Pulis faces toughest summer yet

20 April 2010 14:02
TEAMtalk's Mark Holmes looks at the challenges Stoke are facing - including the future of Tuncay and their habit of throwing away leads.[LNB] You may find it hard to believe, but Stoke's fans are not universally happy with what has gone on this season.[LNB]Eleventh in the Premier League, on course to better last season's points total and well clear of the relegation scrap, an 'outsider' would be hard-pressed to find fault with their achievements. [LNB]The feeling in Stoke-On-Trent is slightly different. The level-headed, grounded Potters fans are still pinching themselves at a third season of Premier League football but the more ambitious - or some might say greedy - ones are actually disappointed the side isn't doing better.[LNB]Is that a case of fans' expectation growing too great, or do they have a case?[LNB]Fortress Britannia? Not any more[LNB]I mentioned in a blog last month that Stoke's home form was not as good as the media would have you believe.[LNB]It was fantastic last season but but it's actually the Potters' away form that has been the more impressive this time around, with just five defeats on the road - the same as Chelsea and Manchester United - and none in 2010.[LNB]Stoke's form at the Britannia on the other hand has not been so impressive and only four teams - Portsmouth, West Ham, Wolves and Bolton - have lost more games at home.[LNB]It was never going to be easy for Pulis' side to replicate last season's exploits but a record of seven wins, five draws, six defeats, and a goal difference of only +3 suggests something has gone wrong this campaign.[LNB]But what? Well, as a season ticket holder myself I can tell you the atmosphere has taken a massive nosedive, and that must surely have had an effect. [LNB]There is a lot more expectation these days and supporters are clearly finding it tough to turn up the noise against the likes of Bolton, who are now seen as easy victims.[LNB]The fans are now waiting to be entertained and this season's home performances have simply not achieved that. An average of 1.3 goals per game is not good enough and Pulis will have to add more guile and skill to his squad this summer if he wants to keep the fans on side next term.[LNB]Throwing away leads[LNB]Stoke were cruising against Bolton on Saturday but an 85th-minute lead was turned into a full-time defeat and it is not a new feeling for the Potters, who have thrown away 22 points from winning positions this season - the most in the league.[LNB]The Bolton result was a bit of a freak to be fair - Stoke hit the post twice and missed a host of other good chances - but there is a school of thought that Pulis' natural cautiousness opens the side up to these sort of results.[LNB]The Welshman would no doubt admit himself that his first target from any game is a clean sheet and that is no bad thing in itself.[LNB]However, he also seems to have a 'hold what you have' attitude and it is not uncommon to see a Stoke side cruise in the first half only to sit back in the second.[LNB]Their defensive record is impressive and the backline is capable of soaking up plenty of pressure but only three 1-0 wins this season proves that one goal is rarely enough at this level.[LNB]Saturday was the fourth time Stoke have lost a game they led going into the last 10 minutes and the buck must stop with Pulis, who needs to throw caution to the wind and allow his players to go for the jugular in games like the Bolton one.[LNB]In 72 Premier League games, Stoke have won by more than one goal just six times and that says it all about their attitude. Supporters have accepted that until now but expectation will rise even higher next season and Pulis needs to take the shackles off his players.[LNB]Do that and he'll be rewarded with more goals and almost certainly less late heartache.[LNB]The Tuncay conundrum[LNB]When Stoke signed Tuncay from Middlesbrough last summer they shocked me, every other Stoke supporter and quite probably everyone else in the country.[LNB]He impressed me more than any other player when he played at the Britannia last season so to say I was excited by his arrival is a bit of an understatement.[LNB]He is a player of unbelievable skill and quality and one that I felt sure would take us to the 'next level' but, to be quite honest, he has been a massive letdown.[LNB]The first problem with the Turk is that there is no obvious position for him in the team. He'd clearly revel 'in the hole' but Stoke don't play that way, which has seen him deployed on the wing and more often as the main striker.[LNB]Out wide he has been poor and had little effect on games so his role is now as the stand-in for Ricardo Fuller, who remains far and away the Potters' most effective forward.[LNB]Throw in Tuncay's hefty pay packet and seemingly large ego - he once again walked straight down the tunnel after being substituted against Bolton - and fans are beginning to wonder whether the club should cut their losses on him.[LNB]And therein lies the conundrum. Is it really a good idea to get rid of a player that captains his country and has scored a Champions League hat-trick against Manchester United? A player that has been tracked by Chelsea in the past and one that would not be short of suitors should Stoke make him available?[LNB]Would shipping him out be a sign that Stoke cannot accommodate that sort of talent in their side? Would that dissuade other big names from joining the club?[LNB]Pulis needs to ask himself all of these questions when he considers the future of Tuncay this summer but he basically has two options - build the team around the 28-year-old, or admit defeat and ship him out.[LNB]And now the positives[LNB]Pulis has a big job on his hands this summer but he has every right to look back at the season with pride and give himself a pat on the back for the number of steps forward the team has made.[LNB]The away form has been a huge positive and the quality of football has definitely improved from last season too - Matthew Etherington has been a revelation on the wing, Fuller has again been excellent in attack and Dean Whitehead has made a difference in midfield.[LNB]Robert Huth has proved a fantastic acquisition at the back, Asmir Begovic now offers genuine competition for Thomas Sorensen and there are even finally signs of some youngsters breaking into the first team.[LNB]No matter how many faults I find, this season has been a massive success and there is no reason to believe Pulis will not continue his remarkable record of improvement next term.[LNB]But he has a tough summer ahead. He needs to further improve the quality of football by adding proper full-backs, a creative midfielder and extra winger. Then he needs to add all these players to the team without losing the qualities Stoke have become famous for - their work rate and team ethic.[LNB]It will be Pulis' biggest test as a manager and we will only know in 12 months' time whether he has passed it.

Source: Team_Talk