Just two weeks after he was scratching his head after missing out on signing Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz, and worrying about whether the Blues would ever be able to live up to the promises they made him at his job interview, he is now able to play fantasy football.
Suddenly every player on the planet is within his grasp - if Chelsea, United, Real Madrid and Barcelona bid £30m, £40m or £50m, then the newly super-rich Blues will be able to top it.
It is the stuff of dreams for a manager who was forced to make do and mend as he over-achieved at Blackburn Rovers, but there is still a balancing act to perform.
He must somehow try and keep the soul of the club alive and kicking with home-grown talent, whilst converting it into a superpower!
Already just one transfer window into his City reign - and one British record shattered - he must feel as though he has just been a contestant in Supermarket Sweep.
He has spent the best part of £75m in less than a month with the promise of limitless more funds in the pipeline.
When January comes he will be able to call on resources that Premier League rivals can only dream about.
But, with all the money comes a whole heap of expectation and responsibility. Out of the window goes a honeymoon season of settling in and restructuring the squad that Sven-Goran Eriksson left behind.
Suddenly, as manager of the richest club in the world, he will be expected to deliver a top-four place and some silverware in double-quick time.
Not only will he have a whole host of fellow managers hovering like vultures for any slip-ups or slow downs, he will have to put up with agents gently whispering to anyone who will listen that their man could do a better job.
Challenge
Managing City has gone from being a never-ending, if enjoyable challenge, to the best job in the world of football.
And all the while Hughes is racing to fulfil the ambitions of English football's newest billionaire owners, he must be aware of the hopes and dreams of City fans that have stuck with the club through thick and thin - mostly the latter in the last three decades.
They, of course, will celebrate long and loud the club's new-found status in the soccer hierarchy, but will not want their club to be stacked to the roof with arrivistes supporters toting cameras instead of knowledge of the club.
Hughes will be urged - and hopefully by the new owners - to continue a policy of nurture alongside manic and frequent chequebook waving.
It is incumbent on ADUG and whoever is running the club on a day-to-day basis once the due diligence is completed, to make sure the Academy is not forgotten.
The Platt Lane hot-house is already amongst the best in the land and deserves even more money and attention to be poured into it.
Hughes has already stacked his team with the likes of Micah Richards, Stevie Ireland, Michael Johnson and Shaun Wright-Phillips - all of whom are home-reared - and it is to be hoped that he continues the trend of mixing the club's own produce with expensive foreign imports.
Much as it might irk City fans, Sir Alex Ferguson managed to pull off a similar successful mix-and-match philosophy at Old Trafford in the 90s, with the likes of the Nevilles, David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs coming through the ranks and continues the theme today with the likes of Wes Brown, Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea.
Success
City must try to achieve the same kind of success as their neighbours now - in the same way. While the capture of the likes of Robinho is one of the most uplifting and exciting signings in the club's history, the true supporters will be keeping their fingers crossed that the brilliant Brazilian gets a quick lesson in what it means to play for City from the previously-mentioned fab four.
That is not the only challenge facing Hughes in the next four months before the transfer window opens again.
Not only will he be expected to keep City within striking distance of the top four in that time - and a good start has been made - he will have to keep players, especially those on the fringes, motivated when they may feel their future at the club could be short lived.
The likes of Ireland, Ched Evans and Danny Sturridge have just seen the bar raised to even greater heights - as has the Academy from where they arrived into the first-team squad - and it promises to be an interesting 15 games or so for them as they attempt to show that there is no need for the whole team to be imported.
In the meantime, Hughes will be unable to wipe the smile of his face as he awaits the return of the bulk of his squad from international duty and will no doubt be sat in his office scribbling down a fantasy XI that may, in the fullness of time, become a reality.
City's boss of three months has clearly got more spending power than the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal and the rest of the Premier League should start to worry - NOW!
Do you agree? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Bluereed my voice only (03/09/2008 at 10:24)
cautiously optimistic, ireland{in exile} (03/09/2008 at 10:30)
South Stand, Eastlands (03/09/2008 at 10:35)
Watching Swede (03/09/2008 at 10:37)
Highes has a delicate task indeed, to build a world class team, but at the same avoid to alienate long term City fans and destroy the 'City culture'.
Eric, Dutch, 33 years and still here (03/09/2008 at 10:38)
Neil Allen (03/09/2008 at 10:43)
But if I am honest there is suddenly a whole lot of deadwood that we didn't have only two days ago.
Players like Onouha, Ben-Haim, Ball, Garrido, Ireland, Johnson, Benjani, Vassell, Caicedo, Bojinov can all go in January for me and we bring in a left back, hard midfielder, creative spark to suppliment Elano (players like Arshavin, Diego, Kaka, Messi etc) and we would be sorted.
Lads like Sturridge, Evans, Micah, SWP, Hart, Schmichel, Logan and Wiess should NOT be sold under any circumstances or even forced out of the reckoning, but quality and TOP QUALITY at that brought in to suppliment them and the current first teamers already here.
Pink Final Postbag, North Devon (03/09/2008 at 10:43)
Reidus, Cambridge (03/09/2008 at 10:45)
Twosips, On a merry go round (03/09/2008 at 10:45)
I've been SO worried that the club will lose its identity over the past 24 hours. I'm scared that we'll simply 'cheat' at football, and just throw bottomless amounts of cash at players until we win. Where's the honour, skill and talent in that? There isn't any...
The only way we'll feel the win is deserved is if we develop some of the lesser household names (Kompany, Zabaleta, Jo, Johnson) into world superstars. If we can still get the likes of Sturridge and Weiss popping off the bench every now and then, and keep Richards and Jo Hart in the team, then we'll still have a feel for MCFC.
I don't want the heart being completely ripped out.
The only way I can describe it is in the way how you hear millionaires lead really shallow lives. If I won the lottery today I have no doubt that I'd love the first year or two...but I honestly feel that eventually I'd just become bored. There's nothing more rewarding than working for something. A sense of achievement. We've gotta strike the right balance so we can still get that feeling.
The proudest moment I've felt for City over the past few years was watching our youth team in the final against Chelsea last season. It was incredible. Chelsea, a team packed with foreigner kids from every corner of the world who had been brought to the club with the promise of millions of pounds, being taught a footballing lesson by a bunch of English and Irish kids who have been coached excellently, and have blue blood coursing through their veins. It was Man City at its purest. It meant something to them. You can see it in their eyes. It was a wonderful sight!
We need people who value the club still. We don't need mercenaries. One or two superstars would be nice...but let’s make sure the fans can still relate to what's happening at our club.
CTID!
x
steveP, Manchester (03/09/2008 at 10:46)
Jerry, Whalley Range, Manchester (03/09/2008 at 10:47)
Chip Buttie (03/09/2008 at 10:47)
MH must feel like a dog with two d*cks when he looks at what can now be delivered to middle eastlands in respect of talent from world football, but I believe that he will make sure that the traditions of OUR club will be communicated to the new owners and I hope it will be respected.
Anyway....lets enjoy the ride as we have always done.
I bet Sir Bacon Face of the swamp is even more red faced these days!
CTID
ekuldot (03/09/2008 at 10:47)
I am over that proverbial blue moon with the colossal news that we are the RICHEST club in the world BUT it is fair to say that to be the BIGGEST club in the world, you have to win trophies, consistantly for years and years.
No-one will call City the biggest club in the world just because we sign a list of all star names on big wages for big transfer fees. Chelsea had all the money until a few days ago and they won a couple of titles etc but they haven't won the Champions League (ever). The biggest club in the world would be the one with the most history of winning things, big things - Real / Liverpool etc.
Let's all keep our heads, love the moment & revel in the opportunity we now have but remember who we are and what we stand for.
I hope the new owner & all those concerned, away from on the field matters, leave the football to Hughes and his team - i hope the academy is further improved - i hope the stadium is made into a fortress - i hope we build on the stadium capacity - i hope we lower ticket prices (we can afford to) - i hope we listen to the fans who are the biggest investors in the club & have been for years - i hope we do win trophies & all this i hope, before we start signing every tom dick & torres!
We can build from within & win with passion and style & maybe a little bit of money too.
Good luck to all of us Blues, it's just gone mental!
woolleyback blue, Heart of the City (03/09/2008 at 10:48)
CTID
Blue Boy '83 (03/09/2008 at 10:51)
Hopefully ADUG will invest in a new youth academy!
Jesper, Copenhagen (03/09/2008 at 10:52)
BristolStevefromOldham, bristol (03/09/2008 at 10:52)
HughesHeadScout, Manchester (03/09/2008 at 11:07)
In Mark Hughes i think we have a manager that will respect the traditions of this old and great club. We were Great before the abu dhabi fella's turned up and we'll be great long after they've gone.
I would though like an annoucment with regards to the fans something along the lines of "as a reward for the fans loyal support over the barren years season ticket prices are fixed for the next five years and carling cup home games are free this season" they wouldn't miss the money (League games couldnt be free as t would be a tad unfair on season ticket holders)
Fellow blues the city rollercoaster has just had a new piece of track added and this bit leads up jump on and see where it takes us
Bagsies the front seat though
CTID
Zagreb Exile, Zagreb, Croatia (03/09/2008 at 11:08)
However, in all the "mania" of the moment, don't forget that in the late 60's and 70's we could and did buy the best and most expensive players in UK (our world at that time), eg. Tueart, Marsh, Bell for starters. We are now catching up again with our former peers "a'la 21st Century" prices and wealth.
Must admit I'm enjoying it.
This has calmed me down after losing Ćorluka!
Stephen Bell in Zagreb,
g1lly blue (03/09/2008 at 11:16)
bludarnsarf (03/09/2008 at 11:19)
As I posted yesterday however, the UAE, with its vast wealth is looking to invest not just at home but abroad into hight profile assets. They see Manchester City as being one of those.
They have also invssted in a youth policy of their own with Inter Milan providing the technical assistance so that they can bring Arabic footballers through. They will not forsake the Academy. They have already said they need to look at the whole of the Club and will looking at all marketing strategies.
The propsoed owner was interviewsd on Arabic TV this morning indicating that as well as investing in the Club they would be looking at further infrastructure. They have the dosh from oil but that will run out in about forty years and need to place it somewhere, hence the buying of the Chrysler Tower in New York? and other assets around the world.
If they buy out Manchester Council and further develop the Stadium that would be good. They have also said they would like to develop the site and create further jobs.
How much more can they do to persuade us that they mean business, all within 48 hours?
I agree with the main thrust of the article and believe that Mark Hughes will stay loyal to the vast majority of the current squad, bearing in mind we know where we are weak in the team already. These players are signed up, mostly to long contracts. If they are replaced and feel they need to move on they will be playing for the shop window of January and possibly next summer. I would have thought they would not need any further motivation.
As reported yesterday, 18 new players would seem ridiculous. Perhaps the new owners are trying to flex their muscles and say we have arrived to the rest of the league and Europe. I think the current squad is top six and with four or five new signings we could make top three! Why do we need 18??
Sparky is a strong character and will make sure his views are well known. The current owners have said that they respect him and will also respect his wishes and player choices. Whilst they do have the money to throw away, they are very intelligent people. They would wish to get value for money and will take notice of the professional in his own profession.
Bill, Carlisle, Cumbria (03/09/2008 at 11:19)
Eastlands holds just less than 47,000. The hard core of Blues plus the Away seats leaves little capacity for glory hunters. Especially now that it appears a lot of the 'disillusioned ones' have started to queue for season tickets again. No doubt this trend will continue and if we add those back into the equation the available seats for glory hunters reduces to probably a couple of thousand.
A lot different than Chelsea pre-Abramovich. They had plenty of capacity for new 'supporters'(I use the term loosely)as their crowds weren't that great. The Rags have had to re-develop The Swamp dramatically over the years in order to satisfy the out of town demand for seats, whilst Arsenal have moved to the Emirates. I wouldn't have thought that the shape of Eastlands lends itself to extension as no doubt the entire roof would need to be replaced !
On the other hand, if the new owners are as rich as we believe them to be, then anything's possible I suppose.
In the medium term I think that it's more likely the place will be stacked to the rafters with True Blues with hangers-on at a minimum.
42andnotseenowtreally, Heaton Misery (03/09/2008 at 11:20)
Bluereed my voice only (03/09/2008 at 11:33)
artist formerly known as keegan, Obscurity (03/09/2008 at 11:36)
All this is now at serious risk and city will never be the same again unless we continue to nurture home grown talent such as richards and SWP.
Maybe its now upto UEFA to change the rules to insist that when a team plays, at least 4 of the players must be academy produced players and limit foreign numbers to 4 otherwise the english game as a whole will be lost for the ordinary fan and marketed for the just the world audience.