"He'll do a terrific job" Brian Laws reveals what Sheffield Wednesday fans should expect from Tony Pulis
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Brian Laws, who was in charge of the Owls between 2006 and 2009, described the new man as a ‘solid acquisition for the club’ and intimated that while there will be changes to how he sets up the side, they will be tweaks rather than anything wholesale.
Pulis takes over a Wednesday side second-bottom and two points from safety in the Championship after the sacking of Garry Monk on Monday.
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Hide Ad“I think it’s a sensible appointment,” he told BBC Radio Sheffield. “I’ve heard many supporters concerned, thinking, well, he’s a long-ball tactician. I know Tony quite well. I’ve watched a lot of his training sessions as well. I’ve worked alongside him.
“One thing you’re going to get from Tony, he’s a seasonal winner, in that he knows how to win games. And he will work with the tools that he has available to him. Now, if he’s got those tools currently and he can’t make changes, he’ll work best with them.
“He won’t change them dramatically. But what he will do, he’s very much a disciplinarian. He’ll make sure that they are marshalled, they’ve got a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities, and every man will know his role within that football club and on the pitch.
“And I think, moving forward, Tony will do a terrific job for the club.”
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Hide AdPulis brings with him a list of achievements include two promotions, has never been relegated in nearly 30 years of management.
His appointment has been met with some resistance by some quarters in the Wednesday fanbase, with many concerned by his reputation for a direct style of play.
Laws, whose Wednesday side achieved two wins and a draw against Pulis’ Stoke before the Potters were promoted to the Premier League, said that Owls fans would be wise to wait and see what their new manager will offer and that any adversity will suit the new man down to the ground.
“You’ve got to give the guy an opportunity and a chance,” Laws said. “People put his name to long-ball tactics but there’s more to him than that. He is a really good tactician, he knows the game immensely well. He’s got over 1,000 games under his belt. And he’s won promotions – nobody complained when they were winning games and getting promotions.
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Hide Ad“I think you’ve got to give the guy a real opportunity. Get behind him, because I think he’s a solid, solid acquisition for the football club.
“He won’t be messed about. He will stand up and be counted and he will want to be in charge that is for sure. He will not go in as second-fiddle. He will make sure that he’s in charge and he will be making decisions.
“He loves a challenge. He loves to prove people wrong. I think that’s always been in his mantra, it’s how he works. He always feels like he’s got something to prove and he loves doing it, time and time again. For me, I’m looking forward to him proving people wrong.”