By Dave Knapper | Email to a friend | Digg |
Published: Wednesday 03 Sep 2008
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Blades fans views on Michael Tonge

City new boy Tonge ready for Premier League battle

STOKE new boy Michael Tonge is convinced he can avoid a repeat of his Premier League heartbreak as he returns to unfinished business in the top flight.

The midfielder, a £2m deadline day signing from Sheffield United, was part of the Blades team relegated from the Barclays Premier League on the last day of the 2006-2007 campaign.

United were hot favourites to stay up, but a home defeat to Wigan, coupled with West Ham’s shock victory at Manchester United, sent them down after just a season back in the top flight.

The Blades didn’t even make the Championship play-offs last season, so Tonge, aged 25, is now determined to make the most of his return to the Premier League with Stoke City.

He said: “I’ve been there with Sheffield United and we were hard done by, but I think Stoke have a good chance.

“United were really unlucky to go down that season. Everything was stacked in our favour on the last day, but maybe that worked against us because West Ham and Wigan both knew they had to win.

“It then took us the whole of the following summer to take stock of what happened. I think that played a part in our starting the next season so poorly.

“You have to move on, but that is difficult because you keep going back and going over the games when you dropped points.

“It’s not a nice feeling and hopefully I won’t have that again here.”

Tonge became Stoke’s 10th signing of the summer...but only just as he signed just 10 minutes before Monday’s midnight transfer deadline.

He signed a four-year contract after dashing to Bramall Lane from his Manchester home to complete the forms.

He explained: “My agent mentioned a little while ago that Stoke had been watching me.

“But I didn’t hear anything else until about 10.45pm on Monday when he rang to say I’d better make my way to Sheffield because there might be a deal to go to Stoke.

“I jumped in the car and was halfway across there when he said the deal was done, so I had to get there to sign the papers.

“It must have been about 10 minutes to midnight when I signed, but they started faxing the first papers over before midnight so that was fine.”

Tonge played 302 games for the Blades after signing as a 16-year-old. The right-footer made his name as a left-winger, but has largely been used in central midfield over the last two years.

He had two years left on his contract, but has no regrets about swapping Bramall Lane for the Britannia Stadium.

He said: “When the club accepted the bid my mind was made up to come across and sign. I am delighted to sign for Stoke and am really looking forward to it.

“I have played against a lot of the lads here before. They are a good side who deservedly got promoted and hopefully we can kick on and make sure we stay in the Premier League for more than a season.”

STOKE reserves play Aston Villa at the Britannia Stadium tonight (7pm).