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The Big Interview

The FA Cup will be the only thing on my mind on Sunday, says Tony Pullis

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Stoke manager Tony Pullis tells us about the mood in the Stoke camp ahead of their mammoth clash with Newcastle in the FA Cup

With Newcastle struggling and under pressure, Betfair asked Stoke manager Tony Pulis about his chances of making life even tougher for Big Sam Allardyce by pulling off an FA Cup upset:

You are four points off the top of the Championship and chasing promotion so how important is a Cup tie like this to you?

It's the first time in the club's history - and it's been going for at least 140 years and is one of the oldest in the country - that the club has been live on BBC television. So it's a first for the club, secondly you are playing against one of the biggest clubs in the country, we will get a full house, and you want to do the best you possibly can. We have got one or two injuries, but whoever plays will give it a right go. I'll promise you that if players are not there it's because they've got genuine injuries rather than because we don't want to risk them

Dave Kitson said people in the Premier League don't care about the Cup because all that matters is the £50m Premier League TV money. Haven't you got half an eye on that prize?

Not this weekend. We've never had the money for the Premier League so it's maybe different. I can see that the money involved in getting into and staying in the Premier League is just enormous, and you can understand that point of view, but I do think the third round of the FA Cup is one of the big dates in the football calendar still. I'm still very much a romantic with it. Everybody listens to the third round draw - I mean absolutely everybody in football - and if you come out of the hat with one of the big boys, and I would class Newcastle as one of them, and it's at home, it's a special occasion and it's one that the players and everybody else should relish.

You are on a good run with ten games unbeaten going into this tie...

We've done fine. We are working very, very hard at this present moment to add to the squad because it isn't big enough, and that is again a massive compliment to the players we've got here and what they've done so far.

What's been the key to the run?

It's been the complete commitment of the players as a group. You can't single out anybody. Ricardo Fuller has had the headlines because he scored some goals of late, but everybody has played a part and it's been a great team effort.

You've been a manager since 1992. How would this compare to anything you've done before?

As a manager you have good spells, you get times when things go for you and times when they don't. The longer you stay in the game the more you become very level about the good times and the bad times, and you don't get too carried away. You know anything can happen just around the corner, so you know it's lovely while it lasts and you have to enjoy it because you know it could change very, very quickly.

You've had a lot of success with the loan system?

You have to watch games. I know some managers don't watch games any more and sign players from recommendations, but I really like to get out and see the players myself. I like to see what they are made of, what they've got and what they haven't got, and if they will fit into what you want to do. There are times when it does impede you because there's so much to be done at the club, but you have to get out and see games live. Selection is so very important and trying not to sign the wrong ones.

When all our loan players went back last year we were eight players short from last season. We couldn't sign anybody and there was a great outcry among the supporters here as to why we weren't signing players, and a lot of criticism. We didn't sign any because we didn't think they were better than what we've got. Fortunately we've been proved right because the group of players we have had have worked their absolute socks off and got us in the position where we are now. Across the road at Port Vale I think they brought ten or 11 players in, and have a look at the position they are in now. It's not about bringing players in, everybody can do that, it's about bringing the right players in and having the strength of character to say, well fine, we'll take the criticism, but make sure that we are doing it right for the football club. That's always been my priority.

Newcastle are going through a torrid time. You have to try to take advantage of that position?

Well I see it another way. I went up and watched them on Wednesday night. Let's put everything to bed. They have some fantastic players. When you are bringing Michael Owen and Emre off the bench, you can see the sort of players they've got.. They are having a bit of a bad time but we know they will be desperately determined to do well in the FA Cup. Newcastle has a decent tradition and it will be a tough game. The position they are in in the League, the FA Cup could bring Sam some solace, so we know they will be really fired up for Sunday. But against that we have absolutely nothing to lose, we are playing one of the great clubs in the country.

Sam Allardyce will need backing from the boardroom, how important is it to have a strong chairman?

I came back to the club two summers ago for one reason and one reason only, and that was Peter Coates. The most important thing at a football club I think is the relationship between the chairman and the manager. If the chairman and the manager have got a good relationship and can work together then you can overcome things. One thing you are absolutely, absolutely certain to get in football and that is criticism, and sometimes it can be strong criticism, and what you need then is a chairman who knows about football, knows what the situation is, knows how difficult the bloody job is, and will let you get on and manage and won't be influenced by outside people.

Tony thanks for your time and we'd like to give you a free £50 bet in aid of a charity of your choice.

I fancy Aston Villa to finally get some success against Manchester United in the FA Cup. I think Martin O'Neill will pick his strongest team while Sir Alex might rotate a few. I'm going to use my £50 to lay United at [1.98] - and hopefully the winnings can go to the Donna Louise hospice in Trentham near Stoke which does a wonderful job caring for terminally ill children and their families.