Source: Daily_Mail
O'Neill and McLeish slam Manchester City's treatment of Hughes
[LNB]Martin O'Neill has branded Manchester City's decision to sack Mark Hughes a 'crazy' mistake, claiming the club were still genuine title contenders.[LNB]Aston Villa's manager spoke out in defence of his former colleague who was shown the door at Eastlands in farcical circumstances last weekend, maintaining that the Welshman was not given the time to see the job through.[LNB]O'Neill, who has spent over 40 years in the professional game as a player and manager, even admitted he was 'half-surprised' at the decision by the club's owners to dispense with Hughes's services.[LNB]The Northern Irishman's counterpart at St Andrew's, Alex McLeish, said that Hughes could walk out of Eastlands with his 'head held high' although O'Neill almost provoked the question as to what City's owners had expected when they dumped their manager in such an abrupt fashion.[LNB]'I suppose it is a microcosm of our game,' he said. 'But it's a sad indictment when things like this happen.[LNB]'It's crazy... crazy.[LNB] Tough: O'Neill (left) sympathises with sacked City manager Hughes[LNB]'Manchester City have lost fewer games than anyone else in theleague, they are in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup and seeminglythis decision was taken three or four weeks ago.[LNB]'Let's be honest, they could still win the title. They have thewherewithal to do it. Mark will be disappointed not to have been giventhe chance to see the job through. 'Good, bad or indifferent, here wasa situation where he had been given a job, handed some money. Butbecause you have been given this money it doesn't follow that you goout and win your next game 6-0. That just doesn't happen.[LNB]'In any other industry, you'd be given the time to do the job, youreally would. But football is not like any other industry and more sothan ever before. You need a bit of time for it all to gel.[LNB]'Mark's record the fact that he has lost fewer games than anyone else tells you he was on the right track.[LNB]'I've said that nothing surprises me in football. But I'll admit being half-surprised at this.[LNB]'It would be less of a surprise if it happened in Italy or Spain,where you normally get only a couple of years. I think I'm right insaying that Vicente del Bosque, for instance, was kicked out of a jobat Real Madrid when he was in charge of the European champions. So itcan happen.[LNB] Hopeful: Striker Heskey (right) could play a part over the festive fixtures[LNB]'As a manager myself, it doesn't inspire me with great confidence.You step into this game, realising that these kind of things can happenand will happen. But you need a fair chance. Otherwise, you wouldn't doit.[LNB]'Sadly, that's the nature of football.' [LNB]Birmingham manager McLeish admitted that he had heard the rumours before the axe fell. But he, too, sided with O'Neill.[LNB]He said: 'Here was a manager who was doing well and he has got the sack. It's a bloody difficult job when that happens.[LNB]No surprises: McLeish[LNB]'Nothing surprises me. But it's happened and you don't think itshould have. Manchester City, as a club, are a work-in-progress. Hespent a lot of money, but it takes time for players to gel.[LNB]'He brought in a lot of foreigners. Arsene Wenger himself said thatit takes six months for people to settle in. Arsene often doesn't evenblood players for that length of time. I think, if you look, that mighthave been the case with Eduardo. And that has paid off. But notstraightaway.[LNB]'It just doesn't seem fair. It was out of Mark's control. He canwalk with his head held high. I'm sure he'll be up for it when anotherjob comes along.'[LNB]Both O'Neill and McLeish agreed that the lack of time given toHughes, having spent £243 million, made his dismissal so hard tocomprehend.[LNB]Indeed, O'Neill also believes that the huge influx of money into theBarclays Premier League has made supporters much less patient.[LNB]He said: 'The game has changed. In every way. It's still football, fair enough, but it's different for a number of reasons.[LNB]'First, the general alienation between supporter and player. From myviewpoint, I see a lot more money flying around in the higher echelons.And when players are earning that money, I don't begrudge them that,but if lesser players are earning really good money, then it mightirritate the fan.[LNB]'His level of tolerance is much less and therefore every single timethat player fails to control the ball, then he's in a heap of trouble.Of course, the manager who picked him is in serious trouble, too.[LNB]'There is less patience. I think the events of the last few days have proved that.'[LNB] Mancini Sheiks on it: Man City boss met owner weeks before Hughes was axedVIDEO: Garry Cook goes on defensive at Roberto Mancini's unveilingFurious Craig Bellamy threatens to follow Hughes out of Manchester CityRoberto Mancini eyes Premier League title within 18 months after taking reins at Manchester CityASTON VILLA FC
