Tag Archives: Hughes

Tough start for Hughes at QPR

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There are just two Premier League games on Sunday but there’s plenty at stake as Mark Hughes takes charge of QPR for the first time against Newcastle while Arsenal hope to maintain their bid for a top-four place with a win at Swansea.

Newcastle v QPR

The Hughes era at Rangers gets underway at the Sports Direct Arena in what is a stiff test for the R’s and their new boss.

Hughes said in his press conference this week that he had initially been impressed with what he had seen from his new charges in training and he believes he has a good squad at his disposal at Loftus Road that can definitely avoid relegation.

The new boss is expected to be handed significant funds and he is already close to landing defender Alex from Chelsea while several other targets have been identified.

More quality to compliment the likes of Joey Barton, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Adel Taarabt is needed but Hughes can get the best out of them and, with some additions, QPR can become a mid-table side.

A trip to the north east first up is a difficult test but expect ‘new manager syndrome’ to kick in with the Rangers players all desperate to impress and prove they have a future at the club. With that in mind, the visitors can claim a draw in this one at 13/5.

Newcastle (4/5 to win) have continued to exceed expectations this season and the stunning 3-0 win over champions Manchester United recently proved Alan Pardew has a squad to be reckoned with, and European football can be secured.

However, the Magpies are without top-scorer Demba Ba and influential midfielder Cheik Tiote so they are weakened for this clash. It all points to a lively clash and expect an entertaining draw – go for 2-2 at 14/1 in the correct score market.

Swansea v Arsenal

Arsenal’s recovery from a poor start this season has been impressive and the recent return of legend Thierry Henry has added to the feelgood factor at the Emirates.

A top-four place is well within the Gunners’ grasp once again this season and they should have enough to claim all three points at Swansea (Arsenal 8/11, Swansea 4/1, draw 11/4).

Henry made the perfect return when netting the winner within minutes of coming on in the FA Cup third-round win over Leeds on Monday and he is again expected to be on the bench to make an impact if boss Arsene Wenger needs him in the second half. In fact, he looks a good bet at 3/2 to score anytime in this one.

The Swans are another club to have exceeded expectations so far this season but you sense, like Blackpool 12 months ago, they are now entering the key phase of the campaign and need to maintain their form if they are to avoid getting dragged into a relegation scrap.

Brendan Rodgers has made an astute loan capture in bringing youngster Josh McEachran to the Liberty Stadium from Chelsea and they have impressed at home so far in the top flight, losing just once in Wales all season – against Manchester United.

However, they face an Arsenal side determined not to slip up in their pursuit of fourth and this looks likely to be a narrow away win. Take 0-1 in the correct score market at 6/1.

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Hughes targets massive result

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Aaron Hughes is eyeing a big upset when he leads Northern Ireland (9/2 totesport.com Match Betting) out on Friday night and feels that if the team can repeat its performance from the opening Euro 2012 qualifier against Slovenia, then they can upset Italy (7/10 to win, 12/5 the draw) at Windsor Park.

Northern Ireland (8/1 to qualify for Euro 2012) have enjoyed a good recent run in qualifying matches, losing just one of their last eight games with debutant Corry Evans scoring the the only goal against Slovenia in Maribor to get the Euro 2012 Group C qualifying campaign off to a perfect start.

However, Italy have won both their opening games to currently top the group, having beaten Estonia 2-1 away before a comfortable 5-0 rout of Faroe Islands in Florence.

Following a dismal World Cup campaign, the Azzurri are going through a transitional phase but Hughes still believes it would be a ‘massive’ achievement if Northern Ireland avoided defeat in their first home match in qualifying.

However, the Fulham defender also insists that a result is not beyond them if they can show the form that earned them the first win of the campaign.

“We said at the start that you try to pick up what you can on your travels. This is our first home match in the campaign and to get something from it would be massive,” Hughes said.

“It’s not a must-win where we need all three points. Even if we come away with a point, we’ve got to remember who we’re playing, one of the top sides in the world.

“So to come out of the game with something would be a fantastic result for us. It would add to what we’ve already got.

“Italy have talented, exceptional players that can cause you all sorts of problems if you’re not on your game.

“But if we approach the game like we did in Slovenia and do the same things we’ll give ourselves a chance.”

Craig Cathcart, who made his debut in that opening victory against Slovenia, is currently suffering with a back spasm, which may see Manchester United defender Jonny Evans return to the starting line-up.

That is expected to be the only change with Slovenia match-winner Corry Evans again starting from the bench.

Italy boss Cesare Prandelli has also stated that Roma striker Marco Borriello (5/1 to be first or last goalscorer) has been preferred to Sampdoria’s Giampaolo Pazzini and Villarreal’s Giuseppe Rossi and will lead the line for the visitors.

The 28-year-old starts alongside Antonio Cassano and Simone Pepe in a 4-3-3 formation, while Lazio’s Stefano Mauri has been recalled to the side for the first time in three years, and will play alongside Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi in midfield.

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Hughes eyes famous victory

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Fulham’s Aaron Hughes believes Northern Ireland are capable of recording another famous win at Windsor Park when they welcome Italy (8/13 Italy – 90 minutes) in Belfast on Friday.

Nigel Worthington’s side got their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign off to a flying start with a 1-0 victory in Slovenia and will be looking to make it two out of two when they face the Azzurri.

Northern Ireland have been placed in a tough group and will have to get the better of Italy, Serbia, Estonia, Slovenia and the Faroe Islands if they are to reach their first major competition since the 1982 World Cup.

Their last qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup ended in failure as they finished fourth of six, seven points behind eventual group winners Slovakia.

While it is unlikely Northern Ireland (8/1 to qualify for Euro 2012) will do any better in their bid to reach Ukraine and Poland in two years’ time they will hope for some more famous nights at Windsor Park along the way.

In the past Northern Ireland have caused some big upsets at their famous old ground, beating Spain and England recently.

Despite Italy’s recent fall from grace a victory over the four-time world champions would represent a massive achievement for Worthington’s men.

Italy currently top Group C having won their first two matches against Estonia and the Faroe Islands.

However, it will arguably be their biggest test when they face Northern Ireland at Windsor Park on Friday night.

Hughes believes he and his compatriots have every chance of causing an upset against Italy, although the Fulham defender says they can’t underestimate the Azzurri despite their recent performances.

“At home over the last few years we’ve had some really good results,” Hughes told Fulham’s official website.

“The England and Spain games will be talked about for years and we beat a lot of good teams that were ranked higher than us at home.

“Our home form is strong and we should go into the game with plenty of confidence, but it would be extremely dangerous to go into the match thinking Italy aren’t what they used to be because the team is full of quality players.”

Northern Ireland (16/1 Group C outright) follow Friday’s game against Italy (4/9) with a trip to Toftir to face Faroe Islands (5000/1) four days later.

Worthington will have to do with Pat McCourt for both matches as the Celtic winger is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Rangers’ Andrew Little has been called up instead of Adam Barton after he withdrew while Niall McGinn is back after missing the game with Slovenia.

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Hughes won’t give up on Schwarzer

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Fulham boss Mark Hughes believes there is still a chance that goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer could remain at the club this season (Fulham 1/3 to beat Port Vale in Carling Cup).

The Australia international has spent two seasons at Craven Cottage following 11 years with Middlesbrough but has already been the subject of two £2m bids from Arsenal that were turned down earlier this summer.

The 37-year-old is currently out of action with a back injury and is unlikely to feature in Fulham’s mid-week Carling Cup clash with Port Vale, with David Stockdale proving a more than adequate replacement between the posts in the early part of the campaign.

Arsenal have been looking for a solid, dependable keeper for some time with both Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski vulnerable to making the odd costly mistake.

Schwarzer responded to the recent interest from the Gunners by handing in a transfer request as he seeks to play Champions League football in the final few years of his career.

It seems likely that the former Bradford custodian will be allowed to leave if the two clubs can reach a deal on the financial side of the transfer, but Hughes was quick to point out that there is still a chance that the talented shot-stopper might remain at the Cottage until at least Christmas.

“It’s not a foregone conclusion that Mark will leave,” he told the Guardian.  “We’re all aware of Arsenal’s interest. It’s not a surprise because he’s an outstanding goalkeeper and they obviously feel they have an issue with their own goalkeeper.”

Hughes admitted he has been pleased with what he has seen of Schwarzer’s understudy to date but pointed out that he might be in the market for a more experienced keeper if his current number one does leave west London.

“We’ve been impressed with what we’ve seen (of Stockdale) since we’ve been here, and he’s arguably been the star man in both games,” he added. “We’re pleased with what he’s producing at the moment but it’s always difficult for young keepers.

“They get by initially on adrenalin and enthusiasm, but can they keep it up over time? It’s a long season and you’ve got to be careful with them.”

Fulham will next be in Premiership action on Saturday when they make the long trip to Bloomfield Road to take on Blackpool (Blackpool 3/10 to be relegated from Prem).

Hughes will fancy his chances of taking all three points following the Seasiders 6-0 capitulation against Arsenal at the weekend but Ian Holloway’s side will be desperate to show their fans what they can do on their home Premiership debut.

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Hughes has ‘plenty of time’ to deal

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New Fulham boss Mark Hughes believes he “still has plenty of time” to bring in new faces as he bids to improve the Cottagers (Fulham 16/1 Premiership without Top 6).

The Welshman was unveiled as the new Fulham boss last week and watched from the stands as his side went down 1-0 in a friendly fixture against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.  Hughes will take charge of his first fixture in the Cottagers friendly tie against German outfit Werder Bremen on August 7, a week before they begin their Premier League campaign with a trip to Bolton’s Reebok Stadium (Bolton 6/5, draw 11/5, Fulham 15/8).

With just two weeks until the start of the season the former Blackburn and Manchester City boss will have to move quickly to secure new additions but Hughes insists he is relaxed over transfer dealings.

“Ideally, we would’ve liked to have been in place before the pre-season schedule was undertaken, but that wasn’t possible” conceded Hughes.

“We’ve got two weeks before the start of the season and we’ve still got another two weeks after that of the window to negotiate as well, so there’s still plenty of time.”

Hughes has been in the Fulham hot-seat for less than a week but the Cottagers boss has already been linked with a number of players, including Roque Santa Cruz, Craig Bellamy and Stephen Ireland.  All three played under Hughes at City, while both Santa Cruz and Bellamy have been signed twice by Hughes (for Blackburn and City) and Bellamy was also a part of Hughes’ Wales squad when he managed the Welsh team.

It is unclear whether or not there is any substance to the reports that Hughes is chasing the City trio, many managers are linked to players they have worked with in the past and often these stories amount to nothing but the Fulham boss has revealed he will be backed in the transfer market.

He added: “The Premier League is a very expensive league and you do need resources; you need funds to keep energising the team to enable it to continue.

“If you don’t add quality to a club and a group of players then you will stand still and people will overtake you.

“Maybe that was the reassurance that I needed when I had the discussions with Alistair (Mackintosh, chief executive).”

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Fulham set for new Hughes era

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Mark Hughes will be drawing up a list of potential targets he believes will improve the Fulham squad (20/1 to finish in the top six), as he waits to be named as the club’s new manager ahead of the new Premier League season.

Fulham have opted for the former Manchester City boss to replace Roy Hodgson, who was allowed to leave to take over at Liverpool earlier this summer.

The Cottagers took their time with the appointment and several candidates were in the frame, in particular former Tottenham boss Martin Jol, who decided to stay at Ajax.

Hughes his since emerged as the man owner Mohamed al Fayed wanted to continue the good work Hodgson did at the club during his two-and-a-half-year reign at Craven Cottage.

The former Manchester United striker has big boots to fill, such was Hodgson’s reputation in west London, but many believe he was unfairly dismissed by the Eastlands club as they looked to appoint Roberto Mancini.

Before that, Hughes was also respected for the job he did while in charge of Blackburn between 2004 and 2009 and is expected to be able to attract some talented new players to Craven Cottage (Fulham 1/18 to stay up this season).

The Welshman has been tipped to raid City for several players, including the likes of strike duo Roque Santa Cruz and Craig Bellamy, who he knows very well, while other targets are likely to emerge in the next month.

Hodgson led Fulham, who finished 12th last season, to the Europa League final in May and, while Hughes does not have European football this season at the Cottage, he would do well to emulate his predecessor and guide the club to another top-seven finish like in 2009.

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