Tony Pulis is ready for the challenge of keeping Crystal Palace in the Premier League, but insists he is not just a "firefighter".
The 55-year-old was on Monday unveiled as the Eagles' new manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal, replacing Ian Holloway who resigned from the job a month ago.
With Palace in the bottom three of the table, chairman Steve Parish has turned to Pulis in a bid to try and stay up.
No matter about the appointment, it hasn't swayed the bookies in any way, Palace are STILL favourites for the drop.
And there are two major questions: 1) Is Pulis a better manager than Gus Poyet; 2) Have Palace a stronger squad?
And it's NO to both!
The Welshman won promotion with Stoke and kept them in the top flight for four seasons before leaving his post in May, and has a reputation for producing hard-to-beat sides.
Tony Pulis: "What people don't talk about is I've been promoted out of every division and been to the final of an FA Cup.
"People talk about me being a firefighter, but I have also been very successful. It annoys me that in this country you get pigeon-holed for certain things.
"Everyone talks about not being relegated, but as a manager I have got a few promotions.
"It's a club in the Premiership, a smashing club with great history. It's going to be a tough job and I have not come in with any illusions.
"This club has had a remarkable few years and the board of directors and chairman have to be applauded for looking after the club and pushing it on.
"This is an opportunity to try and achieve something Palace have not achieved; get in the Premiership and stay there and take the club forward."
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday November 3015:00 Aston Villa v Sunderland 15:00 Cardiff City v Arsenal 15:00 Everton v Stoke City 15:00 Norwich City v Crystal Palace 15:00 West Ham United v Fulham 17:30 Newcastle United v West Brom
Sunday December 112:00 Tottenham v Man Utd 14:05 Hull City v Liverpool 16:10 Chelsea v Southampton 16:10 Manchester City v Swansea City
Tuesday December 320:00 Crystal Palace v West Ham United
Wednesday December 419:45 Arsenal v Hull City19:45 Liverpool v Norwich City19:45 Man Utd v Everton19:45 Southampton v Aston Villa19:45 Stoke City v Cardiff City19:45 Sunderland v Chelsea 19:45 Swansea City v Newcastle United20:00 Fulham v Tottenham20:00 West Brom v Manchester City
Sunderland Fixtures
Saturday November 3015:00 Premier League Aston Villa v SunderlandWednesday December 419:45 Premier League Sunderland v ChelseaSaturday December 717:30 Premier League Sunderland v TottenhamSaturday December 1415:00 Premier League West Ham United v SunderlandTuesday December 1719:45 League Cup - Qtr Sunderland v ChelseaSaturday December 2115:00 Premier League Sunderland v Norwich CityThursday December 2615:00 Premier League Everton v SunderlandSaturday December 2817:30 Premier League Cardiff City v Sunderland
Source: Sunderland-Mad
Source: FOOTYMAD
