Source: Daily_Mail
Stoke 3 Sunderland 2: Tony Pulis hoping to reap rewards of maverick John Carew
Everywhere he plays, he is instantly a fans' favourite but John Carew is not every manager's cup of tea.[LNB]When the striker joined Aston Villa in 2007, it was his seventh club in nine years, but then manager Martin O'Neill tamed him. [LNB]Now Stoke boss Tony Pulis, who snapped up Carew last month, hopes to repeat the feat after watching him score one and claim another on his home debut in the 3-2 win over Sunderland.[LNB]Pure delight: Stoke celebrate their dramatic win[LNB] [LNB]WHY HE'S A MAVERICK [LNB]As the son of a Gambian father and a Norwegian mother, his upbringing in Oslo was unorthodox.[LNB]Carew wanted to see the world and by the age of 27 had played in Spain, Italy, Turkey and France. He speaks several languages and says that when he retires he will just jump on a yacht and sail where the fancy takes him.[LNB]To catch his attention, a club have to offer a challenge which he can relish, which is what Villa did when O'Neill swapped him for Milan Baros four years ago.[LNB]INSECURITY[LNB]Carew is so laid-back he is almost horizontal but beneath the smile he is a player of complex insecurity. He needs loving and had plenty of that from O'Neill, who apparently gave Pulis glowing references too. 'It was Martin who convinced me,' said Pulis. 'He said he's a gentle giant and if you get him motivated, he's as good as anybody.'[LNB] Slide rule: Robert Huth (right) clinches three points[LNB] [LNB]OFF THE FIELD[LNB]Carew, who does not drink, was once fined by O'Neill for being in a lap-dancing club after the midnight curfew. The incident did not cause terminal damage to his relationship with his manager.[LNB]Carew has set up a foundation in Norway called 'Youth Against Violence' and is religious. At the same time he has appeared in the gossip columns after dating Alesha Dixon and Lauren Budd.[LNB]RUCKS IN FOOTBALL [LNB]One name. Gerard Houllier. Carew had a problem with the Frenchman when they were at Lyon, which is why he was part of the swap deal involving Baros. Houllier's arrival at Villa signalled a resumption of hostilities with the pair swapping insults. Pulis was only too pleased to offer an escape route.[LNB] Level pegging: John Carew (centre) scores his first goal in a Stoke shirt to make it one apiece[LNB][LNB] Stoke 3 Sunderland 2: Huth hits injury time winner to stun Black CatsVideo special: The seven best Premier League games (before Saturday's game at St James') [LNB] Explore more:People: Martin O'Neill, John Carew, Tony Pulis, Alesha Dixon, Gerard Houllier, Lauren Budd Places: Lyon, Spain, France, Norway, Italy, Turkey
