By all accounts Stoke have been one of the sides underachieving so far in the Premier League. One of the more active teams in the transfer market over the summer, many expected the Potters to push for a top-half finish this term, but as of yet they have shown little to suggest they are capable of this. Next up for Stoke is a tricky trip to Everton which might be crucial in ensuring that Tony Pulis’ side aren’t dragged in to a relegation scrap this term.

Now in their third season back in the big time, Stoke are gradually going about changing their reputation as the brutes of the league. While there is still no doubting the Potters commitment and general work ethic, what has been noticeable is their subtle movement away from their notorious long-ball game.

Unfortunately though this hasn’t always brought results and after nine games Stoke are sitting in the precarious position of 13^th place. While the league is tight at the moment, and there is a whole host of teams separated by a few points, defeat tomorrow could see Stoke fall in to the bottom three.

Speak to Stoke fans and they will tell you that avoiding defeat tomorrow is vital, because they realise that results haven’t come as easy this season.  If the Potters were to fall in to the drop-zone at this early stage, their inconsistency might make it difficult for them to claw themselves to safety.

Unlike other years, there isn’t a team which is going to be a certainty for the drop and the league is very even. But somebody has got to go down, and despite their investment in the likes of Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jermaine Pennant over the summer there is no reason at all why the Potters aren’t as vulnerable as everybody else.

Personally I feel that in order to guarantee safety Pulis might have to resort back to his old ways, which is grinding out results and been very difficult to play against, in my opinion this needs to start by returning from Merseyside with at least a point.

Stoke continued their recent revival with a hard fought win over Newcastle today, but the game will have been a learning curve for Potters boss Tony Pulis who had to switch back to his old ways after a poor first half.

The Potters boss comes under criticism for his long ball tactics that offend most eyes. But today he opted to leave out long throw king Rory Delap, instead opting to play a side which to its credit opted to play a style that wasn’t as uncompressing as Stokes usual approach.

But the change didn’t work and with Stoke trailing 1-0 at the break it wasn’t long before Pulis opted to revert back to the tactics he knew best. The result saw a complete change in the flow of the game as Delap and fellow substitute Ricardo Fuller set about reversing the deficit. They did exactly that as the visitors came from behind to record an impressive 2-1 win. The result was enough to lift them out of the bottom three, and complete an impressive week.

You have to feel that Pulis wanted to adopt a different style, and not rely so much on the tactics that have been so often slated by the media. But with them quite evidently not working, he deserves praise for accepting that a change was needed, and that his old way was the best way to pick up a much needed result.

But for Newcastle there will be great disappointment that they couldn’t build on their first half lead, and go on to continue what has been a fairly impressive return to life in the Premier League. But I still think they have easily shown enough in their opening few games to suggest that they shouldn’t have a problem come May.

At the moment they are just struggling to make the most out of good spells in games. Look at Stoke today, they had a good spell, scored twice, and took three points. That is the sort of clinical nature that is needed for success in the Premier League. While they do have plenty of Premier League experience, the players in the side who haven’t been there before need to learn this quickly.

This will come though, and as I said I can’t see the Toon getting pulled in to any relegation fight. The same can quite comfortably be said for Stoke who after a slow start are quickly improving. If either of these two sides struggle this season, something will have gone horribly wrong.

While Robert Huth’s stoppage time strike may have earned Stoke their first Premier League win of the season, the night will forever be remembered for the unbelievable dedication shown by Potters boss Tony Pulis.

Hours after the death of his Mother, Pulis arrived at the Britannia Stadium to inspire his side to a dramatic turn around. His return gave everybody at the ground a boost and no doubt pushed them on to victory.

Potters assistant manager admits the arrival of Pulis was a surprise: “”That’s Tony, he’s passionate about his football club,” He told Sky Sports.

“He’s had a very sad day, but he wanted to get here and he wanted to be part of it. We are glad he did because he’s the manager of this football club and we wanted him here.

“He’s a great manager. He’s done fantastic here. We have got the result we wanted, so we are all pleased.”

Pulis has certainly endeared himself to me with his actions tonight and I hazard a guess that the Stoke manager’s actions will have seen a lot more warm to him.  Often criticised for his tactics one thing you could never criticise Pulis for was a lack of commitment, and that has only been reinforced further after tonight.

Unfortunately the criticism over Pulis’ method will always remain, and no doubt I will be the first to lambast Stoke for their physical long-ball game in the future. But right now I have nothing but admiration for Pulis and would like to this opportunity to pass on my condolences to Pulis and his family during this difficult time.

Arguably one of the most surprising transfers of deadline day was Eidur Gudjohnsen’s move to Stoke City. The former Chelsea forward has agreed a season long loan at the Britannia Stadium from Monaco, but will the Icelandic forward fit in with Stoke’s notorious physical game?

That will be the worry for Potters boss Tony Pulis who has been reluctant to change his approach to the challenge of taking Stoke to the next level. Fans have been crying out for the club to bring in a different type of player and to challenge the pre-perceived perception of a typical Stoke signing.

But Pulis attempted to do this last summer and the singing of Tuncay from Middlesbrough hasn’t really lived up to expectations. The Turkish forward has failed to fit in with Stoke’s style and it lead to constant rumours that he would seek a move away during this summer.

Gudjohnsen isn’t quite in the same situation as Tuncay though. The former Barcelona man hasn’t been used to the physical side of things during his time with Chelsea and Bolton and I expect him to have more success than Tuncay.

Some Stoke fans may be hoping that Pulis scraps his current style and attempts to play conventional Premier League football but they shouldn’t hold their breath.  Despite three league defeats to start the season Pulis has been given the financial backing of his chairman today and the result is a signing which will no doubt have thrilled Stoke fans.

Personally I was surprised that Pulis would opt to sign a player like Gudjohnsen though, and I am even more surprised to see Tuncay remain a Stoke player. Gudjohnsen is a player who probably could adapt to the demands of playing in a Stoke shirt, but for Tuncay to have success this year you feel that Pulis would have to change his method.

Gudjohnsen though won’t find it easy to adapt to Stoke’s style however we have seen in the past that he has all the ability to be a real success in the Premier League, so given time expect him to hit a goal rush with Stoke and maybe take them to new heights.

Stoke once again have compounded the critics and not only avoided the dreadful “second season syndrome”, but actually improved their points and placing from last season. It’s a fantastic achievement for the club and its passionate and noisy fans. I have to say that as an away fan at either the Brittania Stadium or the old Victoria Ground, listening to the Stoke fans regal you a blast of “Delilah” is an experience you have to witness. Hats off to them, it’s an impressive sonic attack that seems to come from everywhere.

To the modern fan, most people assume Stoke have seemingly come from nowhere and when I started watching football, Stoke City were unfortunately on the way down. They have suffered over modern seasons, but don’t be fooled by the clubs league standings over the last 20 years. Throughout most of the 20th century the club were a well established First Division side.

Now they’ve begun to re-establish themselves and a lot of credit has to go to Tony Pulis for the work he’s put in at the club since he returned for his second stint as manager. Today he’s had an interview with the BBC’s underated Juliette Ferrington in which he’s opened up about some of the leaks and gossip that threatened to derail the clubs progress earlier this season. Following on from Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s refreshingly honest interview in the Guardian, it makes such a refreshing change for someone to deal with the issues fans actually talk about.

I find Pulis an interesting interviewee, his experiences in the lower leagues as a player and manager stands him in good stead. He’s been where it really matters in football, rather than the cossetted world of top flight football. He has an astounding record of never being relegated as a manager so far at the 6 jobs he’s had since he replaced Harry Redknapp at Bournemouth in 1992 and he knows what a club needs to keep it up. It may not be pretty sometimes, but it works.

In the interview today, he’s named names and laid it out for all the fans to see. He’s fed up with people running to the press and leaking stories, which in his opinion destabilises the club.“I thought Beattie was one of the main reasons we stayed up in the first year, he was exceptional, but he hasn’t had a good season in my opinion. “Kitson was our record signing, and I don’t think we’ve got what we thought we were going to get, to be perfectly honest.”

Regardless of what players may think or what John Terry may say to the press, the power at a football club has to lay with the manager. Fans may have favourite players, but ultimately it is the manager who’s neck is on the line every time his team kick off. He’s the one who gets the stick if the side loses and stands back when the team win. Players don’t get sacked when the team struggles, the manager does. The last thing a newly promoted side needs is a couple of ego fuelled players thinking they’re the only thing that matters at a club.

The two players he names can point the fingers all they want, but they simply haven’t performed this season at all. Kitson’s tenure has been a bit of a disaster to be honest, but you can’t go shouting your mouth off about the manager. He was bought to score goals and simply hasn’t produced anywhere near the form he showed at Reading. Beattie on the other hand, has always had a reputation as a bit of a “prima-donna”, so it was seemed more a question of when he’d blow up rather than why. He is a classic example of potential being wasted by poor off field discipline. Ironically both have drink driving convictions.

Martin Keown tonight criticised Pulis for his comments, but I applaud him for his honesty. I’m sick to death of pampered players whining because they are not the be all and end all at clubs they clearly feel aren’t big enough for them. Pulis would do well in selling the pair of them and investing in some raw talent that has it all to prove rather than two players who feel they are bigger than Stoke City. No doubt, someone will want them but Stoke City are better of without them.

The two big stories this weekend not related to Manchester United’s getting the first leg of the quadruple would have to be events that transpired at the Riverside and at the Emirates Stadium.

We’ll start with Liverpool because after such a great result midweek against Real Madrid, their loss at the Riverside defied belief. And the papers were quick to fill column inches with their own post match thoughts. Sam Wallace compares the Liverpool situation to that of Nigel Clough’s power struggle at Derby County. Personally I don’t see that much of a comparison as Rafa and Hicks for the moment appear to have formed a loose partnership. Piers Morgan heads down the character assassination route calling Rafa the most arrogant manager in the history of the Premier League. That’s just harsh. Patrick Barclay sneaks the line in his column about Rick Parry that Rafa is the one who has to answer for the results, not Parry himself. Don’t expect that anytime soon. This Independent column pretty much states what Rafa is confirming Sunday, the title race is all over.

It’s almost become a recording at the Emirates, a Premier League nil draw. The results are something that just baffle any mind and after the result against Roma midweek, you would think confidence would have reigned supreme against Fulham. However after Saturday’s result, all Wenger could come up with is “Maybe is is partly psychological. We are getting in good positions but not taking the chances.”

Maybe? Is that the best you could come up with? At this point it is completely psychological. When week in and week out your side can’t finish in front of goal, it becomes a mental thing. Wenger can praise your keeper all you want, and keep the faith in Arsenal’s stars, but you simply have to motivate your players to get goals. That is simply something Wenger hasn’t been able to do. Maybe Theo Walcott’s return to training can be the boost that Arsenal sorely need.

Other Stories
The other big result this weekend was Aston Villa blowing a two goal lead to Stoke City at home. That didn’t stop Tony Pulis hoping pre-match that Villa finished in the top four. Post match it was Martin O’Neill not happy at the arrogant and over confident nature Villa had after going two goals up.

In other Villa news, Martin O’Neill has responded to disgruntled Villa fans who decided to fly out to Moscow just to see the Aston Villa ‘c’ side lose to CSKA Moscow. His offer, dinner with himself and the players. I guess that works, but I was thinking more a reimbursement check for expenses after having to endure that game.

The cracks are starting to show at the KC Stadium. After Geovanni’s ridiculous antics after being subbed, Phil Brown gave him the verbal hair dryer treatment. I expect that one to get much more heated before it cools off.

Speaking of hair dryer treatments, Rio Ferdinand is still sacred of Sir Alex’s.

Tony Mowbray continues to say he will not stand down from his footballing philosophy. That’s even after another defeat.

Bolton fans probably aren’t happy after Gary Megson has agreed to a new rolling contract at the Reebok Stadium.

Florent Malouda says the lack of first team action could cause him to consider his Chelsea future. I say take a hike. You were a good player for France, but the English game is not your brand of football.

And finally, if the News of the World is to be believed (and I normally don’t unless they have the video to prove it), Manchester United is going to throw 200,000 a week at Cristiano Ronaldo to stay.

Just one more thing before I go. Has anyone noticed how many clubs are now within three points of the drop?

Well the rumblings of yesterday have come to fruition today, on two counts. The first happening in South America, the other happening at the Riverside.

I can understand Carlos Tevez wanting his future sorted. But the situation with Manchester United seems to get crazier by the day. After firing back at Ferguson’s claims of rejecting a contract offer and saying he nor his agent had seen a contract, Tevez fired what I think could be the fatal jab when he admitted that he’s going to start hearing offers from other clubs.

In my mind, Carlos Tevez is skating on ultra thin ice right now. You’re not an out and out starter at Manchester United and I’m going to go out on a limb and assume you’re wanting mega pounds to stay. However to more or less say you’re ready to leave Manchester United and (while I’ll admit this comment is off handed), saying he’d love to play for Real Madrid, the corner that is being back into is not an easy one to walk out of.

Tevez needs to understand that being a squad player means you are not going to make what you think you’re worth at Manchester United. Only the week in and week out players guaranteed in the starting eleven will. If you think you’re bigger than the club, do yourself a favor and simply go ahead and leave. Ferguson won’t deal with the headache.

The other story from last night that came home to roost was the formal transfer request Stewart Downing made to Middlesbrough. It appears clear that Downing wants to continue his career under the wing of Harry Redknapp at Tottenham, but not only was Downing’s formal transfer request denied, Tottenham’s 12 million pound bid was also denied.

This situation reads to me very similar to the situation we saw last year with one Dimitar Berbatov.  Downing seems to be doing everything possible to get ouf of the club, be damned about the relationships made and the respect of the fans you have. While I understand we haven’t hit the sulk level yet, I expect that to happen in short order. The intentions have been made clear, and the impression I get is that Downing isn’t going to stop until he’s out of the Riverside for the comforts of North London.

Steve Gibson is in a tight spot. While I agree with him for making a player honor a contact, how much more of this nonsense will he tolerate. Gibson though saying ‘I repeat: none of our senior players will be leaving the Riverside Stadium this month’ tells me that he’s ready for the long haul that this January window will bring. But one thing Gibson should realize is Daniel Levy has very recently been in Gibson’s shoes, and knows what the final outcome ultimately will be.

Other Stories
Add Arsene Wenger to the back of Sir Alex Ferguson in saying the fixture list is ‘unfair’. Where to do I get my tissues? You’re supposed to be top four sides. Quit crying about who you have to face and when you have to face them.

Joe Cole seems a tad bit unhappy about being replaced for the 13th match in a row and is wanting to meet with Scolari about why that is the case. Just another fire for Scolari to put out. It’s funny though all these little fires are growing into one big inferno.

Wayne Bridge promises that his best is yet to come. As one Manchester City fan put it to me ‘that is until he gets injured’.

Tony Pulis thinks that bringing in players will lift the mood around the Stoke City squad. That is until they decide to take pop shots at each other during a match.

A Column to go Home By
Peter Bills questions if Chelsea have the stomach to fight for the title, FA Cup, and Champions League. I’ve been asking that same question as a Chelsea fan since the second week of the season.

The English Premier League provides the biggest stage in the world for players, managers, and coaches alike to showcase their various skills and talents.  Audiences in the millions around the world watch teams and players, as fans tune into whatever TV or Internet coverage is available on a daily basis.  An EPL managerial position is one of the most sought after jobs in football.

The successful veteran managers are well known and leaders like Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have become iconic symbols of their respective clubs.  In addition, other EPL battle hardened leaders with several years in the English top flight to add to their CVs include coaches such as Rafa Benitez, Martin O’Neill, Harry Redknapp, Mark Hughes, and Steve Bruce.

With the astronomically high stakes and the pressure cooker that is the managerial hot seat of an EPL team, we’re going to take a look at the newcomers – the EPL “rookie” managers.  Seven of the 20 teams are coached by managers in their first year of leading an English club in the top flight.  For the most part, they are certainly not cutting their teeth in their first managerial assignment but to qualify for the list they must be in their first year as an EPL manager.  Club expectations vary quite dramatically in this group, from survival to Champions League glory, but it’s interesting to review how the new leaders are faring and what we might expect as the season progresses. 

Blackburn Rovers:  Paul Ince

Previous Managerial Positions:  Macclesfield Town (2006); MK Dons (2007)

Appointment Background:  After Mark Hughes was recruited to lead the renovation at Manchester City, Ince became somewhat of a surprise candidate to take over at Ewood Park.  Blackburn have enjoyed an extensive run in the Premier league and in recent seasons have challenged for a European qualifying spot, developing into a solid Premiership outfit under the guidance of Hughes.  Ince took a huge step up from the lower leagues and despite success in 2007 with the MK Dons, he has to quickly come to terms with learning the managerial trade at the highest level.

Expectations:  Sustain Blackburn’s status as a top 10 team and continue to push for Euro qualification.

Progress:  Right now not good.  Rovers had some early success bagging a first win under Ince over Everton on the opening day of the season.  Since then form has dipped and Blackburn sit second from bottom in the league with just 10 more points acquired since that initial victory.

Looking Forward:  Attendances seem down – at least the games I’ve seen and there doesn’t appear to be much optimism.  The squad is probably too good to be sucked into a relegation battle but it’s already been brought up enough to make Ince address the relegation issue with the media.  Ince will need to get this team to at least mid-table if he hopes to make this a long-term assignment.

Chelsea:  Phil Scolari

Previous Managerial Positions:  Numerous clubs in the Middle East, Brazil, and Asia in early career managing 15 teams in 15 years from 1982-1997, including the Kuwait national team in 1991; Palmeiros (1997); Cruzeiro (2000); Brazil (2001); Portugal (2003)

Appointment Background:  Avram Grant was never considered the replacement for Jose Mourinho and, despite a decent 2007 season in which Chelsea finished second in both the EPL and the Champions League, the search for his successor was on well before John Terry hit the post.  Big Phil was named Chelsea boss during Euro 2008.

Expectations:  Win just about everything with an exciting and attacking brand of football.

Progress:  As expected, Solari has adjusted to life in the Stamford Bridge cauldron with ease.  He is popular with the fans and press alike, and appears to have a genuine rapport with the players.  Chelsea are playing with attacking flair and style, leading the way at the top of the league.  Despite a setback in their last European Champions League match, they are in good shape to progress.

Looking Forward:  They will win something this year or at least come very close.  They are a solid team and even if Roman does not break out the cash again in January, Phil has more than he needs to work with to be successful.  Chances are he will be around for a long while as Chelsea campaign for silverware on all fronts.

Hull City:  Phil Brown

Previous Managerial Positions:  Derby (2005)

Appointment Background:  Took over in December, 2006 with Hull 22nd in the Championship.  Successfully fought off relegation and subsequently, the following season, led the Tigers to top-flight football for the first time in their history.

Expectations:  Avoid Relegation.

Progress:  The amount of material already generated on the accomplishments of Hull City and Phil Brown since starting their inaugural season speaks volumes. They are everybody’s favorite ‘other’ team (except for maybe Grimsby fans).  They have already collected over half of the 40 points usually deemed necessary to survive and have recorded some impressive wins notably at the Emirates and White Hart Lane.  It’s not all been rosy but they are the ‘feel-good’ story of the season so far.

Looking Forward:  They probably will not be able to maintain their initial early form but a solid mid-table position is more than reachable for Brown’s team.  Even if they do fall from grace, Phil Brown has established himself as a top tier managerial candidate for a few years.

Portsmouth:  Tony Adams

Previous Managerial Positions:  Wycombe (2003)

Appointment Background:  Harry wanted to go to Spurs-Spurs paid Portsmouth 5 mil-Big Tone was promoted.

Expectations:  Tough to gauge so it would be good to hear from some Pompey fans.  Portsmouth have been continuously improving over the past couple of seasons and enter the 08-09 season as FA Cup holders.  At the very least Adams will need to maintain a consistent and capable Premiership team.

Progress:  Too early to tell although Adams has been on the coaching stuff during the renaissance at Fratton Park and can be credited to contributing to their recent success.

Looking Forward:  If Adams can keep the squad around mid-table or better he should be fine for another year or two.  January could be a key month in terms of either building or dismantling the team, especially if ‘Arry comes calling with his checkbook.

Stoke City:  Tony Pulis

Previous Managerial Positions:  Bournemouth (1992); Gillingham (1995); Bristol City (1999); Portsmouth (2000); Stoke (2002); Plymouth (2005)

Appointment Background:  Returned to Stoke for his second stint after new ownership at the Britannia Stadium in 2006.  Achieved promotion in his second season back at the club to give the Potters their first top flight football in 23 years.

Expectations:  Avoid relegation.

Progress:  City are hovering around the relegation zone in a tightly packed mid to lower table clutch of clubs.  Stoke are playing a very direct style of football that has seem them record decent wins against Villa, Spurs, and Arsenal in addition to earning a very respectable draw at Anfield.  If they can avoid a spiral of successive defeats, they have a good shot at securing a second EPL season.

Looking Forward:  Fans seem happy and the players seem happy.  Unless the team go into a big slide Pulis is probably safe in his job.  Continued dedication and consistency could garner him a second season in the Premier League.

West Bromich Albion:  Tony Mowbray

Previous Managerial Positions:  Ipswich (Caretaker 2002), Hibernian (2004)

Appointment Background:  Replaced Bryan Robson in 2006 after West Brom had been relegated.  Achieved promotion back to the Premiership at the second attempt and guided the team to the FA Cup Semi-Final last season.

Expectations:  Avoid relegation

Progress:  Early returns were promising for WBA as they secured their best ever start to a Premier League campaign.  Form has since plummeted and the Baggies have just 1 point from their past 7 games while being outscored 17-3, and they currently sit at the foot of the table.

Looking forward:  If there is a bright spot, it is that the Premier is so tight this year.  A couple of wins on the trot can see any bottom club climb to mid-table.  Nevertheless, the current run of results is alarming and Mowbray will need to turn it around quickly if he wants a second Premier term to establish his top-flight managerial credentials.

West Ham United:  Gianfranco Zola

Previous Managerial Positions:  None (assistant coach for Italy U-21s in 2006)

Appointment Background:  An early season replacement for Alan Curbishly, who despite a decent record with the Hammers, fell out with ownership over transfer funds and seemed to be distanced from fans with high expectations.  The only manager with no prior experience.

Expectations:  Secure top half finish and develop a team capable of qualifying for Europe and challenging for domestic cups.

Progress:  Zola has had a bit more time than Tony Adams and it is probably still too early to see how the team will respond to the former Chelsea playmaker.  The Hammers secured their first victory in 8 games at Sunderland this past weekend, with their previous EPL victory coming in Zola’s second game in charge against Fulham on Sep. 27th.  Form does not appear to be very consistent and he still hasn’t been able to get them to fix that dodgy patch on the front of their shirts!

Looking Forward:  His current West Ham team look more like Championship material than the top 6-10 that their fans expect.  It could be a case of a champagne taste on a beer budget at Upton Park with the financial situation not likely to aid Zola in strengthening his squad.  His induction into football management could end up in disaster unless the performances improve quickly.  Zola, however, is a class act and undoubtedly a popular figure in Premiership football. Regardless of how his first term concludes, I think we are likely to see Gianfranco around top-flight English football for a while.

How do you think the managers new to the Premier League are performing?  Are you a fan of any of the seven teams discussed and if so what is the general feeling?  Of the seven coaches who has impressed you the most?

Cheers!