Mark Hughes is about to be sacked by Manchester City after replacement Roberto Mancini watched today's 4-3 win against Sunderland, according to reports.
City will make a statement on Hughes' future at 7.30pm tonight. (3:30am)
Former Inter Milan manager Mancini was at Eastlands to see what looks certain to be Hughes' final game in charge and there are suggestions the Welshman knew his fate before kick-off.
Hughes' staff are allegedly set to walk out en masse in support of the manager.
Hughes has lost only two games all season but a series of draws seem to have made his position untenable and he was clearly emotional as he applauded the crowd at the final whistle.
Mancini won three Serie A titles with Inter after cup-winning spells bossing Fiorentina and Lazio, but was replaced by Jose Mourinho for failing to win the Champions League.
He is said to be a friend of City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
Yeah sacked Hughes... he was never the right man for this job, never a proven manager... at most he is capable of handling some mid table teams, that all...
Mancini is cool... Till today i still wonder why did inter part with him though he won 3 consecutive serie A titles with inter... Is it just because of Mourinho?
With Mancini in, then we would see 4 great manager battling it out (fergy, ancelotti, wenger and mancini). Also lets not forget we have some mediocre managers in Rafa, redknappe and o'neil..
hey O Neil is not mediocre. mediocre is someone like steve mclaren. O Neil is a good manager, look at where villa is now. I tip villa to finish top 4 this season.
Hughes has been confirmed sacked
ROberto mancini to be installed as the new manager..
latest news..
As a United fan, this is terrible news, It will strengthen our rivals tremendously.
liverpool no chance...
Agent Hughes your mission is now complete!
didnt mark hughes just win a match? i thought that should like delay his sacking a while longer?
ok just read the news..roberto mancini is the new manager..but wtf after a match he won?
Manchester City have confirmed the sacking of Mark Hughes and have appointed Roberto Mancini as the new manager of the Premier League club.
Hughes had been in charge at Eastlands for the past 18 months, but has been unable to meet the demands of the club's owners the Abu Dhabi United Group.
Though City have only lost twice in the Premier League this season, a run of two wins in 11 matches has proved to be his downfall.
The thrilling 4-3 home win over Sunderland on Saturday, which was watched by Mancini, was Hughes' last game at the helm.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak outlined his reasons for the decision and admitted it was a 'particularly difficult announcement' to make.
"Prior to the current season beginning, with significant investment in players and infrastructure in place, the consensus between the board and coaching staff was that appropriate agreed targets should be set for the 2009/2010 season," said Al Mubarak on the club's official website.
"The targets were agreed as a result of the player acquisition strategy of the club being radically accelerated in the summer as a result of very favourable conditions for any buying club.
"It was also based on the fact that the infrastructure of the club had been overhauled completely at great cost in order to create the best possible environment for the team.
"A return of two wins in 11 Premier League games is clearly not in line with the targets that were agreed and set. Sheikh Mansour and the board felt that there was no evidence that the situation would fundamentally change.
"This is a particularly difficult announcement given the personal investment over the past 15 months on all sides and we would like to put on record our respect for and thanks to Mark Hughes and we wish him the best in his future career."
Former Inter Milan coach Mancini has taken on the job on a three-and-a-half year contract, with Al Mubarak confident the Italian has the pedigree to deliver success for the club.
Commenting on the appointment of Mancini, Al Mubarak said: "Roberto is a hugely experienced manager with a proven track record of winning trophies and championships.
"His experience and track record speak for themselves.
"What is absolutely clear is that Roberto believes in Manchester City's potential to achieve at the highest level and importantly in his own ability to make this happen.
"My hope is that our incredible fans will join us in welcoming Roberto to the football club."
Brian Kidd has been named as Mancini's assistant, while Hughes' backroom staff of Mark Bowen, Eddie Niedzwiecki, Kevin Hitchcock and Glyn Hodges have also left the club.
In Fact Hughes knew about his sacking even before the sunderland match, as he was seen waving good byes to the fans after the match....
read comments on the sacking..man city fans are disgusted by the sacking of hughes.. well its a bit of both sides i guess, in da first place i didnt think hughes was the right man to lead them to their ambitions, but then this is kinda cruel to him also..
mancini won the scudetto with inter and no other team right?
city are taking a big risk.
why didnt they go for mourihno?
Originally posted by Rooney9:hey O Neil is not mediocre. mediocre is someone like steve mclaren. O Neil is a good manager, look at where villa is now. I tip villa to finish top 4 this season.
But where's Aston Villa after January? They failed to win a single match after that. Before that, they had a 7 point comfortable lead against Arsenal. But after all of these setbacks, Arsenal easily overtook them, and led Villans by about 10 points after the season ended.
So, that talks about consistency of the team as what the traditional four teams have done.
Next, maybe seeing Benitez get sacked?
Getting Mancini is indeed a big risk. He won Serie A title with Inter when all other top Italian team was in bad form becos of scandal.
But one thing for sure, Mancini is an all round attacking football style manager and not like typical English mananger which they can only thing of attacking from wing. He is a bit like Spanish style manager.
Originally posted by TIB657M:
But where's Aston Villa after January? They failed to win a single match after that. Before that, they had a 7 point comfortable lead against Arsenal. But after all of these setbacks, Arsenal easily overtook them, and led Villans by about 10 points after the season ended.So, that talks about consistency of the team as what the traditional four teams have done.
Next, maybe seeing Benitez get sacked?
Last year is like that doesn't mean this year will be the same.. Villa did not buy much new player, sounds like a bad thing but the fact, most team members are intact meaning. They understand each other more and will play better than last year.
The included of Dune indeed solidify their defence more and the vast improvement of James Milner also boast Villa alot. I believe this season Villa is different from last year one.
But one thing for sure, Ah Ben will get sack this season.
Originally posted by MaNyZeR:Yeah sacked Hughes... he was never the right man for this job, never a proven manager... at most he is capable of handling some mid table teams, that all...
Mancini is cool... Till today i still wonder why did inter part with him though he won 3 consecutive serie A titles with inter... Is it just because of Mourinho?
With Mancini in, then we would see 4 great manager battling it out (fergy, ancelotti, wenger and mancini). Also lets not forget we have some mediocre managers in Rafa, redknappe and o'neil..
Why Inter parted with him was, If I recalled correctly, there was once when Inter played Liverpool in the CL, Inter lost and Mancini kind of lost it and said he would quit or step down or something like that only to change his mind a few days later... But by then, the Inter board maybe thought he was unstable and had lost patience with his flip-flop behaviour and decided to go for Jose...
This Mancini is kind of like Kenny Dalglish... If the pressure gets too great, he can flip kind... But I belief is could be a better manager than Ancelotti... When he took over Inter, Lotti's AC were blown out of the water...
Originally posted by CannyOng:
Last year is like that doesn't mean this year will be the same.. Villa did not buy much new player, sounds like a bad thing but the fact, most team members are intact meaning. They understand each other more and will play better than last year.The included of Dune indeed solidify their defence more and the vast improvement of James Milner also boast Villa alot. I believe this season Villa is different from last year one.
But one thing for sure, Ah Ben will get sack this season.
Agreed. After they stunned the heavyweights Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool in this period. Unlike last season, Villans failed to do so. The most they can do was to get a draw. Now, teamwork, buying of better players and early elimination of Europa League have built their strengths better.
If the current Liverpool owner steps down, surely Ah Ben won't stay Liverpool for long.
Originally posted by TIB657M:
But where's Aston Villa after January? They failed to win a single match after that. Before that, they had a 7 point comfortable lead against Arsenal. But after all of these setbacks, Arsenal easily overtook them, and led Villans by about 10 points after the season ended.So, that talks about consistency of the team as what the traditional four teams have done.
Next, maybe seeing Benitez get sacked?
O Neil lost it because they lack the depth last year. For now they got lots of depth, they got Collins, Beye, and Dunne for defence! The also added depth to the horsepower such as Downing and Heskey. They also promoted their own youngster Albrighton.
Yes they are a better side this season, and they have bought a few new players... But at the same time, they have lost a few too like Barry and their captain Laursen...
If there is something quite similar to Pool is, They were bought by American owners too. But compare to Pool's American owners, O'Neill had very little funds to buy players... So he made every one counted. Players like Warnock, Collins, Beye and Dunne were all bought on the cheap...
But it takes time to rebuild if there are little funds... He had to replaced his centre-back pair of Mellberg and Laursen with Dunne and Collins... Replacing his striker Angel with Heskey or Carew at the same time promote from the youth team players like Agbonlahor... He also had to changed his midfield replacing McCann with Sidwell and youngster Milner...
At the same time he has bought some potential ones for the future in Curtis Davies and Downing like he did with A Young... Overall, good management but I still feel the squad is a little small but better than last year's... If no long term injuries to main players, should be able to get 4th spot...
it's a good move by the owners.
with such funds around, what mark did was quite a 'bullshit'
Yes, my only surprise is that he's lasted this long.
Originally posted by MaNyZeR:Yeah sacked Hughes... he was never the right man for this job, never a proven manager... at most he is capable of handling some mid table teams, that all...
Mancini is cool... Till today i still wonder why did inter part with him though he won 3 consecutive serie A titles with inter... Is it just because of Mourinho?
With Mancini in, then we would see 4 great manager battling it out (fergy, ancelotti, wenger and mancini). Also lets not forget we have some mediocre managers in Rafa, redknappe and o'neil..
Like what someone else has said, O Neil is not a bad manager and shouldn't be called mediocre. Aston Villa has definitely progressed over the years under him. Of his former clubs, Celtic were stronger in Europe under him and at Leicester City, the club's fortunes totally dipped after he left.
Likewise for Harry Redknapp, his abscence was always sorely felt each time after he left the club. Harry Redknapp is a good man manager and he is always able to get players to work well under him, be it young players or older players whom people think that they have nothing else to offer.
I think overall the results this year have not been to the board's expectations. I would say the sacking was already going to happen no matter what happened during the last match.