DY C HE IS THE AJ OF THE PREM
Pulis hails Clarets chief as the pound-for-pound king
TONY PULIS says Sean Dyche has done an outstanding job at Burnley ahead of the two best value-for-money Premier League sides meeting today.
Pulis (below) has steered Albion to eighth with a squad assembled for £67million at a cost of £1.5m per point.
While promoted Burnley top the table for points per pounds spent with their £56m squad delivering a point per £1.4m.
Those returns are in huge contrast to the Manchester heavyweights who have spent at least £7.5m for every point gained. Baggies boss Pulis, 59, reflected: “I have great respect for Sean. He has done an outstanding job for what he has been given to work with.
“Of the last 18 clubs to have got relegated there is not many who have bounced straight back.
“I don’t think that achievement has been recognised like it should have been.
“Then to stay in the Premier League and stay around mid-table as Sean has done much of the season, he has done a great job.”
Unfashionable ex-Stoke and Crystal Palace boss Pulis, who has never been relegated before, is no strange to working on a relative shoestring. He doesn’t expect Albion’s approach to change despite Jeremy Peace selling up to Chinese businessman Guochuan Lai last summer.
But he admits delivering value for money is not most people’s yardstick for success in football.
Pulis added: “Your job is determined by results. But the important thing is to have a look at the facts behind those.
“Sean and I are at clubs run in a financially sound manner. I think the club will announce profits this year and I’m sure that Burnley will.
“There are other clubs which have spent fortunes and can afford not to run a profit.” But despite West Brom punching above their weight it has not sparred Pulis from criticism, as his side have not scored in five games.
But Pulis is targeting two more wins to finish with a club record 50 Premier League points.
He added: “We have four games to go and I would love to get those six points.”