Filed under: Stoke City, Europa League (UEFA), Football, Match Previews
EUROPA
LEAGUE PLAY-OFF: ARENA THUN, THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2011. KICK-OFF 1830 BSTTony Pulis would love to mark his 800th game as a manager with a place in the group stages of the Europa League - but refuses to underestimate his Swiss opponents.
Pulis began his career as a manager with Bournemouth as the 34-year-old replacement for Harry Redknapp on the plastic pitch of Preston North End and presumably that is where his dislike of artificial surfaces first reared its head.
Despite his complaints, he will be back on plastic again in the Arena Thun looking to avoid injuries and obtain the kind of first-leg platform which will enable Stoke to complete their qualification at the Britannia Stadium.
Pulis has warmly embraced the chance to add at least another six fixtures to the club's season, despite the fact he feels his squad needs another five new faces before the transfer window closes on August 31.
After the step into the unknown against Hajduk Split in the previous round, Pulis and his players will be better prepared for what he feels will be a considerably more difficult challenge.
After their creditable draw with Chelsea on the opening day of the Premier League season, expectations are that Stoke will steamroller there largely unknown opponents, but Pulis has learned over his previous 799 matches never to under-estimate any side and that will not alter.
Especially as Thun have more recent European experience than their Premier League opponents, after reaching the 2005-06 Champions League group stages where they were eliminated by Arsenal.
Key Match-up: Jermaine Pennant v Marc Schneider: Pennant has European experience after his time with Liverpool and has a Champions League final under his belt. With Matthew Etherington injured the winger will be the major source of Stoke's attacking threat. That will place a huge amount of pressure on Schneider, who loves to raid forward and attack himself.
Form Guide: Stoke have not conceded a goal in their first three games of the season and that will be a source of encouragement for Pulis. Thun are undefeated in five League games so far in the Swiss League and are top of the table.
Odds: FC Thun 2/1, Stoke 11/8, Draw 11/5
STOKE CITY:
Pulis registered his complaint with Uefa about Thun being able to play on an artificial surface and believes it will give the home side an unfair advantage.
Pulis is unhappy that Stoke have been forced to play on an astro-turf, but his complaints have not received a satisfactory explanation.
Thun have not lost in ten home games on their plastic pitch and dispatched Palermo in the previous round, but Stoke's fears are believed to centre on the possibility of injury to players, particularly with a tough Premier League encounter at Norwich City when they return from Switzerland.
Pulis may have to field a weakened side to protect his squad for the trip to Carrow Road and said: "There is no way to protest. The rules are there.
"Uefa allow the fact they can use these pitches and I'm not happy they have decided they are going to do that.
"It is going to be difficult because the game is going to be on astro-turf. We are not pleased we have to play on that surface.
"It gives the opposition an advantage and I'm not sure that's fair. It is hard enough getting a result without the added difficulty of the surface.
"The biggest thing is going to be the pitch and how we cope with it."
Pulis has also warned his players against complacency, just because Thun as largely unknown, adding: "They knocked out Palermo in a previous round and they are a good Italian side.
"So they may not be a name team but they are going to be difficult. Going to Switzerland is going to be a completely new experience again, particularly as it's a new stadium and it's an artificial pitch."
Strategy: Pulis will be ready to rotate his side and may well give Matthew Upson a debut in order to give Jonathan Woodgate a rest. With the concerns over the surface, Stoke may well operate a damage limitation exercise and operate with a solitary striker in Kenwyne Jones and flood the midfield to set up the second leg.
Injury Update: Etherington damaged his shoulder in the 0-0 draw with Chelsea and will not be risked. Rory Delap (hamstring) is also out. Pennant suffered a slight calf strain at the weekend, but is expected to be fit.
FC THUN:
Coach Bernard Challandes enjoyed lowering the colours of Italian side Palermo in the previous round. A 2-2 draw in Palermo in the first leg was key to setting up the victory, before a 1-1 draw in front of their own supporters sent the Sicilian side out.
Challandes knows his side face an equally tough, if not more difficult task against Pulis' side, but they are relishing the challenge.
"We know they performed a 0-0 draw with Chelsea and that is a good result. The Premier League is strong, but we are confident when we play at home and we want to progress," said Challandes.
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