Hughes Should Stay

Mark Hughes time at Manchester City has not been smooth by any stretch of the imagination. The side is currently underachieving after the manager asked his critics to judge him based on this season’s results.

Yet, City’s Arab owners need to be cautious in pulling the trigger. Hughes understands British football and the Premier League better than any manager currently available on the open market. Bringing in a continental manager who will have difficulty with English players is a recipe for disaster and could send City closer to the relegation zone than to the top four.

From a tactical standpoint, Sparky is trying to get the Blues to play with style, but has been forced to mold several disparate parts together. City has overspent on the attack, while neglecting the defense. The sale of longtime skipper Richard Dunne and the unwillingness to buy former City defender Sylvan Distain speaks loudly to the priorities of City’s board.

Gary Cook, the club chief executive made the infamous statement that Richard Dunne does not sell shirts. But what Richard Dunne did do is develop an abiding loyalty from all City supporters, one that continues even though he has left our club.

Mark Hughes transfer dealings have been far from pristine. City has over paid for among others, Wayne Bridge, Roque Santa Cruz, Garreth Barry and Carlos Tevez. The fact that each of the listed players former clubs seems to have not suffered from the loss of high priced players says a great deal about Hughes talent evaluation.

A case against Hughes can also be made based on players that perform well for other managers (like Dunne, Robinho and Micah Richards) struggling under him,

However, the time for a change is not now. Hughes deserves an opportunity to right the ship. City is in a full fledged, long term building mode and Sparky may not be the man to complete the job, I can think of no better option to keep it moving forward.