Tony Pulis To Leave Stoke

[Tin Soldier]

Not sure if this is the best thing for Stoke? Have not heard if he has been forced to move on or leaving on his own merits.

[Derek]

Club told him they think its probably time and he agreed.

[God is an Englishman]

About 2 weeks ago I was told he was going and that kenny jackett was taking over

[El Capitano]

Was your friend at that meeting too?

[God is an Englishman]

Was your friend at that meeting too?

[Outlaw 2.0]

Good move for all parties as long as they have per determined a successor, many people assume that a successor is only fitted for a top 5 side. Pulis has brought Stoke from a very poor place to a position in which someone can push on.

This can go one of two ways, on and up with a good manager and backing. Crash and burn with a poor manager and end up back at square one, in my opinion Pulis has had what I consider a successful tenure.

[Derek]

I would agree with that.

Benitez to Stoke?

[Outlaw 2.0]

I would agree with that.

Benitez to Stoke?

Was probably thinking someone like, Di Matteo or Poyet.....

[Old Master]

He did an incredible job keeping Stoke in the EPL but his lack of tactical ability began to grate on the fans who wanted to watch real football rather than kick-and-rush.

Whoever takes over will have a hell of a job to change the culture of the squad unless he is given the financial support to bring in some better players.

[Jimbob]

He did an incredible job keeping Stoke in the EPL but his lack of tactical ability began to grate on the fans who wanted to watch real football rather than kick-and-rush.

Whoever takes over will have a hell of a job to change the culture of the squad unless he is given the financial support to bring in some better players.

But thats the thing. Just because his sides didn't play attractive football doesn't make him tactically inept. I would think quite the opposite is true. He got results and thats all that matters. Look at where attractive football got Wigan. Apart from an FA Cup obviously

[BTAC]

Unbelievable. Pulis did a fantastic job at Stoke.

If they had a better spine of footballers, I'd believe someone capable of changing their style of play and climbing the table, but changing managers and styles with the current squad is almost guaranteed to fail.

[Le King]

hopefully now stoke can play a good brand of football that the fans and other nutreuls enjoy
pulis was boring as fuck

[Statler and Waldorf]

its got fuck all to do with style, its results that keeps a manager in a job or not.

[God is an Englishman]

its got shiraz all to do with style, its results that keeps a manager in a job or not.

[Con M]

The Stoke Board must have heeded the fans who were very disgruntled towards the end of the season.

* 2nd fewest goals scored in this season's EPL

* Most yellow cards

* Most draws (15, almost 40% of all their games)

Shawcross the leg-breaker, Huth the intimidator, Adam the nasty - Stoke fans finally had enough of this Pulis-inspired approach.

And even his English-media cheer squad who had previously backed his cynical whingeing news conferences about opponents' simulation went very quiet. The baseball-cap wearer won't be missed.

[Paleon Patros Germanos]

The Stoke Board must have heeded the fans who were very disgruntled towards the end of the season.

* 2nd fewest goals scored in this season's EPL

* Most yellow cards

* Most draws (15, almost 40% of all their games)

Shawcross the leg-breaker, Huth the intimidator, Adam the nasty - Stoke fans finally had enough of this Pulis-inspired approach.

And even his English-media cheer squad who had previously backed his cynical whingeing news conferences about opponents' simulation went very quiet. The baseball-cap wearer won't be missed.

Disagree. What was he supposed to do? He did his job and he done it well.

[Rose Pedals]

Was your friend at that meeting too?

[God is an Englishman]

Was your friend at that meeting too?

:?

[BTAC]

its got shiraz all to do with style, its results that keeps a manager in a job or not.

Couldn't agree more.

There's more than one way to play football.

[Knight15]

Wonder if the supporters will be happy if their sexy football leads to relegation

[Derek]

Perhaps Stoke have come to realise that their current brand/style of Football is not going to get them any higher than mid table and are looking for something different. Its obviously a risk they are willing to take, good luck to them.

[bapa]

Was your friend at that meeting too?

thats GOLD!

[God is an Englishman]

Was your friend at that meeting too?

thats GOLD!

It makes no sense though, why would someone who worked for umbro be at the meeting? I assume that's the friend he's talking about.

[Outlaw 2.0]

Mark Hughes linked with the top job, talk about taking a step backwards......

[Stitch This]

Mark Hughes linked with the top job......

[Tin Soldier]

Mark Hughes linked with the top job, talk about taking a step backwards......

bahaha thats the funniest thing ive ever heard. no way that can be true

[Outlaw 2.0]

Mark Hughes linked with the top job, talk about taking a step backwards......

bahaha thats the funniest thing ive ever heard. no way that can be true

Stoke City have made the first move in their search for a new manager after approaching Mark Hughes.
The former Queens Park Rangers and Fulham manager has been contacted by Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes and is under consideration as a successor to Tony Pulis, who was dismissed on Tuesday.
Hughes, 49, has been out of work since December after he was sacked by QPR but is on the radar of the Stoke board, with Scholes understood to be pushing him for the position.
The Welshman is interested in taking charge at the Britannia Stadium and could be interviewed next week, though Stoke are determined to bide their time before making an appointment. Hughes is not believed to the No 1 choice at this stage, with approaches to other candidates expected to be made next week.
Stoke are still putting the finishing touches to their shortlist and Cardiff manager Malky Mackay has now emerged as another potential contender, with Roberto Martinez - who is also wanted by Everton - and Gus Poyet understood to have been discussed by the hierarchy.
The search is being conducted by chairman Peter Coates and his son John, plus Scholes, while technical director Mark Cartwright will also be involved in the appointment.

[ozzie owl]

Mark Hughes linked with the top job, talk about taking a step backwards......

[pottermus]

As a life long Potter please do not let it be Mark Hughes. Phil Neville would be my choice.

[Outlaw 2.0]

As a life long Potter please do not let it be Mark Hughes. Phil Neville would be my choice.

STOKE CITY Football Club are delighted to confirm the appointment of Mark Hughes as the Club’s new manager.

The 49-year-old has penned a three-year deal at the Britannia Stadium just nine days after Tony Pulis departed following a seven-year spell in charge.

The Welshman, who has enjoyed a glittering career as both a player and manager, has been out of work for seven months following a spell with Queens Park Rangers, for whom he kept in the Premier League in the first season following his appointment.

Speaking to the Club’s official website, Hughes said that he is relishing the opportunity of working for a Club with such a fantastic infrastructure, and believes he is fully equipped to move the Club forward.

“The Coates family have given me a great opportunity to come into a fantastically run Football Club, with wonderful facilities, and hopefully continue the good work that has been carried out in recent years," he said when he was officially unveiled as manager.

“I am an ambitious manager and this is an ambitious Club. We want to become a consistent top ten Premier League Club, and I firmly believe that with an incredible amount of hard work we have a great chance of achieving that.”

Hughes’ appointment represents a major coup for the Club, for whom Chairman Peter Coates feels was the real stand-out candidate for the job.

He said: “We have thought long and hard about this decision, and we have the man that we feel is the right fit for this Football Club.

“Myself, my son John and Tony Scholes have given the decision a great deal of thought, and we have analysed to death Mark's career. We are satisfied that his CV is very, very impressive.

“We have analysed everything he has done, and we feel that he has a remarkably fantastic record as a manager.”

He added: “We looked at what he did at Fulham, and Blackburn in particular. They are similar Clubs to us in many ways, and we feel that he is coming here into a similar environment.”

A further announcement regarding Mark Hughes’ backroom staff will be made in due course.

I would like to be the first one to wish Stoke fans the best in season 13/14