Tony Pulis is a man who is obviously taking the FA Cup extremely seriously this season. That much has, in fairness, been clear since the competition started all those months ago, with the manager consistently coming out with some entertaining fighting talk before Stoke's numerous fixtures, all of which have brought them to the point at which they are able to prepare for a semi-final clash with Bolton at Wembley, a game the FA Cup betting odds suggest they could win.
Another indicator of just how seriously the Stoke boss is taking the imminent clash with Bolton became clear this week, when Pulis put a loan lock on the Stoke squad, meaning that football league managers hoping to take advantage of some of the talent at the club temporarily will be left disappointed as the emergency loan window draws to a close this week.
It is thought that a number of Championship clubs have identified Stoke targets in order to help boost their various ambitions, whether they be promotion ambitions or simply wanting to avoid the drop into League One, but Pulis has said no to all of these requests, with Ipswich and Sheffield United among those clubs let down by Pulis.
Even though the sort of player who would probably have been acquired in any loan at this stage of the season won't be turning out for the Potters as they emerge at Wembley in April, you have to admire Pulis's statement that it isn't "worth the risk". Stoke need to keep their squad intact as they prepare for such a huge game, even if none of the fringe players end up making an impact during the match itself.
If they start sending out signals to their existing players and their fans that they are a club that farms players out, rather than attracts high-quality newcomers, then it would also send a signal that Stoke do not deserve to be playing in an FA Cup final, and what could be more damaging than that? Pulis is, as many have highlighted this season, a wise man indeed.
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