This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
According to The Sun on Sunday (print version, November 17, page 67), Tony Pulis turned down the previously vacant Cardiff job as he has his eye on either the Southampton or West Ham job.
The Bluebirds recently parted ways with Neil Warnock and swiftly appointed former Millwall boss Neil Harris as his replacement, seeing as Pulis – formerly of Crystal Palace and Stoke – rejected the Welsh side’s advances.
Interestingly, the 61-year-old is playing an ambitious waiting game with his eye on the aforementioned Premier League jobs.
In Pulis’ defence, it is entirely feasible that either the Saints or the Hammers part ways with their respective managers Ralph Hasenhuttl and Manuel Pellegrini.
The south coast side have won just two of their 12 Premier League games this season, while also conceding the most goals in the division with 29.
In West Ham’s case, the Irons haven’t won a game in six league outings.
However, back to the point – what is Pulis thinking?
The Welshman hasn’t been in a job since his contract with Middlesbrough expired back in the summer, following a dramatic slip in form which saw the Teesiders drop out of the play-off positions entirely.
Having failed in the Championship, what makes Pulis think he can walk into a Premier League job – and into positions that haven’t even been made vacant yet, we might add.
Additionally, his football is prehistoric.
The St Mary’s faithful didn’t seem too happy with a boring style of play under Claude Puel, which the BBC reference as one of the main reasons for the Frenchman being handed his P45 despite a cup final and an eighth-place finish.
“Southampton struggled to score goals under Puel, with the three Leicester scored inside 38 minutes on Wednesday matching the total for his last seven Premier League matches at St Mary’s, and this stale statistic was cited as one of the main reasons for his dismissal.”
So, if some supporters weren’t happy with Puel in charge, they will presumably hate to see Pulis and his long-ball style rock up on the south coast.
It just doesn’t seem feasible at all that he would even be under consideration for the job even if the Saints part ways with Hasenhuttl, and the 61-year-old must hold himself in pretty high regard if he thinks top-flight clubs will be calling his phone in their time of need any longer.