is that? And remember I say that as a 'wait and see' person.

So you and I were both a bit worried, but people need to have faith. And so far, compared to the likes of Taggart and Benitez, Les has a good success-rate amongst signings.

[lets all have a disco]

He had until January for me (like ive been saying all the time) but after the last week he can have till March now.

If im fickle giving him an extra two months,kiss me nuts i dont give a shit.

[kinsey]

Thanks FrannyLee, no-one minds a well-thought, insult-free challenge - thanks for the 'erudite'.

My point is I am on the fence and still am really, and I was getting a little uneasy after the 7 draws. But the owners aren't serious businessmen for nothing, and they know the damage a change of manager - deserved or not - will do in setting us back, changing all the coaches, changing all the players, here we go again etc. And one defeat all season was never going to bring this change in a million years, which some of the originally-declared anti-camp appreciate.

Originally I said Xmas would be judgement time and now, with a semi in the offing and an excellent blow-for-blow performance against the league's best team, it looks like season-end will be judgement time.

So why are we discussing it every week still? And remember some of the comments directed at players, who all need time to bed in (obviously), over the past few months, and mostly also directed to the manager for buying them. Those attacked include:
Tevez - anyone attacking him today?
Lescott - shy at first but getting better all the time
Bridge - best we could get at the time, has his faults but sometimes, like Saturday, immense
Robinho
DeJong - fuck me all the crap this guy got and now he's awesome
Given - 'it will ruin Joe Hart' - bit of an old one I admit but it was said
Adebayor - 'lazy'
Santa Cruz - hasn't even played yet getting slaughtered!
Toure - no John Terry but seems bloody quick to me for his age and excellent on the ball. Like Bridge, best available at the time.
Barry - carrying a knock obviously but the England deep-midfield player. At times brilliant.
Bellamy - nuff said

Strangely the most dodgy player recently has been Ned, who gave away the pen, and the equaliser at Anfield. Yet he doesn't get the criticism because he's local, not bought by Hughes etc. Some will question it when he is dropped, despite those errors. Imagine the furore if a 'Hughes player' had made those errors? So why on earth is that? And remember I say that as a 'wait and see' person.

So you and I were both a bit worried, but people need to have faith. And so far, compared to the likes of Taggart and Benitez, Les has a good success-rate amongst signings.

When considering Hughes' signings, it is often forgotten that he bought SWP back home. Just because he was here before didn't mean that he was always going to come here or that Hughes was going to buy him.

Also from that same Summer period, he signed Kompany and Zabs.

oh yeah, and TBH and Jo...

[Rag_hater]

I'll say that I am very happy with the way the season is shaping up at the moment.
But it is about what I expected as the minimum considering the money we have spent.
Personally I dont think top players like we have need that long to gel because they are already at a certain level and so the team should be able to perform at a high standard.
The fact that the season has been pretty good so far isn't however reason for me to change my mind over Hughes which I will do at Xmas.If we continue in the same way as we are now I think I will think he should be given until the end of the year but for me I have not seen enough yet to be swayed into the pro Hughes camp.

You've already decided mate, why wait 'til Xmas?

And by the way he hates rags and hughes is a rag dontchaknow

Never!!! I wonder who he really supported when he was a kid; I heard it was the Dippers?

Bit of a cheap shot.
And I've no doubt you've been asked before with the ability you're showing, knowing that I've already made my mind up about Hughes but can I have this weeks Euromillions numbers seeing as you are such a good futurologist.
However just for the record let me say that me personally,if we are 6th at New years day,Hughes will not get ant more criticism of me until the end of the year.
Sorry if that messes up your predictions somewhat but you probably saw that coming.

[john@staustell]

Thanks FrannyLee, no-one minds a well-thought, insult-free challenge - thanks for the 'erudite'.

My point is I am on the fence and still am really, and I was getting a little uneasy after the 7 draws. But the owners aren't serious businessmen for nothing, and they know the damage a change of manager - deserved or not - will do in setting us back, changing all the coaches, changing all the players, here we go again etc. And one defeat all season was never going to bring this change in a million years, which some of the originally-declared anti-camp appreciate.

Originally I said Xmas would be judgement time and now, with a semi in the offing and an excellent blow-for-blow performance against the league's best team, it looks like season-end will be judgement time.

So why are we discussing it every week still? And remember some of the comments directed at players, who all need time to bed in (obviously), over the past few months, and mostly also directed to the manager for buying them. Those attacked include:
Tevez - anyone attacking him today?
Lescott - shy at first but getting better all the time
Bridge - best we could get at the time, has his faults but sometimes, like Saturday, immense
Robinho
DeJong - fuck me all the crap this guy got and now he's awesome
Given - 'it will ruin Joe Hart' - bit of an old one I admit but it was said
Adebayor - 'lazy'
Santa Cruz - hasn't even played yet getting slaughtered!
Toure - no John Terry but seems bloody quick to me for his age and excellent on the ball. Like Bridge, best available at the time.
Barry - carrying a knock obviously but the England deep-midfield player. At times brilliant.
Bellamy - nuff said

Strangely the most dodgy player recently has been Ned, who gave away the pen, and the equaliser at Anfield. Yet he doesn't get the criticism because he's local, not bought by Hughes etc. Some will question it when he is dropped, despite those errors. Imagine the furore if a 'Hughes player' had made those errors? So why on earth is that? And remember I say that as a 'wait and see' person.

So you and I were both a bit worried, but people need to have faith. And so far, compared to the likes of Taggart and Benitez, Les has a good success-rate amongst signings.

When considering Hughes' signings, it is often forgotten that he bought SWP back home. Just because he was here before didn't mean that he was always going to come here or that Hughes was going to buy him.

Also from that same Summer period, he signed Kompany and Zabs.

oh yeah, and TBH and Jo...

But I think he could be forgiven mostly for both those last. Although some would have it otherwise, Frank spent 6 months negotiating/arguing borrowing to buy Jo, who signed just after Les arrived. And although he said he agreed with it for club purposes, bugger me he needed a striker at the time.

And the legend that is TBH came with a bit of a pedigree and was signed at the time Les had been told we were flat stoney broke I guess, and needed to beef up a poor defence. Seemed like a good idea at the time, as they say. He dont do too bad for Pompey, all things considered. Les' 'job role' - doing well on a crap budget - changed after that!