Denis' take on the Cup tie

[Malcolm Clarke]

Denis Smith and I have one thing in common - we both have Stoke as our first team and York City as our 2nd (whenever Stoke aren't playing and York are, I'm usually there). This is Denis' take on the cup tie from the York local paper


Stoking an upset
By Dave Flett
FORMER York City manager Denis Smith believes the Minstermen can cause an FA Cup shock against his beloved Stoke City.
City will travel to the Britannia Stadium to take on Tony Pulis’ Premier League outfit in an eagerly-anticipated third round tie on January 2.
And, while Potteries-born Smith believes his home-town club should progress to the last 32, he adds that Martin Foyle’s non-League hopefuls can dream of success, especially if Pulis persists with his policy of fielding weakened teams.
Smith, a Stoke legend who was a key member of their 1972 League Cup-winning team, said: “Their home record is superb, even in the Premier League, so it’s a difficult place to go. It will also be cold, wet and miserable but York are having a great run and have nothing to lose so, if they have a go, then why not?
“It will be 11 against 11 on the day and I used to tell my smaller teams that there’s always one Cup upset in the third round. Stoke also tend not to put out their strongest team for Cup games and I don’t like that.
“If you look at it coldly, then the Premier League has to take priority because you lose so much money if you go down to the Championship but I don’t see why that should detract from both Cup competitions. The players are fit enough to play in all the games and I thought the team Arsenal put out in the Carling Cup quarter-finals this week was disrespectful to the competition.
“The FA Cup is all about dreams and you shouldn’t be in if you don’t want to dream. Players and fans certainly dream and directors pray for a good Cup run.
“I know how much a Cup run means to a club the size of York because I think we built half a stadium with the money from our games against Arsenal and Liverpool in the 1980s.”
As a staunch Stoke supporter with an understandable love for the Minstermen, Smith’s ideal outcome is a draw on January 2 and then an away victory in a Bootham Crescent replay, meaning his old club make as much cash as possible.
His son and grandchildren, though, will be rooting for the underdogs.
“They still live in York and watch the team a lot,” Smith explained.
“We went to Wembley together to the FA Trophy final and I hope that we will all be there for this game. Anybody who knows me from my time at York will know I love the club to death but I’ll always be a Stoke fan. That will never change.
“You should always support your local team although I won’t stop trying to persuade my grandsons to switch to Stoke.”
As former Port Vale players, who both once found the net in an unforgettable 3-1 FA Cup victory over cross-city rivals Stoke in 1992, Foyle and his assistant Andy Porter’s presence in the visitors’ dugout will not go unnoticed by the Britannia Stadium faithful.
Smith added: “The clubs haven’t played at the same level many times, but the rivalry was at its strongest when Martin and Andy played for Port Vale in the 1990s. I run a Stoke City old boys association now and one of the former players admitted he was a Port Vale fan at a recent event and got booed so it’s still there but it’s friendly banter really, nothing like when I was Bristol City manager and you played Bristol Rovers.”
Despite his Stoke allegiance Smith is full of respect for the former Valiant pair’s work at his old club, saying: “They are good lads who I have a lot of time for.
“I’m delighted that the Trophy run enabled them to spend some money creating their own team and they are doing really well in a tough league. I’ve followed Martin’s career and I thought he did all right at Port Vale as well, but it’s a difficult job lower down the leagues.
“People don’t realise that. They think it’s hard at the top but it’s far easier when you have the money and resources.”
Having left his last managerial post – at Wrexham – almost three years ago – Smith, now 62, admits he is now unlikely to take charge of another club.
He currently combines radio work as a summariser at Oxford United games with his responsibilities as a Premier League delegate and as a member of the FA’s disciplinary and work permit department.
The man who broke records as boss of the Minstermen’s all-conquering 1983/4 team said: “I’m having such a good time and I don’t know whether I could fit managing in again. Now we’re back in Stoke, my wife has also told me she doesn’t want to move any more either.”

[onlyonesirstan]

If Pulis puts out a weakened team, then we could be in trouble. There are two ways to look at it though. Yes we play Fulham on the following tuesday, so he may want to keep his stronger team for that game.

But, if we go out of the cup, then we will have two free saturdays'. That can also be looked at in two ways. It gives the players a chance to rest, but also may be a hinderance in not playing for two weeks.

At this moment in time I haven't a clue which is the best way forward for the York game. I suppose in all honesty, we ain't going to win the cup, but a trip to wembley would be nice.

[boweryboy]

Why does Pulis turn out weak teams in the league cup and FAcup,they are the only chance we have got of winning anything,the top sides do because they are going for the premiership title or champions league,and by not turning out their full side gives everyone else a chance.....

[yorkcityfc77]

Denis Smith = Legend.

[yorkshirestokie]

the reason that tony doesnt start a strong team in the cups is because he has 1 goal and 1 goal only, to stay in the league. i have seen in many a interview pulis say 3 seasons and then we look to push on. so 3 seasons of long ball and survival and then we will hopefully be looking at better football and cup runs.