Stoke City: Playing game the Begovic way could ease Torres' Chelsea blues
TONY Pulis says Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic should be an inspiration to Chelsea's mis-firing £50m striker Fernando Torres.
The City boss believes goalkeepers and forwards are peas from the same pod when it comes to losing their form and confidence.
And Begovic, unlike Torres, has quickly put a sticky patch behind him to recover his best form between the sticks for Stoke.
Speaking ahead of today's clash against Torres and Chelsea at a sell-out Britannia Stadium (3pm), Pulis said: "I think forwards and goalkeepers are either on top of their game or lose their form completely.
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"I think it's because they are at the sharp end of the pitch.
"We saw Robert Green at the World Cup. It's taken a long time for him to recover from a poor tournament, but now he's probably playing the best football of his career.
"Torres has so much quality he will definitely come back, we just hope it's not against us.
"As long as players like him and Kenwyne Jones are working hard in training, you know they will be up and running soon.
"It's similar with Begovic. He's made mistakes, but in the last couple of games he's been tremendous again. You just have to have confidence in them."
Pulis believes the current campaign stands on a knife-edge between a good season – and an historic season.
"It's important we do our best to make this a special season for this club," he said.
"It's finely balanced at the moment. We still have to get over the line in respect of Premier League safety.
"But if we can, and win that FA Cup semi-final, it would be a remarkable success for us."
CITY legend Terry Conroy has left the University Hospital of North Staffordshire to recuperat e at home following surgery for a abdominal aortic aneurysm.
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Comments
by barry, cheshire
Monday, April 04 2011, 10:43AM
“Now that Stoke have played Chelsea, Torres's real problem can be revealed.
He hasn't had a decent game since he stopped dying his hair!!
Go back to blonde, become a distinctive target again and voila!!”
by Bob, Boslem
Sunday, April 03 2011, 3:05PM
“Steady Now Gary, dont get beating the old chest just yet, lets see Bolton off first!
Seems the Cup is full of a "pick me up" potion to the players.”
by gary, basford
Sunday, April 03 2011, 11:40AM
“Since the west ham cup game it seem's tony is letting them play football and what a difference,even jone's is doing more if we start next season the way we are playing now and bring a couple new players in,it could be europe here we come”
by Mark, Porthill
Saturday, April 02 2011, 8:03PM
“£50m to warm the bench?
What a snip then for Johnny Walters at less that £3m! Kenwyne also put in a shift today, not to mention many,many more unsung heroes.
My only disappointment is that it seemed two points lost rather than one very important one gained.
Stoke were immense today and even Paul Merson said after the game that Stoke played more like champions than Chelski.
For those doubters (who seem to be getting lesser by the weeks) watch us on Football First tonight before you make comment.
Another proud day to be a Stokie!”