Stoke City v Manchester City: Tony Pulis admits FA Cup final defeat is still raw
TONY Pulis goes into today's FA Cup clash between Stoke City and Manchester City admitting he hasn't watched their FA Cup final on DVD.
He says the biggest occasion of his footballing life has been kicked into the dustbin of history and forgotten about.
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Tony Pulis pictured during the 2011 FA Cup final between Stoke City and Manchester City.
He acknowledges that the memory of Stoke's 1-0 defeat at Wembley two years ago is simply too painful to re-live.
"I've not looked back at the game," said Pulis, below. "I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
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"It's a memory that when I hang my boots up in a couple of years time I will maybe look at again.
"It was a very disappointing result, so you just have to move on from that.
"I just move from game to game and every one is treated the same, even the cup final."
But he admits he had to lean on his family to cope with the loss that day in May 2011.
"I had the family around me, so we went out and had something to eat after the game," he added.
"You cannot be walking with your head up your backside with your two daughters around."
He also confesses that he doesn't have a clue where his losers' medal is residing after handing it over to his missus.
"Debs has got it and I don't know what she's done with it, but I'm sure she's put it somewhere," he explained.
"There's no reason, it's just that she looks after everything like that."
He says Stoke face an even better Man City today than they did at Wembley two years ago after seeing them splash further millions on new players and winning the Premier League title last season.
"When we played them in the final, we knew they were an emerging force like the Chelsea of seven or eight years ago.
"They have world-class players and on their day it's difficult to live with them.
"We are under no illusion about how difficult this one will be, but we have played well against them at our place in the past and we need more of the same this time.
"Our fans have also been absolutely tremendous and I know they will react in the right way by making plenty of noise against Man City's 4,500 fans behind the goal."
Pulis was keeping Man City guessing about whether Kenwyne Jones or Peter Crouch would lead his forward line.
And the composition of his back four depends on whether either Andy Wilkinson (back) or Ryan Shotton (groin) could shake off fitness problems ahead of today's lunchtime kick off.
12 Comments
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by Pottersruleok
Saturday, January 26 2013, 9:44PM
“Was our best chance not the goal Shawcross scored ?? If he had bothered to pay the slightest bit of attention and stepped back the same time the defender did instead of day dreaming and ball watching,the ball still would have come to him to score.”
by LiamOSullivan
Saturday, January 26 2013, 8:15PM
“By our own pathetic standards Jerome's aim at the moon has to be regarded as our best chance of the day”
by LiamOSullivan
Saturday, January 26 2013, 7:59PM
“By our own pathetic standards Jerome's aim at the moon has to be regarded as our best chance of the day”
by LiamOSullivan
Saturday, January 26 2013, 7:52PM
“By our own pathetic standards Jerome's aim at the moon has to be regarded as our best chance of the day”
by LiamOSullivan
Saturday, January 26 2013, 7:51PM
“By our own pathetic standards Jerome's aim at the moon has to be regarded as our best chance of the day”
by Davejjohnson
Saturday, January 26 2013, 7:19PM
“I agree with Mel (did I really type that ?). The only thing he neglected to mention is that Nzonzi was class, not sure he made a single pass that failed to find a Stoke player. He would not have looked out of place in the Man City side.”
by Pottersruleok
Saturday, January 26 2013, 6:13PM
“OSullivan, the open goal that had their giant 6'8'' goalie, and 2 defenders in front of it ? That open goal ?
It has been a while since I have seen such pathetic performances from Stoke City players as I saw from Shotton and Etherington today and totally neutral performances from Walters and Jones. At least Etherington and Shotton tried to look bad, Walters and Jones did nothing.
Why can't Whelan put in an amazing performance like that every game instead of once every 14-15 games ?
We basically had Jones alone up against Lescott, Kompany and their 6'8'' goalie. Who is surprised we didn't score ??”
by LiamOSullivan
Saturday, January 26 2013, 5:28PM
“Yes but Jerome instead gave us the predictable high ball in front of an open goal,stoned...”
by stonemel
Saturday, January 26 2013, 3:12PM
“Stoke gave their all today against a team full of excellent players especially their attacking players. We had a few half chances created through our graft but overall their can be no complaints when that goal finally arrived.
How much did we give away when we purchased Kightly. He does not look a Premiership player to me. Pennant is a better player but obviously more trouble.It is noticeable that City exploited our weaknesses in the full back areas. Jerome once again showed how his pace through the channels offers us something more than the predictable high ball into the box.
We need two full backs and better options in the wide positions before next Thursday. We could have got Zaha a eighteen months ago for what we paid for Kightly and Adomah at Bristol City is an option.”
by Cliffy
Saturday, January 26 2013, 2:53PM
“YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Stoke got exactly what they deserved, defending with SIX (6) across the back, at home, spoiling tactics again by the totally inept Pulis.
Would be nice to hear Pulis' comments about the tackle by Whelan, the FA MUST look at that.”