Sun 24th May - Emirates Stadium
By Carla Hilton Last updated: 1st October 2008
Pulis: No room for sour players
Stoke manager Tony Pulis has told his players they will be 'on their bike' if they bring any negative vibes to the dressing room.
The Potters boss has said he will not stand for any fringe players complaining about being left on the bench
Pulis says midfielder Salif Diao is a shining example of the fact that everyone eventually gets their chance.
Diao has figured in back-to-back fixtures against Liverpool and Chelsea after an initial slow start - proof that persistence pays off when it comes to showing eagerness.
"It's a remarkable achievement for Salif to come back the way he has, but he is a top player," Pulis told the Sentinel.
"He's been outstanding in his last two games," he added.
"It's not only his performance, but his demeanour around the place. He's been absolutely first class.
"Even at the beginning of the season when he was fit and didn't get into the 16 for one of the home games, he always put the team first because he's a smashing kid."
Pulis says he expects all of his players to show the same enthusiasm and determination, saying: "We cannot have people getting despondent.
"We have got to have people trying to pull together, whether or not they are playing.
"If we get one or two who are a little bit sour, we've got to move them on."
The City boss says what works at one club should work at another, as it does with the likes of Chelsea.
"I was speaking to them at Chelsea the other day," he added. "They have fantastic players who are not in the team, but apparently they are so good around the place and so positive about other players."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 12th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 14:30 | Newcastle Town vs Stoke |
| Friday 17th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 18:30 | St Pauli vs Stoke |
| Tuesday 21st July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 18:30 | TSG Hoffenheim vs Stoke |
| Saturday 25th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Preston vs Stoke |
| Wednesday 29th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Nottm Forest vs Stoke |
| Saturday 1st August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Derby vs Stoke |
| Friday 7th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:00 | Stoke vs Valladolid |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Burnley |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Liverpool vs Stoke |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Stoke |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Stoke |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 3rd October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Stoke |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 4 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 16th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 2 - 0 Wigan | |
| Saturday 9th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 1 - 2 Stoke | |
| Saturday 2nd May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 0 - 1 West Ham | |
| Saturday 25th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 1 - 0 Stoke | |
| Saturday 18th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 11th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Saturday 4th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Brom 0 - 2 Stoke | |
| Saturday 21st March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 14th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 3 - 1 Stoke | |
| Wednesday 4th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 2 - 0 Bolton | |
| Sunday 1st March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 2 Stoke | |
| Saturday 21st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 7th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 2 - 0 Stoke | |
| Saturday 31st January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 0 Man City | |
| Tuesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 3 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 0 - 0 Liverpool | |
| Saturday 3rd January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Hartlepool 2 - 0 Stoke | |
| Sunday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Manchester United | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Portsmouth | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Stoke City | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Sunderland | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 0 |
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