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I'm interested to see what the general consensus is regarding the managers ability in helping us achieve our goal of finishing in the top 4 this season. Views welcomed as always.

It sure doen't look like it at the moment, but since we dón't have any realistic options at the moment, I'mjust gonna keep hoping.

Think this one's a no-brainer!

No.

He may be able to take us to the champions league, but only if he is driving a bus.
In other words not a chance, I predicted 7th, but at this rate possibily lower, uter shite..

no

He couldn't get a side into the Champions League places if he was in a 4 team division.

No!

Yes.

Interesting the timing of these polls - for me the answer would be yes (I think)

On current form and how our team is playing now (going downhill), I say no. I hope I'm wrong.

Yes he can. He has too many weapons at his disposal not to. This should be the blip on our season.

Ahh a glass half-empty poll, I'm going for the half full option

Well he can of course, given enough time and enough players - maybe not this year. But, if things don't buck up, and we end up in mid-table torpor, he probably won't get the chance to try again next year. Our owners have confounded the lazy expectations of some of the press from last year. They've shown him loyalty and have backed his judgement so far.

At some point they will make a calculation probably based upon some of the following considerations:-
Are the team making progress?
Can they make further progress?
Would they make more improvement under someone else?
Are the team playing for Hughes?
Are potential new signings put off by having to play under Hughes?
If Hughes is sacked then any new manager will deserve two years to put his stamp on the side - is it worth the upheaval?
What are the alternatives to Hughes?

The question as asked can only be answered yes. Of course it's possible. Not very probable but definitely possible...

Socrates wrote:The question as asked can only be answered yes. Of course it's possible. Not very probable but definitely possible...

I disagree. I think it's very probable.

If we win our game in hand then we're top 4 with a quarter of the season gone. Considering that we have a team that hasn't clicked into gear yet and a manager that can only improve (because he can't get any worse can he?) then surely the only way is up.

Yeah, I'm not pushing the panic button yet. ..... and I think we'll see a massive difference when Robinho comes back.

saulman wrote:

Socrates wrote:The question as asked can only be answered yes. Of course it's possible. Not very probable but definitely possible...

I disagree. I think it's very probable.

If we win our game in hand then we're top 4 with a quarter of the season gone. Considering that we have a team that hasn't clicked into gear yet and a manager that can only improve (because he can't get any worse can he?) then surely the only way is up.

Yeah, I'm not pushing the panic button yet. ..... and I think we'll see a massive difference when Robinho comes back.

In the real world though buddy we needed to get a clear early lead over at least one of the established top 4 to have any realistic hope of holding on over the closing games. Liverpool are supposedly shit yet will probably be ahead of us very soon. The ten points dropped in the last 5 games could prove to be the most expensive in the club's history.

bluemoon wrote:I'm interested to see what the general consensus is regarding the managers ability in helping us achieve our goal of finishing in the top 4 this season. Views welcomed as always.

Curiously, after careful thought, I felt I had to voted yes.

At the end of the day if I look at the specific question asked, with the quality of squad we have, there is no logical reason why Hughes or indeed any other manager should not guide them into the top 4.

I still think that until we are out of touch with the top 6, it is difficult to write our chances off, so at this stage I feel there is clearly the possibility that he can reach our season's objectives.

However, if you ask me do I think he will (as in do we have a better than even chance), then the answer is not a fucking chance. I am slowly regressing back to the dark place which I inhabited from October onwards last year.

Socrates wrote:

saulman wrote:

Socrates wrote:The question as asked can only be answered yes. Of course it's possible. Not very probable but definitely possible...

I disagree. I think it's very probable.

If we win our game in hand then we're top 4 with a quarter of the season gone. Considering that we have a team that hasn't clicked into gear yet and a manager that can only improve (because he can't get any worse can he?) then surely the only way is up.

Yeah, I'm not pushing the panic button yet. ..... and I think we'll see a massive difference when Robinho comes back.

In the real world though buddy we needed to get a clear early lead over at least one of the established top 4 to have any realistic hope of holding on over the closing games. Liverpool are supposedly shit yet will probably be ahead of us very soon. The ten points dropped in the last 5 games could prove to be the most expensive in the club's history.

I understand where you're coming from there but we have a massive advantage over Liverpool in our squad depth. I think that will go a long way to closing the gap. Also, any significant injury to either Torres or Gerrard would leave them fucked whereas there are no players in our squad that we rely on to such a degree.

Also, Liverpool have dropped an equal number of points and must be thinking very much the same thing. I think it'll be close but from what I've seen this season, their problems are much greater than ours.

Let's see what the next game brings, eh? Ironically, I'd be happy with a draw.

saulman wrote:

Socrates wrote:

saulman wrote:

Socrates wrote:The question as asked can only be answered yes. Of course it's possible. Not very probable but definitely possible...

I disagree. I think it's very probable.

If we win our game in hand then we're top 4 with a quarter of the season gone. Considering that we have a team that hasn't clicked into gear yet and a manager that can only improve (because he can't get any worse can he?) then surely the only way is up.

Yeah, I'm not pushing the panic button yet. ..... and I think we'll see a massive difference when Robinho comes back.

In the real world though buddy we needed to get a clear early lead over at least one of the established top 4 to have any realistic hope of holding on over the closing games. Liverpool are supposedly shit yet will probably be ahead of us very soon. The ten points dropped in the last 5 games could prove to be the most expensive in the club's history.

I understand where you're coming from there but we have a massive advantage over Liverpool in our squad depth. I think that will go a long way to closing the gap. Also, any significant injury to either Torres or Gerrard would leave them fucked whereas there are no players in our squad that we rely on to such a degree.

Also, Liverpool have dropped an equal number of points and must be thinking very much the same thing. I think it'll be close but from what I've seen this season, their problems are much greater than ours.

Let's see what the next game brings, eh? Ironically, I'd be happy with a draw.

Our supposed squad depth is meaningless when we cannot even get a first eleven playing like a unit. With players like Lescott, Tevez and Santa Cruz not looking good enough to get in Burnley's side I don't see the squad as being as good or as deep as we thought it was going to be.