Time for Stoke to earn their Spurs

Hopefully Tony delivered his team a deserved kick up the backside after last weekend's poor showing at Wolves. After Kenwyne Jones' early exit, heads were allowed to drop before going down 2-1. There should be little chance of the home fans allowing the players a repeat performance as we eagerly await the first home match of the season and the visit of Spurs to the Brit.

Pulis has called for the fans to get behind the team for the start of our third season in the Premier League but, if previous form is anything to go by, the fans will need no encouragement and Fortress Britannia will come alive once again - especially with Spurs in town.

'We need the Britannia Stadium full and rocking' he told the official site.

'So we're going to need to be firing on all cylinders and produce a big performance, and we need that from the fans too.'

Kenwyne Jones is officially 'a doubt' and has made good progress after limping off last Saturday, but whether TP will risk his £8m signing if he isn't fully fit is doubtful. New signing, Jon Walters will start with Liam Lawrence still out after picking up an injury on international duty.

At least we should have one new signing to cheer on with the former Ipswich skipper moving into the Brit after being on Pulis's radar for the best part of the last two years.

Walters brings some badly needed versatility to the Potters' starting eleven as he can play well in either a striking role or on the right wing with the ability to slot in elsewhere in midfield if needed.

Injuries abound at White Hart Lane after their Champions League defeat at the hands of the Young Boys in midweek. Defoe, Pavlyuchenko, Keane, Dos Santos, Modric and King are all likely to be missing. It just leaves the gangly Peter Crouch as Redknapp's only recognised striker.

In my recollection, Harry Redknapp was the only manager to arrive at the Brit last season with a working game plan of how to cope with the Delap aerial threat. By sticking Crouch on the corner of the penalty area for every thrown-in, he forced Rory to change the height and angle of the incoming rockets. But if that is all we are remembering the England international for by 5pm I'll be quite happy.

Chris Foy

Tuesday 24th August: Shrewsbury Town (home) kick-off: 7.45pm (Carling Cup)
Saturday 28th August: Chelsea (away) kick-off: 3pm

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