Filed under: Stoke City, Europa League (UEFA), Football, Match Previews
EUROPA LEAGUE: BRITANNIA STADIUM, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2011. KICK-OFF: 2005 BSTTony Pulis feels his best opportunity of making further progress at the Britannia Stadium rests with cup competitions.
Last season's run in the FA Cup convinced him even more that his team have what it takes in that kind of competition and he is targetting a place in the knockout stages of the Europa League.
He may not agree with the fixture scheduling of the Premier League, which means he will have played eight games away from home by the time qualification and group fixtures are completed.
But he is determined that he and his squad will do all they can to enjoy the occasion of being back in Europe for the first time since 1972.
This fixture represents the real thing, after warm-up matches to qualify and Pulis has been told to expect a virtual sell-out, which indicates just how much European competition has captured the attention of Stoke fans.
He is expecting them to make a wall of noise, not that it should affect Besiktas, who Pulis acknowledges play in "hostile" atmospheres every league game in Turkey.
Pulis made a special trip to watch Besiktas in their league game, 24 hours after he had taken a point of Manchester United in the Premier League and he is expecting anything but a "stroll in the park" against a vastly experienced side.
Portuguese coach Carlos Carvalhal has been put in temporary command at Besiktas after former coach Tayfur Havutçu was relieved of his duties and club have won their last three games.
Key Match-up: Wilson Palacios v Guti: The Stoke midfielder is eager to create an early good impression following his £10m move from Spurs and there could be no better way of doing so than getting the better of the veteran former Real Madrid star. Guti is 34 now, but remains one of the most cultured players in the competition and who wins this contest will go a long way to determining which team comes out on top.
Form Guide: Stoke are unbeaten at home in four European games, with three wins and a draw and will be boosted further by their impressive draw with Premier League champions Manchester United in the game before facing Besiktas. The Turkish side have two notable wins on English soil having defeated Manchester United and Chelsea in the Champions League, but they have also lost 8-0 to Liverpool and 6-0 to Leeds United.
Odds: Stoke 4/5, Besiktas 7/2, Draw 5/2
STOKE:
Pulis will always regard the Premier League as the most important issue for Stoke, but that should not prevent them having a real crack at getting out of the group.
Balancing playing in Europe, which increases demands on his players for domestic duty is still a learning curve, but the strides the club has made in the last couple of years is incredible.
Pulis still feels he is not getting the kind of help he should from the Premier League, given the fact that by the time he has finished the group matches Stoke will have played eight European ties and followed all of them with an away Premier League game.
"I think there is a way the clubs can sit down with TV companies to sort out the fixtures. To ask them if there is any possibility," said Pulis.
"We know the dates given by UEFA before the season starts, but to have eight away games after our European games is incredible.
"Why couldn't we sit down before the season started and speal to the TVs, UEFA and the FA. We don't want favours, but we want an even run. That would be four at home and four away."
With players like Guti and Simao in their ranks, Besiktas pose a serious threat according to Pulis: "I went to watch Besiktas on Sunday and they are a good team.
"The have good players. It will be a real challenge this one, a proper game. Not a stroll in the park, but we want to enjoy it and have a real go."
Strategy: Pulis knows that the hard earned point against Dynamo Kiev in the opening group game will go to waste if they do not follow up with victory at home. He believes three wins at the Britannia Stadium will be enough to qualify from a tough group. He has promised to field one of his strongest sides possible and it is likely he will start with Peter Crouch, following the striker's impact against United. He will be banking heavily on the former Spurs man's European experience and that of Jermaine Pennant, who both played against Besiktas in the Champions League for Liverpool.
Injury Update: Matthew Etherington and Andy Wilkinson have slight problems, but should be fit. Marc Wilson has a groin injury and is a doubt as is Kenwyne Jones (hamstring.)
BESIKTAS:
Have won their last four games, scoring 11 goals in the process and currently sit third in the Turkish league.
That represents an excellent start under their new coach Carvalhal, who feels he is moulding a side full of spirit and resilience, which continues to improve and will relish the chance to Stoke.
"The team are on a high and have lots of passion. I have said on other occasions that we are moving forward," he said.
"I believe that every game we play we gain new confidence and that is good."
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