Stoke City sign Michael Owen: Peter Coates' delight at deal

“Why are you responding to the name Soccerfoot EVA ? I thought you didn't know who he is. Were you just telling lies then ? Do you know who John Barnes is ?”

“Bedt you were a hoot in the playground soccerfoot!”

“finally ender, you got one right !
took long enough”

“There's only one laughing stock on here Socerfoot.”

“Pottedrengen: I hope we don't have to wait until towards the end of the season for the six or seven players to settle in, we need them to improve us now, othewise we could in big trouble. We have won four out of the last twenty five games, so something has to change pretty quickly, would you not agree? I think Pulis and the Coates family have done very good business during the transfer window, but I wouldn't say we have attracted alot of players from the top clubs apart from Adam. Owen yes is a good transfer coup but Ness and Edu were free agents because of Rangers plight, the others have come from America, and two relegated teams, Wolves and Blackburn respectively.”

“Pottedrengen: I hope we don't have to wait until towards the end of the season for the six or seven players to settle in, we need them to improve us now, othewise we could in big trouble. We have won four out of the last twenty five games, so something has to change pretty quickly, would you not agree? I think Pulis and the Coates family have done very good business during the transfer window, but I wouldn't say we have attracted alot of players from the top clubs apart from Adam. Owen yes is a good transfer coup but Ness and Edu were free agents because of Rangers plight, the others have come from America, and two relegated teams, Wolves and Blackburn respectively.”

“you are always good for a laugh potted , I have to admit! keep it up”

“it's just too easy !!”

“Oh I think we can continue to think highly of Tony Pulis, Moody.

He's made a few mistakes, who hasn't, but it's his transfer market nous and negotiating skills that have brought eight new players to Stoke and with them, a huge wave of optimism.

Whatever you think of him, he must have done a real good job at selling the Stoke project to players from some of the top clubs in England, even if they had a bleak personal future in their respective clubs,a s well as some really promising prospects.

The FIRST test for Tony Pulis comes in a fortnight whether he'll be able to utilise the personel at his hands or whether the pessimists among you are headed for more heartache.

They say the optimists have more fun predicting than the pessimists, and I certainly have a big broad smile across my face at the moment - though I'll be realist enough not to expect too much too soon.

The real test doesn't come until towards the end of the season when the six or seven new first teamers have had enough time to settle in. You cant expect that amount of players to work cohesively immediately. You just have to look at the ones who came in last season. Only Crouch did adequately, and even he made enourmous demands on the other players who had to adapt to him and not the other way round (with regards to where we were at the beginning of last season when we were playing very well).

DISCLAIMER for soccereva, if you're still around to read this (I hope youre not): praising Tony Pulis doesnt suggest that he's the world best manager or that he is beyond criticism. It does mean we can and will continue to support everyone who represents Stoke.”

“Let's hope it's a lifetime ban, potter.”