With the festive break nearing its end and a return to work imminent it's a time to reflect on the seasonal sojourn. Christmas is a time to enjoy then maybe regret the value for the money you've spent and the hang-overs you had to endure. A time to reflect on what might have been or indeed on what actually transpired. And for football fans the same principles apply.

Our Christmas fixtures proved to be a mixed bag. The gift we unwrapped at the Hawthorns was like that unwanted hideous tie or sweater that your 80 year old aunt would buy. The packaging looked good but the contents were best forgotten. The result and the performance were best confined to that tatty box of memories along with those unwanted presents. Hull City was the gift you longed for and got. An excellent all round performance brimming with goals galore and a superb contribution from our man from Krypton - Stevie Ireland. He is our Superman! Blackburn proved to be like a selection box. Some of it good and some of it kak. A good point given the situation we found ourselves in. The fighting spirit we showed does give you hope but against better opposition we might not have been capable of pulling off the same feat. I was one of many who left early and admit to being a little rash in doing so and as a consequence missed three goals! But it's results that matter and the point we won was much needed. However, the point we needed was for the wrong reasons. This time last year that point would have kept us in the top four - this year it ensured we moved a bit further away from the RELEGATION zone. How times change

This change in circumstances has instigated an element of uncertainty amongst the players about where their futures lie and has also seen a sense dissatisfaction from the fans with the management of team affairs by Mark Hughes. On both counts i admit to being frustrated. Footballers with a modicum of common sense know that when there is a change of manager or ownership the ball game changes. New managers tend to follow the old adage of how the 'new broom sweeps clean'.And when this happens there will always be victims. Players who assumed they were safe now find themselves under scrutiny. Performance levels are monitored both in training and on match days. New tactics are utilised and don't always suit the personnel at the managers disposal. Hence the threat to where their futures lie. But surely in these days of over inflated salaries and egos players should have the where-with-all to deal with it and turn in match winning performances every week to ensure the manager has no grounds to move them out. Stevie Ireland has proved that with his outstanding performances this season and has made it almost impossible for the manager to leave him out. Let that be a lesson learnt. To many of the current squad who had an easy ride with Sven have had an eye opener this year and if they can't handle it or don't attain a standard demanded by the manager then it's good-bye and farewell. Manchester City are bigger than any player and always will be!

Mark Hughes may not be the fans no 1 person and despite peoples denials I firmly believe that their is a deep rooted resentment at his United links by some of his critics. That of course is the individuals right but is it really a sound basis to oust the manager from the hot seat? I think not. Hughes showed his mettle and determination as a player and is doing likewise as a manager. Blackburn Rovers are a shining example of what can be achieved with belief and support for the manager. On limited resources he did a fabulous job, he got the best out of his players and that was mirrored in how difficult his replacement -Paul Ince- found to his cost after some 16 games into his job. Mark Hughes came into this job knowing his mission was to turn the clubs fortunes around. To adopt a winning mentality rather than the 'typical' City one we have all become accustomed to. Hughes inherited a team that had shown potential but had fallen by the wayside. In short - not good enough - and Hughes is determined to rectify that. With the unlimited funds said to be at his fingertips he will have a platform afforded no other City manager or maybe even Premiership manager before. If Hughes fails with what he has at his disposal then go ahead, sack him. Until that time arrives I would suggest we shut up and give him the time he deserves. To sack Hughes now would be a travesty and a backward step of gigantic proportions. Let the club achieve that stability we have long craved for and indeed demanded. Whatever you think of the man he was not responsible for the sacking of Sven, all he is guilty of is taking advantage of a situation that arose and in doing so knew only too well that the pressure would be enormous and the expectation levels higher still. If a manager was ever guilty of putting his head on the block then Hughes is that man. And you know what. I respect him for that. If he can instill into his players what he put into his playing style then surely that can only be good for Manchester City.

As we enter the January transfer window, speculation is rife about who we will or wont buy, who will be shown the exit door but only time will tell how events transpire. Hughes is i'm sure determined to make his mark on the team and to recruit his own players. When Erikkson took control he went out and signed, Corluka, Garrido,Elano,Petrov,Bianchi,Bojinov,Giovanni and Fernandes. Eight signings that in essence gave him a new team to pick from but more importantly it was HIS team. Mark Hughes has yet to experience that luxury to the same extent. Of course he's made some signings. Kompany,SWP, Zabaleta and Ben Haim. The latter has proved so far to be a poor one. Jo was not his signing and though Robinho was 'signed' by Hughes was he actually his choice or that of the men at the top? Whatever, that is immaterial. The talented Brazilian has lightened up our lives and brought some much needed quality to the side. Now if Hughes can add 'his' players to the squad and say this is my team then let us be the judge of where we have or haven't gone on the road to progress. Only then will I judge the man. Until then let's give him the chance he deserves.

Geoff Stevenson

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