Hughes sacking: Reaction

December 19, 2009

FORMER City managers Kevin Keegan and Joe Royle claimed the club acted too hastily in dismissing boss Mark Hughes.

Hughes has been replaced by former Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini.

Royle, who managed City from 1998 to 2001, said on ESPN: “They had a big game with Manchester United to come, they just beaten Chelsea, prior to last week had only lost one game in the 94th minute at Old Trafford

“You don’t change from an indifferent side to a totally winning side overnight. And I thought, okay it stalled a little bit, that at least you could see progress.”

Royle added: “You wonder how many of the players Mark Hughes has bought he (Mancini) fancies. Does there have to be another wholesale change?”

Wednesday’s three-goal hammering at Tottenham convinced owner Sheikh Mansour and chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak that Hughes could not steer City into the top four, as had been expected following a summer outlay of £120million.

Keegan, City boss between 2001 and 2005, felt the club’s owners wanted to appoint their own manager.

“He wasn’t appointed by these people and that’s the big problem,” he said.

“They want their own man in.

“When you read the statement it’s not that of a real football club, it’s that of a business.

“Although it’s very cold and clinical and business like, for me, not enough time for this man to even stamp any sort of authority on this club.”

Hughes last game in charge of the Blues was a 4-3 win over Sunderland.

Black Cats’ boss Steve Bruce sympathised with Hughes, his former team-mate at Manchester United.

He told the post-match press conference: “When things are not going well there is a clamour for the manager.

“I don’t think anyone is surprised by these things anymore.

“It is ridiculous. You are not going to encourage any young person to try and take this up. What is the point?

“What are the stats? Managers last about 18 months in the Championship. It is longer in the Premier League but that is because of the amount of time Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and David Moyes have been in their jobs.

“I am disappointed for Mark Hughes. Really disappointed.”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitted he was “sad” to see Mark Hughes sacked.

“It’s very sad every time a manager loses his job. I am very sad because I know how much work and dedication is behind that,” Wenger said on ESPN.

The Arsenal boss added: “We all believe in patience on the technical side but on the other side it’s not always the same.

“It’s difficult for me to assess the situation of another club. When Mark Hughes loses his job it’s sad.”

What do you think? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (92) |

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Peter Doherty. As good as it gets. (Was it really 37 years?) , Levenshulme (19/12/2009 at 20:46)

Did somebody die? And why are the MuEN printing opinions by people that are not at our club? And not only that, 2 of these hypocrites don't even like Hughes.

CTID Block 219 (19/12/2009 at 20:53)

Not surprised Hughes has gone, Football is a results business and 14 points from 33 (the same statistic as Portsmouth by the way) is not that of a top four team, What has surprised me is the appointment of Roberto Mancini... having said that he is the manager of OUR football club now so lets all get behind him. I'm delighted to see that Brian kidd is going to be assistant manager, he's a fantastic coach in my opinion and knows the premier league as well as anybody.

Welcome to Manchester Mr Mancini and welcome back Brian Kidd... CTID

Lambo (19/12/2009 at 20:56)

Whilst I really wanted Mark to succeed....lets be honest any manager with that amount of resources available to him...that fails to deliver results.... is toast. The positive out of Mark's sacking is the apparent ruthless determination of the owners to succeed. City WILL achieve!

Citizensid, Gibraltar (19/12/2009 at 20:58)

I'll admit, over the last couple of weeks I was getting worried about our results but I'll go on record and say that I'm disappointed that Mark Hughes was not give the time and support that the owners said they would give him. I like Hughesy, I wanted him to win the Carling cup this year and in 4 years time say he did more than Taggart did in his first 4 years! The owners want result, fine, but to sack him pretty much straight after the game? In my opinion that smacks of no respect. They want to get rid of the "typical City" stigma> well they've just slapped it right back in our faces! A bad way to do business for an owner that lives on respect!

Ste , Cheshire (19/12/2009 at 21:04)

Its not like he is homeless and can't find the money to pay his mortgage. Foootball is a gravy train and managers are the biggest passengers.....

If anyone who went to the game todat things that is progress then they are deluded

Esso Blue In the CITY, Manchester (19/12/2009 at 21:07)

I have had a lump in my throat for a few hours and some watery eyes, but I suppose I have to wipe my mouth and move on.

dandas, malta (19/12/2009 at 21:08)

hughes had time but he wasted it
i liked him as a person but this is football
and with the squad he had at city 1 win in 10
games ( 11 pts out of 30 ) is not good
3 home draws against teams fighting to stay in the
premiereship ' and could neveer close a game when in front and
only minutes left thats not top 4 material
even today at 2 nil up they conceded 2 goals in 8 minutes
he spent millions on the defence sold dunne and we conceded so many stupid goals
anyways good luck to him but he was not good enough for city at this moment in time with all those millions invested in the club
lets hope the players he bought will feel dejecte d cause of his sacking and start putting their shift in like they did against chelsea
i for one will welcome mancini and hope he does good

Bluey11 (19/12/2009 at 21:23)

He had to go but the way it has but done it was not nice at all, gary cook has done it this way, post to be mark hughes m8 he stabbed you right in the back mark lets hope cook gets it next. good luck mark hughes and i do hope you succeed in your next venture thanks you did try. city till i die

Lavinda Past, Sunny Norfolk (19/12/2009 at 21:31)

Keegan and Royle? Do me a favour! Two more know nowts - You'll be asking Coppell and Phil Neal for their opinions next!

Bert Trautmann's FG42 , The Eastern Front of Manchester (19/12/2009 at 21:36)

Just management solidarity. Means nothing. If Hughes stood accused of multiple murders, they'd support him. Unwritten code.

Sam Haggar-Lowestoft-MCFC4LIFE (19/12/2009 at 21:36)

I am gutted for Hughes but he has had time he has spent £200 million but i wish they done it sencesiblily not go behind his back. According to reports since we beat Arsenal 3-0 in the cup Manchni agree to be our manager since then. Its good to see we got Brian Kidd as assistant which he knows a lot about the club but i am not even 50% certain that manchni is the right man.

The Original Blue Moon Risin', Bury (19/12/2009 at 21:37)

KK is wrong all football clubs are and have been a business for years. If Man U lose their next six matches do you thing Fergie will remain as manager? In fact having lost 5 games he should have been sacked 3 games ago! Likewise Rafa and the irritant Alardyce.

r.swipes (19/12/2009 at 21:45)

Plus ça change - plus c'est la même chose . . .

Ross Miller (19/12/2009 at 21:48)

LIke Hughes or not - the way our club has handled this has brought more shame on us. Why couldn't they have sacked him on Wednesday/ Thursday after the Spurs game. I'm not convinced even then it would have been right -time will tell on that score, but to do this in such an underhanded way while a match is in progress is totally out of order, and has changed my opinion about those people running the club.

mike ward (19/12/2009 at 22:25)

Wenger doesnt even like hughesy remember 2 weeks ago ! never mind mark spend your 5 million wisely because ther is bound to be a job at bolton or liverpool going soon .

mancitypj, Denton (19/12/2009 at 22:26)

For God's Sake, all the owners have done is appoint their own man. Mancini will bring in 2 or 3 defenders and then watch us improve! Absolute genius appointing Brian Kidd as assistant manager. Thankyou Mark Hughes for bringing us this far. Welcome Mancini to Manchester City Football Club. Let's hope you will take us to the next level....... at least he is a better tactician!

Stuart Booth (19/12/2009 at 22:53)

He had had enough time. Like me, the owners lost faith that Hughes could turn us into a European powerhouse. It got to the point where practically any team could be expected to score two or three against us, even the really crap ones. Onward...

czech mate, middleton (19/12/2009 at 23:16)

I expected Hughes to go , dont feel sorry for him , he will be adequately compensated .

We deserve a manager who can get the best out of our players , who puts the right team out on the day .

WELCOME -MR MANCINI .....

Captain Underpants is a BLUE!, Kent (19/12/2009 at 23:41)

I am a Hughes out activist, however i don't feel that he has been treated fairly over all of this. Anyway Adebayor and Robinho - you've got what you wanted now get on with what you are paid to do otherwise follow Mark out of the door!

Pivo, Manchester (20/12/2009 at 00:12)

Peter Doherty. As good as it gets. (Was it really 37 years?) , Levenshulme 19/12/2009 at 20:46

Perhaps because their opinions are more meaningful than the average fan because they both happen to have played and managed to a high level and happen to know what they're talking about. And maybe it's also because they have managed at City and have some knowledge of the club. And of course you know them both personally so you know they both dislike Hughes....had your Christmas cards off them yet?

Paul Power's Tash, Haslingden (20/12/2009 at 00:27)

The hypocrites are out!!!

All these clubs leading the shouts that CIty should oust Hughes for much of the second half of last year are now out slating City for getting rid of Hughes too early!

How about some consistency from the RAG media.

The real question is "Should City really have opted early on for a manager with experience matching their ambitions?".

Barney Daniels Shooting Boots (20/12/2009 at 00:28)

Very sad that non-football people are running the club. We're not selling trainers, there's no blueprint (nice pun eh?) for success. Clueless Hierarchy will turn us into an even bigger laughing stock. Cook is so predictable and lacking in any subtlety. i feel ashamed to be a City fan. Even if we win anything under Mancini (and that's a big IF) it will be a very hollow success.

Petrov's Left Foot (20/12/2009 at 00:36)

I am sad to see Sparky go as in looking at the positives 2 losses but then you look at the negatives with draw after draw after draw. I think Khaldoon and Mansour decided to replace Hughes after the Spurs defeat which lets face it they battered us and there not even a top 4 side yet. These type of matches along with Villa and the Top 4 should be close and we should show the type of football that we all know we are capable of. Although I think Hughes should of been given a bit more time the thing Khaldoon has definetly done right is appointing a manager now and straight away. Its near enough mid-season and before the transfer window which is an ideal time to appoint. However like every City fan im sure i am wary of what Mancini can do and will he cut it in the prem only time will tell. He first needs to sort out the defence where i would partner Toure and Kompany at the centre (but that a whole different thing). I hope he will still play Bellers who the season - under Mark Hughes - has been phenomenal but I think he will definetly pick Robinho or Petrov ahead of him no matter what the stats say I just hope Khaldoon points out who is doing really well and who needs to do better and with his views is correct there is rather Great times ahead or worrying ones we all know which kind of 'times' we would prefer

CTID

Bishop, with his arms out wide (20/12/2009 at 00:47)

MH was the right appointment at the time he took over however things have moved on since then. The new owners have given him enough time to see if he can hack it but unfortunately he has come up short. Some of his team selections and tactics and especially his use of subs have baffled a great many of us fans.

There is no need for crocodile tears for his demise he will leave with more money than we can ever dream of and will probably walk straight back into another job. Having said that good luck and thanks for trying.

Now the new owners have got their own man in lets hope that they have got it right.

CTID and beyond

Mario O'Toole (20/12/2009 at 01:00)

Hughes gave us an attacking line that was exciting to watch with SWP, Adebeyor, Craig Bellamy, Carlito Teves, Rocky and even that lazy git Robinho all coming forward in waves. Yeah we shipped a few at the back but it was great to watch.
What is this self loving Italian who loves Sean Connery and Roger Federer going to bring? Classic technical BORING Italian football?
Got a bad feeling about this one. NC Blue

()

Report

Manchester City