Stoke City: Pulis praying Stoke put on their Sunday best
H OW worried is Tony Pulis by Stoke's Premier League form going into tomorrow's clash at home to Swansea City?
Leaving nine senior players back in England this week should answer that one pretty quickly.
However much he wanted to upset the odds and beat Valencia, that was nothing compared to trying to gather three points tomorrow after four successive league defeats.
All nine players left behind – skipper Ryan Shawcross, Peter Crouch and Jon Walters among them – are expected to start against the Swans after putting their feet up and missing the rigours of another long flight abroad.
No such luxuries for Pulis himself, however, and he admits there is a physical and mental toll to pay after rolling from one fixture into another during so many three-game weeks this season.
"It's draining for me, but I've got to get myself ready and get myself going. Occasions like this you live for," he said.
"But now we've got to concentrate on getting some points in the league. We've got enough games to do that and I'm hoping and praying we do that on Sunday.
"The cup has been a great adventure, but we have to stay in the Premier League.
"We need our supporters now to galvanise the team and really pull us together.
"We've played 42 games already and that is an enormous amount of games for a club inexperienced in European competition.
"We've got to get our feet firmly on the ground and get those 10 points we need to stay in the Premier.
"We've worked hard and need the points now – and we deserve them."
But Pulis does fear some supporters – probably too many – are falling into a trap of taking things for granted.
"A few out there need pinching and reminding how quickly we have moved forward," he added.
"We are talking about two games against Valencia and then Liverpool in the quarters-finals of the FA Cup… they are fantastic times. Let's enjoy them."
Pulis surveyed Stoke's Europa League campaign with evident joy after scanning a thoroughly admirable set of results since they first kicked-off in the competition against Hajduk Split on July 28.
"We were rank favourites to get knocked out against Split in the first game," he recalled, "then we were in the 'group of death' with Besiktas and Kiev and nobody gave us a chance.
"Then we have pushed Valencia close in two games, but have been just a little bit short in the final third and a bit unlucky.
"It's very taxing on the players, but they have really enjoyed it."
Pulis himself, notwithstanding the rigours of travelling and preparing for games on top of one another, insists he has savoured and benefited from the Europa League experience.
"It's been interesting pitting your wits against good sides," he said.
"Their rotation is very good because they are great players. They can move the ball in tight spaces and have the ability to get out of those areas.
"We have tried to compete with them in areas they don't like."
And after winning seven, drawing two and losing just three of their 12 Europa League games this season, you have to say it was a job pretty well done.
Meanwhile, Pulis is trying to keep everyone guessing over whether Thomas Sorensen or Asmir Begovic will start in goal against Swansea tomorrow.
Sorensen had been his Premier League keeper and Begovic his cup keeper over the last three months.
But Sorensen was suddenly drafted in for Thursday's Europa League line-up in Valencia to leave Begovic, pictured left, it would seem, in pole position to start tomorrow.
But Pulis, typically, was trying to send out a few smoke signals in various directions by stating: "I just wanted to give Thomas a game and I thought he did smashing."
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by DJ_Stoke
Monday, February 27 2012, 2:00AM
“Oh, before I forget, not like you will ever read this, but I want to thank you Tony Pulis for all you have done for this club, my father reckons he has sold his soul praying for these days we have now. We really are living the dream now, no matter what the detractors might think. SCFC OK!”
by DJ_Stoke
Monday, February 27 2012, 1:42AM
“You just can't let it go can you soccerfoot?
So now you are calling Dave a Fair Weather fan? a man who I have no doubt was at the match today singing his heart out. All he has pointed out is that the glamour has worn off a bit for some of the fans which I agree with actually. And with what mountainous accomplisments and progress we have achieved in such a short time frame, I am actually not surprised that the expectations of some are so high now. I guess the lowpoints stand out for some a bit more now that we have had a taste of Wembley and Europe.”
by Davejjohnson
Sunday, February 26 2012, 10:03PM
“You do talk some rubbish Soccerfoot. Let's face it, when Stoke went up we all thought it would be for one season and we had to make the most of it but TP has turned us into an established Premiership team. Naturally there is no novelty in just being in the Premiership any more and expectations are now much greater and we expect to win certain games. If we don't win those games it's natural that the mood of the crowd is different than when we never expected to beat anybody. And what would you know about cheering and singing, all you do is moan. You have no idea or knowledge about what the mood at the ground is as you are never there so why bother trying to comment on it.”
by Stoke_Oracle
Sunday, February 26 2012, 9:03PM
“Phew.....Good win. Well organised and finally made the most of corners and free kicks. Still nothing from open play which is still concerning but I suppose that's been too critical.
Noticed in an article that Pulis is now playing hell about the fans reaction being critical about him leaving nine players at home for the Valencia match.
Notice he's only commenting now after the winning result!
He's done nothing different and kept the same team that hasn't performed for the past 5 or 6 games which is either complete faith in the players or luck....But that could have gone very wrong.
It would have been the fans playing hell with him if we'd have lost this one. Well done TP, living to manage another day!!
He would've been fearing for his job if result had gone the other way. Still need another 6 points please...”
by 57OKE
Sunday, February 26 2012, 8:27PM
“So alan10one is happy! Do we get a comment from SF along similar lines....or does some cat in South Carolina get a bit of a kicking when it don't know why?”
by alan10one
Sunday, February 26 2012, 5:20PM
“What a pleasure watching a well organised and at times Attacking Stoke City. It makes a big difference and today it really made a difference and 3 points on top. Better, much better.”
by soccerfoot11
Sunday, February 26 2012, 1:37PM
“johsnon, whats this ??????? yo uare saying that the PAYING supporters such as yourself are not as supportive, happy, into the Potters as you used to be because the 'newness" of the Premier league has worn off ?? After those comments, I think its time that the fair weather fans such as yourself are replaced by those who want to go and yell and cheer and sing regardless of how long we've been in the Prem !!”
by Davejjohnson
Sunday, February 26 2012, 12:44PM
“You may have noticed Soccerfoot that I have ceased the name calling and I just post my comments. Carry on with it if you want to but I can't be bothered. If you take in my comment it makes perfect sense, TP is talking about getting behind the team in the way that we used to at the Britt with the noise and the atmosphere because it's not what it was. The fact is the novelty of being in the Prem has worn off a bit so the atmosphere is not what it was for the games against the lesser sides. So if you would care to point out where in my post it says you can't have an opinion I'll happily make an apology. You seem to think that just because you call yourself a supporter then that actually makes you one but I don't think many of us see it that way. Perhaps we want to see some evidence of support instead of your daily moaning.”
by DJ_Stoke
Saturday, February 25 2012, 8:04PM
“Why must you always resort to name calling and such aggressive behavior everytime you are confronted with a question?
I live under a rock, dave is a clown -- why? Because we look at the club in a more positive balanced view than you?”
by soccerfoot11
Saturday, February 25 2012, 6:49PM
“oh damn, the usual mindless drivel from the head clown himself , johnson !! I'll make sure to send out an email to the thousands upon thousands upon thousands of Stoke fans out there that wont make the game tomorrow , that the head moron says to keep their opinions about their favorite team to themselves because they didnt "pay" to see the game"
your mindless, childlike posts never cease to amaze me johnson !”