Why should we be afraid exactly?
Why single out Dublin as a hub, when frankly, it's no more a threat than LHR, AMS, CDG, FRA, MUC and so on?
Dublin is doing what it needs to do to move forward, and MAN is doing what it needs to do. Until MAN can convince an airline to create a full hub, there is no point worrying about other airports.
With 25m on the cards for next year, with too many new services/routes to itemise, it's not as if anyone could argue MAN is preparing for an unsuccessful 2016, is it?