Brazil's Elano, Israeli stalwart Tal Ben Haim and Switzerland regular Gelson Fernandes have, in the last couple of weeks, all found themselves having fewer minutes on the pitch than they would have liked.
They may each see more action in the UEFA Cup against AC Omonia tonight as Hughes challenges them to give him additional selection headaches.
"It is a challenge for everyone at the club at the moment and those out of the side have to show the right reaction, knuckle down and give me food for thought," declared the boss as he prepared to send out his side on UEFA Cup duty in the searing heat of Nicosia.
"From my point of view I have a lot of quality players from whom I can choose which is great, though it can cause problems because quality players are never happy when they don't play. That has always been the case but it doesn't particularly worry me.
"My job is to select the correct combination of players. The best eleven may not always be the best team.
"The most technically gifted players are not necessarily the ones that will play week in and week out. It is always about getting the balance in the side and making sure we are strong in the areas we need to be when it comes to any given opposition that we are up against.
"I will use all the squad. The key to what we are doing and part of it is that we don't split the squad up for training purposes. If we can we keep everyone together so if they do come back into the team they know exactly what the demands on them and expectations are. It is important that they are ready to make an impression."
Hughes has not had anyone knocking on his door yet asking why they might not be selected to start and he puts it down to a new attitude amongst 21st century stars.
"Players these days are more used to rest and rotation," he suggested. "When they go out of the side they don't necessarily accept it but acknowledge that they might not play a full season whereas when I was playing if you didn't play you were like a bear with a sore head.
"Now it is a given that it is a long season, there are lots of competitions and the work-load has to be shared. Players are conscious of that and understand that. They know that is very difficult to be the best that they can be over 50-odd games per season.
"There are going to be times when it is better for the players themselves and for the team that they go out of the side for a few games and maybe do the work on areas where they have been struggling on a one-to-one basis.
"Then they can come back refreshed. The days when sides won the title with 14 players are gone forever and that despite them being fitter than ever before."
As for the arrival of Brazil superstar Robinho, the manager has been delighted with the welcome from the rest of the squad.
"When you see someone like Robinho come through the door then if you are good professional it should stimulate you and it should excite you," he said.
"If you have a player of his quality playing alongside you then you should not be frightened by that challenge but like I said stimulated by it." Tweet
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These comments must give players like Castillo,Caicedo and Danny Mills a great boost.
Quite a long winded way of saying that Elano is brassed off. Not surpising - he's quality and should have played against Chelsea .
This manager is sheer class. I have every faith in bluesy, cant believe how much sense he always makes & never seems to put his foot in his mouth unlike some I could name.
FOREVER BLUE CTID
Mark of the jjbluee fame
Great comments from Hughes.
The comfort zone that Sven created for the first team has been dismantled.No longer
can the likes of Johnno,Elano
etc. expect to play every game
regardless of fitness or form.Competition for places can only benefit the players and the team.If we are to push on it is has to be the way forward.Whilst I appreciate what Sven did to get us where we are today,in
hindsight I don't think he could've taken us any further
than he did.Thank god we got Hughesy,right man,right time,
right place.Once the deal has been signed,the owners should come out and state that Hughes has 100% control of football matters to shut everyone up.2-0 City tonight.
CTID.
Ive said it before and I'll say it again Hughes is the man for this job he has proved many times he has "Balls of Steel" and will bring our youngsters through if they are good enough, but the deadwood will be gone and not a moment too soon for some, gone are the days when any player can take it for granted that they will turnout every game, that can only be good for our club and will get the best out of the squad !
Tough game tonight 1-1 and spank them at Eastlands
CTID Enjoy the Ride !
I am relieved that MH didn't mention DMills.
sensible words as long as he backs it up by giving the likes of Elano,Garrido,Ben-Haim etc time on the pitch, which i'm sure he will do. I personally would send out a strong team tonight,not disimilar to the Chelsea or Sunderland team,then again on sunday against Pompey,then in the league cup send out a shadow squad to give 11 fresh players a chance to stake a claim,along the lines of Schmichael,Logan,Garrido,Be-Haim,Onhuha(if fit, if not Mee)Fernandes,Johnson,Weiss,Castillo,Sturridge,Elano would be strong enough to turn over Brighton, giving the rest a well earned break after 2 good victories (hopefully)
proudtobeblue. I would be concerned with bracketing Elano with that group of players as he is top class and probably deserves to be in the first 11 ahead of Stephen Ireland / Johnston etc. However MH's comments do appear to give the impression that Elano does not currently fit in his first 11 plans.
Fernandes isn't good enough IMO to be on the bench. I can't remember having seen anyone do so much running around with so little effect.
Come on Sparky, the CC is the competition to experiment!
Wouldn't want a farce, like the one last night at the Sty!
I think we will see a completely different animal in Johnno, now he's signed.
Super Stevie I too, fantastic talent!
Talking of talent, both Danno & Ched can give us something different and are capable of chaning a game, if given enough time rather than the last five or ten minutes.
Oh the future is Sky Blue !!!
At last we have a squad that gives the manager options, several options. This season, (hopefully) we will need them in order to be playing on four fronts. If the UEFA Cup is top priority, then the Carling can be the chance for the fringe players to stake a claim.
Tonight's game isn't the time to be tinkering with either team or formation. Given that Petrov is injured and I think Nedum as well, surprise, surprise, it could give Garrido a chance at left Midfield if we play 4-4-2.
Hart;
Zabaleta, Richards, Berti, Ball;
SWeeP, Johno, Kompany, Garrido;
Jo, Robinho.
Subs: Kasper, T.B.H., Dunney, Hamann, Ireland, Sturridge, Evans.
If however we play 4-2-3-1 then:
Hart;
Richards, Dunne(c), Berti, Ball;
Zabaleta, Kompany;
SWeeP, Elano, Robinho;
JO.
With Kasper, T.B.H., Hamann, Johnson, Ireland, Sturridge and Evans on the very warm bench. I've included Berti to see what the boy can offer with T.B.H as cover on the bench in defence and Hamann to cover for Zabaleta if he is travel weary. Johno and Stevie are both able to slot in for Elano or Robinho if they are in need of a rest. The addition of Sturridge and Evans gives them both a chance to replace Jo if needed. The main purpose tonight is to start with a very strong team and if, and only if, the game is safe in the 2nd half, then some individuals can be rested.
As mentioned previously, the Brighton game next midweek is the ideal opportunity to give the fringe players start, rather than tonight.
stevemac...totally agree about Elano, for me he would be in the team any day over Ireland, but MH seems to favour ireland over Elano presently,and my team for the game against Brighton is based on the fact that MH will probably field Ireland ahead of him tonight and/or on sunday. Personally I would like to see Robinho on the left(whilst Petrov is out) Jo upfront with Elano just in behind him with SWP on the right,but MH is manager and we have to trust his judgement!
Colin Bell's Underpants,
18/09/2008 at 11:42
Terry Phelan?
I'm surprised that Danny Mills hasn't been banging on the door asking for a pay rise!
After all, he is one of the longest serving senior squad members.
Oh well, only one year of his contract left.
Earth,
18/09/2008 at 13:30
A "reliable" source told me Danny went to see MH, however tripped over the carpet and knocked him self out by headbutting MH's office door.
Negotiations to resume at a later date alledgedly.
For what it's worth here's my team for tonight,
_____________HART____________
Zabaleta__Micah__Dunne__BERTI
SWP______VC_____DIDI__ROBINHO
________JO____STURRIDGE______
Subs,Casper,,Ireland,Gelson,Didi,Evans,Ben-Hiam
stevemac1, Dublin
18/09/2008 at 11:19
Mh likes players who dig in and battle. We all know about Elano's skills when he's given the time and space but every manager in the prem must know by now if you play tight on him and rough him up he might as well not be on the pitch. If he's going to fuction properly he'll need protection and that would mean we'd need another VK or a revivied MJ at least to create the room for him.
CTID
Proudtobeblue, I do think Elano is class, but so far this season he has not been a better player than Ireland, or not showing it yet anyway. Besides, Ireland is more versatile. Elano would have been totaly wasted on the left vs Chelsea as where Ireland played very well (and that's an understatement). At this point I would put Ireland above Elano anytime.
Let's be happy we are nowadays have so many good players for Hughes to choose from. In the end it doesn't matter who plays, as long as we keep winning games. Even if it meant we played ... Danny Mills?
BLUREED,
You can't have DIDI in the squad as well as sub, Pu Elano in VK will cover him so he can do his magic.
Excellent comments from an excellent Manager. MH is the complete opposite of Sven, which is only going to benefit MCFC
If we're going to compete in all competitions, we need a big squad which MH will rotate as he sees fit. Some players may not like it, but as he says, that is modern day football.
Those who call for us to offload Ireland, Ball & others should consider this before getting on the players backs . . . . it's a long old season & there will be times when Ireland has great influence in games & times when he won't. He's still young, but has undoubted talent & can still do a good job for City, even if it means he only plays against the so called 'lesser' teams, it will at least give others a rest. All the top teams use the rotation system & us fans as well as the players will have to get used to it if we're to be successful.
eternal optimist, san pedro,, spain
18/09/2008 at 14:03
Sorry mate my heads mashed at work.It should have been Johnson.
Whens Benji and Vass back?
Blue Dragon, Cloud 9
no, he thought the carpet was eyeballing him so he kicked it, stubbed his toe, and went headlong into the door. now he's threatening to sue city's interior decorators so as to boost his pay packet a bit further