Pulis praises players after tough week

By Michael Baggaley | Published: Saturday 13 Mar 2010 |

Mar13

STOKE manager Tony Pulis paid tribute to his team's stamina and determination after they ground out a goalless draw at home to Champions-League chasing Aston Villa this afternoon.
The game was City's 11th in 41 days, and their third in the last seven days. But, in a game of few chances, they matched the visitors in a scrappy first half before looking the more likely winners in the second.
Pulis said: "We have had a very busy period. When you play a top team like Villa at the end of a three-game week it is always difficult. That is especially when they haven’t played in midweek.
"But I actually thought that in the last 30 minutes we were the stronger team. We were the team that was pushing forward and probably had the better opportunities."
The Stoke boss played down Tuncay's reaction having being taken off with Mama Sidibe as part of a double substitution for Ricardo Fuller and Dave Kitson on 54 minutes.
The Turkey international headed straight down the tunnel rather than watch the rest of the game on the bench.
However, Pulis praised Kitson and Fuller for the impact they made.
He said: "I thought Dave Kitson did well as well. Ric is a threat and has lots of things in his armour that defenders don't like dealing with. One of them is unpredictability.
"At times I'm not so sure Ric knows what he's doing, so defenders have no idea.
"I thought in the second half when we were able to play off Ric and Kits, we were able to get Matthew Etherington more into the game. We were much more of a threat in the second half."
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill said he couldn't complain about the result. He said: "It was a tough afternoon. We defended very stoutly indeed. The game didn't have that many clear cut chances and at the end of it I suppose a draw is probably a fair result."

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Match Report: Stoke City 0, Aston Villa 0 (Sat, 13/03/2010 - 19:39)

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Tuncay and Sidebe substitutions

Submitted by trulymadeleystokie on Sun, 14/03/2010 - 01:27.

I think that Stoke played much better after Tuncay and Sidebe were replaced with Fuller and Kitson. I don't believe though, that Tuncay should have gone off and I don't blame him for his reaction. Tunny is a great player, but what chance has he got of any creative partnership being formed with Sidebe. Mama is not good enough for the premier league and everyone knows it except Tony Pulis. How can he leave Kitson or Fuller on the bench and play Mama? Tony is being loyal to Mama for helping us get to the Premier league, he now needs to repay the loyalty of us the fans who pay our money week in and week out, by playing his best players instead of keeping "jobs for the boys". I don't think we could have a better manager at Stoke than Tony and in the main he does a great job, but we all have worked for managers in all walks of life, who get it wrong sometimes. Tony gets it wrong with his misplaced loyalty to players who wouldn't make the bench in nineteen other Premier league teams. Get a grip Tony, or you will lose our loyalty.

Tuncay and Sidebe substitutions

Submitted by trulymadeleystokie on Sun, 14/03/2010 - 01:31.

Strike Force Selection.

Submitted by potterglen on Mon, 15/03/2010 - 09:08.

Nothing happened up front in the first half because we continued playing the high ball to Sidibe - it doesn't work against a half decent defence. How come everyone sees it except the decision maker.
The time has come to show confidence in the ball players that we have and give them the chance to score those elusive goals that the whole team deserve.
Tuncay and Kitson to start and Fuller on the bench for the change if/when needed.

Up front pairing...

Submitted by Foster on Mon, 15/03/2010 - 09:33.

Ok, i think Fuller is our best striker, however i don't think that he's a team player. He generally gets the ball, turns and dribbles it towards goal. I don't think his link up play is as good as either Tuncays or Kitsons. I'm not considering Sidibe because he's can't even control the ball, let alone pass it.

So i think we should start with Tuncay and Kitson, AND bring Fuller on in place of a midfielder so that we have a 3 pronged attack.

Good point

Submitted by Foster on Mon, 15/03/2010 - 09:47.

Another good thing to note from the game is that we didn't get any red cards or give away a penalty.

Replay

Submitted by potterglen on Mon, 15/03/2010 - 10:05.

Quite right Fos, Fuller isn't a team player or a 90 minute player either. Did you see his shot that dribbled along the floor? Kitson had a great shot on goal and there was another player behind Kitson who had an open shot on goal(didn't catch who it was).
Should have won on Saturday - 2 points lost and an opportunity missed.
Don't you think we get a lot of unjustified yellow cards and fouls given against us too?

Ric

Submitted by Jamo on Mon, 15/03/2010 - 11:25.

We are always much more of a threat when Ric is on the pitch so to my mind there is no question that he should always start when fit. As for who would partner him, I would still like to see the Tuncay/Fuller pairing given an extended run, especially now we are all but safe.
Kitson has looked ok since his return to the fold and should now get some minutes and hopefully a few goals.

Shots

Submitted by Foster on Mon, 15/03/2010 - 11:27.

I think the shot after Kitson was Huth. Volley wasn't it? Into the keepers arms.

It's the passing the final third that lets us down. A couple of times we got the counter attack going only to either overhit a pass, make a wrong decision (Ethers long ranger) or just stop dead and pass it backwards again.

Not sure with the cards, sometimes i feel we're lucky, others we're not.

Was dissapointed to see that on Match of the Day they foccused purely on Villa's attempts on goal and didn't even show the heading opportinuty that Huth at the end of the game. Thats a few times i've seen biased highlights on MOTD.