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Post by markscfc72 on Feb 26, 2008 13:49:50 GMT
STOKE City have snapped up veteran goalkeeper Carlo Nash in time for tonight's Championship clash at Preston (7.45pm) after losing newcomer Marton Fulop at the 11th-hour.
Fulop was recalled by Sunderland because of an injury to Darren Ward - just as the giant Hungarian was about to challenge Steve Simonsen for Stoke's number one berth.
But manager Tony Pulis moved quickly today to secure the services of 34-year-old Nash in a loan deal with Wigan that could stretch until the end of the season.
Nash, whose previous ports of call include Manchester City, Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough, faces another former employer tonight when he is likely to be on the bench at Preston.
"We're delighted to get a keeper of his experience at such short notice," said Pulis after deciding against recalling Russell Hoult from his loan move to Notts County.
"I must thank Steve Bruce at Wigan for helping us out on this one. Carlo has been in our kind of situation in the past and will provide good competition in a vital area of the team. I've been impressed with him for a long time and he should play an important part in the dressing room.
"I'm not sure if he's still doing the modelling work he once was, but it wouldn't take much to look good next to some of them in our dressing room."
Fulop's Stoke career was cut short by the 24-hour recall option just three days after being signed on loan until the end of the season.
"Sunderland have called him back because they need cover in goal and there's nothing we could do about it," added Pulis.
"It's a blow because this was a terrific chance to watch him at close quarters over the next few months, but now we will take a look at Carlo."
Pulis has ordered his table-toppers to hit overdrive at Deepdale tonight, not sit admiring the view from the top of the Coca-Cola Championship table.
Stoke will go four points clear at the top if they can rattle off a sixth straight victory, and Pulis said: "We are in a fantastic position, and now is the time to put our foot on the pedal and really crack on.
"We've got the vehicle moving and it's all about pushing it on now. We can't take our foot off the pedal and just drift on.
"The players have done really well over the last 34 games and now we just want them to do it over the last 12.
"I don't care how they do it, as long as we win. Whether it's 1-0, 4-3 or 5-4 doesn't matter ... as long as we score one more than the opposition."
And he repeated his wish for two more players to strengthen a squad potentially short in defence and attack in the coming weeks.
"Yes, we could do with two more additions. Hopefully that would give everybody a lift and drive us forward again," he said.
"It isn't just about the 11 on the pitch, but about the whole squad ? and the whole squad being 110 per cent behind those out there."
Danny Pugh returns from suspension to challenge Carl Dickinson at left-back as City face a Preston side desperate to climb out of the bottom three.
"We must be at full pelt every game we play because teams will want to knock us off our perch," warned Pulis.
"Preston are a decent side and I?m surprised they are down there. They've just had a great draw at Watford and should have knocked Portsmouth out of the FA Cup.
"Alan Irvine has made them a lot tighter and more organised since coming in as manager earlier this season.
"They've got a lot of experience ... and in Paul McKenna they have as good a midfielder as you get in this league."
STOKE'S reserves play Nottingham Forest at Newcastle Town tomorrow (2pm).
* See tomorrow's Sentinel for a full report from Deepdale on Preston v Stoke
* Have your say - Just text TS Stoke and your message to 65100. Texts cost 25p, plus your normal service charge
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Post by lordb on Feb 26, 2008 13:52:06 GMT
would like to see Mckenna play for Stoke
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Post by robin1302 on Feb 26, 2008 13:53:36 GMT
why no official text about it?
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Post by mermaidsal on Feb 26, 2008 13:54:04 GMT
Nice TP quote about the modelling ;D Good sensible move, better than Hoult for the run-in. Still really pissed off about Fulop but I kind of think it won't be the last we see of him.
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Post by lordb on Feb 26, 2008 13:56:09 GMT
bound to be plenty of clubs in for Fulop in the summer & Stoke should have a better chance than most of getting him
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Post by mikeyb99 on Feb 26, 2008 13:57:01 GMT
Nash is shite, I would rather recall Hoult TBH.
Gutted that Fulop has returned, I was really looking forward to seeing a goalkeeper that doesn't hide every time the ball comes into the box.
Never mind! Hope we can get a decent outfielder (Sinclair still on?) and sign Fulop in the summer.
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Post by markscfc72 on Feb 26, 2008 14:00:56 GMT
why no official text about it? good question, i have just e-mailed the media dept and Scholes to ask just that! |
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Post by FullerMagic on Feb 26, 2008 14:17:39 GMT
Nash is shite, I would rather recall Hoult TBH. Gutted that Fulop has returned, I was really looking forward to seeing a goalkeeper that doesn't hide every time the ball comes into the box. Never mind! Hope we can get a decent outfielder (Sinclair still on?) and sign Fulop in the summer. Mikey, I've never really seen him enough to form an opinion, and he does seem to have had more clubs than Nick Faldo - but the PNE fans watched him for 2 or 3 years, and seem to like him a lot. Probably the best keeper we have had since Fred Else in the 60s. I thought he left so that he could move to the South, but that didn't happen. What was the real story - did he just fall out with Simmo?
Balls to pride, lets get him back. Agree best keeper we had that I remember. Personally reckon he fell out with Simmo so lets get him back.
Yes get him back.Forgive and forget.Best keeper imo since Alan Kelly senior
He was brilliant and his departure was the turning point of our season without doubt.
If Nash were to be available and willing to come to PNE I think he'd be worth the risk. He was certainly the best keeper ive seen since Alan Kelly snr and as ive said before, his departure marked the beginning of defensive frailty
I'll have him back in a shot.Organises the back 4 as well as decent keeper
brilliant keeper, big lad who reminded me of peter schemichal at a lower lover, gives defenders confidence. Hope you haven't got him tonight.
Left Preston by moaning and causing uprest in the dressing room. Had to go i'm affraid, try to decieve the manager. GF problems down south and ends up going to wigan. Good player, left on bad terms really.
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Post by JoeStoke on Feb 26, 2008 14:22:03 GMT
y can't we always move this fast to get loan signings in? makes you wonder what we spend all the time doin
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Post by FullerMagic on Feb 26, 2008 14:27:48 GMT
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Post by Stick It On Cort's Head on Feb 26, 2008 14:28:40 GMT
y can't we always move this fast to get loan signings in? makes you wonder what we spend all the time doin Wanking probably.... |
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Post by crowey on Feb 26, 2008 14:35:30 GMT
joe - "we spend all our time monitoring possible loan moves" - I think this is what JR is still employed for. If so, he is still doing a good job. Do we look for something different come the summer?
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Post by potter84 on Feb 26, 2008 14:48:33 GMT
good signing.....for bench anyhow...go on stoke
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