In an exclusive interview with BoyleSports , legendary former Premier League and Football League manager Tony Pulis has spoken about the importance of adaptation for promoted clubs if they’re to survive next season.
Pulis also argues that smart investment will be required and gives his insight into the importance of balancing playing philosophy with more pragmatic tactics and says it will be a travesty if Crystal Palace miss out on European Football.
Promoted Clubs Can Thrive in the Premier League
Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich went down last season, prior to that we have seen some so-called smaller clubs go up and retain their Premier League status. Look at Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford and Fulham who have all been smart enough and clever enough to stay up, Nottingham Forest have done the same.
There are reasons for that and Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland, if they are smart enough and spend a bit of money, they can do the same. When we took Stoke up, I’d say that Manchester United were better than they are now, Spurs were better than they are now, and a few other clubs are in that same bracket.
I think the league was much stronger when looking at bigger clubs than what they are now. So you see stuff about what these clubs have got to do to stay up, but the pathway is there.
Some teams try to play how they think is the right way, but it’s the best league in the world and you need to go in and adapt. You’re always going to face a struggle, but if you are clever then you can succeed.
Leading Hopes Leeds
I’d say that Leeds have the best chance of staying up, then Burnley and then Sunderland.
When we went up with Stoke, we were written off after one game. We were told that we were going to go straight back down, but we were smart about it. The manager, director of football, the chairman, they have to work out a system and they can get the reward of staying in that league and getting the enormous financial benefits.”
Palace’s European Dilemma
It’s a political situation that I think they will overcome, but it would be a travesty if Crystal Palace couldn’t play in Europe. A travesty for the supporters. The supporters of Crystal Palace are just absolutely fabulous. The manager has done a fantastic job in winning the FA Cup and beating Man City in the final.
They deserve the opportunity and a chance to go into Europe because of what they've done on the pitch and not all the politics off the pitch. I think if common sense prevails, and hopefully it does, then they'll be allowed to compete in Europe next year.
Egyptian Experience
On the Egypt links, Mido contacted me and invited me over there to look at the club’s infrastructure. It was a great experience going over there, they are a massive club in Egypt.
It was interesting to see how they run it and how things work there. I had three days out there and it was a great experience; the people were very nice. There are a lot of moving parts, so what happens next? We will see.”
Play Smart Or Risk Relegation
Leeds were outstanding last season, some of the football they played was just unbelievable. Daniel Farke is a good football man and he's a nice man. You would hope and pray that he does work it out for him.
I'm not going to sit here and tell him what he should be doing and what he shouldn't be doing. He'll have his own views and his own values in respect of running a football club and running the team.
Obviously, the money that they spend now in this close season if they can get some good players to add to the squad that they've got, then you would hope that they would have enough. But as I've said before, I don't think you can go into the Premier League taking teams on in a certain way. I think you have to be smart in the way you play.
The coach has to find a way to win football matches and be adaptable. He has to be adaptable in his approach to coaching and preparing the team for different games, both home and away.
Philips Back To Elland Road?
It looked as though everything was going upwards at one stage for Kalvin Phillips but for some reason, his career just dropped off a cliff.
The ability and the identity that the kid had built up for himself was excellent. You just don't know what's going on. I can't comment from outside. I don't know the lad's character. I don't know what he's been through mentally and physically.
But I'm sure, you know, I'm sure given the opportunity and the chance to clear his mind, if he can do that, obviously, he'll have a chance to play and improve, he's got the experience.
Premier League Is A Different League
For the majority of English managers or British managers, if they're going to manage in the Premier League, they have to get promoted.
There's been managers who have done that and stayed in the league and there's been managers before Scott Parker who have failed to do it. I think Neil Warnock was promoted three or four times and then got relegated each time. It's a different league.
As I've said, the coach has to be adaptable. He has to really study the opposition and change his approach to certain games. It takes a lot of work and a lot of strength of character to be able to do that and to convince the players that what he's doing is the right thing.
But Scott's got another chance. He's done a fantastic job at Burnley by getting promoted again so it'll be interesting. It'll be interesting to see how he goes again.”
Playoff Reflections
What a wonderful job Regis Le Bris did this year to get Sunderland promoted. It'll be interesting to see how they adapt. They are one of the most supported clubs in the country. They're absolutely massive. So, they'll be looking hopefully to build on that and to stay in the league.
It'll be interesting to see if they've got the finances to invest because they really need big investment to take them forward, to give them a chance to stay up.
On the playoff final, you have to feel for Sheffield United for not getting automatic promotion with their points tally, they needed that second goal. In a one-off game, one moment of brilliance or madness can cost you.
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