Legend in my book.Would be in my all time Utd 11 any day of the week for his finishing,spectacular strikes and hard as nails, with the winning attitude needed at the highest level.One of my all time favourite players.
Mark Hughes
- Thread starter VJ1762
- Start date
Pure legend. Always, always turned up in big games.He's often described as not being prolific, but so much more to his game though. His actual goal scoring record for us wasn't bad though.
The 10 wins in 10 league matches at the start of the 85/86 season was probably the best run of league games I can remember as a long term Utd fan and Mark Hughes was on fire during this spell at the club - there is a U Tube video of this but I couldn't load it if somebody else can ?
We went (obviously !) top of the league and were 10 points ahead of Liverpool who went on to win the league.
Robbo was injured in October and then dislocated his shoulder missing most of the remaining season - this basically killed the team and then rumours were around that Hughes had already signed for Barcelona and his form was poor in the 2nd half of the season.
I would say the Hughes and Stapleton front 2 was as good a front line pairing any team could have in any era - Hughes was also in the same category as Joe Jordan who would genuinely scare most centre halves with skill but had a hard side when required !
Top player for United but he's not a legend due to his "anti-United" attitude imo - shame really but I still remember a great player
We went (obviously !) top of the league and were 10 points ahead of Liverpool who went on to win the league.
Robbo was injured in October and then dislocated his shoulder missing most of the remaining season - this basically killed the team and then rumours were around that Hughes had already signed for Barcelona and his form was poor in the 2nd half of the season.
I would say the Hughes and Stapleton front 2 was as good a front line pairing any team could have in any era - Hughes was also in the same category as Joe Jordan who would genuinely scare most centre halves with skill but had a hard side when required !
Top player for United but he's not a legend due to his "anti-United" attitude imo - shame really but I still remember a great player
Leg End
Only remember him from his second spell. He was the big hero of mine and may favourite at one point as a kid, loved him. Not that I've soured on him, I just don't have heroes anymore.
Great his back to goal and the physical stuff in general. Play the ball up to him, he controls it while holding off a defender, knocks it to an advancing winger then gets in the box for a cross along with his strike partner. Simple, but worked a hell of a lot.
He always gave the impression he was giving his all, a proper fighter for the team's cause which endeared him to the fans. He had a big rapport with the supporters. Scored big goals, scored spectacular goals too.
As well as the volleys which adds a touch of class to his game so did some of his passing. The ball for Mark Robins for that famous goal he scored at Forest for example. Ok, he had a lot of time but there's lovely bend on that with the outside of the foot and a certain elegance about it.
Eric did end up eclipsing him for me on the hero front, and they were great together too.Hughes is definitely a legend for me.
Great his back to goal and the physical stuff in general. Play the ball up to him, he controls it while holding off a defender, knocks it to an advancing winger then gets in the box for a cross along with his strike partner. Simple, but worked a hell of a lot.
He always gave the impression he was giving his all, a proper fighter for the team's cause which endeared him to the fans. He had a big rapport with the supporters. Scored big goals, scored spectacular goals too.
As well as the volleys which adds a touch of class to his game so did some of his passing. The ball for Mark Robins for that famous goal he scored at Forest for example. Ok, he had a lot of time but there's lovely bend on that with the outside of the foot and a certain elegance about it.
Eric did end up eclipsing him for me on the hero front, and they were great together too.Hughes is definitely a legend for me.
If anybody was there, and got hit by a low-flying meat'n'potato pie seconds after that went in, soz it was me.
Main man, in his time, bought him back from Barca which was good Business, never injured, scored screamers, his 1991, cup winners cup in Rotterdam, is one that sticks out most for me, UTD been in doldrums a bit, English clubs been out of Europe for few years as well, that win gave us the importance to move forward get better, then win the league after so long.
His move to Chelsea I thought was a bit premature he could still play at a high level and did there as well. Yes legend for me even if he did slum it for a bit in the council house.
His move to Chelsea I thought was a bit premature he could still play at a high level and did there as well. Yes legend for me even if he did slum it for a bit in the council house.
It was the arrival of cole wasn't it? Sure they did play briefly together in 95
Loved that goal I remember running out to the street with my football to reenact it
He definitely had that in his locker. His pass to Whiteside was just as beautiful
before my time but his thighs always impress me... wonder if he could squat a lot.
Probably my favourite ever United player. A real warrior and scored some incredible (and important) goals. The definition of a big game player. I was absolutely gutted when he left.
Does anyone remember earlier in that 1994/95 season he came on to the Old Trafford pitch before a match (he was injured at the time) and it was announced he was staying / had signed a new contract? Big cheers, waves to the crowd etc. A few months later he was gone
Does anyone remember earlier in that 1994/95 season he came on to the Old Trafford pitch before a match (he was injured at the time) and it was announced he was staying / had signed a new contract? Big cheers, waves to the crowd etc. A few months later he was gone
Oh and I've never seen anybody able to volley the ball better than him. Love a good volleyed goal and nobody did it better than Sparky!
Mark the "volley master" Hughes is the reason i support Utd in the first place. Scorer of great goals but important ones as well. Played on the edge and always turned up at 3pm on a Saturday!
Hughes is a legend. Came through with Whiteside, and replaced Whiteside up front with Stapleton.
Stapleton the best header of the ball, and Hughes the best volleyer of the ball. And with Robbo and Whiteside behind them we were a beast of a team when in the mood.
Strach and olsen on the wings as well
Hughes used to go off the boil for a few weeks, get dropped, and then come steaming back. Sometimes he needed dropping to get him back to top form.
Stapleton the best header of the ball, and Hughes the best volleyer of the ball. And with Robbo and Whiteside behind them we were a beast of a team when in the mood.
Strach and olsen on the wings as well
Hughes used to go off the boil for a few weeks, get dropped, and then come steaming back. Sometimes he needed dropping to get him back to top form.
I would so like to disagree with the posts about Mark Hughes as I always think it is good to stimulate discussion and debate however on this occasion, I simply cannot because he was a fantastic player for us and one of my favourites of his era perhaps only behind the truly inspirational legend that was Bryan Robson.Going back to Hughesy for a moment, I thought he was a brilliant leader of the line for United and certainly one of the best ever with his back to goal if you kind of know what I mean.Funnily enough I thought he would make a top class Manager though sadly this is not the case rather like the vast majority of top class ex players who go down that terribly difficult route.
As the OP says, he does seem bitter towards the club, any reason?
Mark 'Thunder Thighs' Hughes will always be a legend at the club.
Last edited:
The first football book I ever read was Barcelona, Bayern and back....probably the first book I ever read actually. Club legend for me, best player I have seen at United to hold the ball up, nobody could knock him off it. The two goals against palace in 1990 fa cup final are perhaps my fondest memories as a united fan.
My all time favourite footballer and boyhood hero, hence my username! Loved the way he played and his attitude on the pitch.
Loved him when I was a kid. He was so strong, players just bounced off him. Wasn't the most prolific generally but scored some emphatic goals.
He became insufferable as soon as he stepped into management.
He became insufferable as soon as he stepped into management.
Surprised no one has put the one vs Sheff Utd in the FA Cup in 94
from about 6mins
from about 6mins
I remember thst game, watching it on bbc one sunday afternoon. Hughes totally booted someone snd got sent off!
After we lost the title to Blackburn in 95 Ferguson decided he needed to refresh the team. Sold Hughes Ince and Kanchelskis - all key players of the team that had won the previous two leagues. Hughes felt Ferguson owed him something and that hd shouldn't have been shipped out mercilessly having been such an important player.
1991 Cup Winner's Cup final against Barcelona when he smashed in the winner from a tight angle.
Fantastic player, loved him to bits.
Fantastic player, loved him to bits.
Last edited:
Great memories. After Koeman got one back for them...I felt as if I was going to die. The pressure eh.
I think you'll never feel that way again. Kids experiencing this stuff for the first few times are so lucky...like we were I guess.
Definitely a legend.
The work rate, the leadership and those spectacular goals.
Always was a favourite of mine.
The season he left for Chelsea I had the luck to go to the game at stamford bridge. ended 4-1 with him scoring their consolation goal. I was so pleased for that.
Have to distinguish the player from the manager.
The work rate, the leadership and those spectacular goals.
Always was a favourite of mine.
The season he left for Chelsea I had the luck to go to the game at stamford bridge. ended 4-1 with him scoring their consolation goal. I was so pleased for that.
Have to distinguish the player from the manager.
10:05 Kerpow!
Hard as nails, a real warrior and gave everything in a red shirt. Loved Sparky as a player I had a t shirt from outside Old Trafford
Welcome back Sparky
Far too good for Barcelona
He had tremendous power took a lot of kicks but handed his fair share out, I was quite gutted when he left, great lad.
Welcome back Sparky
Far too good for Barcelona
He had tremendous power took a lot of kicks but handed his fair share out, I was quite gutted when he left, great lad.
Still don't think I've seen anyone compare to him as a focal point who can hold up play, he can became something the whole side was moulded around, and I vaguely recall thinking the team would/did miss his departure initially because of this aspect of his game.
Remember Clayton Blackmore clearing off the line in the dying minutes. Those last 10 minutes seemed like 10 hours.
One of my all time favourite United players was Hughsie. Looking back at those goals brings back some great memories.
Talk of him becoming the next Everton manager when Silva gets sacked.
Look at that great first touch at 1:18
insane vid
I remember that. It was a beauty, the foul I mean. Think he was hacked off that day at chasing aimless balls with defenders shielding them out of play. Happened once too often so he delivered a tremendous volley to the plumbs from behind. Almost as spectacular as some of his goals.
When he came back after his loan to Bayern he was so much sharper and had great dribbling skills. Not sure what they did with him over there but he was much improved.