mancityblues.com

City are at a crossroads. After 19 games in all competitions we have only lost once but have dropped 16 points through draws. The position isn't so bad, you may say, as long as you disregard the opportunity that presents itself to us this year. We may never get circumstances like this again with the teams being so weak at the top. Can we capitalise on the situation? This is a question being voiced by many fans across the forums.

First on the "pro" side of the argument;

Birmingham (a) - We're one of only 2 clubs in the last 8 games to take a point from them and the only one at St. Andrews.
Wigan (a) - Have we ever won at Wigan?
Villa (a) - A point at Villa Park is always hard earned, never more so than this season.
Fulham (h) - Should have won, 2 points dropped.
Burnley (h) - Should have won, 2 points dropped.
Liverpool (a) - How many of us would have taken the point ahead of the game?
Hull (h) - Should have won, 2 points dropped.
Bolton (a) - Clattenberg.

So of the draws I'd say we actually 'dropped' 6 points and 'earned' 5, we're well placed in the league and in the semi final of the League Cup. As for the suggestion that the teams at the top will never be so weak, that's not true; the financial state of football is such that unless Liverpool get taken over they will slowly bleed to death over the next few years, Arsenal need serious investment and a manager that's prepared to spend money, Chelsea are working towards 'self sufficiency' and United are almost £1billion in debt.

We might not win it all this season but we are the best placed team possibly in the world to exploit the financial situation to our advantage. In sticking with Hughes our owners are sending a message to the footballing world that they are men of their word, not a fly by night outfit demanding instant success, they have said Mark Hughes is safe and that we are aiming for a top 6 finish, that is still very much on the cards.

If we achieve this, and I think we will, then Hughes will be offered the opportunity to progress and next seasons target will be stiffer.

By remaining loyal to Hughes they are demonstrating to any potential replacement that they are men of their word, if they back their man unconditionally then no manager in the world will say City are a bad bet. Our owners are playing a long game and I for one would be worried if they were after instant gratification.

Whatever we think about our beloved club we have to accept that our global stock isn't very high; in remaining loyal to a manager, backing him with unimaginable amounts of money and giving him time to succeed or fail we are looking like a professional outfit for the first time in decades and that has to be attractive to the worlds finest players and dare I say it, managers.

Yesterday was poor, today is better, tomorrow is looking bloody marvelous.
IAN, GUILDFORD