Eto'o: Remains top of Hughes' hit-list
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Eto'o would light up City - Hughes
Mark Hughes believes top sides are judged by the quality of their strikeforce and that is exactly why he wants Samuel Eto'o at Manchester City.
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While speculation continues about the possible arrival of Carlos Tevez, who is now a free agent after the expiry of his two-year 'lease' arrangement with Manchester United, Eto'o remains at the top of Hughes' summer wish-list.
City have not given up on their hopes of signing the 28-year-old from Barcelona, even though this week's indication has been that Eto'o would remain at the Nou Camp.
Hughes insists the Cameroon star is not merely a marquee signing he is not actually interested in, claiming he could ignite City's entire strikeforce.
"He is a world star and a European Cup winner, the type that scores you 23 goals a season," said Hughes.
"With those types of player you know exactly what you will get - quality, a winner's mentality and someone who will get people out of their seats.
"My feeling is that it is the right time for him to help us in our ambitions.
"There is an old adage in football that you stand or fall by your strikers.
"There are times in games when things aren't going particularly well when you need somebody with the ability to win games on their own.
"All the top clubs have them. If we can add players who can do it to the ones we already have, it gives us a better chance."
Hughes accepts there is a chance Eto'o will eventually opt to remain where he is, if only to stop Barcelona pocketing the entire £25million transfer fee for a player who would be allowed to leave for nothing in 12 months' time.
Moves to lure Tevez to Eastlands can now be speeded up, with some suggestion that a deal could be done as soon as Monday.
Hughes is adding nothing to such talk. However, he is prepared to concede high expectations of City, which were so wide of the mark last term, would be an accurate assessment of the feeling inside the club this year.
"People's perceptions about us will be accurate this year," he said.
"If we can get the players we are hoping for we will have more tools to do the job. We didn't have that last year.
"But leading into the new season I fully expect us to be in better shape and be better prepared than we were last year when expectations were the same as they will be this time.
"Last year we couldn't fulfil them. This year I anticipate we will."
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Your Comments
liverpool_1986
"Didnt he say the same thing about Robihnio last year. And look how that turned out. Had an average season at a very average club. "
Evil_Nevets (Arsenal fan)
"Too many Prima Donnas going to City - if E'to does sign then he won't be here for long, he'll get lazy over winter as it will be too cold and will probably fall out with half the squad. Taking bets for Hughes been first manager sacked, as with all this spending there can't be any excuses....."
kopboy (Liverpool fan)
"good luck hughes u got all the ego players eto robinho tevez bellamy etc try making them happy all season..look at ur back line still rubish dunne kompany not dat convincing..maybe u can add another big head players like lucio and campbell.."
tomfairbrother (Middlesbrough fan)
"is that eto'o or usher?"
Dr Ian (Manchester City fan)
"All successful may well have good strikers but they also have a strong defence and a creative midfield. Messi and Et'o without Xavi and Iniesta would probably not look as good. Football is a team sport; the media focuses far too much on goals; having someone stop them going in is just as important - as we at City ought to know! Without David James we'd have been relegated, make no mistake - remember how poor Seaman was? The team must have balance. I just hope Hughes has been watching the Confederation Cup to find out out he should play both Elano and Robinho. Like your comment crellin23 about school and class - good one!"
ONEhopeONElove (Manchester United fan)
"I don't think keeping them all happy will be a problem. Tevez and Eto'o are starters all day long. While Santa Cruz has a good relationship with Hughes and can understand that he will often be used as sub to change the course of the game and add a threat in the air. Robinho may start on the left wing as he did on occasions last season but Bellamy on the other hand will be kicking and screaming. And 23 goals a season? was that some sort of prediction? "
ITM0nk3y (Manchester United fan)
"CockandBall (Tottenham Hotspur fan)...
I think that Mark Hughes takes a lot from the experience of his old boss and is looking to create a forward line that can attack fluidly, Tevez and Robinho could play behind (or wide of) Eto'o and Santa Cruz without any problems; I wouldn't expect all four to play every game, but certainly three of the four most of the time... no different to Man U playing Ronny, Tevez, Berba and Rooney together last season, Prem champions and European Cup finalists as well as winning the World Club and Mickey Mouse cups, you'd have to assess that it works!
For the record I don't think Tevez was unhappy about the number of games he was dropped for, I think he was unhappy about WHICH games he was dropped for!
You're right that Man City need to be able to back it all up with a solid defence though!"
crellin23 (Liverpool fan)
""Last year we couldn't fulfil them. This year I anticipate we will." City might just fulfil that top eight spot but I bet Hughes will not be in charge by the end of the season. Lets face it, any team that is going to spend around 100m a year should be pushing for the top 4 every year. Remember - Money can buy you school, but it cant buy class !!"
CockandBall (Tottenham Hotspur fan)
"Forgive me if this sounds a little bit naive, but if City get Eto, and Tevez don't they already have Santa Cruz and Robinho up front? Are they trying to become the Real Madrid of the Premier League, all mouth and no trousers? It will be funny to see how long Mark Hughes can keep that lot happy, he will be out of a job by Christmas. Interesting times for City fans. What me, jealous??"
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