Stoke City v West Brom: Tony Pulis says losing hurts
TONY Pulis confesses he's murder to be around for two days after a Stoke City defeat.
So his poor wife must be spending a lot of time in the potting shed at the bottom of the garden these days after three successive defeats heading into tomorrow's clash against West Brom.
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LIFE GOES ON: Stoke manager Tony Pulis says there are worse things in life than losing a football match.
But Pulis says his family and his upbringing stop him getting too depressed after a loss.
"There are a lot of things in life that are 10 times worse than a bad game of football," he We are says, "but if we do lose, for 48 hours after I'm a nightmare. It does hurt, but you have to pick yourself up because the players need you."
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Pulis says he has no choice but to take any criticism on the chin – especially in the modern age of facebooking, tweeting and messaging – as many fans express their anger at results and performances.
"You know you're going to get it in the ear from a few angles," he acknowledges, "because there's a massive social network out there now.
"It's part and parcel of this world and a big part of professional sport that you have to deal with now.
"I understand the disappointment of a section of supporters, but I also understand there is a section out there who understands where we have come from.
"You swim with the tide when things are going well, and when it's not going so well and the tide turns, you have to swim against it. The important thing is to keep swimming."
He is but one manager, Pulis says, currently feeling the heat as fans everywhere quickly voice their dissatisfaction.
"Up and down the country," he continued, "you're either going to be flavour of the month or not because it's a results business.
"I understand that. The best thing we can do is what we did last Sunday and put in a performance like that... but win a few games as well."
Just one victory in 10 league outings since that memorable triumph over Liverpool on Boxing Day has certainly left many looking over their shoulder.
The gap between Stoke and the relegation zone that night was 13 points after just 19 games, but today it is nine after 29... and closing inch by inch.
"We are 11th at the moment," Pulis added, "and so ask me at the end of the season and I will say what the season has been all about.
"To ask me during a bad run of results, you can be a bit negative about it."
He swiftly defended his team's much-maligned style, too, after possibly taking the view that it was outsiders moaning during the good times, but now many of his own fans during the not so good.
"When we went 10 games unbeaten," he argued, "we played exactly the same as we are now and people were jumping about.
"I haven't changed anything from the run of 10 undefeated to now. Everything in training is the same.
"We've been on a bad run but, if we can get back to what we were doing then we can end up having a great end of the season. That's the way you've got to think."
TONY Pulis nearly fell off his chair when one brave hack at his weekly press conference asked him how he thought the Wales v England rugby international would finish tomorrow evening.
"You are joking, aren't you?" was his retort. "I don't know why England are turning up.
"Why do I think that? Because I'm Welsh! But seriously, I just think home advantage will count."
There may be no prouder Welshman around, but it's fair to assume the home win that matters most to him tomorrow will be some 150 miles north east of the Millennium Stadium.
13 Comments
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by LiamOSullivan
Sunday, March 17 2013, 9:24PM
“Dont be stupid, nooneshome, that sentence came after intense provocation from myvince. He had it coming.”
by NOONESHOME
Sunday, March 17 2013, 9:18PM
“MyVince
Have to agree with Pottedrengen, as we have said before, it should be about the content of the post rather than the spelling, or grammar. Saying that Liam does not help himself putting posts with shut your gob as the content. Come on Liam, you are better than that mate.”
by Pottedrengen
Saturday, March 16 2013, 10:20AM
“You're nothing but a bully, MyVince.
Harping on about some people's difficulties in spelling and so on really leaves you in very poor light.
Just like old school bullies - and you don't actually have anything constructive to say on your own part.”
by MyVince
Friday, March 15 2013, 11:02PM
“MyVice ?
It appears your reading is on a par with your writing.
Which is also on a par with your misguided opinions on here.”
by LiamOSullivan
Friday, March 15 2013, 5:18PM
“MyVice why dont you just shut your gob.”
by NOONESHOME
Friday, March 15 2013, 3:36PM
“"i am a nightmare when we lose". You clown Pulis,What do you think it has been like for the Stokies who live and breath the team they have followed all their lives, having to watch the rubbish you turn out week after week.Pulis wants the same performance as last week,Christ almighty, we lost again you idiot, We had two attempts at goal,one being a penalty.Why would we want a repeat of that. Pulis is so dedicated to Stoke he cannot even live in the area on a permanent basis,and as for his Steak and chips comment today,well if that does not take the biscuit. This delude fool must actually believe he has been serving us top draw football. I think the insanity comment earlier was probably correct. Please,please,please Pulis, come end of season just go, anywhere you wish, but just go.”
by MyVince
Friday, March 15 2013, 2:27PM
“"Lying don't make your comments look better, roob57."
What a pathetic attempt at an English sentence OSullivan -
why not try :
"Lying does not make your comments look any better, roob57."
But what can you expect from someone who still sees Pulis
as a Top Coach, along with 2 or 3 others on this Forum.
As for the headline :
'Tony Pulis says losing hurts',
well he must have been in great pain for weeks now.”
by Pottersruleok
Friday, March 15 2013, 2:17PM
“someone posted a quote on here a few weeks back by Albert Einstein that read something like "Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity" as Pulis has stated in this article and proven in numerous games of the last 3 seasons that he must be insane. Just about every manager in the Prem is trying to adjust their style of play, especially those in the lower 16 teams and regardless of levels of success they are all sticking to it. However, Pulis just plods along doing the same old thing, just plugging in new , more expensive players each season and totally scared stiff to try anything different because it might not work apparently and it's just better to survive to do it all again next season.”
by LiamOSullivan
Friday, March 15 2013, 1:16PM
“Lying don't make your comments look better, roob57.”
by Stoke_Oracle
Friday, March 15 2013, 12:47PM
“When we went 10 games unbeaten," he argued, "we played exactly the same as we are now and people were jumping about."I haven't changed anything from the run of 10 undefeated to now. Everything in training is the same!!!!
Good grief Tony... Haven't you sussed it out by now??? Yes it worked for a while, but you have to develop...If you play the same way over and over and over and over and over again with Plan A ( hoof it down the middle to the tall guy up front with no support and no wing attack) and not even a hint of Plan B apart from panic and throw all subs on with 15 mins to go...Once teams suss you out it's a doddle to defend against.
SURELY YOU CAN SEE THAT??? 20,000 fans can see it, why can't you? What the heck are they paying you for?”