Mark Hughes Quits Fulham

[Percy McCarthy]

Anyone who can make Sidwell look good has to have something.

You're basing this on what exactly? I saw him play for Fulham several times. He re-defined ordinary, Not shit, not good.

Fair enough. Was just listening to some pundits saying it on Sky. Looked okay at our place this season, better than he was anyway, but I take your point.

[pablopicasso_10]

if hughes comes to the villa, then we are out of the frying pan and into the fire...

if he comes, any optimism i had left dies as we have gone for a mediocre cheapo option...

this is a manager with a 32% win ratio and finished 1 place and 1 point above a very shit villa in a season of complete turmoil for us...

i wont be happy if he is coming in...

[not3bad]

Almost. He got Blackburn to 6th

Which means he can certainly take Villa to the next stage in my book.

[DeKuip]

Who had the best CV of any Villa manager, ever? Wasn't that clown from last season was it?

Be that as it may, Hughes has less on his CV than most, if not all, of those who are available now.

Hughes' CV as a manager...

Wales - took them to the play-off stage of Euro 2004.

Blackburn - took over a struggling side and in his second season took them to 6th place, followed by 10th, then 7th. Also took them to domestic cup semi-finals in three successive seasons, and to the last 32 of the UEFA Cup. Got the best out of flair players like David Bentley, and Roque Santa Cruz. Ruffled the feathers of people like Mourinho because he didn't send his side out to rolled over by the big boys - in fact Blackburn did to Chelsea what Mourinho later did to Barca with Inter and Real.

City - It's difficult to judge his buys there because you get the impression the big named players like Robinho and Adebayor were "names" brought in by people higher up. However his side played some exciting attacking football and he took City to a first semi-final in donkeys years (but was replaced before they played it) as well as the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in his first season. Who's to say he might not have gone on to add trophies to his cv there if he'd been given a fair chance. His record at the time they sacked him was exactly the same as Mancini's was at the same stage last season.

Fulham - they finished in their second best league position ever, and played some really good football.

No trophies, but not a bad cv surely... and I'm sure he's hungry and young enough to improve on it at the right club.

[Ads]

I'll welcome Hughes if it's him coming, but I draw the line at those two wankers Warnock and Ireland.

Bollocks to Warnock, the snidey Scouse twat. But you can forgive Ireland for two reasons;

1) He's a really good player
2) He's a mentalist who porbably doesn't know what year it is or what planet he's living on.

[N'Rexy]

Has anyone considered that as a Taff he may fancy the challenge of taking Cardiff to the Premiership 

No because he is from mid-Wales and hates Cardiff.

[Banganappa]

Isn't his CV very similar to MON's? i.e. takes journeyman players and get's them to perform better and finish 6th - 8th. Does he have that extra quality to take a team above that jus outside level - surely that is what we want next

[hilts_coolerking]

Hughes' CV as a manager...

Wales - took them to the play-off stage of Euro 2004.

Blackburn - took over a struggling side and in his second season took them to 6th place, followed by 10th, then 7th. Also took them to domestic cup semi-finals in three successive seasons, and to the last 32 of the UEFA Cup. Got the best out of flair players like David Bentley, and Roque Santa Cruz. Ruffled the feathers of people like Mourinho because he didn't send his side out to rolled over by the big boys - in fact Blackburn did to Chelsea what Mourinho later did to Barca with Inter and Real.

City - It's difficult to judge his buys there because you get the impression the big named players like Robinho and Adebayor were "names" brought in by people higher up. However his side played some exciting attacking football and he took City to a first semi-final in donkeys years (but was replaced before they played it) as well as the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in his first season. Who's to say he might not have gone on to add trophies to his cv there if he'd been given a fair chance. His record at the time they sacked him was exactly the same as Mancini's was at the same stage last season.

Fulham - they finished in their second best league position ever, and played some really good football.

No trophies, but not a bad cv surely... and I'm sure he's hungry and young enough to improve on it at the right club.

That's my point in a nutshell: even when you accentuate the positives, as you have done, it's still very light on achievement.  Nevertheless, if it's enough to convince you he's the right man to take Villa forward, then fair play to you.  It's not enough for me.  Time will tell (assuming he does actually get the job).

[N'Rexy]

FWIW I dont think this is a done deal. Chelsea job open, QPR job potentially open. I can see Hughes turning up at QPR to do another Man City.

[paul_e]

Who had the best CV of any Villa manager, ever? Wasn't that clown from last season was it?

Be that as it may, Hughes has less on his CV than most, if not all, of those who are available now.

Hughes' CV as a manager...

Wales - took them to the play-off stage of Euro 2004.

Blackburn - took over a struggling side and in his second season took them to 6th place, followed by 10th, then 7th. Also took them to domestic cup semi-finals in three successive seasons, and to the last 32 of the UEFA Cup. Got the best out of flair players like David Bentley, and Roque Santa Cruz. Ruffled the feathers of people like Mourinho because he didn't send his side out to rolled over by the big boys - in fact Blackburn did to Chelsea what Mourinho later did to Barca with Inter and Real.

City - It's difficult to judge his buys there because you get the impression the big named players like Robinho and Adebayor were "names" brought in by people higher up. However his side played some exciting attacking football and he took City to a first semi-final in donkeys years (but was replaced before they played it) as well as the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in his first season. Who's to say he might not have gone on to add trophies to his cv there if he'd been given a fair chance. His record at the time they sacked him was exactly the same as Mancini's was at the same stage last season.

Fulham - they finished in their second best league position ever, and played some really good football.

No trophies, but not a bad cv surely... and I'm sure he's hungry and young enough to improve on it at the right club.

There's nothing on that list you could complain about but there's nothing exciting either.  He's just not a wow appointment, which I'd normally be fine with but not when  there is a wow appointment available and seemingly interested.

[Gerrin]

I'll welcome Hughes if it's him coming, but I draw the line at those two wankers Warnock and Ireland.

Bollocks to Warnock, the snidey Scouse twat. But you can forgive Ireland for two reasons;

1) He's a really good player
2) He's a mentalist who porbably doesn't know what year it is or what planet he's living on.

Why is Warnock a snidey twat? Houllier took from the England World Cup Squad to training with the Youth Team, he made him an outcast, for what?

[Ads]

As I’ve said elsewhere, I’d welcome Hughes.

I would prefer Ancelotti and Rafa, but Hughes is a good choice. He comes with a solid coaching staff, plenty of experience, a good record and he’s a nasty bastard who produces horribly nasty teams.

We’ve got a litany of cracking players. It would be very nice to get them organised and add some devilment to them. 

I’m with Percy, he’d be a good appointment.

[Ian.]

Well, well. Coincidence?
Well if he's heading our way I wouldn't mind at all and I'll be glad if it is sorted quick. It's going to be an interesting summer.
A very decent center forward in his day so I'm sure Bent will have a lot of respect for him and also Gabby could learn from him too. Lets see what happens.

[LeeB]

I'll welcome Hughes if it's him coming, but I draw the line at those two wankers Warnock and Ireland.

Bollocks to Warnock, the snidey Scouse twat. But you can forgive Ireland for two reasons;

1) He's a really good player
2) He's a mentalist who porbably doesn't know what year it is or what planet he's living on.

Why is Warnock a snidey twat? Houllier took from the England World Cup Squad to training with the Youth Team, he made him an outcast, for what?

For being a snide twat?

[Ads]

I'll welcome Hughes if it's him coming, but I draw the line at those two wankers Warnock and Ireland.

Bollocks to Warnock, the snidey Scouse twat. But you can forgive Ireland for two reasons;

1) He's a really good player
2) He's a mentalist who porbably doesn't know what year it is or what planet he's living on.

Why is Warnock a snidey twat? Houllier took from the England World Cup Squad to training with the Youth Team, he made him an outcast, for what?

For being a snide twat?

That about covers it.