Post by maudesfishnchips on Jan 10, 2012 15:31:58 GMT
Many thanks to Danny Pugsley of www.bitterandblue.com/ who wrote this especially for QPRreport 
History may not ultimately cast Mark Hughes’s time at the club in the light it perhaps might.
When he was sacked by City in December 2009 there was sympathy for Hughes; if not necessarily because it was an unjust sacking (at the time it is fair to say there were two distinct camps forming) but the manner of his dismissal (particularly talk of the Club leaking information) that left him a lame duck manager for the final game (a victory) at home to Sunderland, which by the time the full time whistle sounded, Hughes, players and fans alike seemingly knew his fate.
Since then however, any legacy Hughes hoped to have left behind has largely been eroded. The success under Roberto Mancini has not helped, but who is to say Hughes himself may not have achieved similar levels? Yet it is the manner of his public appearances that has shifted opinion against him. A series of orchestrated interviews has seen him take shots at the club – some justified, many however not – and his allegiance to Kia Joorabchian, including his unjustifiable defence of Carlos Tevez’s action in Munich (Tevez of course also having strong links with Joorabchian) have helped sour many memories.
Which, in some ways is a shame, as much of what Hughes did helped put in place foundations for the ensuing success. Look through the side and some of the key figures are ones Hughes brought in. His latter signings smacked of a kid being handed the keys to the sweet shop and the prices paid for the likes Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz et al have saddled the club with players (and contracts) they are struggling to shift. Yet some of his mid-level signings have proved very astute (notably Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta) not just at City but previously at Blackburn and latterly at Fulham.
He also had the unenviable job of overhauling the laissez-faire culture that had begun to permeate under Sven-Goran Eriksson, which to a large degree he was able to succeed in doing. Undoubtedly this did not endear him to all and his brusque manner and (almost arrogant) self belief can cause friction. You can imagine those who do not buy into his ethos quickly becoming ostracised.
But what can he do for QPR? A bright start has seen them slip of late to hover dangerously close to the relegation zone but there are enough pieces in place (although the injury to Faurlin will hurt) to indicate a move towards safety is more than achievable. Assuming Hughes is appointed imminently this will still not leave him much time to bring in players, but I am sure he – and his trusted background team the ‘Taffia’ – will know which areas to target and should be able to make some moves (money will surely be available to him).
Longer term though may be more interesting. Hughes (from what we understand) covets what are considered one of the plum jobs, highlighted as a reason for him jumping ship at Fulham, and in recent months has seen both the Villa and Sunderland jobs go elsewhere. Ambition abounds at QPR and should Premier League football be preserved this season there is a platform to really build and look upwards.
Hughes has proved in the past he can be the right man to be at the helm and the odds are that he will do a good job. The overriding feeling though is whether QPR can satisfy what Hughes perceives as ambition – but what others label as hubris – in the long run. Time will tell.
History may not ultimately cast Mark Hughes’s time at the club in the light it perhaps might.
When he was sacked by City in December 2009 there was sympathy for Hughes; if not necessarily because it was an unjust sacking (at the time it is fair to say there were two distinct camps forming) but the manner of his dismissal (particularly talk of the Club leaking information) that left him a lame duck manager for the final game (a victory) at home to Sunderland, which by the time the full time whistle sounded, Hughes, players and fans alike seemingly knew his fate.
Since then however, any legacy Hughes hoped to have left behind has largely been eroded. The success under Roberto Mancini has not helped, but who is to say Hughes himself may not have achieved similar levels? Yet it is the manner of his public appearances that has shifted opinion against him. A series of orchestrated interviews has seen him take shots at the club – some justified, many however not – and his allegiance to Kia Joorabchian, including his unjustifiable defence of Carlos Tevez’s action in Munich (Tevez of course also having strong links with Joorabchian) have helped sour many memories.
Which, in some ways is a shame, as much of what Hughes did helped put in place foundations for the ensuing success. Look through the side and some of the key figures are ones Hughes brought in. His latter signings smacked of a kid being handed the keys to the sweet shop and the prices paid for the likes Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz et al have saddled the club with players (and contracts) they are struggling to shift. Yet some of his mid-level signings have proved very astute (notably Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta) not just at City but previously at Blackburn and latterly at Fulham.
He also had the unenviable job of overhauling the laissez-faire culture that had begun to permeate under Sven-Goran Eriksson, which to a large degree he was able to succeed in doing. Undoubtedly this did not endear him to all and his brusque manner and (almost arrogant) self belief can cause friction. You can imagine those who do not buy into his ethos quickly becoming ostracised.
But what can he do for QPR? A bright start has seen them slip of late to hover dangerously close to the relegation zone but there are enough pieces in place (although the injury to Faurlin will hurt) to indicate a move towards safety is more than achievable. Assuming Hughes is appointed imminently this will still not leave him much time to bring in players, but I am sure he – and his trusted background team the ‘Taffia’ – will know which areas to target and should be able to make some moves (money will surely be available to him).
Longer term though may be more interesting. Hughes (from what we understand) covets what are considered one of the plum jobs, highlighted as a reason for him jumping ship at Fulham, and in recent months has seen both the Villa and Sunderland jobs go elsewhere. Ambition abounds at QPR and should Premier League football be preserved this season there is a platform to really build and look upwards.
Hughes has proved in the past he can be the right man to be at the helm and the odds are that he will do a good job. The overriding feeling though is whether QPR can satisfy what Hughes perceives as ambition – but what others label as hubris – in the long run. Time will tell.
