Hughes orders a double tonic

December 01, 2009

DEFIANT Mark Hughes sees the games against Arsenal and Chelsea as the “perfect” chance to re-ignite City's season.

The Blues tackle Arsene Wenger's youngsters in the Carling Cup quarter-final at Eastlands tomorrow night with Premier League leaders Chelsea to follow three days later.

And Hughes, under fire from some sections of the media after a run of seven successive league draws, is pleased to have two such high-profile clashes.

“The fact that they are big games is perfect for us,” said the City boss.

“We are really looking forward to tomorrow night, and getting the chance to get into a domestic cup semi-final for the first time in many, many years.

“And if we win on Wednesday, it gives everyone a huge boost leading into the Chelsea game at the weekend.”

The Blues are set to welcome back Gareth Barry to midfield after he was rested for Saturday's 1-1 stalemate with Hull with a groin problem.

And Hughes has still to decide whether to recall Craig Bellamy, left on the bench for 75 minutes against the Tigers, in place of either Carlos Tevez or Robinho.

“Gareth is struggling with a strain around the groin area and we are trying to manage that and protect him in certain games so he will be fit and well for the whole of the season rather than be compromised and only be able to play at 60 to 70 per cent,” said the manager.

“The thinking is that he will be fit and available for Wednesday, as will Craig, who we tried to protect as we don't like playing him three times in a week.”

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Marsy , Ramsbottom Stock broker belt,(Moston born&bred) (01/12/2009 at 10:26)

Same old Hughes,banging on about some of his favourites Bellamy and Barry,has this guy ever thought about thinking outside the box. Then again if he'd said I've been thinking of freshening things up an giving Jonhson and Kompany a go and looking to include Weiss at some point,instead of his other love the woeful RSC,I'd died of shock!!

Uwe the Goat, Brighton (01/12/2009 at 10:40)

Sadly, as a happy clapper and a Hughes supporter, if he doesn't win at least one of these two games he is a dead man walking.

Come on City!

jerseyblue, jersey (01/12/2009 at 10:41)

Mark Hughes house was raided last night by the RSPCA and his dogs taken.

An official stated this morning that he could have them back when he had proved he can hold onto a lead.

The Riddler??, Prestwich (01/12/2009 at 10:42)

I take Hughes point about Bellamy and nursing him a little with his injury record and condition,thats why I expect you used your common sense and ultra pragmatic management approach when you went out and signed a super fit back up like Croque Santa Cruz????????????

How thick are you Hughes or are you just totally smittem with RSC i know he's a good looking lad and all that,the only explanation I can think of is that MH is in the closet and hasn't come out yet and is in love with RSC!

The Original Blue John, London (01/12/2009 at 10:45)

Might be Arsenal, but he's dreaming if he thinks we're gonna turn Chelsea over. 0-4 to the Chav king's mob looks a good bet.

Peter Doherty. As good as it gets. (Was it really 37 years?) , Levenshulme (01/12/2009 at 10:50)

Might be Arsenal, but he's dreaming if he thinks we're gonna turn Chelsea over. 0-4 to the Chav king's mob looks a good bet.
The Original Blue John, London
1/12/2009 at 10:45

What makes you say that? The fact that we have only been beaten once this season as opposed to their twice?

mat005, Macclesfield (01/12/2009 at 10:51)

If we loose theese next 2 games, Then i can see hughes waiting for his p45 to come through the letter box!

Sam Haggar-Lowestoft-MCFC4LIFE (01/12/2009 at 11:15)

These next 2 games could decide hughes future at the club if we lose against arsenal kids there is something wrong. I have gave my full backing to hughes since he has arrived but now i am struggling to give my backing. His tactics and some of his team selections are not good he does not seem to have a plan B.

Eric, Dutch (01/12/2009 at 11:19)

"Might be Arsenal, but he's dreaming if he thinks we're gonna turn Chelsea over. 0-4 to the Chav king's mob looks a good bet.
The Original Blue John, London 1/12/2009 at 10:45"

Doesn't sound like you Blue John. I used to think you are one of the more knowledgeble posters on here. And despite City not playing well, we are not managed by Sven, nor do we have a squad that gets hammered 6-0 (or 8-1 by mighty Boro).

Trueblue Dublin, dublin (01/12/2009 at 11:25)

C'mon Blues, get behind the team, I've been a Blue since 1967, I've seen too many managers come and go. Give MH a chance. It's not a problem that he waffles during interviews & press conferences. We don't want him to give away too much, he's a clever guy & I believe he knows what he's doing. MH needs to gain experience as well. SRC can't suddenly become a bad player, he needs match time, match fitness etc. SWP needs support on the pitch, he gets battered by defenders. Roby looks good, natuaral ability and naturural fitness. Semi Final place PLEASE ?????

Peter Beagrie`s beagle (01/12/2009 at 11:27)

Hughes orders a double tonic?? Better add a couple of gins in there as well Hughes and see if that will help you to inspire the players to a winning performance!

Again, this is a situation where Arsenal are ripe for the taking, but then again so were Hull on Saturday, we have a great chance to get into the semis, but will we take it? As for Chelsea, we haven`t got a cat in hell`s chance. CTID

sky blue bossa, exiled m`seyside (01/12/2009 at 11:27)

Realistically the chances of turning over Chelski remain slight but yes they have lost away from home.However we will face an Arsenal team without many of their first team squad including Van Persie who had expressed a wish to appear at Eastlands(we wonder why?)If we cannot beat the Arsenal CC team with a semi -final in prospect this will certainly raise big questions.H

owever I see us getting through this one and feeling lifted to face Chelski.Keep the faith.

Nick The Voice of Reason,, Surrey Hills,( Blackley Born and Bred.) (01/12/2009 at 11:44)

Middlesborough are a good example of what you can achieve by sticking with a loser in charge.Its the Wigans,and Boltons of this world that take a punt on an untried manager...if the owner is serious about a top 4 finish then perhaps he can take note of role model chelsea ,and take on board how long Scolari and Grant got.....and how are Chelsea doing now under a proper manager....????Thank You!!

The Colin - Leeds, Over the hills and far away (Mancunian Reject) (01/12/2009 at 11:47)

The funny thing about being blue is that you learn to expect the unexpected results.

Having drawn against Hull I wouldn't be surprised if we beat both the Gooners and Chelski, then go and lose to Stoke.

Fun Fun Fun.

Gordon Durward (01/12/2009 at 12:27)

Is it me or do our blue brothers have supporters who dont live in Manchester??? Looking at these posts it suggests that!!
And I thought it was just United supporters who live elsewhere?

Mancunian RED

Bertie McGrew , Northern Countryside (01/12/2009 at 12:34)

Leaking as we are, it wouldn't be a bad idea to look at starting with Onuha, Kompany and Silvinho to replace Ricards Bridge & Lescott (although I thought Lescott had his best game on Saturday) - I would also wonder whether young Johnson should be used instead of Ireland, possibly Weiss instead of SWP. I know this is a 1/4 final with the prospect of a semi-final but the tried and trusted regulars are just not performing. With solidity at the back and flair in midfield we will murder someone soon.

Whether Hughes stays or goes is upto Khaldoon, whether we need to change yet another manager I am not sure. But one thing is certain, it's results that get you slaps on the backs or the sack. We may have only lost once (and shouldn'thave done so if Taggart hadn't already lent his watch out) but we have dropped 6 points at home and 2 away that we really should have taken if we are realistically going to challenge for a top 4 or even 6 place, and with that extra 8 points we would be high as a kite.

Let's try for a full house and for pity's sake lets all get behind the team and make some noise - it was like being at the Swamp on Saturday!

Oh and Marsy - where is the Stock Broker Belt in Rammy, I am on the Whittingham Drive estate but am just a poor admin manager. Prestwich born and bred is possibly the reason!

Bert is my hero, Cheshire! (01/12/2009 at 12:46)

Two very tough games at this stage for us. Fingers crossed. Chelsea are in fine form at the moment, but let's hope they bring out the best in us.

blaine stewart (01/12/2009 at 12:49)

Off the subject a bit, but does anyone fancy putting me forward to play on city's right wing in place of sweep? I will do just as good a job, if not better, and i only command 20k a year.

CTID

dingdongbell, north (01/12/2009 at 12:49)

the thing is we always play better in the 2nd half of a season-- don't we mr hughes ???? and if we don't we can always spend another 200 mill next season

david allen (01/12/2009 at 12:53)

The thing is when Hughes gets 'shunted' what other clown is going to step in? Altogether now, 'send in the clowns, there has to be clowns'.......................33years.

Lifelong Sufferer, Stockport (01/12/2009 at 12:58)

Who cares what Clueless has to say.

I've been warning from the start of the season that he would turn us into a DELUXE BLACKBURN because that's all he knows about football management, it's the only time he's achieved a modicum of success, playing dour, battle for the ball and hoof it up the pitch style football. Boring, Boring, Boring!

Not the classy, pass and move high tempo game I love to see and would dearly love to see City become a bye word for.

Right now the players appear clueless on what they're supposed to do with the ball. There just doesn't seem to be a particular pattern of play, they just hoof the ball up the pitch and then wait to defend when the opposition invariably wins the ball cheaply and then come at them again, the only problem is we can't defend! So what's the point of giving the ball away so cheaply then?

Somehow I don't think Sven would have had us playing this way.
Given the same time and money this so called "manager" has had, would we be in the predicament we are in now?

Dukinfield Blue, Manchester (01/12/2009 at 13:01)

Blah, blah, blah Hughes, heard it all before, dont you get the message? NOBODY BELIEVES YOU because you try to talk the talk but unlike top managers like Hiddink/Mourinho etc, you cant walk the walk.

Never mind, I am counting down the hours to your sacking.

blueloon, Northwich (01/12/2009 at 13:10)

We don,t have a squad that gets hammered 6-0 or 8-1. give it time Eric, give it time.

g leeds, Leeeds (01/12/2009 at 13:12)

Bertie McGrew

This is what frustrates me so much....what the hell are they doing in training? I know there have been injuries but finding better combinations of players like Kompany /Johnson, giving Silvinio / Weiss a game just doesn't happen with Hughes. Out of form players still aren't being substituted...drives me mad! arghh

Bristol Blue, Bristol (01/12/2009 at 13:16)

Bring in Bellamy for Robinho? If Hughes does that he must be crazy. Drop Tevez instead. Sorry Bertie McGrew your hope of Johnson or Weiss playing will be dashed. Name some young players Hughes brought through at Balckburn - just not his style; he sticks by his signings no matter how badly they play. This is a game for Ned to partner Lescott in the middle of the defence with Sylvinho at left back. Make Barry the captain. It won't happen with Hughes though - it'll be same old, same old. I'll be amazed if we get a result against Chelsea the way they are playing (no eight draw there, I'm afraid). Truth is we should have beaten both Hull and Burnley but we can't defend and are profligate in front of goal (especially Tevez). Until that changes - as they say in football stories - we are going nowhere. Incidentally, I think we can beat Arsenal if Wenger plays his juniors but we'll ahve to sharpen up.

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