Hughes’ days are numbered at Manchester City

Days are numbered

Abysmal

Yesterday’s pretty abysmal draw at home to a very slightly resurgent Hull was their seventh draw in a row. They have only lost one game all season so far but seven points from twenty-one is not good enough.

On the positive side for City despite this poor run they are still sitting in sixth place. However, that just goes to show how average and evenly matched the Premier League is outside of the top few clubs.

Talent

In the side yesterday were Shay Given (£5.9 million), Joleon Lescott (£24 million), Kolo Toure (£14 million), Robinho (£32.5million), Emmanuel Adebayor (£25 million)
and Carlos Tevez (£47 million). Santa Cruz (£18 million) was on the bench. That amounts to a total cost to the owners of around £165 million. I think if I had spent that sort of money, I might just expect my manager to be able to put that talent together and make a team capable of beating Hull!

This run of draws has included other games that City should surely have won. Burnley, Birmingham, Fulham and Wigan should surely have been despatched by a team that cost so much, shouldn’t they?

Time

I appreciate that it takes time to develop the required team spirit and understanding to make a winning team however talented the players may be, although it didn’t take Mourinho long once he got hold of Abramovich’s millions and a few years earlier, Kenny Dalglish achieved instant success with Jack Walker’s money at Blackburn.

The owners at City may give Mark Hughes more time but they will expect Champions League football next season. The Europa league simply won’t do as that is a competition that seems to be a nuisance to English clubs rather than anything else, despite what Liverpool may be saying about it now!

Fighting

I just can’t see City breaking into the top four this season. Chelsea, United and Arsenal are looking good. Liverpool can’t go on being so poor and Tottenham have a real chance. It would seem more likely that City will be fighting Aston Villa for sixth place and that won’t be enough to keep Hughes in his job.

I fully expect to see a big European name in charge at Manchester City next season and in many ways I think that would be a shame. Hughes did a great job with Wales and a really good job at Blackburn. He is clearly one of Britain’s best young managers, but unless he can quickly get the best out of his ridiculously expensive team, he will be looking for a new job.