Stoke City: Ryan Shawcross defends underfire Tony Pulis
STOKE City captain Ryan Shawcross has come out fighting for his under-fire manager Tony Pulis.
The Potters boss is facing increasing criticism from fans for the lack of entertainment on show from his team, particularly after Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to West Ham left them with just one win from their last nine league games.
-
Keeping the faith: Tony Pulis with Ryan Shawcross.
But Shawcross says criticism of Pulis is unfair and insists the players have to take responsibility for their poor form.
Launching a staunch defence of his boss, Shawcross said: "The manager puts the team out there to win and I thought he put out a very attacking team on Saturday, but we didn't perform.
Call WHITEGATES Today 01782 209935 ..Limited offer. Available only up on production of voucher. Sell your home for £399 plus vat.* #EPC is required to market your home not included in offer.
Terms: *Upfront payment, non-refundable in the event of property remaining unsold, being withdrawn from the market or being sold by another agent, yourself or by any other means.#EPC £62.50 plus vat.
Contact: 01782 209 935
Valid until: Thursday, July 04 2013
"It is definitely on the players' heads."
And Shawcross, who was first brought to Stoke by Pulis in August 2007, said the players remained united behind the manager.
He added: "There's never been any doubt about that. He has been back at Stoke for seven years now and has done fantastically for the club; people soon forget how well he has done.
"He has done great for us and I am one of the players who thinks he is a top manager.
"He will get us out of this run and we will soon be on a winning run again."
However, Shawcross says he can understand why the team was booed off at half-time and full-time of the West Ham defeat after City created very little in front of goal.
He said: "It's not great when your fans boo, but it's something that you come to expect if you don't put a performance in which deserves a cheer. It is something we'll accept and move on.
"The manager has been great for this club and we have to fully back him. He will pick a team on Sunday to win and, if we do win at Newcastle, then everyone will forget about last weekend."
Stoke head to Newcastle hoping to improve on a run of just one win in their last 23 away games in the Premier League.
Alan Pardew's side will have less preparation time for the game because they play Anzhi Makhachkala in the Europa League in Moscow tonight.
Nonetheless, Shawcross says City are still expecting a difficult game against a Newcastle side who will go level on points with 11th-placed Stoke with a win at St James' Park.
He added: "It will be a tough test. They have a European game on Thursday which could take its toll, so hopefully they will be a bit tired. But they have a lot of great players.
"We go there hoping for three points. It is a difficult place to go, but we have shown in the past we can go there and win."
How can Stoke City snap out of their current poor run? Have your say on life at the Britannia Stadium by logging on to www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk
20 Comments
View all
by hemmo2008
Friday, March 08 2013, 8:20AM
“cant we have councillor pevez running stoke f c then pulis running stoke council they both dont know what they doing but pevez has plenty of money to burn so he might buy a couple of forwards as for pulis i dont know what he would be able to do in the council any suggestions”
by Stars-stripes
Thursday, March 07 2013, 7:08PM
“Phew just been on the bearpit Britania. Any one wanting to read what stoke fans are saying should get on it”
by LiamOSullivan
Thursday, March 07 2013, 5:52PM
“He did play (albeit in the junior teams) under Fergie and Jimmy Ryan, the two top manager/coaches ... Pulis does select the team and the tactics, but Daz, do I really have to say it, he doesn't move the players' legs...”
by DC-27
Thursday, March 07 2013, 5:05PM
“Pulis' post match comment of "i thought we huffed and puffed but didnt get enough quality into the box" tells you all about the tactics or lack of. .......dont see anything in there about greater posession, being more patient on the ball or being braver on the ball, just that we didnt kick it high enough or far enough, often enough - and the long throws dont reach now Rory's gone.”
by Juzzah
Thursday, March 07 2013, 4:54PM
“'I am one of the players who thinks he is a top manager' yeah but who else have you played under Ryan??? This stinks of a player being told by the hierarchy to go and make a statement to the press in support of your manager!!!”
by Daz_Stoke
Thursday, March 07 2013, 4:08PM
“Oh come on Liam,Stoke have 3 methods of getting the ball upfield.
1 A long kick from Bego to the head of Crouch
2 Bego rolls the ball to Wilson on the left who then cuts in onto his right foot and hits a long diagonal ball to Crouch on the right side of the 18yrd box
3 Bego rolls the ball to Shawcross on the right who then hits a long diagonal ball to Crouch on the left side of the 18yrd box.
Are you seriously saying Pulis isn't behind these tactics ? I use the term tactic in the broadest sense of the meaning :)”
by Pottersruleok
Thursday, March 07 2013, 3:40PM
“So according to you OSullivan, being one of those who worships or defends Pulis, you're telling us that Pulis really has absolutely nothing to do with how his players play and it's all on them and they do it on their own accord? So what exactly has Pulis done the last 5 seasons to merit the praise he gets from some? On the other hand, what kind of manager is Pulis then if he can't even get his star players to do what they are told ? Is it Shawcross' and Wilson's fault, 2 defenders mind you, that we are incapable of any distribution through midfield to our strikers and to score goals ?”
by LiamOSullivan
Thursday, March 07 2013, 3:20PM
“Most Stoke players are perfectly capable of playing ball on the ground and they do it every game under Tony Pulis, this includes Huth. Shotton, and even Wilko. It's the likes of Ryan Shawcross and Marc Wilson who resort to hoofball more than anyone. So why would Pulis tell Huth he can play football and Shawy that he can only play hoofball? The answer is he doesn't, the answer cuts closer to the bone, to the individual player who is responsible for his own actions. Shawcross has proven himself in defensive terms (to a degree), but until he allows himself to play himself (and the team) out of trouble, then he and the team isn't going to progress.”
by Holeinhole
Thursday, March 07 2013, 2:58PM
“Ryan tell Tony to stop playing the long ball and start playing to win the rest of this season that way fans will come back on the side of your Boss”
by jpj_58
Thursday, March 07 2013, 2:40PM
“It may be the best squad Stoke have had in their past 5 years
in the Premier
but it's not the best squad Stoke City ever had.
You only have to read some of the recent Postings by
selected Stoke fans/players over the years
Only one or two of Pulis's squad get into their selections.
I assume that's what Peter Coates meant, otherwise his memory is going
along with his judgment/support of Pulis.”