Sentinel- Pulis made Andy Gray inquiry

[FullerMagic]

Good that there's confirmation that we're interested in adding to the strikeforce! That's a relief.



29/01/2008 - Potters reveal inquiry for Gray

Stoke City line up against Charlton newcomer Andy Gray tonight - barely a fortnight after considering a bid to sign him themselves from Burnley.

City boss Tony Pulis has revealed how he inquired after the £2m striker before he eventually plumped for a move south to London.

"We did inquire about him to see what the deal was," Pulis disclosed, "but Charlton were already well into him and talking enormous sums.

"He's a good player I've long liked the look of, but you have to look at the whole package and decide if it's a good deal for the club as well as the team.

"We are finding that prices are going up in general because of the transfer window. Clubs assume you must be desperate to make a signing because there is only so long to do the deal - and will then push the price up accordingly."

Pulis remains concerned about the back-up to his present strike force - particularly in Mama Sidibe's absence at the African Nations' Cup - but insists his players travelled in good heart for a testing evening at sixth-placed Charlton.

"They are full of confidence - and so they should be after recent league results," he said. "There are massive challenges ahead, but we are looking forward to them, not shying away.

"We may lack the numbers of some squads like your Charltons, but what we lack there we will make up for in spirit and effort. Our players have shown that countless times already this season and know they must do so again tonight."

Stoke are expected to start with the same 11 kicking off their last outing 10 days ago as they seek a 13th Championship game without defeat.

Charlton are likely to play Gray from the start for the first time on his home debut, with former City striker Chris Iwelumo tipped to stand aside.

STOKE's league clash at Preston on Saturday, February 16, has been postponed to a date yet to be arranged because North End are in FA Cup action.

[u2oxeterstokie]

At lease we are considering players!

[Onneravineet]

Right money too! £2million! and we were interested!

But the "Charlton were already well into him and talking enormous sums" fecking concerns me!

[stokecityscott]

Think he means in terms of wages, Gray moved for £1.5m.

[Onneravineet]

Rising to £2 with extras... even so he has to get that type of comment in each time.. almost like he's preparing an excuse, it's what the haters jump on

[FullerMagic]

I think there was £500,000 of add-ons though.

The fact we picked the phone up must've meant we were prepared to pay £1m+. He MUST have known that's what he'd cost. Got to be good news for the next 48 hours?

There's just that nagging doubt that we've left it too late and the window will now pass quietly.

[Stick It On Cort's Head]

Would rather spend the 2 million on a left winger and a central midfielder

We have two strikers who have scored more than 20 between them already , and for a "back up striker" we should be looking at players like adebola who at 250,000 would be a very good deal, would fit in with the team, and would get a few goals

[stokecityscott]

Shows he is after a striker who can score the goals then and not just a target man.

[FullerMagic]

He's still a targetman-type though, isn't he?

Just one with the happy knack of scoring quite prolifically in this league. Not many of them about who can do both things.

[mikeyb99]

Another one I'm glad we've missed out on!

Andy Gray FFS!?

At least we're in the market though.

[Done it for scfcbuxton]

Whats wrong with Andy Gray. He's a class act in this division. Him and Alan Lee play that role better than anyone. Sidibe has mastered one part but not quite the putting the ball in the net part

[stokecityscott]

Could we be in for Whaley, or Parry? If he has that much to bid for a player we could get both of them.

[Onneravineet]

Agree with Fullermagic the price would have been known so that says we've got £1.5-2 left to spend at least, however I'm worried that he's happy to have Cresser on the left!

[FullerMagic]

It certainly sounds like there's a bit left in the warchest. Let's hope Pulis finds the sodding key.

[followyoudown]

hebangsthedrums said:

It certainly sounds like there's a bit left in the warchest. Let's hope Pulis finds the sodding key.

Forgive me for sounding sceptical but if he was really a player we were interested in wouldn't it have been an idea to go after him before Charlton or another team were well into him.

Words are cheap strikers are more expensive to me this sounds like preparing the groundwork for the fact that we won't be signing a striker in the transfer window but instead will be relying on loans.

[Onneravineet]

kind of my worry too FYD..
I really want a left mid player before a striker.

[stokecityscott]

I want a winger aswell, we dont need a striker, cresswell is good enough, 7 goals from the wing and few games up front. he showed what he can do up front if played there.

[Stick It On Cort's Head]

exactly mate

Pay no more than 400,000 for striker and spend all the rest on left winger

[FullerMagic]

Maybe Pulis is more than happy to keep Cresswell out there once Mama gerts back?

He obviously likes his hard work and goal threat from set-pieces.

We're not exactly being linked with left wingers left, right and centre, are we?

Pulis is what he is. He likes what he knows, and knows what he likes.

[huddersstokie]

I pulled something out of TP’s statement that aggravated me – he is basically saying that by leaving it to the last minute, teams are pushing the prices up on him and that he will only sign players who are good value (getting his excuses ready).

The problem is this – it was TP’s strategy in the 1st place to wait until the end of the deadline to pick up bargains. Why the bloody hell do we always wait until it’s too late??????

[Stick It On Cort's Head]

Its the same for all clubs, the whelans, norris' of the world all won't move until deadline day.

I'm sure he will get players in, but there is no point in signing shite players just for the sake of it, we need players who will improve and fit in with our current team, who have performed brilliantly

[adiebunn]

Same old spin by Pulis....we were interested but too much money, too much wages etc etc, just like Walcott and other players that are mentioned every transfer window.
Cheers
Adie

[Davef]

stokecitypotter said:

exactly mate

Pay no more than 400,000 for striker and spend all the rest on left winger

I'll bet Tony Pulis wishes he could live in your world.

I think Follow You Down is bang on the money. I don't think we can afford the kind of striker TP wants right now on a three year contract. I fancy us to bring one in eventually, but on loan for the rest of the season and certainly not before deadline day.

[Onneravineet]

Davef I'd be happy with that but he needs to spend to secure the left sided requirement

[anarchicalan]

I very much doubt we were ever in for ANY striker.

Who would want to come here after seeing what he's done to Cresswell?

Yet more spin from the excusemeister.

edit - I also note it said "we were CONSIDERING making a bid", just in the same way I've been considering winning the lottery, but I never buy a ticket.