Source: Team_Talk
Pulis confident of Potters progress
Tony Pulis is not worried the latest dressing-room row will have any effect on Stoke's ambition to become a top Premier League outfit.[LNB] In the last three months the Potters boss has had to deal with two separate dressing room leaks, the fall-out from defender Ryan Shawcross' leg-breaking tackle on Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey and players openly showing their frustrations towards him on the pitch.[LNB]The latest incident saw reports emerge of a room bust-up between captain Abdoulaye Faye and midfielder Glen Whelan in Sunday's 7-0 defeat at Chelsea.[LNB]That followed a leaked story in December which alleged Pulis and striker James Beattie had a physical altercation at Arsenal during a row over the players' Christmas party.[LNB]But Pulis maintains that, except for one or two rogue elements, everyone at the club was committed to doing all they could to ensure the Potters enjoyed top-flight longevity.[LNB]"They (incidents) can be damaging if you don't have such a solid base and foundation within the group and club," said Pulis.[LNB]"If it was at another football club where things weren't as solid it could cause you serious trouble and damage.[LNB]"I've been involved before in situations where one or two players have let the group down but it doesn't affect us because this group is so solid.[LNB]"This club has been built on togetherness from the boardroom, through the management staff, to the players to the supporters and that is the way we will remain.[LNB]"That togetherness takes you onto the field and takes you through hard times."[LNB]Pulis is two-thirds of the way through a three-year plan which he feels will allow Stoke's status to grow.[LNB]The disruptive elements within the squad will be moved on in the summer and new players who match the club's ethos brought in.[LNB]And Pulis feels the Potters are getting stronger with every season they stay in the top flight following their promotion in 2008 but cannot afford to stand still.[LNB]"Over the last four years what we have achieved is pretty remarkable," he said.[LNB]"We finished 12th last season and got to the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup but this season we're in a position to actually better that.[LNB]"To get to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, having beaten Arsenal and Manchester City, it has been a great season and people have to recognise that.[LNB]"If you look at the club I think we are the only ones in the Premier League who are debt-free, we are building a new training ground next season, which will be absolutely fantastic, and everything is in place.[LNB]"We have a local chairman (Peter Coates) and family who have put enormous amounts into the club and love the club and we are very lucky.[LNB]"This summer is as important as the last two summers; we will look to bring players in because we have to.[LNB]"If we get through next season then I think you will really see the football club blossom."[LNB]Pulis believes Stoke now have to start looking at moving to the next level and pointed to Saturday's visitors Everton as the benchmark for what can be done by clubs on a limited budget.[LNB]"Saturday is a great day for Peter Coates and his wife Deidre," he said.[LNB]"They are the chairman's wife's second-favourite club and they see Everton as a club we should take notice of and try to follow."
