Hughes salutes versatile Tal

August 16, 2008

Tal Ben Haim

CITY manager Mark Hughes is banking on Tal Ben Haim to bounce back from his disappointing spell with Chelsea and become a key player at Eastlands.

The Israel international arrived in the summer after finding himself on the fringes of a side that finished second to Manchester United in the Champions League and the Barclays Premier League.

And Hughes believes he has taken a versatile and experienced player on board for the coming campaign.

Ben Haim is likely to central defence against Aston Villa - Richard Dunne is suspended - after lining up at left-back in the first leg UEFA Cup defeat by FC Midtjylland on Thursday.

Hughes said: “Ben Haim has been with us only a few weeks but he has fitted in superbly.

“He has a point to prove after what must have been a very frustrating year for him at Chelsea.

“But he has channelled all that into training and his performances so far. He is very versatile and is a good tackler.

“I felt we needed to be a bit more vocal at the back and Tal has already shown that he likes everyone around him to know what he thinks they should be doing.

“His international experience will be vital if we keep progressing in the UEFA Cup as well.”

It is a difficult opening game for City against a side on the rise under manager Martin O’Neill.

Hughes said: “Martin is someone I have great respect for and he is shaping a good side there.

“But I know City have a good record at Villa in recent years and I am keen to keep that going by getting us off to the best possible start.”

The former Blackburn boss does not expect overnight success, and said: “It is going to take time.

“We are still working on systems and personnel and what will enable us to sustain a level of performance right from the start to the end of a Premier League season.

“While we are looking to improve the squad if we can, we already have good players here."

Hughes could be tempted to shake things up following that 1-0 defeat in midweek with fit-again striker Valeri Bojinov pushing for a place in the starting line-up.

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Peter Beagrie`s beagle (16/08/2008 at 11:22)

Boj has GOT to start at Villa. TBH will be a usefull addition to the squad he is versatile, but definately not at left back!
If we play like we did against Milan we will be OK, but if we play like we did against the Danes we will get stuffed.
Never sure which City side will turn up! CTID

TOE, NEW MILLS (16/08/2008 at 11:30)

CAN ANYONE SEE ANY SENCE BEHIND THE BIANCHI SENARIO. WHY WILL NOBODY GIVE HIM A CHANCE,THE FANS LIKE HIM,I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE BIDDING FOR STRIKERS,STRIKERS WILL NOT SCORE GOALS WITHOUT A DECENT SUPPLY(WHICH WE DONT HAVE) WE HAVE THE BIGGEST SQUAD IN THE PREMIERSHIP TWICE THE SIZE OF SPURS YET WE ARE LIGHTWEIGHT IN 3 OR FOUR POSITIONS, I AM SICK OF SCRATCHING MY HEAD. WE DO NOT NEED A STRIKER WE NEED SERVICE FOR THE STRIKERS, WE NEED A HARD NO NONSENCE DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD PLAYER,WE NEED A RIGHT WINGER AND WE NEED AN EXPERIENCED GK FOR BACK UP FOR 2 YOUNG INEXPIERIENCED. KEEPERS, FOR CHRIST SAKE HUGHES SORT IT OUT,50 IN A SQUAD IS RIDICULOUS GET RID OF 15 AND SIGN 5 MORE.

Bluereed my voice only (16/08/2008 at 11:43)

He's definately versatile,and i'll put money that we won't get a repeat performance like we got against the danes.

Hughes will not allow it.

Jim, Furness Vale (16/08/2008 at 11:52)

Tal Ben Haim at centre back with either Corluka or Onouha/Richards. Richards or Onouha at right back to deal with Ashley Young's pace. In midfield drop Johnson and play Gelson and Hamman together with Petrov on the left and Etuhu(?) on the right. Elano supporting Sturridge up front then Bojinov after 60 minutes, because he still isn't match fit !

huey bluey, Stockport (16/08/2008 at 12:15)

The Israel international arrived in the summer after finding himself on the fringes of a side that finished second to Manchester United in the Champions League and the Barclays Premier League.

Was there any real need to get this in about the rags???

bad robot, www.mancityblues.com (16/08/2008 at 12:33)

Ben Haim is class. A great buy. At last we have a defender who can pass the ball out of defence.

woolleyback blue, Heart of the City (16/08/2008 at 12:43)

Just a thought, why doesn't MH take a ride down to Brum and see if he can prise James McFadden away from them. He wants premiership footy and he'd be perfect in our midfield.

CTID

ted knott, droylsden (16/08/2008 at 12:55)

Versatile or not Ben didn't look impressive at left back against the Danes.

Seven Stars, Smooth Bitter Blue, Manchester (16/08/2008 at 13:18)

I agree with Hughsie about this fella but he needs to be played at CB and not left back.As i keep saying play MR at RB till i am blue in the face, VC in DM.Garrido at LB i think he links up best with MP.TBH i just hope has got the hunger and attitude Hughes expects because we all thought he could impose his authority on the players to play how he wanted to,but going off the other night i think there are players such as Johnson and Dunne who are very lax and just to be seem going through the motions.Come on Boss get the players in that you need to play your preferred formation and system because most of the players you have got can not.

Its off to 4th we Jo !!!! City, manchester (16/08/2008 at 13:23)

I dont think we can say Ben Haim isnt a left back based on one poor proformance. Hughes must see something in him to paly him over Ball, As city fans we need to get behind the players we have got rather than wait for players to be bought to solve our problems. We have a very good team in the making fernandes and johnson have the potencial to be next veira and gerrard.Hughes took blackburn to 7th last season and i feel we have a much better squad than blackburn, Hughes can do the Buisness with city but i feel he needs a couple of seasons, plea to all city fans support our players and dont boo we times look grim. Jo and santa cruz with Bojinov just behind fourth place beckons.

issithatime already, padiham,lancs (16/08/2008 at 14:44)

it will be a hard game for us,villa are shaping into a class act and we are stroggling in depth ,but i think we,ll nick a draw

Shaun, At My Desk (16/08/2008 at 14:59)

Just don't play him at left back again. He could end up being Hughes' best acquisition
especially if retaining Dunne turns out to be folly.He can do all the things Dunne is praised for,but,crucially he can also pass the ball to a blue shirt,something Dunne has never been capable of.In short,there's no need for last ditch defending ala Dunne
if your clearances go to team mates and you're therefore playing in the opposition half.

Invisible Man, Manchester (16/08/2008 at 15:10)

It's off to 4th, I can categorically state without any doubt in the world that Ben Haim is NOT a left back.

Boris The Blue, Thailand (16/08/2008 at 15:24)

Think its time to say goodbye to Charlie, his heart is no longer in City, shame, but thats what too much money and the bright lights of London does to a boy from eastern europe. Bank the money and spend it on some class midfield players we desperatly need. And I hope Sparky takes Mr Johnson into a dark quite room at carrington and has a one to one with him, put him in his place and tell him to get some respect back for the blue jersey. Colin Bell reborn??...dream on Michael!

blueloon, Northwich (16/08/2008 at 17:23)

The Corluka rumours just won't go away will they.

Ronny Ekelund (16/08/2008 at 17:39)

JERMAINE PENNANT

Neil Mcnab's Moustache, manchester (16/08/2008 at 18:22)

OUT:Johnson, Ireland, Sturridge, Corluka
IN:Kader keita, Yassine Chihaoui, Ognjen Vukojevic
Finances I'm sure would balance on this and believe me there is no comparison to be made when it comes to hunger, skill or character. To those that want to keep hold these three I'd say with Johnson and Ireland you're mad with Sturridge he has a chance but we're overloaded in that department.

paul kirkpatrick (16/08/2008 at 23:47)

This ben pot noodle guy is very average just like our captain, as for charlie, unless Mr Hughes is going to start playing him as the new holding midfielder, in my eyes he has no future at city. He simply is not good enough at defending far to slow for a full back or centre half. Having said this I still think he is a very good footballer. In the right position. As for the other night............that crowd was bad....If you post on here but did not go to that game dont post again cos your not a blue..........!

Jimmy Neutron, near L.A., California (17/08/2008 at 03:12)

With the exception of Petrov, our midfield is woeful. WOEFUL! It will take Hughes 1/4 of a season or more to realize it. Then when we change managers at the close season, again, the new manager won't realize it until half way through the next seson...and so on. We'll be four years down the road before anyone makes the changes that are necessary for success. Can I get an witness from anyone out there? Prophet of Doom? Are you listening?

A shadow that lurks in the Blue Moon Delfin (17/08/2008 at 07:22)

City news:

Sparky to nick Mik for £750k

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is lining up a move for Mikael Silvestre.

Frenchman Silvestre has been told he can leave Manchester United and is being offered to Premier League clubs, with a move across the city his No.1 choice.

Hotline understands United are willing to let the defender go in a cut-price £750,000 deal.

Silvestre has been at Old Trafford for nine years, but he has fallen out of favour with Sir Alex Ferguson.

And the fact the 40-cap leftback can double as a centre-half appeals to Hughes.

Sunderland are also interested, with Silvestre's former United teammate Roy Keane desperate to lure him to the Stadium of Light on big wages.

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But his family are settled in Cheshire so Hughes and City are in the box seat.

Silvestre is one of six targets Hughes has drawn-up as he looks to make his mark at Eastlands.

Roque Santa Cruz, who signed for the Welshman at Blackburn, is his first choice and City have had a £12million bid rejected.

They are also looking at Argentine striker Diego Milito.

Louis Saha, meanwhile, may be on his way to Valencia.

The injury in xed Old Trafford striker has been told he does not feature in Ferguson's plans and is looking to move, with the Spanish club set to make an £8million bid.

And Valencia's Edu could be on his way back.

The ex-Arsenal star is attracting interest from Wigan and Bolton.

A shadow that lurks in the Blue Moon Delfin (17/08/2008 at 07:23)

simon23 (17/08/2008 at 13:00)

Its off to 4th we Jo !!!! City, manchester (17/08/2008 at 21:16)

fernandes and johnson have the Potencial to be next veira and gerrard.

Potencial being the key word here "Simon" Fernandes and Johnson are still very young with alot to learn in the premier league. We have some of the best young players in the country and if we look three or four years down the line we can be a real force. Richards for example he played for the first team for a season and was picked for england. Johnson has alot of teams after him liverpool, arsenal, everton and i am sure there are plenty more, Sturridge is wanted by Chelsea they want to make him the new Drogba. And joe hart is being tipped to be englands number one for the world cup. So alot of our players have the Potencial to be fantastic world class names. weather that happens is up to them, lets just see shall we !

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