Stoke City: Tonge central to tale of two Citys' transfers

MICHAEL Tonge was enjoying a momentous transfer deadline day even before he got an 11th-hour call to sign for Stoke City.

The 25-year-old Mancunian is a Manchester City fan, so he was following Sky Sports with mouth agape as he took in news of a Middle East takeover and the £32.5m British record signing of Brazilian star Robinho.

In the circumstances, he wasn't offended his own £2m switch from Sheffield United made only a footnote in the nationals below acres of coverage of 'Middle Eastlands'.

Not that Tonge had much time to read the papers when we caught up after training on Tuesday.

The midfielder signed for Stoke at 10 to midnight on Monday, finally got back to bed at 3am, and then arrived in the Potteries bleary eyed, but eager for his first session with his new team.

"Manchester City do seem to be splashing the cash a bit," he said. "I was watching it on TV and they were making bids for all sorts of people.

"I'm sure there will be a few more in January, but facing Robinho will be interesting.

"They've got some good players and will have a real good chance, especially in a couple of seasons. Hopefully they will have a bad day when we play them."

Manchester City visit the Britannia in six weeks, by which time Tonge should be an established member of the Stoke team.

He may worship under a Blue Moon, but was much more interested in talking about Stoke and playing his part in making the first season back in the top flight a success.

Stoke's chances have been improved by their £6m treble capture of Tonge, Danny Higginbotham and Tom Soares, even if they did miss out on more high-profile targets Joe Ledley and Jermaine Pennant.

Tonge can play in the left-wing role Tony Pulis had earmarked for Ledley, but will also be a strong challenger for one of the central midfield positions.

He said: "In the last two seasons I have been predominately a central midfield player. I played out on the left earlier in my career, but haven't done that for the past few seasons so I would say I prefer it in the centre."

However, Tonge also reckons the best season of his career so far came six years ago when he initially established himself the Sheffield United team.

Then Blades boss Neil Warnock moved him to the left because he didn't have many other options, and Tonge responded in some style.

He was an important player in the Blades side which reached the Championship play-off final and FA Cup semis, and particularly shone in the League Cup semis against Liverpool.

"We were on a roll that season," he added. "Everything we did seemed to go right, we were winning games in the last minute and to get to two semi-finals was fantastic.

"It was probably my best season so far, which is strange really because it was also my first major season. Hopefully I can recreate that at Stoke."

Those performances had Tonge linked with a move to Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, but he stayed with Sheffield United and instead helped them into the top flight two years ago.

That completed quite a comeback for a player who, when he was released by Manchester United at 16, seriously considered giving up trying to be a professional footballer.

His hobby was BMX biking, but his options were going back to college or leaving home to sign a youth deal with the Blades.

He said: "Being a professional footballer seemed so far away. I was at home and moving away seemed such a big thing.

"I was only 16 and it was my mum and dad who encouraged me to go over and give it a go. I've never looked back since.

"Once I got over to Sheffield I stayed with a family. They made me feel really welcome, and that made a massive difference."

Having come through the youth ranks, Tonge was a favourite with United's fans who he served for more than 300 games.

Reports from the Steel City suggest Tonge looked particularly at home in the Premier League, where his ability on the ball helped him adapt.

He could have still been there now with United were it not for West Ham's amazing last-day escape as they won at Old Trafford and the Blades' lost at home to Wigan.

If Tonge was ill-disposed to Manchester United when they released him, imagine his feelings when they managed to lose to West Ham to send the Blades down.

Commendably, he doesn't appear bitter, neither blaming United nor dwelling on the controversial decision not to dock West Ham points for the Carlos Tevez affair.

He said: "For people looking from the outside, we did look as though we would be safe. But I don't think we actually let ourselves down. It was more that West Ham put in an unbelievable finish to the season. No one expected West Ham to win at Arsenal and then go to Manchester United and win.

"Had you put money on one team to beat West Ham on the last day it would have been Manchester United, but it just didn't happen. I think that was fate."

However, Tonge's 23 Premier League starts that season gave him a taste for more ... and an idea of what is needed for Stoke to avoid the Blades' fate and stay up for longer than a season.

He said: "I think we have a good chance. We could have started the season unbeaten and still had the same three points, so picking up those wins is massive.

"You have to accept that sometimes the team you are against is a good force and you can't win every game.

"But you have to make sure that, when you come up against a team in and around you, you make sure you win your own mini-league.

"That's what we have been looking to do, but we have already beaten a big team in Aston Villa.

"It will be a tough season, but I think we can stay up."