Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws believes Tony Pulis is a great fit for the club, calling him a 'seasonal winner' and a 'great tactician'.
Pulis was appointed the new boss at Hillsborough yesterday following Garry Monk's departure earlier in the week, the length of contract being undisclosed.
The move has brought a mixed response from fans, ranging from the happiness at getting a promotion-winning man at the helm, to the disappointment at bringing in someone who traditionally plays long-ball football.
Laws, who managed the Owls between 2006 and 2009, has moved to try and ease the concerns of fans, heaping praise on Pulis as a tactician.
“I think it’s a sensible appointment,” Laws told Radio Sheffield.
“I know people are… and I’ve heard many supporters concerned, thinking, well, he’s a long-ball tactician.
"I know Tony quite well. I’ve watched a lot of his training sessions as well. I’ve worked alongside him. One thing you’re going to get from Tony, he’s a seasonal winner, in that he knows how to win games. And he will work with the tools that he has available to him.
"Now, if he’s got those tools currently and he can’t make changes, he’ll work best with them. He won’t change them dramatically.
"But what he will do, he’s very much a disciplinarian. He’ll make sure that they are marshalled, they’ve got a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities, and every man will know his role within that football club and on the pitch. And I think, moving forward, Tony will do a terrific job for the club.
“You’ve got to give the guy an opportunity and a chance. People put his name to long-ball tactics but there’s more to him than that. He is a really good tactician, he knows the game immensely well.
"He’s got over 1,000 games under his belt. And he’s won promotions – nobody complained when they were winning games and getting promotions. I think you’ve got to give the guy a real opportunity. Get behind him, because I think he’s a solid, solid acquisition for the football club."
The Verdict
Pulis has done from stellar work in the Premier League in the past, and from his time at his last job Middlesbrough it's clear to see he's still a good manager.
He had them in and around the play-offs throughout his time at the Riverside, but it was a disappointing end to his reign in 2019 after they lost six in a row and dropped away from the top six.
Many football fans now want to see entertaining football being played, and you're unlikely to see that with Pulis at the helm, but Laws made lots of solid points as to why the Welshman will be a good fit for the Owls.
They need someone to get them away from that relegation zone and up the table - and there's no reason why Pulis can't be that man.