| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 14:49 - May 31 with 2416 views | coolranger |
Personally I think the very best or even just 'good' managers all tend to have at least some if not all of the following, in no particular order ;
1. genuine charisma and motivational skills (eg: Mourinho, Ferguson)
2. innovation and creative thinking (eg: Guardiola, Klopp)
3. good structured approach (eg: Vilas-Boas, Benitez)
I actually think what you get when you hire Mark Hughes is "Team Hughes" - this is a group of individuals who have all worked together for many years, and follow a blueprint that Hughes and Bowen have probably created based on their collective experiences. Nothing earth-shattering, just solid stuff with a scientific base to much of it - what it lacks is the human side.
And if you look at the outcomes from "Team Hughes", they tend to fit with the process / system I think they have created. It is structured, there is probably quite a lot of 'big stick' motivational talks and I would guess at least some innovative training techniques to ensure their sides are at least very fit.
But when I look at Hughes himself, what he says and how he conducts himself, I see someone who seems to think that because he PLAYED for Man Utd, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, he aspires to be 'the next Mourinho'.
Problem is I think a) he has ZERO charisma as an individual b) he likes to DETACH himself from all operational management work and training, just strutts around and fronts up with the media c) I don't think there is much creativity within his set up.
"Team Hughes" generally does SOLID (Rangers were a serious blip). They have and will continue to make lots of money for themselves by moving around clubs, trying really hard without ever having the genuine X factor ingredients to really transform anything they touch - and with a little imagination they can always explain away poor or mediocre results.
Hughes himself unfortunately comes across as very arrogant. He never smiles. He has no warmth. And he never really comes out with anything memorable to say whether his teams win or lose. Just a really bland character trading on his 'playing career' - which seemingly entitles him to interview clubs, rather than the other way around.
The bar is not really set terribly high for them either. If Stoke move from 13th up to 10th and score 10-15 more goals per season over the next 3 years, then "Team Hughes" would view they have 'achieved their remit'. It will be one of the more interesting little theatres to play out as next season unfolds.
My view. |  | |  |
| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 15:01 - May 31 with 2387 views | TW_R |
| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 14:49 - May 31 by coolranger |
Personally I think the very best or even just 'good' managers all tend to have at least some if not all of the following, in no particular order ;
1. genuine charisma and motivational skills (eg: Mourinho, Ferguson)
2. innovation and creative thinking (eg: Guardiola, Klopp)
3. good structured approach (eg: Vilas-Boas, Benitez)
I actually think what you get when you hire Mark Hughes is "Team Hughes" - this is a group of individuals who have all worked together for many years, and follow a blueprint that Hughes and Bowen have probably created based on their collective experiences. Nothing earth-shattering, just solid stuff with a scientific base to much of it - what it lacks is the human side.
And if you look at the outcomes from "Team Hughes", they tend to fit with the process / system I think they have created. It is structured, there is probably quite a lot of 'big stick' motivational talks and I would guess at least some innovative training techniques to ensure their sides are at least very fit.
But when I look at Hughes himself, what he says and how he conducts himself, I see someone who seems to think that because he PLAYED for Man Utd, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, he aspires to be 'the next Mourinho'.
Problem is I think a) he has ZERO charisma as an individual b) he likes to DETACH himself from all operational management work and training, just strutts around and fronts up with the media c) I don't think there is much creativity within his set up.
"Team Hughes" generally does SOLID (Rangers were a serious blip). They have and will continue to make lots of money for themselves by moving around clubs, trying really hard without ever having the genuine X factor ingredients to really transform anything they touch - and with a little imagination they can always explain away poor or mediocre results.
Hughes himself unfortunately comes across as very arrogant. He never smiles. He has no warmth. And he never really comes out with anything memorable to say whether his teams win or lose. Just a really bland character trading on his 'playing career' - which seemingly entitles him to interview clubs, rather than the other way around.
The bar is not really set terribly high for them either. If Stoke move from 13th up to 10th and score 10-15 more goals per season over the next 3 years, then "Team Hughes" would view they have 'achieved their remit'. It will be one of the more interesting little theatres to play out as next season unfolds.
My view. |
Good post. Agree with all that. |  | | |
| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 15:07 - May 31 with 2372 views | fakekerby |
| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 14:49 - May 31 by coolranger |
Personally I think the very best or even just 'good' managers all tend to have at least some if not all of the following, in no particular order ;
1. genuine charisma and motivational skills (eg: Mourinho, Ferguson)
2. innovation and creative thinking (eg: Guardiola, Klopp)
3. good structured approach (eg: Vilas-Boas, Benitez)
I actually think what you get when you hire Mark Hughes is "Team Hughes" - this is a group of individuals who have all worked together for many years, and follow a blueprint that Hughes and Bowen have probably created based on their collective experiences. Nothing earth-shattering, just solid stuff with a scientific base to much of it - what it lacks is the human side.
And if you look at the outcomes from "Team Hughes", they tend to fit with the process / system I think they have created. It is structured, there is probably quite a lot of 'big stick' motivational talks and I would guess at least some innovative training techniques to ensure their sides are at least very fit.
But when I look at Hughes himself, what he says and how he conducts himself, I see someone who seems to think that because he PLAYED for Man Utd, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, he aspires to be 'the next Mourinho'.
Problem is I think a) he has ZERO charisma as an individual b) he likes to DETACH himself from all operational management work and training, just strutts around and fronts up with the media c) I don't think there is much creativity within his set up.
"Team Hughes" generally does SOLID (Rangers were a serious blip). They have and will continue to make lots of money for themselves by moving around clubs, trying really hard without ever having the genuine X factor ingredients to really transform anything they touch - and with a little imagination they can always explain away poor or mediocre results.
Hughes himself unfortunately comes across as very arrogant. He never smiles. He has no warmth. And he never really comes out with anything memorable to say whether his teams win or lose. Just a really bland character trading on his 'playing career' - which seemingly entitles him to interview clubs, rather than the other way around.
The bar is not really set terribly high for them either. If Stoke move from 13th up to 10th and score 10-15 more goals per season over the next 3 years, then "Team Hughes" would view they have 'achieved their remit'. It will be one of the more interesting little theatres to play out as next season unfolds.
My view. |
Agree with a lot of that, but we weren't even very fit, and the fact we could do nothing for set pieces, attack or defensively, shows me Hughes could fail spectularly at Stoke where set pieces are vital. Bowen on the podcast said they'd never taken defensive set piece training in all his time within Team Hughes at any club, and they just expected players to know what to do. | | | |
| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 15:17 - May 31 with 2359 views | stowmarketrange |
The trouble is about the style of football that Stoke were set up to play.When they tried to play "proper"football they were found wanting and almost got relegated.When they reverted to the brand of football they were good at,the wins started coming and they survived.
Is Hughes going to change a lot of the squad to try to play the footy that their fans want? |  | | |
| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 15:23 - May 31 with 2350 views | coolranger |
As I alluded to in my earlier piece, I think where "Team Hughes" go into a fairly solid set up (ie: Stoke City or Fulham) they can hold the fort or possibly add 5 per cent here and there.
But I have not seen or heard or understood anything from their approach which is especially exciting or a proven route to success. As I said, I think Hughes himself plays the front man based on his fearless reputation as a player - but unfortunately for him he comes across as a very dull, cold fish.
Behind him they have assembled a solid, scientific-based and structured approach to planning and the operational side of managing a football club.
But none of them as individuals strike me as having the real "X-factor". And I don't think their 'system' has the X-factor either. I mean they have been playing this management game for over ten years now and they have not pulled up any trees yet.
However, they have all undeniably made a lot of money out of marketing 'Team Hughes' and all it allegedly promises.
Lots of smoke, mirrors and some huge egos - but where is the REAL SUBSTANCE?? | | | |
| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 15:30 - May 31 with 2333 views | coolranger |
| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 15:17 - May 31 by stowmarketrange |
The trouble is about the style of football that Stoke were set up to play.When they tried to play "proper"football they were found wanting and almost got relegated.When they reverted to the brand of football they were good at,the wins started coming and they survived.
Is Hughes going to change a lot of the squad to try to play the footy that their fans want? |
Stoke City want to move up from 13th / 14th to challenging the top eight over the next three years. Hardly earth-shattering stuff.
Now, if you were HUGELY AMBITIOUS, which Mark Hughes has continually told us over recent years that he is, then why on earth would you take the Stoke City job?
When you think that all four of the big clubs he represented have changed managers recently, and yet he has not been given the chance to interview either Barcelona, Bayern, Chelsea or Man United, it must be a huge blow to him personally.
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| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 15:58 - May 31 with 2289 views | PhilmyRs |
| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 14:49 - May 31 by coolranger |
Personally I think the very best or even just 'good' managers all tend to have at least some if not all of the following, in no particular order ;
1. genuine charisma and motivational skills (eg: Mourinho, Ferguson)
2. innovation and creative thinking (eg: Guardiola, Klopp)
3. good structured approach (eg: Vilas-Boas, Benitez)
I actually think what you get when you hire Mark Hughes is "Team Hughes" - this is a group of individuals who have all worked together for many years, and follow a blueprint that Hughes and Bowen have probably created based on their collective experiences. Nothing earth-shattering, just solid stuff with a scientific base to much of it - what it lacks is the human side.
And if you look at the outcomes from "Team Hughes", they tend to fit with the process / system I think they have created. It is structured, there is probably quite a lot of 'big stick' motivational talks and I would guess at least some innovative training techniques to ensure their sides are at least very fit.
But when I look at Hughes himself, what he says and how he conducts himself, I see someone who seems to think that because he PLAYED for Man Utd, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, he aspires to be 'the next Mourinho'.
Problem is I think a) he has ZERO charisma as an individual b) he likes to DETACH himself from all operational management work and training, just strutts around and fronts up with the media c) I don't think there is much creativity within his set up.
"Team Hughes" generally does SOLID (Rangers were a serious blip). They have and will continue to make lots of money for themselves by moving around clubs, trying really hard without ever having the genuine X factor ingredients to really transform anything they touch - and with a little imagination they can always explain away poor or mediocre results.
Hughes himself unfortunately comes across as very arrogant. He never smiles. He has no warmth. And he never really comes out with anything memorable to say whether his teams win or lose. Just a really bland character trading on his 'playing career' - which seemingly entitles him to interview clubs, rather than the other way around.
The bar is not really set terribly high for them either. If Stoke move from 13th up to 10th and score 10-15 more goals per season over the next 3 years, then "Team Hughes" would view they have 'achieved their remit'. It will be one of the more interesting little theatres to play out as next season unfolds.
My view. |
Cool ranger you make some good points, and I agree.
There are worse Managers then Mark Hughes. He did quite well with Fulham, better with Blackburn, and won respect for his performance with Wales. His biggest problem was that these minor achievements with teams arguably punching above their weight, went to his head.
Rather than be in charge of a Fulham side in a relegation battle, he got them to a comfortable top ten finish. In his eyes this was because of him and his backroom team. They put the right infrastructure in place, they built an invocative culture, a mentality that demands better results.
As you say, he has it in his locker to add 5% to teams that fit his mould. Teams that are going to work hard and buy into what he says, seem to improve. That’s why begrudgingly I think he will do ok with Stoke. Nothing out of the ordinary, he’ll just add a few more passes to feet, a few more points on the board and give the impression that Stoke are a more professionally run club under him. But when you take into account the Football Stoke play, the points they got last season, and the pigs head in the changing room, this isn’t going to be hard to do.
Nevertheless, in a year’s time when Hughes has got his hard-on back for himself, and telling anyone that will listen what a great Manager he is, how he transformed Stoke into an ‘effective’ premiership team, we, the QPR fans, will be telling anyone who’ll listen he’s the reason we’re playing Colchester United on a Tuesday night and why Jose Bosingwa has just made it on to Britain’s top 100 rich list.
[Post edited 1 Jan 1970 1:00]
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| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 16:13 - May 31 with 2259 views | coolranger |
| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 15:58 - May 31 by PhilmyRs |
Cool ranger you make some good points, and I agree.
There are worse Managers then Mark Hughes. He did quite well with Fulham, better with Blackburn, and won respect for his performance with Wales. His biggest problem was that these minor achievements with teams arguably punching above their weight, went to his head.
Rather than be in charge of a Fulham side in a relegation battle, he got them to a comfortable top ten finish. In his eyes this was because of him and his backroom team. They put the right infrastructure in place, they built an invocative culture, a mentality that demands better results.
As you say, he has it in his locker to add 5% to teams that fit his mould. Teams that are going to work hard and buy into what he says, seem to improve. That’s why begrudgingly I think he will do ok with Stoke. Nothing out of the ordinary, he’ll just add a few more passes to feet, a few more points on the board and give the impression that Stoke are a more professionally run club under him. But when you take into account the Football Stoke play, the points they got last season, and the pigs head in the changing room, this isn’t going to be hard to do.
Nevertheless, in a year’s time when Hughes has got his hard-on back for himself, and telling anyone that will listen what a great Manager he is, how he transformed Stoke into an ‘effective’ premiership team, we, the QPR fans, will be telling anyone who’ll listen he’s the reason we’re playing Colchester United on a Tuesday night and why Jose Bosingwa has just made it on to Britain’s top 100 rich list.
[Post edited 1 Jan 1970 1:00]
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I had a wry smile yesterday reading how Hughes claimed "our remit was to keep Rangers up last season, and we did that" - well yes, undeniably Rangers survived last season but really how close can it get?
We couldn't buy a win away from home - Hughes' career 'away' record is appalling by the way - we beat some top sides almost despite ourselves in some cases (eg: Liverpool game), and on the final day at City we threw it all away, only to find that Stoke of all people had saved us. Into the mix I would also throw our appalling disciplinary record last season which cost us points versus the likes of Wolves, Norwich etc, games which we lost but ordinarily had to win.
Basically 'Team Hughes' managerial system had a computer malfunction once it recognised that 'meticulous scientific-based planning' alone is simply not enough to get results with a dysfunctional group of players (many hired by Team Hughes) split by divisions within the camp.
Hughes is far from the only British manager out there who's perception among the public is far from the reality of their true ability. The fact is there are a lot of very ordinary managers, coaches and support specialists who are naturally attracted to the big money magic roundabout that is the Premier League, or even the Championship.
The game for them is simply to stay on the roundabout for as long as possible, whatever it takes. | | | |
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| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 16:16 - May 31 with 2243 views | Metallica_Hoop |
I'll wait for his "This club will never be in this position again" moment.
Well if we don't go up straight away he may well have been propheticallyspeaking...
Good post coolranger.
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| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 16:49 - May 31 with 2197 views | Juzzie |
I too love his "our remit was to keep Rangers up last season, and we did that"
errr, so what was his 'remit' for the 2012/2013 season and the rest of his contract then? Do fk all and see what happens? Becuase that's basically what happened.
Team Hughes have a great way of re-writing history. 18 months ago we were warned by Fulham fans and ignored it. We can warn Stoke fans until we're blue in the face and they'll ignore us too.
Leave them both to it, they deserve each other.
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| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 18:36 - May 31 with 2129 views | DejR_vu |
MH manages by statistics. He just looks at Prozone and picks the players with the best stats. When that doesn't work he's clueless.
When he was at Wales / Blackburn Prozone was used far less effectively by most than it is today. Most have caught up now and as a result he's lost his advantage, hence what we got last season. No team spirit, no tactical intelligence, just a bunch of robots whose stats weren't as bad as the other robots in the squad.
MH is the biggest myth in the Premier League, but fair play to him, he keeps getting jobs and getting richer. Nice work if you can get it. | |
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| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 20:51 - May 31 with 2076 views | coolranger |
| interesting article? Mark Hughes on 18:36 - May 31 by DejR_vu |
MH manages by statistics. He just looks at Prozone and picks the players with the best stats. When that doesn't work he's clueless.
When he was at Wales / Blackburn Prozone was used far less effectively by most than it is today. Most have caught up now and as a result he's lost his advantage, hence what we got last season. No team spirit, no tactical intelligence, just a bunch of robots whose stats weren't as bad as the other robots in the squad.
MH is the biggest myth in the Premier League, but fair play to him, he keeps getting jobs and getting richer. Nice work if you can get it. |
Charisma counts for a lot with managers, in a game which is so obviously full of passion. This is one obvious area where Team Hughes, and Mark Hughes in particular just score really low.
You make a good point with the ProZone analogy. But the other thing I heard re Hughes is the fact that he always remains aloof and detached from the squad and players, to the extent that at Fulham he used to be driven to away games by a chauffeur rather than take the team bus.
I don't know. I just find myself literally turn COLD every time I see his mug, that jutting jaw and a face that seemingly NEVER SMILES. Just a complete bore.
I can imagine him at a dinner party 'meticulously lining up his vegetables to be consumed in alphabetical order', in between short intakes of red meat.
It really amazes me how the myth continues about him and his team. | | | |
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