PULIS WILL GET A SALVAGE JOB — HE’S No 1 AT THAT
THERE is no middle ground with Tony Pulis. Depending on which side of the debate you stand, you’ll either dislike him or love him. It is that simple.
What isn’t up for debate is the way I think about him. I’m firmly in the latter category and can’t speak highly enough of how he treated me and my family when he brought me to Stoke. It goes without saying I was disappointed to see him sacked by West Brom this week.
Critics are saying it will be difficult for him to work again, that his methods are outdated, but you know he will get another job.
The next team that sacks a manager, and it is getting close to that time where you need to keep someone up, I don’t think there is anyone better.
It gets said he won’t play expansive football but the players he’s worked with as manager have, in general, been below the level of top- six sides. First and foremost Tony wants his teams to be organised because without organisation in the Premier League you get picked off.
Tony is one of the best at organising a team, making them tough to beat. His philosophy was to have seven or eight players who were very, very disciplined and then two or three who could be a little bit more creative and try to unlock defences.
When you play up front for him on your own you know it is going to be tough because the team behind you is more defensive-minded. You maybe don’t get the service you like. Training isn’t about fun for him. He doesn’t care if you haven’t got a smile on your face.
There is a lot of shape and sometimes the players want to do more but he won’t let them because they have to be fresh for the weekend. That is his philosophy and it is what he has always done. He’s been successful with it. The work he did at Stoke, Crystal Palace and West Brom speaks for itself.
Big teams don’t want to come to the clubs he is managing because they know they will be in for a demanding game every single time. If I was chairman, I wouldn’t think twice about hiring him. I don’t think he gets the respect he deserves. I really don’t.