'A bit like Sir Alex Ferguson' - 11 former players on working with new Sheffield Wednesday manager Tony Pulis

The manager, whose new job was announced on Friday night, has garnered – fairly or unfairly – a reputation for having an old-fashioned view on how football should be played.

But while there are plenty who would criticise, there are many who played under him during their careers, who are prepared to take a stand for their former boss.

Here’s what 11 of Pulis’ former players said about him...

Danny Higgingbotham – Stoke City

"The one thing I would say about Tony Pulis is that many people accuse him of being a one-trick pony. What a load of rubbish."If anybody saw what he did at Crystal Palace (in 2013/14), he made them into an exciting counter-attacking team that played a brilliant brand of football."I think it's disrespectful for anyone to call him a 'long ball merchant' or whatever. People tend to get shoe-horned a bit, and I think it's a load of tosh."I think he gets unfortunately tagged with this reputation. I'm maybe biased but I certainly don't view Tony's sides like that. He values good defending - he'll be the first to give you a rollocking if you make a daft mistake, but that's just part of what he's about."

Peter Crouch – Stoke City

“Do you know what though, I found him to be one of the best managers I ever worked with. I absolutely loved him. I think he’s one of those managers when if you’re on his side, you’re with him and you buy into what he’s doing he’ll absolutely love you for it.“He was brilliant with me.”

Ryan Shawcross – Stoke City

“I signed when I was young here with Tony and I needed guiding. He was brilliant. He was really hard on me but was what I needed at that point in my career.

“Tony Pulis is… unique. The success he had at the club – training wasn’t great and I think he’d admit that but you knew what you had to do, you knew the job he wanted you to do. He walked you through it. It was very tedious at times but the results showed it worked.”

Rory Delap – Stoke City

“For me he was brilliant and that time in my career I had a really bad injury where I broke my leg and he stood by me along with Stoke - they honoured the contract that was only a handshake and from that moment on I would have done anything for him and the club.“I can’t speak highly enough of him, but I think his biggest strength is knowing people and getting the best out of people.“He does his homework on the players he signs, he goes into more depth than anyone I’ve ever worked with and that goes to show in the results, performances and success that he’s had as a manager.”

Matthew Etherington – Stoke City

“The manager has a way he wants to play. First and foremost he wants us to be defensively very sound.“You have to be solid or there is a big chance you will get relegated. That was his main priority, which was fair enough.“There were times when we weren’t pretty to watch but he had us well-drilled and that shouldn’t be taken away from the job the manager has done.”

Matthew Upson – Stoke City

"In many ways, it is such a simple football club. By that, I mean it is straightforward. Everybody knows what they are doing, everybody knows what they are supposed to do, everybody does what they are supposed to do."A lot of that stems from the manager. He has the knack of getting the best form everyone. It is a combination of his personality, attitude, decision-making and the ability to recruit the right kind of characters."

Cameron Jerome – Crystal Palace

"He has been a breath of fresh air since he's come to the football club. From day one, as soon as he has come in, he has demanded respect and got the team togetherness. Everyone is pulling in the right direction and he deserves every plaudit he's getting at the moment and the accolades."He knows his opponents, and people say he's a natural-born winner. He's a leader, winner, he wants the best out of you and demands the best out on the training pitch."

Joe Ledley – Crystal Palace

“Since he took over he has been remarkable. Not just against teams in the bottom half of the table but we have also picked up results against the big teams.“It has been fantastic and he is a brilliant manager. I have had a couple of opportunities to work with him before but I think I have made the right decision now and we are all really happy working under him. Having a good manager makes everything a lot easier. He has put his belief in us and it is working out well.”

Jonny Evans – WBA

"I've noticed a lot of similarities [between Pulis and Ferguson]. In their personalities and the way they treat people.""I met the manager [Pulis] about a week or so before signing, and I liked him straight away. I think he's a real honest guy and hardworking, and those are things that appealed to me."

Gareth McAuley – WBA

"For me he's very consistent in what he does and asks for from the players and what he looks for."He likes the group to be together and to work hard. He doesn't take any short-cuts in what we do, physically we'll be fit and be up for it as well as organised."All he asks for is that we give everything when we're out there."

George Saville – Middlesbrough

"The style of play is not like the fantastic football Manchester City will play but he is effective and he knows how to win football matches in the Championship. That's what it is about - getting out of the league. Tony knows how to win football matches and that's all I care about."

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Chris Holt, Football Editor