Hughes Leaves City With Head Held High

It is unusual for a sacked manager to get so much sympathy from the media like Mark Hughes has done this week. He is the only man connected with Manchester City to come out with any credit after he was thrown on the scrap heap by the money men at Eastlands.

So was his dismissal fair? Probably not. According to Hughes it was agreed between the owners, Chief Executive, Gary Cook and the manager that a top six finish would be acceptable for this season. And where do City currently sit in the league table? That's right, sixth after just two defeats all season. There have been eight draws from 17 games though, but City remain only six points behind fourth spot with a game in hand and above one of the 'big four', -Liverpool - in the table.

Okay, so you might point to the millions that Hughes has spent on the likes of Robinho, Adebayor, Tevez, Lescott et al, but it takes more than a season for players to gel and become potential title challengers. The heavyweights of the Premier League will not be just pushed aside in one false swoop.

There is also the argument that the Premier League has tightened up more this year. Champions Manchester United have already lost five games, Liverpool seven whilst Chelsea have been stumbling of late too.

What angered the football world the most though was not particularly the sacking of Hughes - we've seen big clubs dump bosses before such as Chelsea with Phil Scolari - it was the deceit. The fact that it leaked out that Hughes was going during a game of football, one that Hughes won too. Apparently it did not matter though, as he was replaced a couple of weeks earlier according to reports.

The truth is that Manchester City's owners are not fans, they are businessmen. They want Champions League football this season, a title challenge next and then to win them both. It is a difficult job for 'big name' Italian Roberto Mancini and I'll be very surprised if City finish in the top four.

What would City fans make of the whole situation though? Perhaps a bit of regret at the way Hughes was treated maybe, but with Mancini coming in with money to spend at will they may just be licking their lips with anticipation. The sad thing is the only way we are ever going to see the dominance of the big four challenged is this way, by money.

Mark Hughes shouldn't be too worried though, it won't be long before the offers come flying in from other clubs, hopefully clubs that will give him the time he deserves.

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To show that the Premier League is not all doom and gloom on the managerial front, I'd like to give a special mention to a man who is often overlooked to what a magnificent job he has done.

After arriving at Craven Cottage in December 2007, Roy Hodgson walked straight into a relegation battle. A man who had only managed in the Premier League for a short time at Blackburn during the 90's, little was known of what to expect. He had a good reputation abroad and at international level, but would he be able to handle a relatively small Premier League outfit with limited funding?

The answer soon became clear. After keeping the Cottagers up on the final day of the 2007-08 after a miraculous escape, even better was to come the following season. Seventh place and European football, Fulham's highest top-flight finish in their history.

And it was no fluke. In a season where the Premier League has seemed to become the 'big four' and the 'next three', Fulham currently sit ninth, one place behind Liverpool and just three points behind Manchester City in sixth with a game in hand and have qualified for the knock-out stages of the Europa League from a group that contained Roma and Basle. And things just keep getting better after, quite frankly, a 3-0 demolition of champions Manchester United on Saturday.

A simply brilliant job done by a superb manager. It's a shame then that Roy Hodgson will never get a chance to manage a side in the top four. He is often overlooked as people talk of O'Neill and Redknapp and Moyes -who have also done good jobs-but he is left out.

The next time the England job becomes available though, I would look no further.

Henry's Reputation Tarnished?

Likeable, genuine and probably the best player the Premier League has seen. These are the words I would have used to describe Thierry Henry before Wednesday night's crucial World Cup play-off between France and Republic Of Ireland.

Now he is been branded a cheat after blatantly handling the ball before teeing up William Gallas to score in extra time to send France to the World Cup and break Irish hearts.

Looking at the incident myself I would have to say it was deliberate, there was a definite move towards and then control of the ball by Henry's hand. It may have been instinctive though. The ball would have gone out for a goal kick and with time running out, this was a desperate move by a player desperate to appear at the World Cup, possibly his last.

I am not saying it was right, of course not, it was cheating because it's against the rules. If it had happened against England I'm sure I'd be outraged. The Irish have every right to feel aggrieved. I don't feel the referee can be blamed either. It happened so fast and nobody knew until they saw the replays afterwards. In fact the referee had earlier spotted Nicolas Anelka's dive although not deciding to book the player.

There have also been suggestions that Henry should have gone over to the ref to admit what he had done. Would this have not risked the wrath of the French, especially if they had gone on to lose? And would the referee even have changed his mind? I seem to remember Robbie Fowler once saying he hadn't been touched by David Seaman after a penalty had been given during a game at Highbury. The referee refused to admit he was wrong and Fowler went on to miss the penalty.

It looks like calls for a replay, which is the least Ireland deserve, have been turned away and in truth this was never going to happen. Every time there was an incident in a game that a referee didn't spot, teams would call for a replay because Ireland were given one. Indeed Birmingham could ask for a replay at Anfield after David N'Gog's dive (though I'm sure they would settle for a point).

Thierry Henry is still a very talented player and always will be remembered for what he did for Arsenal over the first half of this decade, but you sense that he won't be quite seen in the same light by many which is a great shame.

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Big Game For Both Clubs At Anfield

The Premier League makes a welcome return tomorrow after yet another international break, as eventful as it turned out to be. The biggest game of the weekend is first up, a Saturday lunch time duel between an out of sorts Liverpool and Manchester City.

For Liverpool a win is surely a must if any lingering title hopes are to be kept alive, especially with both Chelsea and Manchester United both playing at home and expected to take maximum points. Liverpool have won just one of their last five Premier League games and currently sit in seventh. Rafa Benitez may also have one eye on Tuesday night's must win Champions League match against Debrecen.

As for Manchester City, they need to prove they have what it takes to compete with the big boys. Of course, they don't have to win at Anfield to prove they are a good side. Current champions Manchester United lost twice against Liverpool last season and have already once this.

But after the feeling of injustice City felt at Old Trafford after that late, late Michael Owen winner, here is a chance for City to take advantage of Liverpool's uncharacteristically leaky defence. City themselves have gone off the boil of late, drawing their last five league games. If Mark Hughes' men are serious about finishing in the top four, here lies the perfect opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the reds.

It's a close one to call, but I would sit on the fence and call a draw. I think right now Hughes would take that.