I consider my self pro-Hughton...

.. but it is very hard to argue with the above points.

I am all for stability and patience and I do feel he should be given the chance to finish what he's started in terms of building a PL squad. I also feel that he is an excellent ambassador for the club, he is very shrewd in the transfer market and is overseeing our academy going from strength to strength.

Having said that, i think i have two main issues:

1. I dont feel he has the attributes, mentality (or backroom staff) to improve us as an attacking force to the same level of success that he has done so defensively.

2. I just cant get excited about us anymore - here we are with some of the most exciting/talented footballers we have ever had and at the moment i dont feel like i give a toss and i get the feeling some of our players are in the same place.

I dont know what the issue is to be honest - have we become spoilt? Used to attacking, entertaining football such as that we played under PL? Is this "stability" period always going to be dull anyway following the rollercoaster of the previous 4/5 years?

I still maintain that Hughton was the right choice at the right time and a more measured approach was what kept us up. For me, Hughton is now into what is make or break for him (by his own admission) and I am worried whether or not he is cut out for it.

I actually think Hughton would make an excellent director of football but that wont happen. For me, this is the ideal scenario - you maintain Hughton's scouting network, the attributes he offers in the transfer market, work with the youth team but bring in a talented member of the new breed to get us playing as we should - ie. a Karl Robinson, Eddie Howe.

All pie in the sky stuff which only seems to have served the purpose that to clarify in my mind that actually, maybe I am not pro-Hughton (as manager!) after all. Maybe this way we maintain stability to an extent, maintain all of Hughton's assetts but inject some freshness into the way the team play?

Posted By: Brucie, Sep 23, 11:05:49