Tony's Christmas message

[markscfc72]

Tony's Christmas Message
Posted on: Tue 25 Dec 2007
First and foremost, may I wish every Stoke City supporter a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We go into the busy Christmas period sitting very nicely in fourth position in the Championship which I believe is a great achievement.

2007 has been a very good year for us all, we almost made the Play-Offs last season, and we have carried the good run over in to this season too.

There's a better feel about the club outside Stoke-on-Trent than there's been for a long time.

The club is held in a much higher esteem than what we sometimes realise within the city.

We've got to continue to build the blocks that will eventually lead to us building a very good team and a team that will have a chance of getting into the Premier League.

I've been the manager for three and half, maybe four years overall and it's the first team I've known the football club actually extend someone's contract when the player's still got eighteen months to go.

It shows the different mentality that we're starting to get at the club, and the fact that we're not just looking to improve but to keep the best players that we've got.

We've had more phone calls and more enquiries about Ricardo than any other player at this football club over the past year, and it was important that we got him tied down.

It was also important for the dressing room to see that instead of selling our best players, we're actually intent on keeping them.

I think we need to add to the squad right the way through and if we could bring in four or five new players in January that would be fantastic.

The important thing for us is to bring that little bit of quality in and to get players in who are better than the ones we've got now.

But the main thing is to bring in players with the same character of the player's we've got at the club.

We can't, whatever we do, lose the spirit and the commitment that this team has put together over the past twenty odd games.

We've put a list of players together, players who we think might be available to come in and strengthen the side.

I have in my mind what I'd like but whether I get can get them to come here is another thing.

I don't think anybody realised how disappointed I was after the QPR game last year. I totally believed that we were going to do it and get into the play-offs and then go on to get promotion.

I was devastated - to actually fall at the last hurdle was devastating.

It really did hurt and I want everyone to understand how much it has hurt, for me and the playing staff.

The ones that played that day who are here now felt that disappointment and I hope it spurs them on and brings them back stronger this time around.

We've got a lot of things in place behind the scenes for 2008.

We've got to maintain the spirit, we've got to maintain the attitude around the club and we've got to give it our best shot.

The next three or four months of the season is the business end and there's a lot of work to be done.

We mustn't take our foot off the pedal whatever happens.

If we bring the right players in why shouldn't be looking at automatic promotion, why shouldn't we be looking to achieve that.

There's a spark just starting to light at this football club and I get the feeling around the place that it's the best it's ever been

We've got to make sure we keep it going.

Once again have a wonderful Christmas and we hope to see you at Barnsley and Plymouth, but especially back at the Britannia Stadium for the New Years Day clash with Hull.

Tony Pulis

[vientianescfc]

Goooarrrrrrrrrnnnnnn Tone! It's been a long time in coming but the feel good factor is at the club these days!

Hopefully this'll mean a packed Britannia on New Year Day after more points away on the road!

[y_oh_y_delilah]

He certainly talks the talk all right, but now is the time for him to follow up all the platitudes, keep the promises and deliver the goods.

Happy Christmas Tone and a very successful new year.

[AlliG]

At last! ;D

Tone appears to have have got it spot on.

I am more than happy for our manager to look to keep our feet on the ground and to dampen down over optimistic expectations.

However, we also need to be given hope and cause for optimism. Something that says , yes it will be difficult, yes the competition is tough, yes we are at a disadvantage to some, but why shouldn't we be successful.

I liked the way on Saturday that after he had spelt out all the advantages West Brom have he then went on to talk about where he felt his team was superior.

His Christmas message seems to have taken that approach one step further.

"If we bring the right players in why shouldn't be looking at automatic promotion, why shouldn't we be looking to achieve that"

I can honestly say that I never, ever thought I would hear (read) Tony Pulis say that. Well not until we were 7 points clear with 2 games left.

I was watching Alastair Sim as Scrooge yesterday and I feel that the change in message and attitude coming out of the club now is every bit as dramatic as that.

(Oh dear! I have just had this awful vision of Tony and Peter Coates dancing round the Britannia Boardroom in nighshirts and caps. )

I think I had better go and have a lie down in a darkened room.

[StoKeith]

That's a very positive message! Well done for this year tone - keep it up next year and we could find ourselves in the Prem!

[stokecityscott]

Merry xmas Tone, and have a safe journey there and back from Barnsley, and all the fans.


BRING HOME THE BACON

[stokietony]

This as got to be Our year.
Up The Potter's !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry xmas Mr Pulis XXXxxxxxxxx

[sheltonstokie]

Team playing positive, Media (generally) positive, this board (generally) positive (at last) & then to round things off very upbeat & positive comments by Mr P. What a strange world we live in!

[daverichards]

look who we were playing one year ago ;D