Manchester City, Mark Hughes, and City Fans, The Reality Show!

We expected a lot this season, but were we wrong to?

I do not believe so as I believe we had every right to believe we could achieve something, even if it was only a place in the top six or the Uefa Cup.

Truth be told we have been short-changed this season and I lay the blame in one direction.

Mark Hughes has failed, from surrealism to complete incompetence we have seen Micah Richards (complete shambles and always gifting opposition goals) and Pablo Zabaleta at right-back (both left-backs), Robinho dropped for no good reason (I blame Mark Hughes for the Robinho slump), Elano substituted for Gelson Fernandes, the biggest flop at Manchester City, Felipe Caicedo (the offside specialist) ahead of Daniel Sturridge (the best fit striker City has), you can blame it on injuries or lack of strength in depth all you like.

Now Craig Bellamy (£14 million) is out for the rest of the season, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Vincent Kompany, and Pablo Zabaleta are out of action. The only good point I can muster is that it is good to see Martin Petrov back playing but we can hardly rely on the wing wonder to save us on his own.

Despite the fact we have a superstar named Stephen Ireland I don't see us achieving 7th, one man cannot carry a team and if you dare try point out Ronaldo and Man United then I'll come right back at you with "it was Man United that carried Ronaldo (in a positive way using his strengths) and that was the only reason he scored 40+ in one season."

We have five games left, possible 15 points against:

Everton (away)

Man United (away)

Blackburn (home)

Spurs (away)

Bolton (home)

Everything is being blamed on tiredness, well if that is the case here's how logic says we will end up.

Everton (lose)

Man United (lose)

Blackburn (win / draw)

Spurs (win / draw)

Bolton (win)

Maximum of nine points and there is no way we are going to achieve 7th place in the Premier League unless Mark Hughes pulls some kind of miracle.

It is an absolute disgrace that Mark Hughes allowed Robinho to under perform to such an embarrassing extent, not to mention not getting Elano to perform as he did in our last two games a lot sooner rather than to late.

You can gift Mark Hughes all the excuses in the world but for me he has failed, obviously I have to accept the fact he will be given another season and I will not deny he has every chance of pulling it off but that does not justify why he has failed.

Take yourself back to the start of the season, any of us could have looked at the squad list and realised we were way too lightweight, then why did Mark Hughes not bring in a free Bosman or two. or give players like Daniel Sturridge and Vladimir Weiss more of a chance?

Old Ferguson next door in Trafford did with Rafael, and Sturridge as well as Weiss are far better than Rafael no matter what position they play.

Manchester City fans are divided right now but we all have one thing in common, we would never turn our backs on our club no matter what. Do we deserve better?, Are some content with getting the same old typical City? I can only answer for myself but what would you say?

I think we City fans, whether on Mark Hughes's side or not should be a little more patient with our club and ourselves, never mind Mark Hughes as I don't believe he deserves our patience.

There is a slim chance we will achieve European football next season, not unless something miraculous happens, disappointed as I am, I guess we can thank our lucky moon that Hughes did not get us relegated back to the Championship.

Patience is the key but falling back into the acceptance of second best is just not acceptable in my book so Mark Hughes, make the most of your second chance because I doubt 110% you will get a third chance and if it was my choice you would be on your butt with a P45.

For Manchester City FC's sake I wish you the best of luck Mark Hughes, as I do not want to see failure despite my opinion. As a City fan if your opinion differs then let's agree to disagree and agree that no matter what we think the ultimate outcome should be, success is what's important for our club.