Look Hughes free...

Samuel: analyses City's run

If they then come out of it and win four on the bounce, that becomes 11 unbeaten - and Man City have only lost one game all season. If they then come out of it and get beat twice then it's 'Manchester City haven't won since September'.

Martin Samuel
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• Manchester City

After splashing out millions on building a new team, speculation has started to mount about the future of Manchester City manager Mark Hughes.

Saturday's 1-1 result with Hull City was City's seventh straight draw in the Premier League and left the club 11 points behind Chelsea at the top of the table.

Sunday's News of the World suggested that the likes of Guus Hiddink and Jose Mourinho could be brought in to replace Hughes if the Welshman doesn't lead City up the table.

And Martin Samuel of the Daily Mail suggested that the potential availability of Hiddink, following Russia's failure to reach the World Cup Finals, could provide the biggest threat to Hughes' position.

Samuel told The Sunday Supplement: "With the investment that they gave him in the summer, if it doesn't go right this season he will leave the club.

"It just depends how early they decide to start panicking about this.

"I would have thought Hiddink is more of a danger to him than Jose Mourinho at this moment, I don't really see Jose leaving Inter Milan when they're still in the Champions League.

"Hiddink being available again is a danger to everybody, even Carlo Ancelotti who is top of the league. We hear about how he could be Director of Football or whatever."

Improve

Hughes signed the likes of Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott in the summer to improve City's back four - but they have only managed to keep four clean sheets in the Premier League this season.

However, Samuel believes it is some of the big-money signings at the other end of the pitch - such as Carloz Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor - who need to take more responsibility.

Samuel argued that those big-money frontmen need to start proving themselves as matchwinners if they want to justify their transfer fees.

"The strange thing with this is City haven't now won since September - and I think it's deeper than just the defence," Samuel said.

"People keep going on about the defence, but one of the things is - depending on who you believe - they spent anything between £32million and £47million bringing Carlos Tevez to Manchester City.

"He has scored against one Premier League team this season - he scored two goals against West Ham in September.

"Now Tevez is a smashing player, a really, really good player, but if you've spent £32million on a striker you expect more for your money.

"Look at Torres at Liverpool, they spent a lot of money on Torres and he decides matches for them.

"When they've got the man fit and they're drawing 1-1 with Bolton, he'll get the winner. Who is doing that for Manchester City? They were drawing with Hull City and needed someone to nick a winner in the last 10 minutes - or Fulham or Birmingham City. Who is actually taking the responsibility to go 'right, I decide this game now'.

"This isn't necessarily a case against Mark Hughes, but the players have got to start taking responsibility."

Different

Samuel also pointed out that City's run of draws can be viewed in two different ways.

While the club have only lost one Premier League game all season, they have not won one since the 3-1 success against West Ham on September 28.

And Samuel feels that whatever happens at the end of this run could prove pivotal for Hughes' future.

He said: "They're on this run of seven draws and it's what happens when the drawing sequence ends that will define how people see this run.

"If they then come out of it and win four on the bounce, that becomes 11 unbeaten - and Man City have only lost one game all season.

"If they then come out of it and get beat twice then it's 'Manchester City haven't won since September'.

"I know that seems very artificial, but it's what they do at the end of the drawing sequence that colours the whole run."