Football without Spin - Development the Mark Hughes way

December 22 2008

Development the Mark Hughes way

After defeat to bottom placed West Brom placed Mark Hughes under increasing pressure at helm of the self-styled World’s Richest Club, he insisted he would be given time to continue his development of the club.

"I've had assurances from Sheikh Mansour and the chairman Khaldoon [Al Mubarak] and they've been very positive. They understand where we are in our development. They're pragmatic people and understand it's not going to happen overnight. Time is something we all need, myself included. I know the quality of my staff, how we work and that it gains results."

They really are pragmatic people. Either that, or they really don’t understand where they are in their development. Sport Without Spin decided to take a look at Manchester City’s development under Mark Hughes:

4^th June 2008: Takes over Manchester City after Sven Goran Eriksson is sacked. The club he takes over finished 9^th in the table, were 4^th at Christmas, and beat champions Manchester United home and away for the first time since 1970.

23^rd August 2008: In the Guardian Executive Chairman Garry Cook says of last year’s club player of the season the following:

“China and India, 30% of the world population, need a league to watch and we want Manchester City to be their club. To do that, we need a superstar because, no disrespect, Richard Dunne doesn't roll off the tongue in Beijing."

Richard Dunne goes on to suffer a chronic loss of form.

1^st September 2008: Transfer window shuts with Manchester City having been bought out by multi-billionaire owners, beaten Chelsea to the signature of Robinho for £32.5 million. Along with Shaun Wright-Phillips signed for £9 million, Hughes has an extra £41.5 million attacking talent to add to his squad.

2^nd September 2008: In a statement the club’s new owners said, as reported on the BBC, the aim would be for City to compete in the Champions League in the 2009-10 campaign, which would require a top-four finish this season:

"A place in the Champions League is quite a jump from last season, but we are ready to sit down with the manager, find out the players he would like, and bring the right players into the club," Al-Fahim added.

Manchester City lie third in the table at this point.

24^th September 2008: Go out of Carling Cup on penalties to League One outfit Brighton and Hove Albion at Brighton’s rented Withdean Stadium, formerly used as a zoo and an athletics stadium.

30^th November 2008: Lose derby match at home to Manchester United 1-0.

21^st December 2008: Manchester City lose to bottom club West Brom and sit in the relegation places at Christmas. Since beating Portsmouth 6-0 in September, Manchester City have taken just 9 points from a possible 39.

So now that we understand where Manchester City are in their development under Mark Hughes, long may it continue – it’s kind of like the development that took place under Sven, except with more money to spend, better quality attackers, worse results, they are in the bottom four at Christmas rather than the top four and the manager has the continued backing of the owners.