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Post by mozzer on Apr 23, 2017 9:28:34 GMT
Although I was totally unhappy with the final 4 months of last season (2015/16)and had hoped that we would get 2016/17 off to a better start, I feel that overall this season has been unenterprising and boring but I still support MH & co 100% and still feel that he is the guy to keep control of first team affairs and steer us out of this season until the final ball is kicked, but....... I just can not help but feel his days as Stokes manager are numbered and this will be his last season....but will it with the options available! its as if this was written todayI have just had a read of the article on the link above, this was written September 2016 but in all honesty could have been written this morning with the majority of comments and analysis within the article still being true, it is well worth another read. another link that could be from todayNot sure where the board will go with this one, is there anyone out there that can deliver the same league position and relevant safety that MH has delivered and is there any one out there that can get any better out of our ageing squad without the need to spend billions getting the squad match fit and in to some sort of defending/attacking coherent outfit. I think that the board may want to change but they know that there are no safer options out there that could retain Stokes premier league status, maybe they will feel that the current time is the time to stick rather than twist going for apparent safety rather than entertainment, with the prospect of record season ticket sales who could possibly blame them for taking the easier option and gamble that there will be 3 teams who are in more disarray than Stoke so that MH and co can deliver another season of top flight football away from the bottom 3 positions. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2017 9:43:42 GMT
Coates isn't daft. When he sits down with Hughes for his regular meetings, and when ultimately they look back on the season he will know we have underachieved. Hughes isn't daft either he will agree.
But then it's a case of assessing whether Hughes still has the hunger to take the job on, whether his blueprint for next season and the players he wants convince Coates it's the way forward. And in the background they'll be putting the feelers out to see who might be available.
But he won't do anything hasty and we should be pleased we have such a sensible person at the helm.....
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Post by GeneralFaye on Apr 23, 2017 9:45:02 GMT
Apparently Hughes and Coates have a meal together every Friday, I bet the atmosphere at the table is electric..
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Post by sheikhmomo on Apr 23, 2017 10:12:00 GMT
Apparently Hughes and Coates have a meal together every Friday, I bet the atmosphere at the table is electric.. Wont Hughes be in a Hotel miles away every other Friday? |
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Post by GeneralFaye on Apr 23, 2017 10:23:01 GMT
Apparently Hughes and Coates have a meal together every Friday, I bet the atmosphere at the table is electric.. Wont Hughes be in a Hotel miles away every other Friday? Might just be for home games then but he definitely mentioned it during his interview with Gary Lineker earlier in the season. |
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Post by HarryTheHat on Apr 23, 2017 10:24:36 GMT
"whether Hughes still has the hunger to take the job on"
For me it's this
His whole demeanour and body language is of a man going through the motions, who is
either clinically depressed or has simply fallen out of love with the game (or Stoke City)
Your manager/leader is meant to set the example and instil enthusiasm amongst the team and
have them fired up every game to achieve a common goal.
He simply doesn't seem to be that sort of character, he comes across as generally quite
joyless and humourless and not really engaged in the job at hand
Time to go, it will only get worse if this is the case
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Post by trickydicky73 on Apr 23, 2017 12:17:29 GMT
Coates isn't daft. When he sits down with Hughes for his regular meetings, and when ultimately they look back on the season he will know we have underachieved. Hughes isn't daft either he will agree. But then it's a case of assessing whether Hughes still has the hunger to take the job on, whether his blueprint for next season and the players he wants convince Coates it's the way forward. And in the background they'll be putting the feelers out to see who might be available. But he won't do anything hasty and we should be pleased we have such a sensible person at the helm..... What's your honest opinion of Hughes? I have to admit he won me over after initial misgivings, and the style and quality of our football was getting rave reviews around the country. For the last two seasons, though, we have been disjointed and our transfer windows have been a joke. I am not at all sure he can get us back to the form that saw us thrash Liverpool 6-1, in fact we don't look like thrashing anyone! The renewal of so many older players' contracts doesn't bode well, either. I can't see the point of getting rid of Hughes and keeping the same transfer team in place. |
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Post by johnnyjarvis on Apr 23, 2017 13:26:30 GMT
I mentioned on a previous board I was fortunate to meet MH on a Q&A about 7 weeks ago. It was a small gathering of about 10 and we had 45 minutes to ask questions. Immediately obvious was he had his press officer with him. A bit strange given we were not the press, mostly supporters of the club. Anyway, the questions at first were at best ridiculous, "how much hair products does Cameron use before a game". I think at that early point Hughes thought this was a walk in the park. However, a number of us started to ask a few more in depth questions, mainly about the season and how poor and inconsistent it was. At that point Hughes went into corporate mode and started to deflect our answers, even to the point of changing the subject. His press officer then tried to steer questions from us but difficult given we had paid for the privilege.
What I can say with complete confidence and accuracy is MH came across as uninspiring and I would go as far as to say dull. I put myself in his dressing room and wondered if he would motivate me when he does his pre-match and half time talks. The honest answer is no. Whilst, I cannot question his full credentials as I have never been a football manager, I can see how his team would possibly not respond to his personality. I think this is what is happening now and the club is suffering. He is unable to communicate his ideas and thoughts as he lacks, the charisma, passion and drive to get the best out of a difficult situation.
Suffice to say I came away feeling disappointed and hoped he would inspire me with confidence that all will be well for the season. Sadly not.
To balance this I would say he is a very courteous and polite person.
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Post by jeycov on Apr 23, 2017 13:46:07 GMT
He spent most of the game on the sidelines for both Chelsea ( home) and Man City ( away ) encouraging his players and seemingly motivating 2 very good gritty performances .
His laid back approach sitting in the dugout does send out a less positive message to both the players and the fans imo
He needs to get involved and be seen getting involved a lot more in every game
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smithypotter
Academy Starlet
"Damn you people, go back to your shanties".
Posts: 234 
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Post by smithypotter on Apr 23, 2017 13:58:56 GMT
His comments when asked with regards to our worst run without an away goal still piss me off. A manager with a winning mindset doesn't say things like that, which indicates to me that Hughes has lost his motive and it's passing down to the team. The body language of the manager and players in our post match interviews tells an awful lot I feel.
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Post by johnnyjarvis on Apr 23, 2017 14:09:32 GMT
I try not to listen to Praise and Grumble as the journalistic questioning post match are always diluted and do not challenge. However, whoever the radio Stoke presenter is for the Stoke matches actually got a little reaction from Hughes. His question was and I quote. "Your team has not scored away from home for 5 consecutive matches, this is worst record for over 20 years"
Mark Hughes response:
You can pluck stats out of the air like but it is not the true picture
So do facts lie??
Inept, lacks the tactical answers
Turns technically gifted players into plodders
Sees youth as a barrier not a progressive step forward
Thinks age and height are better than pace and skill
Repeats at the end of games. WE NEVER GOT OUT IF THE BLOCKS, WE NEVER GOT GOING
Do I need to go on
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Post by stokiejoe on Apr 23, 2017 14:14:49 GMT
Hughes is a Jeckyl and Hyde character, this has been reported by any people who know him.
Off the pitch he is reported as the quiet, somewhat dull man we all see. On the pitch he was a tiger, very forceful to the point of being rough and dirty if needs be.
I would suspect that the public see the quiet man side but the players see the other side of him. I look back at the Cameron Jerome problem. Altercation on the Saturday on his way out by the Tuesday or thereabouts. Not the action of a meek sole. I think many people underate that side of him.
On balance, unless wecan find a manager clearly better (Mancini in my opinon or very similar) we should stick with Hughes
If he fails to make the top ten with us this season it will be the first time a team he has managed for the full season has failed to do so. That in itself is a massive endorsement. I think he can sort it.
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Post by Pretty Little Boother on Apr 23, 2017 14:30:01 GMT
Apparently Hughes and Coates have a meal together every Friday, I bet the atmosphere at the table is electric.. Wont Hughes be in a Hotel miles away every other Friday? Doesn't Coates go to every game? In which case he could very well travel down and meet them there. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2017 14:54:16 GMT
Maybe they have meals at different cafes, and skype it?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2017 16:35:11 GMT
Coates isn't daft. When he sits down with Hughes for his regular meetings, and when ultimately they look back on the season he will know we have underachieved. Hughes isn't daft either he will agree. But then it's a case of assessing whether Hughes still has the hunger to take the job on, whether his blueprint for next season and the players he wants convince Coates it's the way forward. And in the background they'll be putting the feelers out to see who might be available. But he won't do anything hasty and we should be pleased we have such a sensible person at the helm..... What's your honest opinion of Hughes? I have to admit he won me over after initial misgivings, and the style and quality of our football was getting rave reviews around the country. For the last two seasons, though, we have been disjointed and our transfer windows have been a joke. I am not at all sure he can get us back to the form that saw us thrash Liverpool 6-1, in fact we don't look like thrashing anyone! The renewal of so many older players' contracts doesn't bode well, either. I can't see the point of getting rid of Hughes and keeping the same transfer team in place. I like Hughes. From the moment he arrived I like the way he talked up the club and the team and went about his business quietly and efficiently. It's clear that he's struggled this season to find the right balance and has reverted back to the old guard to grind out results where necessary. It's been a frustrating season no doubt. Providing he can get back on track by getting rid of some of the old guard and replacing them with younger players, and prove to Coates he has the desire and the players on his wanted list then I'm happy to give him another season. If I use a work analogy if you had a member of staff who had given you 3 years of excellent performances would you toss him to one side after a not so good period or sit down and understand how you can collectively improve things? That said in the cut throat footballing world if there's someone waiting in the wings who Coates is adamant can take us to the next level then bring it on. But my gut feeling is he would stick with his conservative (small c) ways and go for a Pearson, Moyes, Dyche type. If that's the case I'd rather give Hughes the chance to get his mojo back personally..... |
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Post by kustokie on Apr 23, 2017 17:02:21 GMT
What's your honest opinion of Hughes? I have to admit he won me over after initial misgivings, and the style and quality of our football was getting rave reviews around the country. For the last two seasons, though, we have been disjointed and our transfer windows have been a joke. I am not at all sure he can get us back to the form that saw us thrash Liverpool 6-1, in fact we don't look like thrashing anyone! The renewal of so many older players' contracts doesn't bode well, either. I can't see the point of getting rid of Hughes and keeping the same transfer team in place. I like Hughes. From the moment he arrived I like the way he talked up the club and the team and went about his business quietly and efficiently. It's clear that he's struggled this season to find the right balance and has reverted back to the old guard to grind out results where necessary. It's been a frustrating season no doubt. Providing he can get back on track by getting rid of some of the old guard and replacing them with younger players, and prove to Coates he has the desire and the players on his wanted list then I'm happy to give him another season. If I use a work analogy if you had a member of staff who had given you 3 years of excellent performances would you toss him to one side after a not so good period or sit down and understand how you can collectively improve things? That said in the cut throat footballing world if there's someone waiting in the wings who Coates is adamant can take us to the next level then bring it on. But my gut feeling is he would stick with his conservative (small c) ways and go for a Pearson, Moyes, Dyche type. If that's the case I'd rather give Hughes the chance to get his mojo back personally..... I agree with absolutely everything you say, with one exception. He has not given three years of excellent performance. He started out great but things have been very poor for over a year. Time for a change. |
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Post by robstokie on Apr 23, 2017 17:56:17 GMT
Maybe they have meals at different cafes, and skype it? I can imagine that - Sparky with his pasta and glass of wine face-timing Coatesy, who has ordered his favourite hotpot and room temperature ale... |
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