I sincerely hope this is media tosh becuase if it's true Pulis has just shafted the 3,500 Stoke fans that have made the journey to Spain - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...his-tactics-for-Europa-League-return-leg.html Stoke City have been forced to play four games in 10 days because of their involvement in the FA Cup and Europe and Pulis insisted his hands were tied as Peter Crouch, Jon Walters, Ryan Shawcross, Marc Wilson, Matthew Etherington, Matthew Upson, Dean Whitehead, Glenn Whelan and Andy Wilkinson stayed at home. Valencia v Stoke City: manager Tony Pulis defends his tactics for Europa League return leg Tony Pulis has denied he will send out a weakened team to face Valencia in the Europa League despite leaving nine senior players in England. With 3,500 Stoke City fans travelling to Spain for the second leg of their last 32 clash, Pulis is aware he has left himself open to criticism that he has given up on the competition after last weekâs 1-0 first leg defeat at the Britannia Stadium. But he is adamant he has made the right call, arguing it is better to have a fresh team full of energy away from home, than one full of regulars who are feeling jaded or carrying knocks. Stoke City have been forced to play four games in 10 days because of their involvement in the FA Cup and Europe and Pulis insisted his hands were tied as Peter Crouch, Jon Walters, Ryan Shawcross, Marc Wilson, Matthew Etherington, Matthew Upson, Dean Whitehead, Glenn Whelan and Andy Wilkinson stayed at home. âIâm quite happy with what I have brought over,â said Pulis. âIt will be a strong starting XI. Iâve got a back four and everyone is a full international, plus the goalkeeper. Iâve got three midfield players who are full internationals, two out of three forwards who are internationals, Iâve got a captain who has played for his country. Itâs not a weak team. âMy big thing with this competition is that for English clubs, especially the so-called smaller clubs, I think, if you can find a little bit more time in between the games, it would help. I wouldnât argue if it was a straight knock out.â
If it's true, the team will be something along the lines of: Begovic Shotton Woodgate Huth Collins Pennant Diao Palacios Delap Jerome Jones Enough to put the fear of God into any Stoke fan!
According to the BBC: Stoke boss Tony Pulis will take only 15 players to Spain for the club's Europa League second-leg clash against Valencia on Thursday. A combination of injury and fatigue has forced Pulis to leave many first-team choices at home. Ryan Shawcross, Glenn Whelan, Marc Wilson, Dean Whitehead, Matthew Etherington, Jon Walters and Peter Crouch have all been left in the UK. Robert Huth is likely to play, while Lucas Dawson will be on the bench. Huth is serving a three-match ban in domestic football. Pulis said: "We've left a few behind but the team I'll pick is what I think is a very strong team. Every player that will start will be a full international, there are three captains of their countries and we'll be giving it a go. "We think Valencia are the best team we've played in Europe so far, no disrespect to [Dynamo] Kiev or Besiktas but we believe they're a level above them. "We know it's going to be a difficult game against a side full of quality but we'll do our best and that's what we always do." Stoke squad: Begovic, Sorensen, Huth, Collins, Shotton, Woodgate, Diao, Pennant, Delap, Arismendi, Palacios, Dawson, Jones, Fuller, Jerome.
And on the Stoke website: TONY PULIS has admitted that some of his key players are running on empty . . . after choosing to leave them at home for the Europa League tie against Valencia. Captain Ryan Shawcross, England striker Peter Crouch and his regular strike partner Jon Walters were among the notable absentees from a 16-man squad which arrived in Spain on Wednesday afternoon for the second leg of the Round of 32 encounter. Pulis is anxious to give those players a chance to recharge the batteries and clear up any knocks ahead of Sunday's Barclays Premier League meeting with a Swansea City side who have had a 15-day break after making an early exit from this season's FA Cup. It will therefore present opportunities to the likes of Jonathan Woodgate, Wilson Palacios, Jermaine Pennant, Cameron Jerome and Kenwyne Jones at the Estadio Mestalla. At his pre-match press conference in Valencia, City's manager explained: "There have been one or two players who have looked tired just recently. "We take a great deal of notice every week of Prozone stats and there are one or two whose monitor is showing empty, so they need a breather. "We also have a couple of injuries and knocks we are concerned about and it is important to get them right with the games we have coming up." He added: "I am quite happy with the players I have brought over. If you look at the squad, every player I have brought over has great experience. "At the weekend against Crawley, we made a number of changes and came through a difficult match; that's how strong our squad is these days. "The players here are fresh and ready to go, so the team I will put out tomorrow will be a strong one and they have all played a part in getting us this far." Pulis wants his players and the Club's supporters to enjoy the occasion as they are faced with the task of trying to overturn a one-goal deficit in Spain. "I think Valencia played exceptionally well at our place," he said. "They have all the tools and are the third best team in Spain - and Spain is a great footballing nation. "So we will be playing a team that is a little bit above what we have played against so far in this competition. They are a great team - they showed that last week - they have a great stadium and we have to just go out there and enjoy the occasion. "I am sure the 26,000 people who turned up last week enjoyed themselves and the supporters who have travelled over for this game will enjoy this occasion. We will give it our best and I just hope that we can give them a good game."
This is absolute B O L L O C K S iF that is what Tony Pulis is doing on Thursday.. I HOPE for his sake, his JOB and OUR club.. we get SIX EFFING pts v Swansea and Norwich because if not.. A couple of my best friends who are leaving the Brit at 6:00 am on Thursday morning.. will be ready to knock T.Ps HEAD OFF! So sorry for those who are going to Valencia.... A DISGRACE IF it's true. P.S. NO I did NOT ENJOY the game last WEEK Mr Pulis.. we we're not even CLOSE to OUR best and YOU know it! Rant over
Smither's To be honest matie.. I have not a clue WHY Pulis is doing this? So, Pennant is going to Valencia then? But he won't be playing v Swansea... ptf
Its just so random with no consistencey. We have managed to run certain players into the ground and played alot of players who are out of form week in week out, yet he didnt feel that it was commom sense to rest them against a team that had just been promoted from the conference? There will be alot of pissed off fans out there in Spain - unless we fluke a result!
Pulis' last line sort of sums up his attitude for this game: "We will give it our best and I just hope that we can give them a good game." Not exactly full of confidence is he?
We can still play a reasonably strong team; Sorenson Shotton Huth Woody Collins Pennant Palacios Delap Jerome Fuller Jones Just no decent subs: Begovic Arismendi Diao Dawson. That's how I'd set up, given the choice of players, and I think most would agree. Main downfall for me is Jones and Fuller up top, ideally only one should play, along with someone willing to run.
Yeah, they probably could! And 8 out of the 11 there will be dying to make an impact and get back in our starting 11, there's no better time for them. The odds are heavily against us to get anything out of this, but hopefully players that ain't had much game time can put a shift in and build a bit if confidence, and get a bit closer to the starting 11, time for a bit of a shake up.
I think we are all missing the point here! TP new these run of games were coming and also new his competition and the quality/formation he would have to play to get a result! So (on paper) he picked a stronger team to play a newley promoted conference team and offering no rest to key players, but takes which is in affect a reserve team (minus the odd player) to play in what is technically the biggest game of our clubs history - after a dismal home performance? There is clearly no logic, commom sense, consistency or continuity in how he plays or rotates his squad!
He probably thinks there's more chance of winning the FA cup than this one, and the league will be the priority. I can understand his logic, but I don't like it.
don't know why,but i thnk the 15 players he has taken out there is actually very decent We have all said that walters needs a rest (he is getting one) We have all said matty is off form, so drop him (he has done) We have all said play Pennant (he is doing) We have all said give Jerome a chance (he is now) We have all said unleash Ric (he might do) We have all said give Palacios some gametime (he will do) We have all said lets see what Arismendi can do (might happen) This team is not as bad as it first seems, but in some peoples eyes we have lost allready before a ****ing ball has even been kicked. Nevermind,KTF we will see at roughly 5pm Sunday if it was right or wrong.
I do believe he is expecting nowt from tonights game then, the team and no doubt the travelling fans, just there for the ride. Certain players have been knackered for a few weeks (ShawX, Walters) so why were'nt they rested in a rotational fashion before instead of resting them all together for this one match. Note though Rory has travelled, will play tonight and again on Sunday......... he's a star and the fittest in the squad!!
