" CARDIFF CITY MISSED OUT BY IGNORING HIM "

After Welshman Tony Pulis pulled off one of the shock results of the FA Cup fifth round as his West Brom team hammered West Ham, his keeper Ben Foster spells out to Cardiff fans what they're missing out on.

Sunday Feb 15th

By Chris Wathan


England star Ben Foster has spelled out what Cardiff City missed out on when they ignored pleas to bring in Tony Pulis.

Boyhood Bluebird Pulis is again showing his managerial magic by turning West Brom from relegation candidates to a side on the up with eight points bagged by the Baggies from their last four games – including a 2-0 win over Swansea City in midweek and yesterday’s superb FA Cup win over West Ham.

It comes after he was named manager of the year for his miracle job of keeping Crystal Palace in the Premier League with the Eagles having looked odds-on for the drop before his arrival. The Bluebirds were six points ahead of Palace when he walked into Selhurst Park but obvious issues between then manager Malky Mackay and owner Vincent Tan saw supporters suggest Pulis could have been the man for Cardiff City Stadium.

And the former Stoke chief admitted he would have welcomed at least the chance to discuss making the move back to South Wales earlier this season following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s exit.

But Cardiff went for Slade after an initial approach for Dundee’s Paul Hartley failed and goalkeeper Foster reckons Pulis showing just why so many fans would want him in charge of their club.

West Brom impressed against the Swans, looking a well-organised and compact side that refused to be broken down before catching Garry Monk’s men with two second-half goals, and Foster said: “That is completely down to the manager.

“Since he has come in we have kept four or five clean sheets and that is just since the start of January.

“He told us the stat that a clean sheet is worth 2.1 points in the Premier League and he has challenged us to try and keep another six before the end of the season.

"That will get us safe and it is all down to him. He is an absolute perfect fit for us, he works so hard.

“There is never any risk of us going out and not knowing what we are doing. He is very astute and attuned to the game.

Cardiff surprised many by seemingly opting against public opinion and not making a play for Pulis, although it remains to be seen whether the 57-year-old would have followed his heart by heading to the Bluebirds given the budget cutting that was in the pipeline and subsequently overseen by Slade.

But with Slade facing increasing pressure from disillusioned Cardiff fans, with his game-plan under real attack, Foster has highlighted the qualities of Pulis by outlining the extra work he has put in on the training ground to take Albion out of immediate danger.

The former Wrexham loan keeper said: “He has us doing all sorts to try and give us that solidity. We spend a lot of time setting up our positions eleven versus eleven on a full-size pitch and he literally walks us up and down and asks us what we would do in certain situations.

It is great because there are a lot of young lads in our team not used to playing like this and it really helps in terms of visualisation and everyone being on the same page.

You know how to deal with every situation and players love to have that certainty.

“He is brilliant and we are just delighted we have him here.”

Slade accused this guy Wathan of being a Swansea fan.

Well the way he seems to be wallowing in our grief I have got to agree with him.

Slade accused this guy Wathan of being a Swansea fan.

Well the way he seems to be wallowing in our grief I have got to agree with him.

whatever wathans views on cardiff city......you have to give it to pullis.....he has the ability to turn things around

[quote="Bakedalasker"]Slade accused this guy Wathan of being a Swansea fan.

Well the way he seems to be wallowing in our grief I have got to agree with most inquote]

I disagree. I think Chris Wathan is the best Sport's Journalist WOL have and, refreshingly he just tells it how it really is. This piece just confirms everything most of us feel and know. Wathan is demonstrating just how foolish and self centred Tan's decision to select Slade really was when he should have moved hell and high water to have secured the outstanding candidate for the job.

Slade accused this guy Wathan of being a Swansea fan.

Well the way he seems to be wallowing in our grief I have got to agree with most inquote]

I disagree. I think Chris Wathan is the best Sport's Journalist WOL have and, refreshingly he just tells it how it really is. This piece just confirms everything most of us feel and know. Wathan is demonstrating just how foolish and self centred Tan's decision to select Slade really was when he should have moved hell and high water to have secured the outstanding candidate for the job.

Easy to turn wba around he had good players to work with! Tan had planned to cut costs after ole so what was point in asking pulis to over see what as gone on since ole left? Anyone who thinks pulis would have wanted to exchange quality players on high wages to players from div 1or 2 are in dreamland! pulis knew he only had to wait for a premier club to sack manager and in end he had choice of club's! So pulis/ city was never going to happen despite what pulis is quoted as saying, tan knew this so why would he ask him.

Slade accused this guy Wathan of being a Swansea fan.

Well the way he seems to be wallowing in our grief I have got to agree with most inquote]

I disagree. I think Chris Wathan is the best Sport's Journalist WOL have and, refreshingly he just tells it how it really is. This piece just confirms everything most of us feel and know. Wathan is demonstrating just how foolish and self centred Tan's decision to select Slade really was when he should have moved hell and high water to have secured the outstanding candidate for the job.

Easy to turn wba around he had good players to work with! Tan had planned to cut costs after ole so what was point in asking pulis to over see what as gone on since ole left? Anyone who thinks pulis would have wanted to exchange quality players on high wages to players from div 1or 2 are in dreamland! pulis knew he only had to wait for a premier club to sack manager and in end he had choice of club's! So pulis/ city was never going to happen despite what pulis is quoted as saying, tan knew this so why would he ask him.

Thats your view Allan, Weve had a lot of good players,just bad management and a lunatic owner who wants puppets as managers.

Slade accused this guy Wathan of being a Swansea fan.

Well the way he seems to be wallowing in our grief I have got to agree with most inquote]

I disagree. I think Chris Wathan is the best Sport's Journalist WOL have and, refreshingly he just tells it how it really is. This piece just confirms everything most of us feel and know. Wathan is demonstrating just how foolish and self centred Tan's decision to select Slade really was when he should have moved hell and high water to have secured the outstanding candidate for the job.

Easy to turn wba around he had good players to work with! Tan had planned to cut costs after ole so what was point in asking pulis to over see what as gone on since ole left? Anyone who thinks pulis would have wanted to exchange quality players on high wages to players from div 1or 2 are in dreamland! pulis knew he only had to wait for a premier club to sack manager and in end he had choice of club's! So pulis/ city was never going to happen despite what pulis is quoted as saying, tan knew this so why would he ask him.

Thats your view Allan, Weve had a lot of good players,just bad management and a lunatic owner who wants puppets as managers.

True annis but my point is tan was already planning the cost cutting we have seen, and do you honestly think pulis would have wanted to oversee what as gone on ? After all its you that keeps saying tan was choosing players to leave ect ect! Like i said before pulis turned down several clubs as had similar setup to city's ,wba changed their's to accommodate pulis or he wouldn't have signed?

Easy to turn wba around he had good players to work with! Tan had planned to cut costs after ole so what was point in asking pulis to over see what as gone on since ole left? Anyone who thinks pulis would have wanted to exchange quality players on high wages to players from div 1or 2 are in dreamland! pulis knew he only had to wait for a premier club to sack manager and in end he had choice of club's! So pulis/ city was never going to happen despite what pulis is quoted as saying, tan knew this so why would he ask him. [/quote]

True annis but my point is tan was already planning the cost cutting we have seen, and do you honestly think pulis would have wanted to oversee what as gone on ? After all its you that keeps saying tan was choosing players to leave ect ect! Like i said before pulis turned down several clubs as had similar setup to city's ,wba changed their's to accommodate pulis or he wouldn't have signed? [/quote]

Don't overlook the fact that Pulis turned Palace around with a squad of very ordinary players and the same years back at Stoke. WBA is what it is. I've no doubt he could work even with what we've got left as a squad because the guys key strength is organisation and shape, two things we're sadly lacking...

Easy to turn wba around he had good players to work with! Tan had planned to cut costs after ole so what was point in asking pulis to over see what as gone on since ole left? Anyone who thinks pulis would have wanted to exchange quality players on high wages to players from div 1or 2 are in dreamland! pulis knew he only had to wait for a premier club to sack manager and in end he had choice of club's! So pulis/ city was never going to happen despite what pulis is quoted as saying, tan knew this so why would he ask him.

True annis but my point is tan was already planning the cost cutting we have seen, and do you honestly think pulis would have wanted to oversee what as gone on ? After all its you that keeps saying tan was choosing players to leave ect ect! Like i said before pulis turned down several clubs as had similar setup to city's ,wba changed their's to accommodate pulis or he wouldn't have signed? [/quote]

Don't overlook the fact that Pulis turned Palace around with a squad of very ordinary players and the same years back at Stoke. WBA is what it is. I've no doubt he could work even with what we've got left as a squad because the guys key strength is organisation and shape, two things we're sadly lacking...[/quote]

didnt overlook fact as wasnt in the post! as you see its about why pulis wouldn't come to city? Never questioned his credentials

Don't overlook the fact that Pulis turned Palace around with a squad of very ordinary players and the same years back at Stoke. WBA is what it is. I've no doubt he could work even with what we've got left as a squad because the guys key strength is organisation and shape, two things we're sadly lacking...[/quote]

didnt overlook fact as wasnt in the post! as you see its about why pulis wouldn't come to city? Never questioned his credentials [/quote]

Sorry mate different slant altogether. I think there are many reasons he wouldn't have come here but in the end of the day it would have come down to full control (or lack of it) of football matters.

I think Tony Pullis has made his money in life, Cardiff City should have pulled at his heart strings, chance to manage Cardiff City, capital city of Wales. It's nice to do well at Stoke but your not from the midlands, palace yes but your not a cockney and WBA OK butt your not a yam yam. Your Welsh Tony Pullis, the city you watched your football as a child, well this is it. You have old school friends working in the City (I worked with a few of them in The sorting office). Look at the ground Tony Pullis, it's bigger than WBA, sell hurst. Be a hero in the country you're from.

I think Tony Pullis has made his money in life, Cardiff City should have pulledrespect heart strings, chance to manage Cardiff City, capital city of Wales. It's nice to do well at Stoke but your not from the midlands, palace yes but your not a cockney and WBA OK butt your not a yam yam. Your Welsh Tony Pullis, the city you watched your football as a child, well this is it. You have old school friends working in the City (I worked with a few of them in The sorting office). Look at the ground Tony Pullis, it's bigger than WBA, sell hurst. Be a hero in the country you're from.

That would be the pull, quite correct. But Tan would never work with anyone who would attract more respect than him. Forget Corneygate, forget the toxic texts, the real reason Tan wanted Malky out was because he was loved by the fans and Tan wanted it instead. Could you imagine the adulation for Tony Pulis if we were doing well? Tan can vividly! And thats the reason hes not wanted here.

Pulis has directly said that he would have liked the chance to at least talk about a move to Cardiff. What am I missing here??

The truth is that he wasn't even considered for the post. He was one of the favourites amongst fans yet looked at almost with contempt. My opinion is that Tan held Pulis partly responsible for Selhurstgate and his stupid pride got in the way of a rational decision.

If Tân was always going to cut the squad drastically, I don't think Pulus would have taken the job anyway, but the money had already been spent (ok the wages bill was massive) so why not get Pulis in? Because he has the balls to say NO! He would have stood up to Tan and Tan knew it.

I love the way some are devaluing Pulis' achievements recently. He has turned that club around within weeks. They just beat the jaxx and slaughtered anotge PL side in the cup, but of course, he had the players. What a joke. Why is their keeper waxing so lyrically about him then and crediting the manager with the win??

Pulis should have been given a chance at Cardiff. No doubt in my mind.

Just saying.

This would be the clown writing about our growing debt and the impending fine from FFP........

We knew the deal, we bit the hand that feed us, whether that's an excuse for Tan or not to reduce his investment.....

We are a championship without a history of big crowds and this journalist is bitching about not speaking to the current Premiership Manager of the year.......I guess his post script is about the disappointment that we never inquired about pep guardiola........The guy is a clown

This would be the clown writing about our growing debt and the impending fine from FFP........

We knew the deal, we bit the hand that feed us, whether that's an excuse for Tan or not to reduce his investment.....

We are a championship without a history of big crowds and this journalist is bitching about not speaking to the current Premiership Manager of the year.......I guess his post script is about the disappointment that we never inquired about pep guardiola........The guy is a clown

Dave, your first line suggests it was for Financial and Compliance reasons that we embarked upon the current costcutting exercise but your second implies it might actually be more of "Tan's revenge". If the second then it is irrelevant because of the first, is it not?

Your point about our low status is quite correct and, in normal circumstances, for us to be courting the Premier Manager of the year would be fanciful. However, Cardiff City is Pulis' boyhood favourite club and, given his financial standing, at his age it could have been of huge interest to manage us. So I dont think Wathan is being as naive as you mockingly suggest.

Tans, ignorance has cost us and him dearly.