mancityblues.com

I personally wasn't very happy when Sparky was given a job at City at the end of last season. Having seen Blackburn play on numerous occasions at Ewood park (not against City) I thought his side there to be very average and had certainly over- achieved.

Hughes had a method for success which was apparently modelled on the current Blackburn manager Allardyce's time at notloB. Much has been made of Blackburn's physical nature. Labelled by Wenger violent, Blackburn became a constant feature at the bottom end of the Fair-Play league. It wasn't pleasant to watch. A half empty stadium despite Blackburn having reasonable success attested to that. It did make them a difficult side to beat, however and teams feared going to Ewood.

Sir Taggart of Fergiestan had some interesting remarks about Blackburn and the man himself, Mark Hughes. Apart from calling them "dirrty" which wasn't well received, he highlighted that Blackburn were well organised and their game plan was based on being fitter than the opposition, working the ball in the corners and chasing down teams for 90 mins. A tactic of heavy defence, utilised notoriously by the poorer sides of Seria A to combat the big rich sides in the league.

Hughes' dogmatic approach has led to his conviction that his coaching staff from Wales and Blackburn are the best in the league and his "football factory" training regime will quite simply produce a better player. He is arrogant regarding his staff considering he has actually achieved very little in his management career. He embraced the physical side to the game with a series of low grade fouls throughout the 90 mins which is able to frustrate and wear down the opposition. At the expense of creative players, a reliance on the hearty, "full of gusto" workman and the big physical player.

Hughes has implemented his same dogmatic regime at city, a team that has been for years a side based on attacking flair and good football. From Keegan's complete disregard for defending to Sven’s patient continental style of absorbing pressure and breaking with technically gifted players. Hughes new regime has become as a complete culture shock. His desire for workmen has stifled and restricted the flair players. We have seen at the start of the season, city winning by large margins in one game, losing in the next. A confused side that when allowed to express it self, looked impressive, but inconsistent over the 90 mins. Hughes clearly disapproved of Sven's regime and style of play and these creative outbursts have slowly been eradicated. In place is a functionality. The signings he has made generally support his style of play apart from Jo and Robinho who of course where signings from the owners. Now he has spent his vast sums of money on players like Bellamy, suited to a midtable club. Our last performance at home to Boro was a signal of more too come. We lacked tempo an creative flair. We were functional and organised. A general negative approach, the desire to grind out a win at the expense of attacking flair.

Steven Ireland has been lauded as somewhat of a genius this season, but I have some reservations about his entire ability. He lacks vision and quality in his final third. His energy and work rate will win over fans who believe these types of players fight for the club.

The likes of Elano and Jo haven't really been given a chance this season. Jo has moved on and instantly became a success at a club that consistently finished above us in the league. He did the role Hughes has been asking for all season. Hughes persistence in trying to sign the vastly over rated Santa Cruz showed poor judgment and a lack of belief in a player that he didn’t want to bring to the club. It undermined Jo's role at the club and left him disheartened and shook his confidence. He has been unfairly labelled a misfit, lazy and it seems odd that he can walk into a more successful side and put in a performance of a tall target man, who is both footed and can score goals. 6 starts, is that really fair? It's clear Hughes never really wanted him.

Elano has played exceptionally well whilst Ireland was suspended, and even on his poor recent form, Elano still cant get into the side. Elano too has been a victim of plenty abuse this season from city fans. Last seasons hero, he started this season the same, but was dropped after scoring two goals. He doesn't suit Hughes style, he doesn't run up and down the pitch for 90 mins puffing an wheezing, he is creative attacker who needs protection.

Something has to be said about the man himself. He has constantly reminded us this season that his door is always open. He is always been a difficult character his frosty relationships with certain managers including his old boss Taggart highlights this. The red face champion boozer has described Hughes as an introverted and difficult character. Elano stated early in the season players don't feel able to approach Hughes if they have a problem. I think his character is part of the problem that he hasn't been able to mould the technically gifted foreigners and the workers into a unit. His single minded vision meant he has alienated those who don't suit his style.

We have a squad capable of much more than it's currently achieving and you have to ask why Hughes has failed to get the best out of these players. He has brought in some decent players which you would expect when you spend over a 100 million on a team. I don't want to watch a team who play percentage football, are simply workman like and very negative. I don't think it will last, unless results and performances improve very quickly.

In conclusion,I don't think his transfer targets, footballing style or aims have changed since his time at Blackburn. He has simply moved a inflexible model to a bigger club and it doesn't fit with players, the desire for good football of the fans and most importantly the owners who want City to be a shining example for Middle East influence in the west.

by NEWS OF THE BLUES