AS WE move into 2012, we can look back on a year full of great memories and historical significance for Stoke City.

We are eighth in the Premier League, we will undoubtedly secure a fifth season of Premier League football, we made two appearances at Wembley, played in the first FA Cup final of our history and we are now enjoying the almost surreal experience of watching The Potters perform, and acquit themselves admirably, on the European stage.

There are those who have suggested 2011 may be the single best year in the entire history of the club and, while that may stick in the throat for those who believe the early 1970s, and especially 1972, are untouchable, it's a subject worthy of debate.

If 2011 wasn't the best year in Stoke's history, then it's right up there isn't it?

What we have enjoyed recently is the culmination, or rather continuation, of an approach which has seen the staunch support of the Coates family in a manager who has rewarded that faith with a team who have brought pride to this city.

After my last article, I received some criticism for my defence of Tony Pulis in the wake of a dreary 0-0 draw against Aston Villa. I don't need to be reminded there are those who simply won't warm to Pulis and, while I'd argue it is a minority, it is nevertheless a hard-hearted and vocal one.

Everyone is entitled to their views and I have no wish to become embroiled in a war of words with fellow Stoke supporters, partly because I can't really understand the root core of their grievances.

There seems to be a belief that anything less than the couple of fifth-placed finishes of the 1970s, and the free-flowing football we saw from the likes of Alan Hudson and Jimmy Greenhoff, is just not acceptable to them.

No amount of pointing out that it was a different game in the 70s, when football wasn't all about money and when clubs such as Derby, Nottingham Forest, QPR, Southampton and, yes, Stoke, could dream of winning the title, seems to have an effect.

Everything we have now seems to be judged negatively against the memories of four or five years from four decades ago.

I have to admit I find this just as frustrating as the "don't forget where we've come from" line, which seems to be trundled out whenever we don't do particularly well.

These are two arguments which actually come from opposite ends of the same stick – one which finds it extremely difficult to give any praise whatsoever and the other which appears unwilling to accept any criticism.

Sticking with those who wouldn't consider themselves to be the biggest of Pulis fans, I often hear the argument that the fact we're always last on Match of the Day is proof of the poor football we play.

Well, I don't know why we'd want to view that show as any kind of barometer of the club when the Premier League table provides a much more accurate picture, but I could point out that we did actually spend 23 years of not appearing on the show at all.

I'll take the indignity of often being last on the show compared to what we have endured in the quarter of a century before we were promoted into the Premier League.

Let a few hardened pundits have their moans, and if people want to complain about a poor game against Aston Villa then let us look at a run of eight games which have produced five wins, two draws and just one defeat ... and that to the league leaders.

And let's not forget three of those wins have come away from home, or that our current eighth place has been achieved at a time when we've had to play 10 games more than some of our peers due to our European commitments.

There are times when Pulis has had me tearing out my last few remaining strands of hair with his tactics and team selections, and I've also had my fair share of moans, particularly about our away form.

But ultimately I can't think of anyone better suited to managing Stoke right now, and I'd caution those who clearly think differently to be careful what they wish for.

There is a chemistry happening at Stoke which we might never see again and foundations are being established to secure the future of our club. People are working together to become bigger and better and year after year we are becoming stronger both as a club and as a team.

Yes, the draws against Villa and Wigan were a little disappointing, but then we went to Lancashire and beat a Blackburn team still buzzing after their win at Manchester United.

We're an up-and-down club at times, but look at any graph of the last few years and you'll see an overall trend which is heading in one direction only.

Those who so fondly mire themselves in the memories of the 1970s would do well to remember that just two years after we almost won the league title in 1975 we were relegated from the top flight.

We all want free-flowing football and praise from the heavens, but we also want Premier League football and that's why I can't understand the continuing moans about an approach that has brought us not only that, but some wonderful games and memories.

No manager is beyond criticism and Pulis shouldn't expect a free ride. Fans will ask him why we line up so negatively at times, why certain players are picked over others and why he seems so determined not to sign any genuine full-backs (my own pet grievance). They have every right to do that.

There's nothing wrong with healthy debate and managerial accountability, but if you're someone who has it in for Pulis then I don't really know what you want.

Still, here's to a great 2012 and a Happy New Year to all fellow City supporters.

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