City hit by too many draws, says Hughes

Stuart Brennan

November 02, 2009

TOUGH BATTLE: Nigel de Jong tackles James McFadden

A MISSED chance to cash in on the miseries of Liverpool and Spurs gave City boss Mark Hughes a frustrating 46th birthday.

The City boss was handed a point from a tough encounter at Birmingham by keeper Shay Given's penalty save which took the Blues into fourth place in the table.

But Hughes is unhappy that his team has racked up three draws on the bounce, at a time when top four rivals Liverpool, Spurs and Aston Villa have all been dropping points.

"We are looking back at the draws and are frustrated because we feel that opportunities have been missed," he said.

"But no team will roll over and allow you to dictate to them and that certainly wasn't the case with Birmingham.

"We didn't hit the heights but still took something from the game which is a plus.

"We didn't play to anything like the capabilities we know we have as a group but we are going to have days like this when things don't click and you just have to get through it and get something out of the game."

Was Sunday's game a point won or two points lost? Have your say.

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OrigamiNinja, Inverness (02/11/2009 at 09:11)

"We didn't play to anything like the capabilities we know we have as a group but we are going to have days like this when things don't click and you just have to get through it and get something out of the game."

Whilst I agree with this Mark the worrying thing is we havnt clicked for a month! Maybe a change of tactics/players are required? I dont think we have looked right since we started trying to play 4-4-2. I understand that Ireland wasnt playing very well but he was no worse than SWP and I think we looked a lot more threatening playing 4-3-3, strangely we also looked better at the back! Drop SWP next week please and lets get back to what we know!

-----------------Given--------------------
--Zab---Kompany/Toure---Lescott---Bridge--
------------De Jong----Barry--------------
----------------Ireland-------------------
Tevez-----------------------Petrov/Bellamy
----------------Adebayor------------------

Auntie Mary's Canary, My Blue Heaven (02/11/2009 at 09:18)

Very disappointing. We need to move the ball much more quickly... we only seem to inject any pace when we sense that there is a break on. Otherwise, it's back, forward, sideways, slow, slow, slow ,slow.

SWP has no end product, RSC isn't interested, nor good enough.It's time to give others a chance... the manager needs to give Michael Johnson and Vladimir Weiss an opportunity to show what they can do against Burnley. We are far too predictable and easy to play against.

Oh how we lack a creative midfielder.... a Benarbia, a Berkovic, an Elano!

Pedestrian and predictable isn't going to get us very far I'm afraid. We need to push on, and to do that, the manager needs to give some of the talent on the bench an opportunity to shine.

AlexC83, Manchester (02/11/2009 at 09:19)

We need to go back to the formation and way of playing from last season - with stevie ireland given the license to roam ahead of two centre midfielders. Tough decisions have to be made and in my opinion that means dropping Tevez because he's the one who's forced us into this open 4-4-2 formation.

Our midfield should dominate against these smaller sides at home or away and playing three in centre midfield (with one given license to roam) would facilitate that.

Peter Doherty. As good as it gets. (Was it really 37 years?) , Levenshulme (02/11/2009 at 09:20)

Well stop picking two defensive midfielders every game, then...

Shaun Goaters Magic Shin Pads, Salford (02/11/2009 at 09:21)

We need Robbie or Stevie to start in the team to add some creative qualities! RSC is looking far from match sharpness and a bit of a donkey!

I would like to see Robbie on the bench against Burnley on sat!

We are fourth in the league with a game in hand on the top two. This is a decent start to the season.

CTID!

camp bleu, Prestwich (02/11/2009 at 09:41)

3 steps forward, two steps back. Just need to take three steps forward now.

Win against Burnley and we're back on track to finish on 76 points, provided we keep up the 2pts per game average, which is a nailed on champions league spot.

frank clarke's guitar tutor, warrington (02/11/2009 at 09:42)

De Jong is garbage. What he does I just dont know. He classes himself as a midfield terrier but he is too small. All he does is pass sideways or backwards. Drop him now and put Ireland. Team to play Burnley should be; Given,Zableta,Toure,Lescott,Bridge,Barry,Ireland,Bellamy,Weiss,Tevez,Adebayor.
This team will rip them too pieces.

bbcity Caboolture Au, australia (02/11/2009 at 09:45)

All these draws are getting blood* BORING..!!!!

John Wythenshawe Exile, Indonesia (02/11/2009 at 09:46)

Take a close look at the last 4 draws, Aston Villa (a) comfortable draw, could have won it... not many teams will win there this season.
Wigan (a) game was there to win until we went down to 10 men. Fulham (h) should have won by a country mile but they seem to be our bogey team. Brum (a) perhaps fortunate to take a point but give credit to the opposition they played really well.
Its open day when we don't win and every man and his dog are calling for heads to roll, I don't read similar criticism from the big 4 teams when they drop points other than Liverpool who are the team we will be looking to replace, forget the other 3 they are too well established to overtake this season.

the legend that was glauber leandro honorato berti, oceanic 815 (02/11/2009 at 09:48)

IMHO Tactics away from home don't make sense unless we are playing a top 4 side.With Barry and DJ playing the same defensive midfielder role we invited Birmingham to attack us. Our tempo from the start was so slow we were caught in possession numerous times and could have been behind on several occasions but for Given's brilliance.
We desperately needed an attacking midfielder but when Ireland came on he played too deep taking the same role as DJ ! SWP was most effective linking with Tevez on the right but when Petrov came on SWP switched to the left with Petrov on the right, a tactic we have already seen in previous games doesnt work. Barry is getting worse by each game and clearly needs a rest. We should have more points on the board than we have and Burnley is a must win game.
Time for a rethink Mark !!
CTID

anthony sherratt (02/11/2009 at 09:48)

yes it is worrying, but that is all it is, there are going to be lots of ups and downs for all the teams over the course of this season,MH knows what is needed to be worked on, and so does most everyone else, whether this can be addressed in training or the transfer market remains to be seen.This squad of players is better on paper than the 60s 70s teams, and if managed correctly and get the breaks that all succesful teams get, they will shine through. People have to be a little patient and after what we have been through for the last few decades we can be patient. We need to get wins from the teams around us who we have not yet played and that will dramatically correct the situation, or consitently get back to winning at home and getting results from away games and be patient, patience together with corrections on the training pitch or transfer market will see us right in the end.
Token

IS IT REALLY 33 YEARS, TAMESIDE (02/11/2009 at 09:50)

im sorry but we are playing awfull.the manager looks clueless.the big teams are pulling away.hughes has to go.a.s.a.p

falconi (02/11/2009 at 09:56)

I am trying not to be over critical because i think if any city fan was told that we would be 4th in the league and in the quarter final of the carling cup at the start of november then we would have snapped their hand off but the last 2 games has been points dropped. i can accept drawing at villa which is a good point and can also take drawing at wigan because we had a man sent off but fulham at home and birmingham away were 2 very disappointing results. again not wanting to be to critical i thought hughes picked the wrong team yesterday. we were far to defensive against a very ordinary birmingham side. if we are to finish top 4 then we need to go to places like birmingham, dictate the game and collect 3 points. i felt like we played for a draw yesterday which is disappointing. he needs to start gambling a bit more against these poor mid table sides.

David White's England cap, Flixton (02/11/2009 at 09:57)

A point and a clean sheet away from home is never a bad thing, and certainly this time last year we would have come away with neither, so positives have to be taken. That said, if we want to be one of the big boys in the league , Birmingham away is the type of place you would be expecting to win. With other rival teams dropping points the last two weekends, i feel we will look back and see this as a big chance wasted to put some daylight between us and said teams. Still look shaky ay the back, and i think we have to find a way to bring back Ireland for his creativity which we lacked big time yesterday. For me SWP should be the man to lose out.

Blue Jazzman, Marple (02/11/2009 at 09:59)

Sorry Mark, You have brought this "draw syndrome" on your self with your over cautious tactics

4 draws = 4 points - 2 wins and 2 defeats would have given us 6 points

We must start with either Ireland, Petrov or Robinho to give us omething different in attack if we are to win a match ever again

Although it really irritates me when the media go on about the money we have spent, they DO have a point. It strikes me after being at St Andrews yesterday that to secure a top four spot and be mentioned in the same breath as the established top four teams, we still need the following;

right back - central defender - box to box mdifielder - creative midfielder - striker - influential and inspirational captain

This, after all that has been spent

OR we have all these and MH and his management team, simply cannot use them effectively in tactical terms, cant keep them motivated, cant keep them in form, cant keep them fit

It is no use constantly saying that last season we would have lost that match - this is THIS season and £100m plus later

And what was the point in bringing on Petrov and at the same time taking off the one player who could have benefited from his crosses?

I repeat; We must start with at least one from; Ireland, Petrov or Robinho to give us something different in attack if we are to get out of this rut

Coach, Oslo (02/11/2009 at 10:04)

We desperately need a proper manager! Hughes OUUUT!!!

ted knott, droylsden (02/11/2009 at 10:05)

Playing two holding players isn't helping although it may be helping us to avoid defeat Hughes has to find the right formation asap before Chelsea,Utd,and Arsenal get out of sight.
As for the Birmingham game Given was magnificent and deserved the man of the match award however I thought Lescott was very good,very composed and his distribution was excellent.

Taggart , Ulverston (02/11/2009 at 10:07)

Last season v this seaon - Villa lost v draw, Wigan lost v draw, Blackburn draw v win, Pompey loss v win, Fulham loss v draw. So, 8 points more this season against the same games last season. Plus, we are hard to beat and our defensive record is the 3rd best in the Prem!!! Come on, that glass has to be half full and once we get a settled back line and our forwards back and scoring we will only get even better

SDS (02/11/2009 at 10:08)

expectation is high and understandably so, but which ever way you look at it we are now fourth, and we remain in the carling cup, also mindful we have only played four at home most others have played six already, and we have played six of the ten games away. so todate we in these two competitions have won 8, drawn 4, and lost 1, would have took that at the beginning of the sesaon, remember the experts reckoned we would need months to gel so the above is not to bad when you further consider we have lost fewer games than any other prem side, furthermore we have a game in hand on most. All things considered I am satisfied.

blue t, Radcliffe (02/11/2009 at 10:11)

There is no doubt that we are not yet playing like a top four team. But it is still early days. I hope that Ireland gets a run in the team now. Maybe it is time to sacrifice a striker and play 3 attacking midfield players behind a lone front man. That worked well for us last season before we had the likes of tevez and adebayor to lead the line, can't do any harm to try it now.
It was obvious going back to the Villa game that both Adebayor and Tevez are not fully fit. Tevez looked sharper yesterday, but still not fully fit imho.
I would like to see Bellamy, Ireland, Wright Phillips playing in behind Santa Cruz for a few games. And I would also like to see Johnson playing in midfield alongside Barry for a while. De Jong defintely brings a lot of fight to midfield. But not much else. Is he really the kind of midfielder that you find in the top premiership teams? Johnson is by far the better option once he gets fully match fit.

bluebear, New Zealand (02/11/2009 at 10:17)

If any of you hadn't noticed its a tough league and maybe now a few of you will have got your feet back on the ground, rather than carried away by the hype.

A team that is well organized and has 11 fit quality players ( and they are all quality that's how they get to play in the prem ) is difficult to beat. I read the comments before the Wigan game and everyone was counting the points. I believe that we are on our way to greater things, but that's it we are only on our way. We will need to buy one or two more players in the next couple of windows and then we should be getting close to the real deal.

I don't think RSC has the bottle fit or not, because there were a couple of challanges in their box he pulled out of and one of them was in the 6 yrd box, so he should have flung himself at it, ade probably would have done.

st helens blue(exiled) (02/11/2009 at 10:19)

To the muppet in OSLO...Who reckons Hughes should go...Top 4,game in hand...whats up...??

I'm not being funny but way to many fans or so called fans quick to call for the managers head and to be honest it is soooo boring..Lets look at yesterday.It was a shockingly poor performance with only Given performing. Sometimes teams have dips and we are obviousky in the middle of ours,hey but 4th in the league at the start of November,last 8 of the cup.Ask yourself , and be honest , would you have accepted this at the start of the season.I would and if you are honest the majority would.
SWP has been awful for weeks now and I can't understand playing 2 defensive midfielders in Barry and De Jong.Santa Cruz is not yet match fit and looked way out of sorts yesterday. We need Robi back for sure.Yes it is Hughes ' job to pick the team,motivate them,get the best out of them however I cannot see why fans just think changing manager is gonna sort everything.
It was a disgraceful showing yesterday,no passion etc but 4th in the league so we move on to next week.So glad its a Saturday 3pm kick off next week.

Performances like yesterday are gold for the likes of Dukinflid blue!!

CTID Midlands, Midlands (02/11/2009 at 10:22)

I watched on tv, so could not be sure about the "big picture", however, having watched Arsenal -our play is not in the same league. why do keep thumping the ball in the air - that way we lose 50% of possession. we were not a cohesive unit at all. is something wrong with Ireland? blending this group was never going to be easy and we are in a goodish position. however, we should have collected full points here and against Fulham - look where we would have been then?

I live in the Midlands - local paper is full of how they murdered us - and that we were rubbish, you cannot buy success etc.

Lescott is looking like an expensive flop, if Bridge wants to be an attcking midfielder, let's try him there and see, but i doubt he would be in the Petrov class - why does Petrov keep moving away from the left - last year he provided no end of good crosses from there - much lacking yesterday. Zab is better in midfield, but is Richards to be trusted at RB?

looks like a lot of mixing / blending still to do.

CTID

mistershameless, button (blue) moon nr ardwick (02/11/2009 at 10:24)

MARK HUGHES TACTICS ARE MAKING US LOOK LIKE A VERY , VERY , VERY , VERY , VERY EXPENSIVE WIMBLEDON.( ESPECIALLY AWAY FROM HOME)
WAS A MANAGER OF A SMALL TOWN TEAM WHERE APPARANTELY HE WORKED WONDERS??
WELL HES A CITY NOW WITH A 200 MILLION POUND SQUAD I THINK SOMEONE SHOULD POINT IT OUT TO HIM.
AGAINST THE BRUM WE ENDED UP PLAYING LONG BALLS UP TO ....WAIT FOR IT BELLAMY , TEVEZ AND THAT MOUNTAIN OF A MAN SHAUNY WRIGHT.
Please Mark if you are thinking of doing this AGAIN tell them to feet and swamp the midfield and attack with pace and quick passing , this takes out the big burly central defenders mopping up the spilt meat and drink!!!!!!!!!!!FROM THE HIGH BALLS AND CROSSES TO NO ONE.
lol
LOL

Twilight Zone, Inbetween reality and a 5th dimension (02/11/2009 at 10:25)

We desperately need a proper manager! Hughes OUUUT!!!
Coach, Oslo
2/11/2009 at 10:04

DO ONE rag

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