Dave Kemp cornered and cagey (Wigan (a) press conference 30/08/12)

Assistant Manager Dave Kemp took the hot seat at the weekly Stoke City press conference, but he was even more cagey than an absent Tony Pulis would have been. “This is that time when anything can happen!” he announced.[Hear more from Dave Kemp with 6 Towns Radio at youtube.]

Preparing for a tough away game at Wigan, he grumbled that “It’s a PREMIER LEAGUE game, not a charity match!” as it clashes with Transfer Deadline Day Friday night. With all this going on, it means that the manager’s head is “spinning around”. At least Dave is able to share the chores, or as he put it: “You know, 2 heads, 8 hands.”

Although it is clear that Pulis is trying to bring in players for all positions, Kemp was extremely cagey about moves involving Charlie Adams, Michael Owen and even Tom Huddlestone. However, the Maurice Edu move is almost finalised but the Popov deal seems to have gone cold, lost in bureaucracy.

With only 4 league wins for Stoke since mid-December, Dave hoped that Stoke’s luck would change against Wigan, although he fully admitted that they are the “in-form” side. Dave reckoned that Stoke haven’t managed a win against Stoke since promotion in 2008, but in fact Stoke extinguished the Latics 2-0 in their last home game of their first Premier season in 2008/9; Fuller & Beattie doing the honours. Since then it’s been the odd draw and end-of-season defeats.

Stoke last won at Wigan in the 1999/2000 season. In front of a tiny Nationwide League 2 crowd, The Potters saw off Wigan by 2-1 in their first season at the then new DW Stadium.

Injuries? Well, Etherington is still a doubt with a hamstring, but Jamie Ness will be out for longer (sympathetic Rangers fans have already tweeted to Stoke fans with their sympathies: “Jamie Ness injured!!! Never!!! Better get used to it mate.” And “That’ll be the last you see of him this season then #InjuryProne”. Oh well.

Hear more from Dave Kemp with 6 Towns Radio at youtube.

Image Gallery: