Manager mention and others

All this talk of managers. Isn't there the Euros to focus on? Well it would be appropriate to talk about at least one high profile move. Mark Hughes has just taken over at Man City and has already started talking about making them a force in England and Europe. His transfer budget is a key factor for him as he was always restricted by the tight budget at Blackburn. However, if his eye for cheap talent is anything to go by, he will use his summer funds wisely. Roque Santa Cruz and Morten Gamst Pedersen are just two of the bargains he pulled off in the transfer market. Large transfer kitties don't guarantee success, but you get the feeling Hughes will know how to use the money.

Names such as Ronaldinho and Jo are being bandied about by the media and my guess is that Hughes wouldn't mind those two at his club in the slightest. The undoubted quality of the two would be a boost for a squad full of talent but not enough to challenge at the highest level. Whereas many may think Ronaldinho's powers are on the wane, I believe that he has what it takes to succeed in the Premiership if he applies himself. His skills are undoubtedly still with him; you don't lose such skills in a single season. His brain is also capable of handling the high tempo game of the Premiership and although his strength is not of Drogba proportions, he certainly has enough to survive in the league. All he needs is his hunger and if his brother's claims are true, Ronaldinho may be lighting up the Premiership next season, should he move to City of course.

Hughes certainly has talked the talk. Let's now see if he can walk the walk.

Moving on to more pressing matters, Xavi scored a brilliant goal for Spain against USA in last night's friendly. Their lacklustre performance merely highlighted how they can change a game with one moment of magic, such is the quality of their squad. They missed chances, looked shaky at times but a brilliant piece of skill was what separated them from their opponents. Spain look like clear favourites for the Euros but they have the heavy burden of constant failure in major tournaments on their shoulders. Whether they will step up and prove everyone's predictions right is yet to be seen but success or failure would not surprise anyone.

Talking about favourites for the Euros is quite pointless as all the strong nations are hard to separate and any one of them could win it if they hit some form. The more interesting part of the Euros are the smaller nations looking to cause a shock or two. Croatia and Russia are two names that immediately spring to mind. You'll probably see these two names mentioned as darkhorses on every other site and I would agree with Croatia. Croatia may have lost Eduardo but Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar are class midfielders and are key to Croatia's hope. They also topped their group in qualification and played some brilliant football at times, knocking England out in the process. Russia may have been touted as darkhorses but the loss of two of their key players raises doubts in my mind. Pavel Pogrebnyak is a major doubt for the tournament and is only rated at 50-50 by Guus Hiddink to feature at all. Meanwhile, Andrei Arshavin is suspended for the first two games and by this time Russia may have already been knocked out. Russia have other players worthy of mention such as Bystrov, Bilyaletdinov and Zyrianov but the loss of the main two will severely dent their hopes. They may prove me wrong but that's why I watch football. Nothing better than an underdog giving the favourites a real challenge.