It must surely encourage City fans that they are owned by men who say what they mean and mean what they say.
They vowed when they took over the club eight months ago that they would bring stability in the boardroom and the manager's office, place a long-term plan on the table and that they would take this season to carefully look at all areas of the club and put the Blues on a sound footing.
Pledges
High levels of investment in people and infrastructure were their pledges and they have delivered on all fronts. The rest of the game could learn from the integrity, patience and pragmatism of the men from Abu Dhabi.
Certainly some of the more vocal minority of City fans, who want to change the manager every time the team loses, could do worse than take a leaf out of the board's book.
Those who believe that spending £100m should bring instant glory and trophies flooding through the front door are, quite frankly, deluded.
Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Sheikh Mansour, whose money the club is spending, have been in the English game for the equivalent of the blink of an eye but they already understand the need for patience and sustainable progress.
Supporters countrywide, it seems, have stopped doing what it says on the tin. From the Emirates to Stamford Bridge to Eastlands there is an unhealthy impatience, petulance and a willingness to ignore the fact that there can only be three winners of domestic trophies every year and that not every expensive signing comes off no matter, who bought or paid for him.
The speed with which managers come under pressure or are sacked - witness Scolari at a successful club - is ludicrous.
What City fans should accept - as their benefactor clearly does - is that the Blues have been a non-winning force for so long that mediocrity had become almost endemic and it takes more than eight months and one transfer window plus a day to get rid of that kind of corrosive culture.
City have not finished in the top seven of the Premier League since its inception, have not won a domestic trophy for 33 years and not qualified for Europe thanks to their own playing standards rather than behaviour since 1978-79.
Loyalty
It is a rank record and one that suggests that the only truly great thing about the club in the past three and a bit decades has been the ability to laugh at itself and the loyalty and number of fans the vast majority of whom truly are top class and deserve better.
No one is suggesting Hughes' first season in charge has been a runaway success. The supine capitulation in the domestic cups was in no way acceptable and losing as many games as Newcastle is not the way to reach the top six.
The away form was not good enough but the season - taken as a whole - was nowhere near bad enough to merit the sacking of a hard-working manager and his staff, who had to put up with a fair few shenanigans.
To say that just because the Blues have not reached last season's points total has been a failure is a flawed argument which, taken to its logical conclusion, would suggest that by dint of finishing fifth at the start of the 1990s Peter Reid is the best City chief since Joe Mercer (no offence Peter!).
This year's Premier League cannot be compared to last year's - the opposition was different, the players not the same, some of the managers and the styles of play changed.
What City fans can be pleased with is the home record, which is that of a Champions League side. Only the champions recorded more wins in front of their own fans and scored more goals.
Now because of their new found status on the world stage, City are invited to join the elite.
Money has to a certain extent bought them respect and a voice that they have never before had in the modern era. The players of the future will be expected to build on that.
The squad is stronger than it has been for many years and the Blues have the kind of firm business and financial footing that is the envy of virtually every other club on the planet.
The necessary period of transition and bedding in has taken place and there is no reason to believe that with another summer of investment in new talent that the Blues will not achieve the chairman's aim and nail down a top six place next season.
If the target is not met then that is the time to judge and complain.
Not after a season, which statistically has surpassed most others City have enjoyed and endured since the Premier League's inception.
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For this article, Chris Bailey should be applauded. One of the most sensible, articulate articles I have read written about City in a VERY long time.
How can anyone support hughes. He is so tactically clueless it is untrue. The difference betwen the home and away records supports this. How can the same players score so many points at home and so few away. tactics. That falls at the managers door. He admitted to a tactical change at everton and won and then reverted to tyhe norm after that. We lost. How can you support a manager who has gone backwars (55 points last season) after spending that much money (12m on Wayne Bridge anyone!!!) We have the worst away points toatl sicne 95/96 under Ball. Go figure. Nit change for changes sake but for a manger who has some kind of idea what he is doing without falling oiut with players. Fining elano for saying he wants to play!!! Crazy
Exactly right Mr Bailey. What ALL City supporters need right now are the 3 Ps - Pride, Passion and Patience. Let's see what next season brings before we start loading our guns.
CTID
Statistically surpasses most other seasons. The woprst away points toatl since Ball in 95/96. Joke. Hughes must go. The difference bewteen away and home form is down to tactics. He is clueless. We chase the ball like idiots and leave ourselves open. Not change for changes sake but for someone who can actually do the job. Less points than last year with same squad plus a number of big money additions (12m for Wayne Bridge is surely a joke!!) How is that a good season. I am bored of this unfounded support for a manager who cannot do the job. Come on fining elano for saying he was upset about not playing!!! Surely all palyers should be upset they are not playing.....
Nuff said......Just what every fan with a bit of patience would want to say..... Bring on Notlob and then enjoy the end of season party....After which we can all go off on our summer jollies safe in the knowledge our owner, chairman and manager will be recruting more quality players to begin the attack come August.....
It's gonna be the best summer I've had for years........and I don't care if it rains everyday.........Giddy....??? Me....????
brill article wise up you blue fans this complaining is crazy the glass is half-full not not half-empty judge this team at christmas 09 and stop moaning -libra17
well said, good article. we should all now get behind the manager and the team and look forward to a bright future and an intersting - no doubt rollercoster ride of a summer. CTID
Excellent article which shows why we should all be looking forward to a bright future , tho no doubt the usual suspects will soon be on spreading their poison , some people are never happy unless their moaning ! The only way is up , so lets ALL climb aboard the CITY express for a thrill ride
spot on!
I think Mr Bailey this could be your best piece of writing for a while.
good article nice one chris too true
Excellent article.
Chris Bailey - the new voice of reason.
Fantastic article and is almost exactly what many of us have been trying to say to the critics on this site...
The EPL has changed a lot over the last 10 years or so. The Champions League has led to a very dominant top 4 who will be very difficult to overcome. THe strength of Everton, Spurs and Villa plus a wild card every year( who does better than expected eg Fulham) means patience is the key.
For all the money and changes of management are Chelsea better now?
The difference between City and the other teams is that we have the cash to build at a faster pace and that bodes well for the future.
I've waited a long time for success. Not seen a decent trophy in my living memory but we're not too far off now. Our other strength is that while Spurs have to keeping buying to build a squad we have loyal young players who can suppliment our quality signings.
The times are a changin.......
Excellent article Chris spot on, stability at last onwards and upwards.
Blue Moon..., Manchester
I like what you posted we do need to bring in about 8 maybe 11 players, and instead of waiting until last minute I think we need to kick in those doors as soon as the transfer windows open, go in with our unlimited money and get the players we want, before anyone else has had the sugar puffs.
We do need to have a complete clear out of all the dead wood, like benjarni, ball, hamman, mills, and make Tal Ben-Haims loan as a free.
I liked your team for next season its a fantastic team that could get us top 4 if not top, I like drogba to he’s world class, I would love to see drogba in a derby scoring goals, diving, and winding up united.
I think your team would put every team in the premier league to shame and bring that fear factor to the likes of Chelsea an united so they fear us rather than us fearing them.
It is a fantastic team you have created and I would be really happy if that is what we get I think we could win something with that.
Buy me some more players tho :) im greedy.
here is my team
Henry, Drogba
Robinho, Iniesta, Ireland, SWP
Bridge, Toure (captain), Nesta, Maicon
Given
Subs: Richards, Onouha, Tevez, Petrov, Bellamy, YaYa, Elano.
bluemoon or anyone else you can messege me at wesleyfaulkner@yahoo.co.uk
Couldn't agree more. Basically it's the same thing we 'happy clappers', the majority of true supporters, have been saying all along. However, Chris, there are those who post on here who do not seem able to comprehend such basic principles. They are the ones that think we have a right to be in the top 6/7, and that if Mourinho had been here we would have been. Give us strength!!
Stability and loyalty are fantastic if you are backing the right man. In my opinion, we are not as I have seen nothing in Hughes that makes him a great manager or, more worringly, signs that he will become one. However, I will shut up now and stop foaming - hopefully forever (if Hughes proves me wrong) but more likely until Christmas (which is the time I am giving him to show some significant signs of improvement)
Well said that man. C mon City !!!!
Hear, hear...roll on next season....
Could not agree more...... people seem to forget that the takeover was only a few months ago.
Before the takeover, City were on the verge of imploding big time, Frank couldn't (and still can't) get hold of his money, borrowing huge sums of John Wardle and banks to pay wages, etc. The final cogs in the Management structure at City were only just recently put in place.... I hope one day that The M.E.N. gets to interview Brian Marwood, so he can explain his role in detail at the Club. City are clearly a Club moving in a forwards direction.
Any Players who wanted Mark Hughes out (we know who they are), will now certainly realise that this is not going to happen, with the Borad and the Owner fully backing him. These certain Players, one in particular, is desperate for a new Contract all of a sudden. Any hint of decent from any Player, no matter how big thier profile is percieved to be, should be slapped down by the Club.
As we move forwards to the summer months, maybe the gutter Press will shut up now about Mark Hughes....... I have no doubt they will keep quiet about Mark Hughes, turning thier attentions to Arsene Wenger, who now seems to be top of their list of targets at the moment.
I am sure others of you noticed how the Press, Radio and Sky reacted to the recent interview given by the Chairman, putting a negative spin on his words, saying 'City wont be splashing the cash', as if we are not going to buy anyone..... I think they are in for a rude awakening.
I think in the next couple of weeks we are going to get news about the new kit, new sponsorship, new Players, maybe even news about the Stadium..... I note there are no concerts there this summer, maybe City have a bit more clout in saying what the stadium can be used for. Let us hope the Club can buy it from the Council. Our Rag friends seem to foget City spent £35 million in developing the Stadium, selling Maine Road for £60 million (was it?).
Keep the faith my friends!
Like I said,I ll accept the Chaimans decision on Hughes...I ll put my 40 years experience of watching the club and the world game (82 world cup finals Seville Brazil 2-Italy-3 I was really there)on hold ,in favour of the Chairmans 40 minutes.....I cannot though, go along with the charade that is generally being played out, ie Hughes will come good..when the facts say he is disaster.I dont expect any "A List"signings this summer ie a Villa or Arguero...more like Crouch,Bentley and the Crock from Blackburn.Now that Hughes is staying it is set in concreat that Captain Donkey Dunne will be leading the boys out next season.By December those black storm clouds will be hovering over Eastlands...!!!!
Only two years ago we had just completed a season of durge courtesy of Stuart Pearce.Ten games at home and the worst football since Frank Clark. Here we are, still in the Premiership, a quality core of players, youth policy that goes from strength to strength and contrary to you moaners; a quality manager and background staff. Oh and a billion in the bank.
Too many so called supporters have fell into the trap of all that is wrong with football. Spitting your dummies out because after 8 months we haven't already achieved world champion status. Arsenal fans are doing the same with Wenger. Utter madness.
The reality is that we are not the only club with money. It will take time to build the club and team that has suffered mediocrity for so long. Thankfully we have a Chairman who sees this and is prepared to build a club on solid foundations - not on sand. These guys are in for the long haul.
It may take 5 years possibly 10 but enjoy the ride. Reality is that Taggart is staying over the road. All the muppets who keep saying "his squad is old","they can't afford it" etc, get real. Thats where we need to be at and in time Mr Hughes and ADUG will get us there.
Keep the faith.
Well done Mr Bailey. Best article you have written so far. Even the most cynical city fans would have trouble totally disagreeing with what you have written.
An excellent article about a statement that was thorough and thoughtful from our owners. Well done Chris Bailey and well done Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon Al Mubarak. Now let's get behind the team and the manager and forget all the sniping and back biting.
Onwards and upwards. It would be really great on Sunday to hear the fans shouting for Sparky to 'give us a wave' as well.