Pulis urges England fans to get behind Hodgson ahead of Euro 2012

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 by Goal.com

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has urged England fans to get behind new manager Roy Hodgson rather than dwell on who they would have rather seen appointed.

Hodgson was unveiled as the successor to Fabio Capello on Tuesday after the Italian resigned in February following the FA’s decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy. Pulis was talking following his side's 1-1 draw with Everton on Tuesday night and he firmly believes the England job isn’t beyond the former Fulham and Liverpool boss.

"I think it's up to everyone to get behind Roy, that’s very, very important," Pulis told reporters.

"He's a good coach, he's an experienced coach. He's worked at international level; he's worked at the top level in England.

"What Roy will now understand is that he’s got to win some games, because as a manager – at any level – if he wins a load of games, he’ll be carried round England.

"If he doesn’t then obviously he knows what'll come and Roy's experienced to know that.

"You get the job and you need to win games and that’s what Roy has do, but I think when they play in the Euros everyone should get behind him, do the best they possibly can to help him and get the best possible results that you [England fans] want in the Euros.

"Good luck to him."

Hodgson’s first match in charge of the England team will be on May 26 when they take on Norway, but before then he will hope to secure a top-half finish in the Premier League with West Brom.