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Post by Lawto on Jan 3, 2009 16:20:58 GMT
Tony Pulis got us promoted with one of the weakest squads in the Championship. Ok, we spent a bit of money in January and brought a couple in on loan to help with the run-in, but on the whole we over achieved in getting promoted.
Having got promoted, we were now playing catch up squad wise, as we went from having a small Championship squad, to having a small Championship sqaud in the Premiership. I have mixed opinions on the 10 players that Tone brought in, as the majority were unproven in the Prem. I personally think some of these were bought as relegation insurance as, if we go down, we will have a very strong squad in the Championship. All in all I think we have done well to be still in amongst it at the turn of the year and in with a shout of staying up.
So where do we go from here? Well that's completely down to Tone. If we are to stay up, the we need our best players on the pitch (Mr Fuller). We need three (at least) Premiership quality signings at Left Midfield, Striker and a Centre Midfield. And most of all, we need Tone to remove his tactical blinkers and realise that Plan A (aim for mama's head) and Plan B (Rory's exocets) will not be enough to keep us up on their own. A bit more ambition away from home, and a lot more football home and away are essential.
As for Tone, well I will never join the ranks of Pulis-haters calling for his head. He got us to the Premiership against all the odds, and I saw enough a season or two ago (when Hendrie et al were here on loan) to suggest that he does want us to play football. We now have the finances to build a squad capable of competing in the Prem, it's just a matter of time as to whether we can do it quick enough to stay up. Personally I think we can with the right signings this month.
As I said, you will never find me calling for Pulis' head, however I reserve the right to praise/criticise his team selection / tactics as and when I see fit, and would ask those with Pulis coloured spectacles, or Pulis out blinkers to understand and accept that others have opinions that may differ from their own. It doesn't make them wrong, it just makes them different.
Up The Potters
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Post by Beattie's Black Eye on Jan 3, 2009 16:21:55 GMT
I AGREE
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Post by Batfink on Jan 3, 2009 16:24:10 GMT
A very good post!
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Post by jarhead on Jan 3, 2009 16:26:37 GMT
PULIS OUT THOUGH
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Post by Lawto on Jan 3, 2009 16:27:50 GMT
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Post by Mickstoke on Jan 3, 2009 16:37:58 GMT
strong squad for the championship! we have a few players out play in my eyes decent team apart from pericard and lose 2-0 to hartlepool!
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Post by Lawto on Jan 3, 2009 17:08:18 GMT
The effect that the Pericard / Delap forward pairing had on the team cannot be over emphasised in my opinion. It must have given Hartlepool a massive lift (it certainly made Jeff Stelling smile when the teams were read out) and must have had the exact opposit effect on the rest of the team. Confidence, or the lack of it, can turn good teams into bad ones in an instant!
Tony "square pegs in round holes" Pulis strikes again!!
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