Mark Hughes seems to me to be honest in his appraisal of the squad he has, and hard-working and methodical in his approach. You cannot expect, especially with this club's history and the most recent manager's end-of-season collapse in 2007-08, for the new manager of MH's type to come in and immediately change things. For the long term success you need long-term thinking and base-building. This seems to me to be what he is doing. I think people need to calm down a bit and give him a chance. If I recall correctly, Blackburn started last season quite weakly but finished strongly. Let's see whether City can do the same.

Bear in mind as well, that the creative force from last season, Martin Petrov, has been sidelined for almost the entire season. Ireland has clearly stepped up but you have to believe that Petrov in the mix once fit will be a serious plus for the team.

ive read a few comments on my beloved team MAN CITY, and it pisses me off to listen to people slagging mark hughes, hes only just started building his team ffs give the guy a chance.3 or 4 wins over the next 5 games will have us in a healthy position in the table and we are also doing brilliant in europe. weve had so many managers at city that weve never had any consistency fot the last 30 years. look where hughes learnt is trade,when he has spent in the summer lets see where we stand a year from now.

Lots of heated long comments about a welshman, managing alot of hispanics for a saudi arabian chap!, who cares what happens?

When thay have stopped employing some poor fella to flush all that money down the toilet, then, maybe, thay will get some english in and make it all interesting again.

Manchester City now have x amount of millions to spend if what you read and hear are to be believed. The current squad are obviously aware of this and know that they are in danger of being replaced or at the least benched if multi million pound signings arrive. So, you have to ask the question, why the hell are they not playing as a team that are aware of this?

the problem with city is not the manager Hughes is a great manager and will get better with time. The only fault i can think of that he is guilty of is the newspapers reporting him saying that city need to bring in a lot of new players.. why is that a bad thing you ask well the problem at city is players all have the worry over there head about who will stay and who will go.. give the team a few seasons

Scousers will always live in the shadow of Manchester no matter what!

Balls to 21 comment. AC Milan and Inter you fool

i am a liverpool fan and hate manchester city and united. but money can't win you cups it is about the team and manger and i thing mark hughes need more time to get the club to the level of the top 4 in the league .
mark is a very good manger look at the things he did for blackburn you have take easy.

This is message from Luiz Felipe Scolari: Why is everybody so ehh @#$% manager with unlimited money? You think this ehh make job easier? Every week I am faced with big problem: play Drogba or play Anelka? I refuse to play 2 striker even though ehh Chelsea midfield is good on paper only and ehh only quality midfield player we have is Essien but ehh I always settle matter by having Roman ehh flip 10 million pounds in air and see how it land. Post #5- Why you play hard to get baby ehh I am Big Phil I make you carefree.

With much ehh love,
Big Phil

post 21:

how does having teams not far from u hav an effect!!!

You are all so funny. You want to kow the problems? It is easy. They have two, even three better neighbours within 3 square miles - Liverpool, Manchester United and Everton (in that order!) London have similar neighbourhood teams and you have the same effect. One is going to be a loser.

I am a United fan, but would like to see City doing well each season (maybe runners up!)

The problem all fans have is the desire for "instant" gratification and the focus of the media on managers and players who are not immediately successful. Look at what happened with Bergkamp when he joined Arsenal, fans and media were on his back for not providing the instant success, but I think he is a prime example of rewarding the faith placed in him.

City now have the problem that Chelsea had when Ambrovich invested. They have to persuade clubs to sell players at a reasonable fee (look at the "Chelsea premium" that impacted the transfer market a few years ago). The also have to persuade players to come to City when the Chelsea example is there to see - how many players joined Chelsea to sit on the bench or go out on loan? Given their league position and recent history, Mark Hughes has a hell of a job bringing players in, especially if they are used to European football.

So Hughes has to build - to bring in better players than he has now, but not necessarily "the best" because they probably would not come - yet. Think back to Ranieri at Chelsea, he brought a lot of players in that were unknown at the time, but were they generally better than who was there - yes! It is also about blend, is Shevchenko a world class talent? Undoubtedly, but he didn't fit the Chelsea style.

So I say to all you City fans, have some patience, don't expect a "world XI" lining up in February in sky-blue, but in the next 3 to 5 years City will become a major force in English and European football. Support the 11 guys on the pitch who are representing your club at the match you are watching, not the various lists of players the media purport are all falling over themselves to sign.

As for Hughes, he was a winner as a player and has done OK as a manager so far, he has always had to cut his cloth to suit the position of the club/country he has managed.

Mr.Geo know your facts before you start talking.
Hughes kept Blackburn out of relegation in his first year while also taking the club to an FA Cup semi-final for the first time in over 40 years.
In his second season, Blackburn surprised even the most optimistic supporters by finishing inside the top six of the Premiership and qualifying for the UEFA Cup beating teams such as Chelsea, Manchester United (twice) and Arsenal along the way. After just missing out on the League Cup final, his team sealed their spot in Europe by defeating champions Chelsea 1–0 at home.[7]
He entered the transfer market, bringing in players such as Benni McCarthy (£2million), David Bentley (£500,000), Ryan Nelsen (free), Stephen Warnock (£1.5million), Roque Santa Cruz (£3.5million), and Christopher Samba (£400,000). Rovers finished 10th in the Premier League in 2006–07, and reached the UEFA Cup round of 32, where they were knocked out by Bayer Leverkusen 3–2 on aggregate.
Blackburn finished 7th in 2007-08. Look where Blackburn is now and they will be relegated this season. Hughes brought all these great players in that at the time everyone was like who are these players. Give the man a chance and he will come good and if he does get fired then someone else will come and we move on but give THE MAN A CHANCE.

Mark Hughes is a good Manager but you have to question the players he is looking at with so much money at his disposal? Bellamy and Parker will not add to the squad and If it were my money I would worried coz when it all goes wrong it means spending more money on getting it right. Surely Defoe would have been a better target alongside Cruz?
I hope they keep Hughes and dont Panic but question where he is going with these choices? Why look at the bargain basement when you should be preparing for an onslaught next season?

"Mark has played and managed at the highest level.."!is managing blackburn rovers and finish the league on the 10th is a high level?!money bags will only need a high profile manager to get em success fool who thinks hughes can ever reach that-high-level ..

Man City is a small s u c k y club!

Hughes will be gone before seasons end, who would want to join a club when you dont know if the manager that signs you will be the one that plays you?
Money doesnt always guarantee success.

yo hughes..sign these guys, pjanic of lyon-will bring more creativity and width in midfield, valbuena of marseille-speed and agilty that you're lacking, and gomis of st.etienne-finishing and flair on attack...i bet ure team will finish 4th or 5th if you signed those lads...

Its about time clubs start giving managers time he will be sucsessful givin time look what he did a blackburn, plenty of money isnt everything tho and city will never be Man Utd but they could be a top six thats for sure

***** MISSION ACOMPLISHED ****** MARK HUGHES COME HOME NOW ******* ONCE A RED ALWAYS A RED ****** Oh yeh !! City have lots n lots of Money ... he he !! so they go for Craig Bellamy !!!!! ... me not understand.... andy parfitt manchester