That is the target laid down by Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, who has also confirmed City are set to spend again this summer.
Al Mubarak and owner Sheikh Mansour have both been satisfied by Hughes' first campaign.
Now the Abu Dhabi owners have raised the bar and expect European qualification.
"I think a reasonable target next season is the top six," declared the chairman.
"I think people see me as a reasonable and realistic man, and given what we have done this year and the ambitions we have this summer, a top six finish next year should be a reasonable and achievable target.
"We have to be able to create that nice balance in the club between a quality, strong first team with depth, but retain the ability to bring in young, talented individuals.
"We have all seen what Nedum Onuoha and Stevie Ireland have done this season. Both of them have had a fantastic season and I think there are more Nedums and Stevies within the Academy and we have to be able to have a good platform.
"Part of the discussions that we are having is what is the right balance within the club between the youngsters and the seasoned players we need to buy to come into specific positions."
Do you think City will finish in the top six this season? Have your say.
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BlueSte (19/05/2009 at 08:54)
OrigamiNinja, Inverness (19/05/2009 at 09:00)
I think most fans would say that a top 6 finish next season is not only achievable but also a must and therefore it is good to know that the chairman/owner is thinking the same.
The fact that this is put out in the public domain also tells Hughes that he has no excuses next season and must deliver!
Neil Allen (19/05/2009 at 09:01)
Uwe the Goat, Brighton (19/05/2009 at 09:05)
The top priority this summer is to find a seasoned big man to hold the ball up front and relieve the pressure on our skillful but diminutive midfielders. If we find this "hero" and keep him fit then we can break into this top six. If we can't find such a player then I think we may continue to struggle for consistency away from home.
I've posted it so many times on here, but I reckon we need to go all out to sign Adebayor. And yes, that would be the Adebayor whose recent form has been indifferent. Class is permamnent and at 25 he will find his best form again.
PhilB65, City Forever (19/05/2009 at 09:08)
Dylan Mclean, Chelmsford (19/05/2009 at 09:09)
Might help if he actually watched some of their games in person instead of reading reports on how they are developing.
- Raziola -, Nottm (19/05/2009 at 09:11)
Giles, Voice of City Fans (19/05/2009 at 09:11)
These Arabs made there money in construction, they know that to build a solid structure that will last then the foundations are the ost important part and deserve time spent on them. You want th tallest skyscraper and want it done quickly then you rush the foundations and the building comes tumbling down. Same with us.
Top six is easily achievable because if Dunne didn't score the own goals that he did then we would have had nine more points as it is. We lost against Fulham because the side was focussed on Hamburg but nest season we won't have that distraction so there are twelve points already. We don't yet have the strenght in depth to compete on two fronts but by the saeson after next we will.
A remember, my foaming foes, before you mumble 'ha, ha sixth, better start packing his bags now' that Mark Hughes reached sixth with Blackburn so he knows how to do it. He has been let down by certain players this season who switch off durning games as they are thinking about the bling, once rid we will have a squad of people who enjoy playing football and hate losing. The sooner we get rid of the players who laughed at the 8-1 the beter it will be.
End of subject.
Believe.
mcfc2308, Fareham (19/05/2009 at 09:12)
He speaks a great deal of sense. For all of his patience and supportiveness I get the impression from the article that if MH isn't seen to be "delivering" the target as the season progresses Mr Al Mubarak will have no problem with making the necessary change
See you at Bolton on Sunday
Come on you mighty Blue-boys!!
mr bump, badlands (19/05/2009 at 09:13)
positivity is a good thing....it breeds good will and together we can do this....irrespective of who the manager is i think it is a good target to be top 6 next year and im sure MH will want that without the sword of damacles threat. 5 more quality players and we're a shoe in.
bludarnsarf (19/05/2009 at 09:17)
Given that we are 12 points off top six presently, a better away record to go with our home record this season would have seen us there. An abysmal away record has denied us this season. If it looks like it will next then Mr Hughes should be on his way by Christmas. If not keep the faith!
The minimum needed is a top Centre Half, inventive Midfielder and two top rate strikers.
Bearing in mind the intended clearout, those leaving should be replaced with better quality also.
Open the cheque book Mr Khaldoon!
Drew Peacock (19/05/2009 at 09:19)
COME ON CITY!!!!!!!
AlexC83, Manchester (19/05/2009 at 09:21)
The owners are just top aren't they?
Stephen Irelands Bald Head, Hyde (19/05/2009 at 09:21)
As for youngsters coming through we need to ensure that they are looked after and if that means giving them £60-£80k per week to move them alongside Bridge and Given and Bellamy in the wages stakes then so be it.
Nedum and Superman are the mainstay of our team going forward and after the last few months it would be very harsh to begrudge them both a nice pay rise and extended contracts.
In KAM, GC&MH We MUST Trust. CTID
dodger oz (19/05/2009 at 09:22)
balance-depth-youth..+ a few bob to spend..
onwards and upwards to that moon..(with) a love of my own..
City soap opera, Manchester (19/05/2009 at 09:23)
gordon owen (19/05/2009 at 09:26)
Blue Moon..., Manchester (19/05/2009 at 09:27)
We need to have a complete clearout of all the dead wood, and bring in some fresh faces... there are too many players that are championship standard that are earning 30k plus a week, lets pie them all off.
13 players i named that all need to go so lets get them on their way.
1st thing 1st we need a captain, a leader, and that needs to be someone the players look upto when times are hard, someone who leads by example, someone who has ability, basically somoene who is the opposite to our current captain.
team for next season.
Given GK
Rb Zab
Lb Bridge
Cb Lescott
Cb Toure (captain)
DMC Kompany
DMC De Jong
AML Robinho
AMR SWP
AMC Ireland/Diego
FC Tevez/Drogba/Forlan or whoever we can get that is world class....
Squad players:
Richards
Onouha
Sturridge
Petrov
Bojinov
Crouch
Glenn Johnson
Bellamy
We need strength in depth - simple.
Ctid
Peter Beagrie`s beagle (19/05/2009 at 09:27)
The Pope, Rome (19/05/2009 at 09:28)
Colin Bell, cobh, ireland (19/05/2009 at 09:28)
to be seen. We need better players in important positions, hopefully we can get them in.
The defence needs to be tightened, more depth in midfield and we need a good a good
central forward. Over to you Mr Hughes!!!!!
No, I'm Dave Allen, My potting shed (19/05/2009 at 09:35)
we also need a good cup run in both cups... Semi's of the Carling Cup, Quarters of the FA Cup!!
Obv prefer to win one though!!
George Orwell, Broadway, Moston (19/05/2009 at 09:36)
allenjames-tong, stretford now cornwall (19/05/2009 at 09:37)
When I was a spotty teenager, I worked at maine road and remember one early morning killing time in the main stand, I bumped into Peter Swales. He told me he thought city would be bigger than man utd again one day and hoped it would be while he was still with us.
We have never had a better chance of building up to this, and I just hope we are rewarded for being loyal to Hughes. I bet if I told Swales that sparky would be the man to guide us to his dream, he would have slapped me!!
I just have one more thing to say, and this is to the man city management, come on chaps, start bidding for players, everyone are putting wheels in motion, dont miss out!!!!
George Kane, Stretford (19/05/2009 at 09:44)