Post by mortontheblade on Dec 21, 2007 18:18:28 GMT -1
Stoke boss Tony Pulis is so confident of leading the Potters to promotion that he has already started hatching a Premier League survival plan.
Stoke are currently on the crest of a wave after a six-game unbeaten run lifted them to fourth in the Championship table, just three points outside an automatic promotion place.
The good feeling has continued off the pitch with Salif Diao finally signing a contract, star striker Ricardo Fuller committing himself to the club and Ryan Shawcross agreeing to remain at the Britannia Stadium.
Pulis is also thought to have a significant amount of money to spend in the January transfer window and the Welshman claims he has got a few exciting targets lined up.
"If we can add quality to the great spirit we've already got, then why shouldn't we do it?
"I've got one or two targets that will really excite people and ignite what we are trying to do.
"I was convinced we were going to do it last year and it took me a month to get over the fact we didn't.
"In fact, I could hardly face coming back for pre-season training, but I'm up and running now and desperate to try to see it out this year.
"There's a buzz around the place I've never felt before, even last year when we were riding high with more experienced players."
Stoke have been likened in some quarters to Derby's promotion winning side from last season but Pulis is confident the Potters will not suffer the same fate as the Rams should they go up.
"I think we will be better prepared on targets," he explained. "There's things in place to identify very good players in a certain country, players that will help us stay in the Premiership.
"If we get there I believe we have set something in place and have certain areas covered. Then we will be able to compete at a level we cannot compete at right now, and get in players that others don't yet know about."
Meanwhile Pulis, speaking at a 'Meet the Manager' session arranged by the club on Thursday night, has urged the clubs' fans to give Carl Hoefkens a warm reception on Saturday.
Hoefkens returns to the Britannia Stadium with West Brom for the first time since leaving City in the summer and Pulis has only good words to say of the Belgian.
"I hope he gets a decent reception because he did smashing for us," he said.
"For all that people say about us, we got on fine and I'll be the first to meet him in the corridor to welcome him.
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Stoke are currently on the crest of a wave after a six-game unbeaten run lifted them to fourth in the Championship table, just three points outside an automatic promotion place.
The good feeling has continued off the pitch with Salif Diao finally signing a contract, star striker Ricardo Fuller committing himself to the club and Ryan Shawcross agreeing to remain at the Britannia Stadium.
Pulis is also thought to have a significant amount of money to spend in the January transfer window and the Welshman claims he has got a few exciting targets lined up.
"If we can add quality to the great spirit we've already got, then why shouldn't we do it?
"I've got one or two targets that will really excite people and ignite what we are trying to do.
"I was convinced we were going to do it last year and it took me a month to get over the fact we didn't.
"In fact, I could hardly face coming back for pre-season training, but I'm up and running now and desperate to try to see it out this year.
"There's a buzz around the place I've never felt before, even last year when we were riding high with more experienced players."
Stoke have been likened in some quarters to Derby's promotion winning side from last season but Pulis is confident the Potters will not suffer the same fate as the Rams should they go up.
"I think we will be better prepared on targets," he explained. "There's things in place to identify very good players in a certain country, players that will help us stay in the Premiership.
"If we get there I believe we have set something in place and have certain areas covered. Then we will be able to compete at a level we cannot compete at right now, and get in players that others don't yet know about."
Meanwhile Pulis, speaking at a 'Meet the Manager' session arranged by the club on Thursday night, has urged the clubs' fans to give Carl Hoefkens a warm reception on Saturday.
Hoefkens returns to the Britannia Stadium with West Brom for the first time since leaving City in the summer and Pulis has only good words to say of the Belgian.
"I hope he gets a decent reception because he did smashing for us," he said.
"For all that people say about us, we got on fine and I'll be the first to meet him in the corridor to welcome him.
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