Mark Hughes became the latest victim of the outlandish expectations
placed on football managers because of the exorbitant amounts of
money involved in the global game.
It is a giant machine that feeds off the dreams and
expectations of billions and then dines lavishly on gratuitous
amounts of the world's currency.
According to the ownership group that took over at Manchester
City, they were ready to steer clear of the somewhat tempestuous
waters of a revolving-door manager policy, and give Mark Hughes a
decent crack at turning the team into realistic challengers in the
English and European game.
They have however delivered the news that Hughes is old news
at Man City, and a brave new regime under the leadership of Roberto
Mancini will now take the helm of the stuttering "big boys" of
world football.
Mancini is in, with the chance to now do a "Mourinho" and
take the club to heights it would never have dreamed. As was the
case with Ranieri, the platform was being laid by a manager who was
still perfecting the chemistry of his ideal lineups.
Hughes had already this season overseen two defeats of
Arsenal, a defeat of league leaders Chelsea, and a game stolen at
the death at old adversaries Manchester United. His side had looked
in excellent form in the early weeks, with Emmanuel Adebayor on
fire and things were looking extremely promising.
The second defeat of Arsenal involved beating them in the
quarter finals of the League Cup, taking City to another showdown
with the old enemy from Old Trafford. City having not won a trophy
since 1976; coincidentally the one they won was indeed the League
Cup.
What a nod at the heroes of the past it would have been for
Hughes and the team to have lifted the trophy that had caused so
much joy for the club all those years ago.
Disappointingly for Hughes, he is now out of a job and will
have to watch as his team wins the League Cup without him. Sixth
place in the league is also a strong position, considering the
equality that has been seen over the fixtures so far.
The run of draws had proved that the chemistry was still not
there from the core players, and that serious work was needed to
shore up the confidence of the defensive unit.
If this required the acquisition of a new defender, then
Hughes would have been about to do it. Hughes was able to work
wonders at Blackburn on a comparatively dental floss-like budget to
Man City's, in transforming them from stragglers to European
competitors.
Big things were expected of him in taking over Manchester
City from Sven Goran-Eriksson in 2008.
Over the course of his time in charge, he has in fact
performed reasonably soundly, considering the task he had laid out
before him.
To transform one of the most unpredictable teams in the
English Premier League into some mode of consistency would have
been no easy task.
As is the case with revolving-door management policies,
Goran-Eriksson was responsible for reigniting the team to a certain
extent before—in what was a shock to many—he was sacked
and replaced by Hughes.
This actually would have immediately warned Hughes of the
fragility of the arrangement he was entering in taking over a club
with large expectations.
The biggest transformation was to follow for City, as a club
and to Hughes' job description, when the ridiculously cashed-up Abu
Dhabi Group took ownership of the Manchester side. Suddenly they
were the richest club on earth, and had the rest of the world at
their mercy with wads of cash during a financial drought.
Hughes had made what seemed like sound additions to the team,
as he tinkered with selections and combinations over his first
season in charge. There were promising moments during this season,
including a 3-0 win over Arsenal on opening day.
Overall though they were let down by poor away form,
something that dogs many of the teams who find themselves stuck in
the limbo state of mid-table mediocrity.
The new season opened with a series of promising results, and
it looked as though the plan was working, as they won games with
Adebayor in wonderful form—scoring a cracker on opening day,
and then again managing to beat Arsenal well when the Gunners came
north.
The draws are apparently what led to Hughes being told his
services were no longer required, with the 3-0 reverse to in-form
Spurs being the final straw.
Once again a manager is given a time frame that is beyond
even the best that have graced the game. One of the most telling
examples of time invested in success is not far from where Hughes
has fallen and somewhere he can still enjoy a welcome if he is ever
around.
Sir Alex Ferguson took charge of Manchester United in 1986,
and finally delivered a trophy in winning the 89-90 FA Cup. With
Hughes taking his team to the semi of the League Cup already, he
was even possibly about to go one better than his old mentor, in
winning a trophy within two years of his taking control of a
Manchester side.
Instead he is now gone, and Roberto Mancini has the
opportunity delivered to him on a platter to take the team to the
next level.
One is of the mind he will have to deliver fairly promptly on
the desire for success that his new employers have, or he will as
well be sent packing. He seems to be in with a decent shot, with
the groundwork Hughes has laid and the team he has assembled.
Mancini will owe a nod to Hughes if he takes this team to the
next level, as the Welshman has turned the club around and
transformed them into genuine challengers with good wins against
some of the top sides and some lovely attacking football played in
parts of the season so far.
Perhaps it will be the League Cup that is lifted first. With
United in obvious strife, City have a great chance to knock out
their most bitter enemies and go on to the first trophy since '76.
Hopefully Hughes will allow himself a wry smile when he hears it,
despite the probable anger he will also feel.
One thing about Hughes: He is a champion, and has been for
all of his life, with medals at several different clubs including
the European winners cup with both Manchester United and Chelsea.
He will inevitably bounce back and it will no doubt be
interesting to see where he ends up.
Illya McLellan is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, the
open source sports network.
