Stoke City: Tony Pulis charts course for European return
TONY Pulis says Stoke City should be aiming for another crack at the Europa League after finishing the first half of their 2012/13 Premier League campaign in eighth place.
The Potters would need an even better second half to the season to qualify for Europe via their league position – despite a highly-respectable 28 points after 19 fixtures.
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Tony Pulis says Stoke City should be aiming for Europe this season.
But a nine-match unbeaten run going into tomorrow's visit of Southampton has left Stoke as a viable outside bet for a fifth-placed finish, while the FA Cup also offers them a possible chance to repeat last season's Europa League exploits.
Pulis certainly retains fond memories of a 2011/12 continental campaign that totalled a dozen matches in such far-flung countries as Croatia, Switzerland, Ukraine, Israel and Turkey before eventual elimination in Spain against Valencia last February.
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"It's something we should aim for," Pulis acknowledged, "and I'm sure players and fans alike would relish the challenge if we ever got there again.
"That's not to overlook how tough it was with the number and timing of the games and how that affected our league form," he added cautiously.
"It takes a lot to get used to games coming thick and fast on a Thursday and then a Sunday, not to mention the fact they kindly gave us away games in the league after virtually every away game in Europe – and they were long trips.
"But having the odds against us is what gets us going as a club, and that includes our fans."
But Pulis warned supporters against getting ahead of themselves as Stoke limber up for tomorrow's 3pm clash with a Southampton side desperate for points and seeking a second away win of the season.
It follows Stoke's wonderful 3-1 Boxing Day victory over Liverpool, but Pulis warned: "In many respects the Southampton game will be the toughest of the two because of the raised expectations.
"Southampton are giving it a good go and they will be a big challenge for us, especially if we are not up for the game.
"The other night was tremendous for everyone, and the players deserved their praise for the wonderful effort they put in, especially after losing a goal so early in the match.
"But that is gone and now we have to raise ourselves for another challenge. That is why we need our fans to be with us once more and just as noisy as the other night."
Pulis's concern over the Southampton fixture is further fuelled by an enforced reshuffle in defence because of one-match bans for skipper Ryan Shawcross, pictured left, and full-back Geoff Cameron following their fifth bookings of the season against Liverpool.
Matthew Upson is on standby for his first league appearance of the season in place of Shawcross at centre-half, while Ryan Shotton is the obvious stand-in for Cameron.
Comments
by Stars-stripes
Sunday, December 30 2012, 12:59PM
“Man of the match: Jonathan Walters was everywhere and led the line superbly. Sky sports”
by Stars-stripes
Sunday, December 30 2012, 12:57PM
“Man of the match: Jonathan Walters was everywhere and led the line superbly. Sky sports”
by dougalcross
Saturday, December 29 2012, 9:34PM
“Wheatear obviously has crystal balls at his disposal. Wilko scored as Wheatear thought he may.
Pity he was facing the wrong way. But 7 goals in 4 games promises a brighter future.”
by summertime
Saturday, December 29 2012, 8:05PM
“jjjjohnson, you obviously failed comprehension in school ? The "they" I am referring to are obviously the ones who put the red arrows on my post !But, since they all agree with me, then yes of course they are Stoke supporters”
by Davejjohnson
Saturday, December 29 2012, 7:16PM
“Who are "they" then ? Do you mean Stoke supporters ?”
by summertime
Saturday, December 29 2012, 2:00PM
“I see from the amount of red arrows that they all agree with me that winning only 6 games out of 19 is not manager of the year worthy.”
by Stars-stripes
Saturday, December 29 2012, 9:00AM
“Very exciting time to be a stoke fan”
by wheatear
Saturday, December 29 2012, 7:33AM
“What an exciting time to be a Stoke fan - looking for ten games unbeaten against a side historically we would always have struggled against and without taking anything for granted, we will today be the favourites and have the chance to cement our top half position.
The Prem is and has been for some time, three leagues in one. This season we will hopefully make the break through from a surviving club to be a respectable mid table club. In reality for me it will be just like winning promotion again and I see our position akin to being in the top two. That is how we should be celebrating and hopefully the crowd will show their teeth again today as we did against Liverpool. The noise was immense again at times and as others have stated, the high it generated in me has not disapaited in any way!
Lets not forget, today is only the second time that we have played as many at home as we have away and can be truly judged as to our performance so far.
Here's hoping for a bucket full of grit and determination after all our confidence must be sky high and who knows Wilko just might score - now that would bring the roof down!!”
by summertime
Friday, December 28 2012, 9:21PM
“speil, you have to at least win more than 2 games a month to be considered Mgr of the Month. That counts Pulis out im afraid !But there is still 1 more chance tomorrow !
hmm, 6 wins out of a possible 19, wow, that is manager of the year material there isn't it ?”
by Potterspeil
Friday, December 28 2012, 7:52PM
“Good to see our manager making casual reference to a possible return to Europe again.
Coming into the Christmas sequence of fixtures i.e. Spurs,Liverpool,Soton and Man city, you would gladly have taken bans for Shawcross and Cameron for the home game against Saints rather than any of the other fixtures given a choice?
Every game at every level is a potential banana skin, but with confidence sky high and a stadium full of rip-roaring Stokies, I know which dressing room and dug out I would prefer to be in. Will take a repeat of the Liverpool scoreline, then wait to see if they dare give Pulis Manager of the month over Fergie!”