PULIS VOW TO SECURE ONLY THE BEST DEALS

[oatcakemate]

Tony Pulis has vowed not to get hoodwinked by agents trying to sell him sub-standard goods during the feeding frenzy of the transfer window.

Speaking ahead of the imminent completion of Andy Griffin's move from Derby today, the Stoke boss said: "There are plenty of agents getting in touch with us, too many.

"They are all trying to throw some business your way, but we are not going to be either rushed into anything or be swayed by their patter over any particular player.



"No business will be done without us doing our own homework first on all aspects of a potential signing."

Pulis is still working from a personal wish list of top secret transfer targets, but deals to secure the long-term signings of both Griffin and Ryan Shawcross are already advanced.

Their signatures will just about tie up the defence he wants for this season's tilt at promotion, but his wish list also includes targets for central and wide midfield, and his forward line.

He added: "We are still following up leads on other players to try to get the best possible players through the best possible deals for this club."

But Pulis dismissed national newspaper reports linking him with a move for Bolton's former Greek international winger Stelios Giannakopoulos.

Meanwhile, Rory Delap remains an early doubt for Saturday's trip to Ipswich as he continues his struggle to overcome the nagging calf injury which forced him out of Sunday's FA Cup tie with Newcastle United.

"We haven't seen him on the training field yet this week," said Pulis, "and at this stage he's very much touch and go for Ipswich.

"Rory has played through the pain barrier plenty of times already this season and done a fine job for us in the process, but this latest setback has been a particular problem for him."

[banburypotter]

so we are working off the same hymn sheet then as far as areas he and we feel need strengthening

[Lakeland Potter]

If we are not after Stelios then I would think we are certainly after Parry of Cardiff who TP has wanted for the past 3 years.

[banburypotter]

fair play to him for keeping the list a secret, one can only imagine how much markup goes on to the price of a player once it becomes common knowledge.

[Onneravineet]

Central Mid + Wide Mid + Forward !!!

On top of Griff, Shawcross, Cort + Pugh

How any supporter can have a go at TP and especially PC on this showing amazes me!

Exciting time indeed!

[knowles]

From what I have heard, we will not sign Stelios or Harewood.

As Martin's article here states, Griffin is in the bag and Shawcross is pretty much done.

John- Parry would be a very welcome addition and would balance the side perfectly.

[Lakeland Potter]

I've always liked Parry whenever I have seen him. I suppose that the fact that he is also a decent left footed striker when pressed into service up front is another bonus from TP's point of view. If we get him, I wouldn't swap him and Lawrence for any other pair of wingers in the division.

[Onneravineet]

Spot on Forny, we'd have a cracking pair.
Am I right in saying he's quicker that Lawrence though?

[Lakeland Potter]

Yes, more pacy - that isn't difficult though!

[ted1965]

well if the homework has been done we should see a few more exciting signings before the deadline comes around. It seems the talk of Whelan is unlikely if the papers are to be believed. Parry would be a great addition, he has what we badly need pace.

[Onneravineet]

Ummm quite agree but it looks like he's going hell for leather, until the other play burns past him. He's still a class act though and I wouldn't swap him... well except for Ronaldo.. but apart from that.

well Wright-Phillips maybe but that's it.


and potentially Hleb but that's it, you get the picture anyway

[thepremierbanksy]

I've always thought Whittingham was better than Parry, but then I don't know a lot.

[lordb]

Whittingham has impressed this year if not previously.

Parry looks the part for Stokes needs & is available it seems

[Pugsley]

This is exactly the kind of statement from Pulis that worries me. Is he smoothing the ground and putting excuses in place early for when we don't sign anyone. We have seen it before.

[TheWiseMaster]

This is exactly the sort of statement we want from Pulis.

Now he has his defence in place he can concentrate of our attacking options

Trust Pulis not to let us down - if he gets his men then the future will be secure

[Jimbo]

Pulis is very sensibly keeping his cards close to his chest on this one. One of his strengths is that he knows exactly what he wants in a player, and will ensure he only brings in players that have the right professional mentality, and will contribute to various aspects of our team, eg work 'aaaard! I don't think he's the sort to be hoodwinked by agents and he certainly won't panic-buy.

I agree that Pulis has no doubt looked at Parry as an option. Am I right in presuming Cardiff are still in financial difficulty? TP's been after Parry for years, and he's looked useful whenever I've seen him (albeit only a couple of times).

Despite very slow progress last summer, we're starting to put in place the foundations of a very solid team. Added to the above list of signings can also include Salif Diao - hopefully he can prove his fitness sooner rather than later.

It's good to see TP is looking at the midfield and strikers too. Let's hope the money is there and that the right players are available within that budget.

I could get used to all this positive feeling around the club!

[Block 26]

Personally, i like Tony Pulis' tactics of sticking to who HE wants to buy and no one else;D

[Stick It On Cort's Head]

agree

agree to what everything you have said so far on the oatcake lol

[robin1302]

glad thats what Tony's thinking! who could of said Pugh and Cort would have turned out to be players like they have! stick by Tony and let him get the players he wants, however long it takes him in this window, and I can bet we'll have as good of a chance as anyone to make the Premiership

[nathan]

KS,

Cort has done little to suggest that he'd be anything other than Palace fans said - a great threat in the opposition box, isn't all that clever defensively as a £1 million defender.

[dadofsam]

He seems to find it hard to put a value on players with attributes other than size, athleticism and a good work ethic.

[nonameface]

Nath I have to disagree. From the games where both Shawcross and Cort have played I would have to say that Cort has been the better out of the two for near on 100% of the games. Don't let his clever blocking rather than jumping in strategy confuse you that he is a poor defender.

[robin1302]

thought he had a good game on sunday tbh, and only lost 2 in 14 games he's played so he cant be that bad!

[nathan]

Cort is not the ideal partner for Ryan. They are both slow, and alongside Ryan we need someone in the mould of Tags or Higgy for my money - in other words, someone capable of orchestrating the defence and capable of 'talking him through'.

KS, that's a naive slant you've put on it.

How many clean sheets have we kept, and how many goals have we conceded within that time is what we should be looking at in order to assess the impact made by Cort.

He's poor on the ball, not at all assured in possession, easily shrugged off (Adebola, Viduka when he could be arsed) and lacks pace.

[nonameface]

Nath you may be right in that KS has put a slight naive slant, but I think it is quite a good stat to show. Since Cort has signed our performances have been much much better and as for being easily shrugged off the ball; I can't think of many defenders that wouldn't be shrugged off the ball by both Adebola and Viduka, both of which rely on their size. You are right he isn't too clever with the ball possession wise but hes got to be pretty much as fast as Doobs and Higgy and is definately quicker than Shawcross.

The back four against Newcastle showed what they could do, give them time and they will be particularly impressive.