Stoke City are holding their own in the Premier League for a second season, but Tony Pulis is not bankrupting the club in the process.
The Potters surprised everyone last season with a mid-table finish in their first season in the top flight for 25 years, and are on course to at least repeat the feat this term.
However, when the recent report revealing payments to agents was revealed it showed that Stoke were second lowest payers with only Burnley (Championship last season) beneath them. All of which has left Pulis very happy as he tries to inflict further misery on Arsenal this weekend.
Q: Were you pleased to see Stoke next to bottom in the league of payments to agents?
A: I think this shows that the way we try to do things at Stoke City is the right way. We are trying to be as prudent as we possibly can, while also trying to bring in the best players we can.
The structure of this football club is what we are trying to build, and that means we need to be careful over the next three years. I know people think I am taking the mickey when I keep banging on about needing three years to establish ourselves in the Premier League, but I am being deadly serious.
We are trying to set this football club up for many, many years to come – and expenditure on such things as agents is clearly an important part of that.
Q: What are your thoughts on agents?
A: I’m afraid agents are a fact of life. The clubs that pay the most invariably get the best players. You could try to standardise it to limit the figures being paid out, but there will always be a way for people to get around that, so I just don’t think any regulation would work properly.
Q: You have four players just one yellow card away from a suspension - is that a concern?
A: You're going to get your quota (of bookings). You just try to avoid the avoidable bookings, but I think we've done smashing so far compared to last year. We have made a conscious effort to keep bookings to a minimum because we cannot afford to lose any players.
Q: If people in the team aren't doing the business, you haven't been afraid to leave players on the bench, have you?
A: I don't see it any other way. It's not personal and never will be as far as I'm concerned. It's not about individual players.
One or two people might think I've got my favourites, but if it's right for the team then I'll make the changes necessary. It's not about what players I like or don't like. If I don't like them, they don't stay at the club very long.
Q: Have you got any changes planned for the trip to Arsenal?
A: At Arsenal, I've got it in mind already to change one or two things and will pick a different team again because you pick teams to get results.
You just hope people don't get frustrated with the changes It's good to have people on the bench who can change games because games are tight in the Premier League but to have 20 points after 14 games is first class for us.
