Should Pulis leave Stoke (as expected), Martin Jol will be the 4th longest serving Premier League manager behind Wenger, Pardew & Allardyce. Bizarre.
You could argue that he should be ranked ahead of Allardyce, as Big Sam has only been continuously back in the Premier league for one season. If you don't take that into account, Jol has been in his job just 6 days less than Allardyce. Perhaps we should start a campaign for the other three to be sacked, just to get Jol higher up the list.
Dang, Stoke play some ugly football. Sumo wrestling has more grace. Whoever comes into Stoke has an interesting task ahead, either continue with the Stoke way of throwing a bunch of big bodies out there or to try and build the team around a passing game.
The Stoke chairman said, when announcing Pulis' departure, that they want to go a different way. I think we can take it as read that the change of manager is a statement of intent to change the approach. I get the impression that Stoke fans have been getting frustrated with things as they have been in increasing numbers for some time. That's why Pulis have gone despite a remarkable achievement over seven years with the club. I can understand why he's reportedly hurt and disappointed, but at the same time I wouldn't want him managing Fulham or any other manager making us play in the same way.
I had a look on the Stoke boards on the day he went and all the comments were along the lines of "Thank God he's gone". They were clearly fed up of his neanderthal style and being the butt of the scorn their style attracted. Having said this they were highly hopeful they would get Rafa - with the usual seen in a Tesco's near the ground type of statement - but I think this may be a bit of wishful thinking. Would imagine Rafa has his sights set a little higher.
Not going to pretend to be a fan of Stoke, hated their manager, hate their style of play and hate their players. I did however have sympathy for their fans before our game against them (the Huth elbow) but all their fans had to say was how Berbatov was getting away with little nudges etc so Huth should have been allowed the same. Horrible club. It would be poetic if after them discussing potential managers along the lines of Rafa and Martinez they ended up with Phil Neville
Sparky is one they are quite set against. They don't see his style of play as much of a step forward from Pulis.
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22649939 How on Earth is he still being considered for PL jobs?
I didn't realise that Stoke were ambitious!!! - I thought they were a Sunday league team of thugs. So 'arry at Stoke by Christmas then.
Amazing ... nobody is more responsible for the destruction of QPR than Hughes (for which he'll forever have my thanks), and yet he's in the running again for a manager's chair.
They certainly deserve each other. I can imagine the the interview going something like this: Applicant: âThe name is Hughes, Mark Hughes. For me the world is not enough - family motto don't you know.â please log in to view this image C (Stoke Chairman): â I need you to take your ego out of the equation.â MH: âIf the stakes are rightâ C: âThere is a useful four letter word, and you're full of it!â MH: âWhen one is in the Potteries, one should delve deeply into its treasures. So Iâll take that as a yes, then.â [with apologies to Ian Fleming for mixing quotes from his various stories]
Read an article on a Brentford player who may be joining QPR this summer.His name is Harry Forrester, look him up on Wiki,the first part of his Wiki write up is somewhat amusing to say the least.
Great spot, ros. As comic amends to Wikipedia tend to get corrected sooner or later, I've cut and pasted it for the benefit of others: Harry Lee Forrester (born 2 January 1991) is an English footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Brentford. He has also been capped at youth level for England and was on trial at Ajax but rejected them to join Brentford on a free transfer. Following this decision, Forrester was found to be clinically insane and began to wear soiled women's underwear on his head wherever he went, a move which led Brentford to have him admitted to a rehabilitation centre.
