"1 or 2 targets that will really excite people"

[FullerMagic]

We've heard it before - but let's hope it happens this year.

And I wonder which country we have a special prospective Premiership scouting link with...Wales ;D?


PULIS PLANS FOR PREMIER SURVIVAL
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09:40 - 21 December 2007


High-flying Stoke City have already hatched the beginnings of a Premier League battle plan if they win promotion to the top flight this season.But manager Tony Pulis insists such contingencies will not distract from the task of actually trying to win promotion first - starting with tomorrow's potential humdinger with Championship leaders West Brom at the Britannia Stadium.

Pulis told around 150 fans at last night's supporters' club meet-the-manager session that Stoke were already working on avoiding 'a Derby' if they reached the top flight.

"I think we will be better prepared on targets," he explained. "There's things in place to identify very good players in a certain country, players that will help us stay in the Premiership.

"If we get there I believe we have set something in place and have certain areas covered. Then we will be able to compete at a level we cannot compete at right now, and get in players that others don't yet know about."

Pulis remains confident about promotion as Stoke, unbeaten in their last six games, prepare to pitch their recent form against the Championship leaders.

He explained: "If we can add quality to the great spirit we've already got, then why shouldn't we do it?

"I've got one or two targets that will really excite people and ignite what we are trying to do.

"I was convinced we were going to do it last year and it took me a month to get over the fact we didn't.

"In fact, I could hardly face coming back for pre-season training, but I'm up and running now and desperate to try to see it out this year.

"There's a buzz around the place I've never felt before, even last year when we were riding high with more experienced players."

Stoke have lost only once in their last 22 league meetings with Albion, and completed the league double over the Baggies last season. However, Pulis refuses to read much into such an astonishing statistic.

Former City favourite Carl Hoefkens is expected to return after shaking off recent hamstring trouble, and Pulis told last night's meeting: "I hope he gets a decent reception because he did smashing for us.

"For all that people say about us, we got on fine and I'll be the first to meet him in the corridor to welcome him.

"They are top of the division and deserve to be there because their manager has re-invested very, very well, and are now playing well.

"But we are looking forward to every game right now and fear no-one, particularly with our fans at our backs, like I'm sure they will be again."

Stoke are likely to remain unchanged tomorrow unless Pulis recalls Stephen Wright after he shook off the effects of a badly-gashed forehead that required 14 stitches a fortnight ago.

STOKE legends Brendan O'Callaghan, Terry Conroy and Denis Smith will be signing copies of the book Match Of My Life - Stoke City from 11am tomorrow at the Potteries Shopping Centre branch of WH Smith.

Match preview: Page 38

[realstokebloke]

"If we get there I believe we have set something in place and have certain areas covered. Then we will be able to compete at a level we cannot compete at right now, and get in players that others don't yet know about."

Can somebody please translate, thnx.

I'm liking the ambition though.

[StokieSC]

I bought my copy of that book from WH Smith months ago ...

Do you think they'll just let me wonder in and get it signed

[bogus]

And I wonder which country we have a special prospective Premiership scouting link with...Wales ?

Africa - Diao, Sidibe etc??
The Carribbean - Fuller??

He talks of finding players that people don't know. Could they be using the players for recommendations........like Demar and that other Jamaican we're interested in??

It's really very positive talk though, isn't it??
Have some Karma, TP ;D

[Deleted]

"The Carribbean - Fuller??"

Always fancied a scouting job in the Carribean. Can I go, please, please.

(unless, as FullerMagic points out, it's Wales ... In which case, no ta, I'll stay 'ere)

... Wholey positive articles in the SentiVale ... Has Big Dave had his pen out again!!

;0)

ah

[stokiemac]

what im wondering is that if we've already got deals set for players that will keep us in the premiership why dont we sign these quality players now and make sure we get there

[realstokebloke]

stokiemac:

mmmm, i thought "chickens", "before" and "hatched" too.

[ted1965]

it's good to hear positive vibes coming from the manager, it's about time this happened and it's great to read. It is though surely more important to get players of this quality now so we can then really put plans together for next season.

[Vestan Pance]

and get in players that others don't yet know about

I'm not knocking Tony at all at the moment, i think he's doing brilliantly.

But why don't we sign these people now?

[stokiemac]

realstokebloke i know what you mean i fully support pulis but saying "weve found some brilliant gems of players that everyones missed and were goin sign them....in 12 months time" is a bit dangerous

[FullerMagic]

If they meet the very demanding criteria for a UK work permit, surely they'd have to be very widely known?

Unless he's referring to a EU country? In which case, you wouldn't expect there to be many gems unscouted, just waiting for little Stoke City to pick them up?

I'm more encouraged by his talk of "really exciting" additions this year, and his determination to avoid the disappointment of pre-season

[Pugsley]

It is nice to hear some positivity from the Manager.

Comments like "But we are looking forward to every game right now and fear no-one, particularly with our fans at our backs, like I'm sure they will be again." were non-existent last season.

Also nice to hear that the club are forward planning. Sounds like the club is starting to be run like a proper football club - unbelievable!!!!

[bayernoatcake]

I reckon he's referring to Jamaica personally. With these new EU boundaries though we could get an eastern European or two easier than before!

[thepremierbanksy]

I signed a mint Bolivian striker called Roger Suarez on champs a few months ago, he has 25 caps at the start of the game, I hope it's him

[Godo]

I'm very pleased to see Pulis commenting in such positive terms - well done Tony!

[stoke71]

But surely the players he's referring to are going to be out of a grasp at the moment financially but when we reach the promised land obviously are wage and transfer budget will significantly improve and thats when his plans will come into fruition.

[bogus]

stoke71 said:

But surely the players he's referring to are going to be out of a grasp at the moment financially but when we reach the promised land obviously are wage and transfer budget will significantly improve and thats when his plans will come into fruition.

I think you may be right, stoke71.
He may be talking in terms of players who would only realistically come once we are there.

[fuggers]

Of course that's what he means.

[stoke71]

Thats how it reads to me Bogus.
But he must be pretty confident of us going up to be even thinking of players to help us stay in the prem.There does seem to be a buzz about the place again though.

[Lakeland Potter]

I'm pretty sure that he is referring to players who we could afford if we were in the Premiership but couldn't afford now. One of Derby's problems, it seems to me, is that they carried on signing Championship standard players (eg Griffin) after they got promoted.

[serpico]

when he talks of the exciting players does he mean for this season or if we make the prem ? sounds to me like he's talking about this season.

"Pulis remains confident about promotion as Stoke, unbeaten in their last six games, prepare to pitch their recent form against the Championship leaders.

He explained: "If we can add quality to the great spirit we've already got, then why shouldn't we do it?

"I've got one or two targets that will really excite people and ignite what we are trying to do"

[FullerMagic]

I'm pretty sure that quote is referring to January.

[Vestan Pance]

I genuinely believe he has the players he wants lined up ready for January.

I've never been sure that he knows what he is doing, until now.

[Not_Nick_H]

F*ck Me!! - "Premiership Survival?!" - has there been an outbreak of totally irrational optimism at the Brit recently or have they all been imbibing too much Christmas Spirit!!?

This level of positivity is unprecedented in recent years I think.

[fuggers]

Oh Ye of little Faith, Dixie.

[mermaidsal]

One thing's for sure, the 'certain country' isn't Iceland. ;D

This is all sounding so good though.

[Jug Bank Stokie]

Glen Little

[banburypotter]

jeez, all this positivity and forward planning, i need a lie down ;D

how good to see so much has been learned in so short a time.

[StokieSC]

dixiegnawmuss said:

I genuinely believe he has the players he wants lined up ready for January.

I've never been sure that he knows what he is doing, until now.

Pulis has never been one to give anything away - he seems to have changed his tune though.

I expect 2-3 in Janurary.

[TheWiseMaster]

We have to plan ahead now that promotion is almost certain!

Our current solid squad with a few additions then the automatic spots could be in reach

Happy days