Express & Star

Tony Pulis: Criticism is part and parcel of the job

Tony Pulis accepts that criticism of him is justified when Albion are struggling to win - and is willing to take the flak in order to protect his players.

Published
Tony Pulis. (AMA)

The Baggies boss is under an increasing level of scrutiny following an eight-game winless run in all competitions and a litany of uninspiring performances this season.

Although he understands that criticism comes with the territory, he defended his side’s poor form.

"You’ve got to take criticism,” said Pulis. “You've got to understand that you're there to be shot at and people are going to ask questions at times.

“It's part and parcel of the job and the industry we work in and live in and I've done it for a long time.

“I'm not going to come here and say you shouldn't be asking this or that. You have the right to ask whatever you want.

“Last year we were eighth in the Premier League for how many weeks? Everything was flying, everything was good.

“But we have left a lot of points of the pitch this season and it's been close, it's not as if we've been getting hammered and it's all falling to bits.

"We haven't had our best team out yet and we've had a lot of injuries we've never done before at this football club in the three years I've been here.

"That's what happens - loss of form, decisions don't go your way and the breaks don't go your way and they are the little tipping things that go against you, but it happens to everybody.

“It won't just be West Brom. Everyone will have that good time and bad time and it's about being strong through it.”

Mark Noble called a player’s meeting at West Ham before their mid-week victory over rivals Tottenham but when Pulis was asked if Jonny Evans had done anything similar this week, he said: "I think that's an over-reaction.

“Where are we, 13th in the best league in the world? And you want to call a players meeting?

“I think that's what happens with the press and the media, you have to be sensational.

“It's not as if we're bottom of the league and haven't picked up a point.

“Up until Saturday we'd only lost two games in the Premier League. But it's a story for you and that's what you have to do.

“Has Jonny called a meeting? Yes, he's called a meeting with me to speak about his injury.”

Evans limped off during Albion’s disappointing defeat to Southampton last weekend and it was a poor performance that was a turning point for many fans who had previously supported Pulis.

Supporters were singing his name in the two previous fixtures, but the Baggies boss wasn’t surprised with how swiftly the tide had turned.

“I've been in this position before and it turns from game to game and you have to roll with it,” he said.

“The Premier League, for a lot of clubs, is up and down. You get highs and you have to be really careful that people don't get carried away.

“In the lows, when you get a bit of a downer you have to make sure the players don't get down.

“They're the ones you're trying to protect as much as anything, make sure they retain their confidence and belief because in the end they're the ones who go out and perform for you.”