New Manchester City signing Wayne Bridge believes his best years are still ahead of him, while Joe Royle thinks Mark Hughes will be given time.The 28-year-old Bridge completed his move from Chelsea on Saturday for a fee believed to be in the region of £10million.
He joins the club at a difficult time, having been knocked out of the FA Cup on Saturday by Championship side Nottingham Forest and hovering just two points above the Premier League relegation zone.
But the England international is confident of being a success at Eastlands.
"Most importantly I want to show the fans here and everyone around that I can do well at Manchester City," he told the club's website.
"I'd like to think I'm coming into my prime but I like to keep myself fit anyway and I've got a good engine and a good left foot so I'll be looking forward to showing that on the pitch."
Former Manchester City boss Royle, meanwhile, is confident the club will keep faith with Hughes.
Hughes' position at Eastlands is again in the spotlight following his side's shock FA Cup loss to Forest.
City were also in the Premier League relegation zone until collecting four points from games against Hull and Blackburn over Christmas.
But with the transfer window open and Hughes having just signed Bridge, Royle expects the former Blackburn boss to be given more time by City to build his own side, rather than be pushed out.
Royle told BBC Radio Five Live: "They are sensible people there and won't react that way, probably rightly so.
"What other club would parade a £12million purchase to the fans before they play a cup tie against a side they should comfortably beat and then turn a miserable performance in?
"Mark had an honest team at Blackburn, he had a team he could rely on and knew what he could expect week in, week out.
"Quite honestly, at the moment he doesn't know what he has got there."
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Comment 1 - 6 of 6
All the very best to Wayne Bridge, he deserves a lot better than the way he's been treated at Chelsea, i'm sure he'll be a huge hit with the City fans.
Would have loved to have seen him playing more for Chelsea but still can't believe that Chelsea think Ashley Cole is better than Bridge.
I'm a Chelsea fan and think that Bridge is an excellent player, he's not scared to go forward, can certainly hold his own in defence and reads the game a lot better than Cole, he is without doubt one of the finest left backs that has played for Chelsea in a long time. Chelsea need to wake up and realise that some of our players aren't as bloody good as the club makes them out to be. Two in particular are Obi Mikel and Ashley Cole, bloody @#$%, that's what i call them. Mikel's forever cocking it up in the last third or just giving the ball away and Ashley Cole is forever bottling it when it matters in defence, always getting caught out with high crosses.....need i go on.
Anyway well done Man City, you've just signed one of our true good players, good luck Wayne and at least you'll still be wearing some shade of blue !!!!
i am a chelsea fan and i think that city have signed the best left back in the country.
good luck bridgey!
Maybe they just want to BRIDGE that gap they have
...but you have to plug the hole and stop the water pouring out before you can collect the milk.
The left-back position was the weakest at City and of all the LBs available atm Bridge is a decent capture.
if man city wna become the next best team then y r they buying players that are not in the current best teams first team for example bridge
if man city wna become the next best team then y r they buying players that are not in the current best teams first team for example bridge
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