In a whirlwind two weeks at Manchester City, the Blues have yet again seen a radical transformation in the club's structure and philosophy. With the sacking of Sven-Goran Eriksson and the hiring of former Blackburn boss Mark Hughes two days later, the Citizens are making moves to show that they are serious about winning.
Mark Hughes knows now that the pressure is on to show that he can win with a large amount of money to spend. At Blackburn he became an expert in bargain-basement deals that were often successful. He was instrumental in turning Blackburn into a perennial European contender while having barely any money to spend in the transfer market.
Now at Eastlands, he will seemingly have an endless supply of cash at his disposal to make City a powerhouse. At the top of City's wish list: Barcelona superstar Ronaldinho.
The move for the two-time FIFA Player of the Year is seemingly becoming more and more imminent. Brazilian striker Jo is also on City's shopping list, with terms almost agreed upon with CSKA Moscow.
If City are to cash in on Ronaldinho they will immediately become major figures in the world football market. Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra knows that if he can sign the Brazilian he will have a major hit to his club's payroll but, if Ronaldinho can regain his form, it will can become a major profit in the form of marketing and merchandising for the club.
It will be Hughes' job to get Ronaldihno back to the form he enjoyed in the years leading up to last season, when his health and fitness declined.
Mark Hughes has shown that he is far different from Sven Goran Eriksson. He will not play favorites and does not tolerate losing. Hughes pressures his players to get the most out of them in every match, something that was lacking at City in the second half of last season.
Hughes will make it clear to City's players that no one's job is safe and that every man will have to earn their way into the squad.
Manchester City fans have a lot to look forward to with Hughes in charge. With some feeling that he is the best young manager in the game, Hughes will get a chance to prove that he is worth the heavy cost paid to Blackburn to bring him in.
He is a great young manager entering a club that is showing that they are tired of the "typical City" label and ready to take that next step on the football ladder. If he can get the players to buy into his style of football, City fans will have a lot to enjoy this season and opponents will not enjoy seeing City on the fixture list.
1 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
derek williams about 1 year ago
Big name players are no guarantee of anything more than boosting shirt sales and if Hughes thinks that Shinawatra's cash can buy him success he may be very quickly disappointed.
The more of Frank's money Hughes spends, the more Frank will expect in terms of winning every game it apprears, so maybe we can look forward to a rapid succession of coach/manangers at MCFC as each one becomes a "disappointment" to Thaksin (and his Thai minnions?) during the normal ups and downs of any soccer season?
As most sensible people expected, after the howls of protest and threats of cancelled or un-purchased season tickets pre-Sven's stab in the back, it's a case of "the King is dead, long live the king" and all loyalty and City's hopes are seamlessly transfered from Svennis to Hughes... Which IS only right and proper in the circumstances as Sven himself indicated when the fan and player protests were at their height.....
Good luck Mark Hughes, but regardless of Premier League ranking and success in any tournaments, you better beat Man U once or twice to qualify for similar "Sainthood" to Mr Eriksson with the Citizens perhaps...?
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