Tony Pulis has backed Sunderland and Leeds United as the two clubs who can survive the drop in the Premier League this season after winning promotion last year.
In an exclusive interview with compare.bet, the mastermind of Stoke City’s most recent topflight era set out how he thinks the three promoted sides can keep up with the rest of the sides in the top division this season.
Following a disappointing 0-0 draw in the first Old Firm derby of the current season, Pulis also gave his view on what the immediate future could hold for Brendan Rodgers and Russell Martin at Celtic and Rangers, respectively.
Read the full interview below.
Q: Can you see any positives for Russell Martin at Rangers?
“Not getting beat by Celtic is an enormous bonus. It’s been tough for Russell, but he’s played there, so he knows exactly what the score is. Celtic and Rangers are two unbelievably big clubs. If those two clubs had joined the Premier League at some stage, they would be absolutely massive, worldwide-supported clubs.
“Russell knows the pressure and understands what he’s going into. They need to win their games, especially those outside of Celtic, to keep the crowd on their side.
“Obviously, the big games are really important. However, what Russell hasn’t done yet is win those games against other clubs, which he needs to do because the supporters will not accept not winning those games.”
Q: What do you think is going on with Brendan Rodgers at Celtic?
“I think there comes a point, I’ve seen an interview from Brendan, I like Brendan, an interview the other week, and he just looked a little bit empty.
“Managers do get tired, we’re not indestructible, we think we are at the time, but we’re not. He just looked a little bit tired, and that happens. Now, can we reinvigorate him? I’m not sure.
“I’ve not spoken to him about it or anything like that, but he’s got a fantastic club. Obviously, he was desperate to do better in Europe than what he’s done.
“If he hasn’t got the players, if the players were there and he wanted them and he didn’t get them, that would have frustrated him. But he did look a little bit tired to me. As I say, that happens with managers.
“Hopefully, fingers crossed, he’ll snap out of it and see it through. Whether he signs another contract now, whether he stays there or not, I think that’s debatable. Yes, fingers crossed that he gets that little bit of magic back that he’s got.”
Q: What have the promoted sides been doing right at the start of the Premier League season?
“Sunderland spent about £200million and brought in eight players, which helps just a little bit. “Leeds have done the same. I don’t think Burnley have spent as much. But Leeds and Sunderland are massive football clubs, and they’ve backed their managers, spending an enormous amount of money.
“Their home form, particularly Sunderland winning two games at home, is brilliant. Their home form is so, so important. They’ll have the backing of the crowd.
“What they’ve got to do is make every game, like Leeds, very competitive. They’ve got to be in people’s faces. They’ve got to stop people from playing. And then they have a good chance of winning games because of the crowds. The crowds are just extraordinary.
“The two clubs I’ve just mentioned, those stadiums, I’ve played and managed in those stadiums.
“When everybody comes together and unites, I’m talking about the team and the terraces together, it’s such a special atmosphere. And those two clubs can create that. I think it’s very important for the supporters to understand how crucial they are in pushing their teams along this season.”
Q: Why might Leeds come unstuck against Fulham?
“I think the three promoted teams will find it difficult away from home. If you look at the stats over the years, they show that if you’re going to stay up, it’s your home form that will keep you up, not your away form.
“There will be games where Sunderland and Leeds will play away and they’ll be tight games, but there will be other games where clubs will just have too much. They have to accept that.
“What they’ve got to do is just make sure that they really do get energy, commitment, and focus on their home form. If, like Sunderland and Leeds have done, you can get a really good run of results at home, you’ve got a good chance.”
Q: Can promoted sides survive on home form alone?
“I’ve stated before what I think clubs getting promoted must do. I think there have been too many managers who have got promoted and tried to copy the fashion of what football was being played at the top level of the Premier League. That’s crazy to me.
“What you’ve got to do is be smart, you’ve got to find a way of winning games. Once you get a little bit more established, then obviously, and you get better players, then you can expand a little bit.
“But initially, you’ve got to play really tight, very, very aggressive, and play the way that suits your players. Get the crowd on your side, get the momentum at home behind you. You win your home games, and you’ve got a great chance.”
Q: On the debate between Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney, who would you have signed at 17 if you had the choice?
“I would take Wayne Rooney all day of the week!
“His all round quality and physicality and strength make him my answer over Michael Owen.”
