Pulis not looking to buy

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis is satisfied with his squad and is not expecting to make any major purchases in January.

Pulis made five signings over the close season and has faith in his current crop of players, who have propelled his side into the top half of the Premier League and the knockout stages of the Europa League.

“We think we have got a decent squad. If people become available who we like, then if we can do something, we will,” Pulis told reporters.

“But there are one or two in the squad as well that actually need to play some football. We have to recognise that and see if we can do some business there.”

“So there might be a few going out – whether or not we bring a few in will be determined by if we feel it is right for the football club. It won’t be as busy as it has been.”

The 53-year-old Pulis also reflected on a breakthrough year for Stoke, who reached the FA Cup final and the last 32 of the Europa League on their first foray into the competition, with a glamour tie against Valencia awaiting in 2012.

“To get to a cup final and to qualify from a knockout stage to a group stage and to get out of that group stage and to be sat in the top 10 in the Premier League; it’s been a great year for us,” Pulis said.

“The players should be very proud of what they’ve achieved.”

“Everyone within the football club, from the chairman, right through to the family who run the business, to all the supporters, everyone has been as one, they’ve been together and that’s why we’ve been successful.”

“It’s about managing expectations now. You take the club to a level that far exceeds what it should be achieving but then people want more and more.

“It’s how you manage that expectation and you make sure you keep your feet on the ground which is always difficult.”

“It’s part of life, it’s part of society today, everyone wants that little bit more all the time and you can only achieve a certain amount.”

Stoke are in eighth place in the Premier League, with a home game against relegation-threatened Wigan set to see out a memorable 2011 on Saturday.