The old Chris Hughton discussion thread

[Guest Heneage]

Hughton's the first manager I've actually liked in years, I'd not even think about sacking him, he's got a lot of good signings during his 18 months and gave us a sense of stability.

[Pilko]

Hughton's the first manager I've actually liked in years, I'd not even think about sacking him, he's got a lot of good signings during his 18 months and gave us a sense of stability.

 

This.

[summerof69]

Hughton's the first manager I've actually liked in years, I'd not even think about sacking him, he's got a lot of good signings during his 18 months and gave us a sense of stability.

 

This.

[olliemort]

Hughton's the first manager I've actually liked in years, I'd not even think about sacking him, he's got a lot of good signings during his 18 months and gave us a sense of stability.

 

This.

Most sense I have read on this forum in a long time.People got to think If Hughton gets sacked who the hell would take the job under Ashley?Feel sick just thinking about it.The next 2 games are so vital though,gotta avoid defeat in both.

[Ronaldo]

I don't think he's the right man, but I don't want him out yet.  The next 2-3 weeks are crucial to himself and to our season as well.

 

Though he isn't helping himself with his picking of Perch and how he's useless at using tactics/subs during games when were struggling.

 

My thoughts, basically.

[GM]

Hughton's the first manager I've actually liked in years, I'd not even think about sacking him, he's got a lot of good signings during his 18 months and gave us a sense of stability.

 

I feel much the same way towards him - he's the most affable manager we've had in eons and seems to command respect of the majority of fans and players. Wouldn't want to see him go either, but if we look like we're in danger of dropping again because of his tactical errors or inability to inspire home victories against lesser sides, then his likeability or the fact he has pulled off some good signings isn't going to be enough to keep him in the job, is it?

[merlin]

There has been some varied comments on here and some have been mind-boggling - I cannot believe people are actually judging a manager by whether they 'like' him or whether he's affable....Clough was neither of those things but every NUFC fan I knew back in the 70s would have walked over broken glass to have him and Peter Taylor at SJP...the bloody FA didn't give Clough the England job despite him being the best manager in the country - they gave it to Ron Greenwood because, in their words, he was a 'very nice chap !'....

 

We want a manager that gets the team to win matches(esp at home) and KEEP NUFC IN THE PL...nothing more, nothing less. I couldn't care less if Hughton walks down Northumberland St with a daffodil up his rear end PROVIDED the team get results...and they are NOT getting sufficient good results.

Yes, he had bad luck with HBA and with Keane deciding to stay at Spurs, but as Napoleon said, 'give me a lucky general as well as a skilled one' and without SOME luck you can work your g---lies off but get nowhere.

 

Hughton did a good job in the CCC and got the club back to where it should be but he has been found wanting with team selections and, in my opinion, too much faith in certain players...he has got too close to SOME players and no manager can do that if he wants to keep his job.

 

Whatever people think of O'Neill, he has ALWAYS improved a team in his first few years there - and that is what we need now - a few years of stability in the PL. We do NOT need to go back to the CCC because we might be down there for years next time....

Unfortunately, MON is highly unlikely to work for Ashley, or even be asked to do so and if Hughton WAS to be asked to step down, I think that Jol would be higher on Ashley's list than MON because he is unlikely to demand as much transfer kitty in Jan. Nevertheless, I believe that MON WOULD get better results from this current side than we are seeing now because he is a great motivator and I don't believe Hughton has that quality.

 

Its a game of opinions but in the end, results count - I have little sympathy for football managers because they usually get a big pay-off when they get sacked for failure...does anyone else on this forum have that benefit ?

[ohmelads]

I expected bugger all transfer funds from the fat man but as I said at the end of the transfer window I thought he had at least given Hughton a fighting chance. The signings were cheap and freebies but in Ben Arfa I had hope. We had signed a classy player, a matchwinner with pace, flair and creativity - everything we needed.

 

Ben Arfa's injury is as serious as Arsenal losing Fabregas to a broken leg or Liverpool losing Gerrard. If anything I'd say it's worse when you consider the options we're left with up front. Carroll, Ameobi, Xisco, Lovenkrands, Best.... are these feared Premier League strikers? Apart from Carroll, you'd struggle to find a Premiership buyer for any of them.

 

Ben Arfa aside, Hughton has had almost f*ck all to work with to build a team better than the one that got relegated. He had to build a team with determination and teamwork and he's done that. In the transfer market, he's been pretty shrewd if you ask me. When you consider Tiote and Williamson's pricetags they are excellent deals and so was Ben Arfa. He hasn't done much wrong in that regard.

 

The criticism of him is his tactics and I'd agree with some of that. But I still struggle to see who we will attract with Ashley in control - everyone knows there's no transfer kitty and everyone knows he undermined Keegan. Any manager will look at that and look at the injury to Ben Arfa and ask himself if he really wants to take that on.

 

If someone like O'Neill came along we'd be mad to turn him down but I don't see a stampede of top managers battering down our door. I believe we could do a lot WORSE than Hughton, and anyone who disagrees should think back to some of the managers we have had in recent years. Souness who spunked 50m on Owen, Emre, Boumsong, Luque et al? Roeder?! Kinnear?! With the current squad I think any manager would struggle and that's what we're in for - a struggle. There's no money to spend and no new manager is going to turn Ameobi into Drogba or Routledge into Malouda.

 

We shouldn't be losing to Blackpool and Stoke at home and Hughton must take the blame for that. But talk of him losing his job is way way premature. Besides I simply don't trust Fat Ash to employ someone better.

[Guest lebowski]

You could say Roeder deserved better as well, doesn't mean to say that it will happen. Frankly these stories in the media re HUghton being saved a sacking by Colo's goal just don't have any credibility. I seriously don't think Ashley will sack Hughton (yet), for a start it will cost him money (and to get a new manager in). It would be probably more cost effective to buy a striker in the January window. We don't know what Ashley's intentions are with Newcastle, but I get the feeling he wasn't especially bothered about being in the Championship (once he got over the shock of the effect that had on the balance sheet). Every bit of business he has done since we went down is in line with a team that doesn't necessarily expect to stay in the premiership. I think it is ultimately prudent but I don't think he is going to get overly concerned about results just yet.

[ujpest doza]

You could say Roeder deserved better as well, doesn't mean to say that it will happen. Frankly these stories in the media re HUghton being saved a sacking by Colo's goal just don't have any credibility. I seriously don't think Ashley will sack Hughton (yet), for a start it will cost him money (and to get a new manager in). It would be probably more cost effective to buy a striker in the January window. We don't know what Ashley's intentions are with Newcastle, but I get the feeling he wasn't especially bothered about being in the Championship (once he got over the shock of the effect that had on the balance sheet). Every bit of business he has done since we went down is in line with a team that doesn't necessarily expect to stay in the premiership. I think it is ultimately prudent but I don't think he is going to get overly concerned about results just yet.

It won't cost him that much money to get rid of Hughton, he only has a contract until the summer and i can't imagine it's  a massive contract either.

 

Roeder was a nice man, Dinnis was a nice man and even Ardiles was a nice man but none of them got the results required.

 

I like Hughton, have a lot of time for him and don't really want to see a managerial change but sometimes there comes a point when a decision has to be made and this past 7 days has been as big a test as anything with Carroll being a numpty off the pitch and also rumours of a fall out between Nolan and Hughton and murmurings of Hughton having "lost" the dressing room to indiscipline.

 

No one gives a toss if the players are out on the lash when the team is winning, different story when they aren't.

 

Oh aye, and Ashley won't appoint a manager where he has to pay compensation, if he removes Hughton he will appoint someone who's currently on the nash.

[Guest]

I really don't think the Hughton compo thing would be an issue tbh. Bet you're looking at a 6-figure sum which is fuck all when compared to what we've paid out in the past and to what other managers would cost to replace. I'd imagine only Holloway would be on less and the fact he's only got about 8 months on his contract would make it easy to sack him. Don't think the thought has even crossed Ashley's mind yet though. 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I expected bugger all transfer funds from the fat man but as I said at the end of the transfer window I thought he had at least given Hughton a fighting chance. The signings were cheap and freebies but in Ben Arfa I had hope. We had signed a classy player, a matchwinner with pace, flair and creativity - everything we needed.

 

Ben Arfa's injury is as serious as Arsenal losing Fabregas to a broken leg or Liverpool losing Gerrard. If anything I'd say it's worse when you consider the options we're left with up front. Carroll, Ameobi, Xisco, Lovenkrands, Best.... are these feared Premier League strikers? Apart from Carroll, you'd struggle to find a Premiership buyer for any of them.

 

Ben Arfa aside, Hughton has had almost f*ck all to work with to build a team better than the one that got relegated. He had to build a team with determination and teamwork and he's done that. In the transfer market, he's been pretty shrewd if you ask me. When you consider Tiote and Williamson's pricetags they are excellent deals and so was Ben Arfa. He hasn't done much wrong in that regard.

 

The criticism of him is his tactics and I'd agree with some of that. But I still struggle to see who we will attract with Ashley in control - everyone knows there's no transfer kitty and everyone knows he undermined Keegan. Any manager will look at that and look at the injury to Ben Arfa and ask himself if he really wants to take that on.

 

If someone like O'Neill came along we'd be mad to turn him down but I don't see a stampede of top managers battering down our door. I believe we could do a lot WORSE than Hughton, and anyone who disagrees should think back to some of the managers we have had in recent years. Souness who spunked 50m on Owen, Emre, Boumsong, Luque et al? Roeder?! Kinnear?! With the current squad I think any manager would struggle and that's what we're in for - a struggle. There's no money to spend and no new manager is going to turn Ameobi into Drogba or Routledge into Malouda.

 

We shouldn't be losing to Blackpool and Stoke at home and Hughton must take the blame for that. But talk of him losing his job is way way premature. Besides I simply don't trust Fat Ash to employ someone better.

 

Mint post!

 

I agree Hughton hasn't been perfect, and I don't always agree with his tactics/selection.

 

But what he's done with the squad he has to work with is very impressive IMO. Ben Arfa would have had us finishing upper-mid table... it's a massive blow to lose him and we have to revise our expectations.

[dcmk]

If Hughout was to go.. it's not like the replacement would be any better.  Mike Ashleys judgement when it comes to managers.. 

[mrmojorisin75]

hughton's a strange one, clearly doesn't appear to have a fucking clue how to play at home but conversely has us getting great results away (or at least not getting raped everywhere we go)

 

he's like an anti-keegan or something

 

you can only excuse our home form so long though, you'd have to be very, VERY short-sighted to stick with Hughton unless we start winning home games fast...teams do not stay up on away form alone, it simply doesn't happen

[Guest Stephen927]

Eventually we have to strike a balance between "he's a nice guy, inexperienced, give him time, steadily building.." and "he just isn't good enough". But thats a long way away yet. Certainly shouldn't be discussing it this soon into the season, the last thing we need is to get the managerial merry-go-round set into motion.

[Wullie]

Bit ridiculous to say he hasn't a clue at home having just gone a season unbeaten.

[mrmojorisin75]

Eventually we have to strike a balance between "he's a nice guy, inexperienced, give him time, steadily building.." and "he just isn't good enough". But thats a long way away yet. Certainly shouldn't be discussing it this soon into the season, the last thing we need is to get the managerial merry-go-round set into motion.

 

just can't agree with that, we've dropped 8 points to 2 relegation rivals + Stoke at home and there appear to be few signs of improvement...fucked if i'm putting my head in the sand

 

people need to stop crying about Ben Arfa, Hughton's job is to find another solution and right now he isn't doing it

 

before people start i'm not saying sack him but there's nothing wrong with starting to question him at this stage imo

[mrmojorisin75]

Bit ridiculous to say he hasn't a clue at home having just gone a season unbeaten.

ok i thought people would understand i meant in this division

 

anyway yeah, i'm clearly wrong

[Guest Stephen927]

Eventually we have to strike a balance between "he's a nice guy, inexperienced, give him time, steadily building.." and "he just isn't good enough". But thats a long way away yet. Certainly shouldn't be discussing it this soon into the season, the last thing we need is to get the managerial merry-go-round set into motion.

 

just can't agree with that, we've dropped 8 points to 2 relegation rivals + Stoke at home and there appear to be few signs of improvement...fucked if i'm putting my head in the sand

 

people need to stop crying about Ben Arfa, Hughton's job is to find another solution and right now he isn't doing it

 

before people start i'm not saying sack him but there's nothing wrong with starting to question him at this stage imo

 

He's come off the back of a good season in the Championship, promoted comfortably, and signed some decent players on a small budget. I don't think anybody else could do anything different right now, and when you think of what the alternatives will be under Ashley (cheap managers with no club) it's very unlikely we'll be any better off.

 

Some of the better results have been against teams that have been suffering a rocky start to the season, but when you think we went to Goodison, played well and got a win (the week after Man United went there and only got a point) and we played some good football against Villa.

 

I think the problem is a lot of supporters got ahead of themselves after those results, but when you look at what he is working with, financially and on the pitch, there isn't a lot he can do to change a game tbh.

[mrmojorisin75]

correct me if i'm wrong Ste but it's now 3 very poor performances at home against average-poor teams yielding one point...

 

alls i'm saying is that cannot continue much longer if we have designs on staying up this season - away form won't keep us up as i've said

 

hopefully Hughton finds the answer and quick - i personally believe there is one within that group of players and it's his job to find it

 

you can't hold onto a manager not getting results for fear of the alternatives, it's like staying on a bus with no driver doing 60mph for fear of getting hurt if you jump out

[SEMTEX]

Why are you skirting past an Away win at Goodison and a 6-0 thrashing of Aston Villa? Is it only the negative results that count for anything?

[Super Duper Branko Strupar]

Why are you skirting past an Away win at Goodison and a 6-0 thrashing of Aston Villa? Is it only the negative results that count for anything?

 

because we didn't really win those games, Villa and Everton lost them more so. There's more to worry about after the 3 home defeats than there is to get excited about after those 2 wins.

I'd take from the City game than the Everton game and definitely a lot more than the Villa game

[mrmojorisin75]

Why are you skirting past an Away win at Goodison and a 6-0 thrashing of Aston Villa? Is it only the negative results that count for anything?

 

i'm not skirting past anything, i'm pointing out those results won't keep us up - beating the bread and butter around us will keep us up, especially beating them at home

 

honestly how many more Villas and Evertons can we realistically expect over the course of the season?  another 3 surprise results perhaps?

 

don't see what's so controversial about saying you have to win your home games and beat the beatable teams, currently we're not really doing either are we?

[summerof69]

I think peoploe may be looking too much in to Hughtons weaknesses. Yes he continues to play Nolan and Perch when available and yes we would be better off if he didn't but if you were to look at the most of managers in this league they all have areas which would be considered to be weaknesses and imo would be just as detrimental to their teams as what Hughton weaknesses is to this team. I am sure you will be able to go on any forum and you will find certain weaknesses that fans will be concerned about. Even the top managers. Dont get me wrong i understand why people are worried and ihave the same concerns and considering we are in a relegation battle people are always going to be a little panicky. Imo, we should have expected a rough patch during the season where things go a little wrong though i understand people's concerns about dropping points from the teams around us.

[steve_69]

It's the glaringly obvious tactical issues that worry me about Hughton this season.

Continuing to play Nolan and Perch when neither are performing anywhere near the required standard, persisting with one striker who is clearly isolated and lacks service, overlooking Jonas as a right-sided option when Ben Arfa was fit, constantly leaving our best crosser and set piece taker on the bench when we have a 6 foot 5 inch striker up front etc.

 

I know at times he hasn't had alternative options but that isn't the case now. Perch is costing us a goal a game and offers fuck all going forward. I'm certain Ryan Taylor or Colo could do a better job there.

 

The Premier League is ruthless and new managers have to learn very quick in order to succeed. IMO this is where Hughton might fall down - he seems to react to the team's weaknesses and failings a lot slower than he should.