--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The important thing is not just getting…" description: "\"The important thing is not just getting good players in, but getting good characters and the right types of player in.\" — Tony Pulis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/tony-pulis-5053_football_the-important-thing-is-not-just-getting_2601529.png" --- # The important thing is not just getting good players in… ![“The important thing is not just getting good players in, but getting good characters and the right types of player in.” quote by Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/tony-pulis-5053_football_the-important-thing-is-not-just-getting_2601529.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/tony-pulis-5053_football_the-important-thing-is-not-just-getting_2601529.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/tony-pulis-5053_football_the-important-thing-is-not-just-getting_2601529.png) > “The important thing is not just getting good players in, but getting good characters and the right types of player in.” [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success depends not only on skillful players but also on fitting personalities and roles within the team. **In simple terms:** Good players need right characters and roles. Key Takeaway Prioritize character fit when building a team. Themes team building leadership character role suitability sports Mood strategic pragmatic Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - recruitment - team dynamics - player development - coach strategies - sports management Key Concepts psychology of teamwork role theory Questions to Reflect On - What character traits complement your team's style? - How do you balance talent and fit? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on skill may cause discord. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Characters Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-right-1949456/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Getting Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-good-390015/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-characters-714217/) [Good Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-players-298009/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-thing/) [Players Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/players-getting-235529/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) ## Related quotes > [It's easy to get good players. Getting them to play together, that's the hard part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-stengel/it-s-easy-to-get-good-players-getting-them-to-play-together-that-s/) [Casey Stengel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-stengel/) > [My feeling with my characters is that they all have a right to feel exactly the way that they do, so I never censor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-thompson/my-feeling-with-my-characters-is-that-they-all-have-a-right-to-feel/) [Scott Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-thompson/) > [One of the most powerful lessons I learned is when you make an argument in a film, you have to make sure both characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/one-of-the-most-powerful-lessons-i-learned-is-when-you-make-an/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [What I've found is if you get the right characters in the right story and put them in the right setting - and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bartlett/what-i-ve-found-is-if-you-get-the-right-characters-in-the-right-story/) [Mike Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bartlett/) > [If you get the characters right you've done sometimes nearly half the work. I sometimes find I get the characters right then the characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/if-you-get-the-characters-right-you-ve-done-sometimes-nearly-half-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [That's management. It's a social job as much as anything else, finding out what people are like, seeing through them. There have been good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/that-s-management-it-s-a-social-job-as-much-as-anything-else-finding/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [That's what all the good players do. They actually go out and perform on the pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/that-s-what-all-the-good-players-do-they-actually-go-out-and-perform/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [We've got to keep the cost of watching football down. If that means players getting the same money for a few years rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-souness/we-ve-got-to-keep-the-cost-of-watching-football-down-if-that-means/) [Graeme Souness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-souness/) > [As players see themselves getting better through skill sessions, they will want to get in the gym more](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-donovan/as-players-see-themselves-getting-better-through-skill-sessions-they/) [Billy Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-donovan/) > [If one of our players is getting a hard time, we're going to stick up for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke/if-one-of-our-players-is-getting-a-hard-time-we-re-going-to-stick-up/) [Michael Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke/) > [I want every player to get as much money as possible, just for the health of the game - if players are getting paid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trea-turner/i-want-every-player-to-get-as-much-money-as-possible-just-for-the/) [Trea Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trea-turner/) > [Of course, looking at other young players getting a chance gives you a boost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/of-course-looking-at-other-young-players-getting-a-chance-gives-you-a/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [The Australian players are getting better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-evra/the-australian-players-are-getting-better/) [Patrice Evra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-evra/) > [Referees need help. Players are getting faster and fitter and too many referees are making decisions from behind the play. They see a tangle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-townsend/referees-need-help-players-are-getting-faster-and-fitter-and-too-many/) [Andy Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-townsend/) > [Players are getting better at a younger age. It shows how fearless everyone is becoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-schauffele/players-are-getting-better-at-a-younger-age-it-shows-how-fearless/) [Xander Schauffele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-schauffele/) ## More by Tony Pulis > [You have different characters in the dressing room. If you have a go at someone, someone might answer back, other people will take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/you-have-different-characters-in-the-dressing-room-if-you-have-a-go/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [Players live a different life. They've been blessed. They live in a bubble and they live in a world where they get everything really.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/players-live-a-different-life-they-ve-been-blessed-they-live-in-a/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [I've been happy at all the clubs I've been at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/i-ve-been-happy-at-all-the-clubs-i-ve-been-at/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [I find rowing very boring, I've got to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/i-find-rowing-very-boring-i-ve-got-to-be-honest/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [When you lose a game you still get as disappointed, 24 years on. Losing a game of football, even when you have played well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/when-you-lose-a-game-you-still-get-as-disappointed-24-years-on-losing/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [I've actually carried the Olympic torch through Stoke-on-Trent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/i-ve-actually-carried-the-olympic-torch-through-stoke-on-trent/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [Referees will make good decisions and bad ones. But when they make decisions actually affecting a game of football, it's disappointing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/referees-will-make-good-decisions-and-bad-ones-but-when-they-make/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [If you're hiring a manager for two to three years, you need to get it right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/if-you-re-hiring-a-manager-for-two-to-three-years-you-need-to-get-it/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [People talk about me being a firefighter, but I have also been very successful. It annoys me that in this country you get pigeon-holed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/people-talk-about-me-being-a-firefighter-but-i-have-also-been-very/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [I hope Darren Moore is a good manager, when he was my captain at Portsmouth, he could lead battleships out of water, he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/i-hope-darren-moore-is-a-good-manager-when-he-was-my-captain-at/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [I'm amazed to find those countries are in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/i-m-amazed-to-find-those-countries-are-in-europe/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [That's management. It's a social job as much as anything else, finding out what people are like, seeing through them. There have been good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/that-s-management-it-s-a-social-job-as-much-as-anything-else-finding/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [I've always been bloody single minded, which is probably why I've been in the game so long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/i-ve-always-been-bloody-single-minded-which-is-probably-why-i-ve-been/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [What people don't talk about is I've been promoted out of every division and been to the final of an FA Cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/what-people-don-t-talk-about-is-i-ve-been-promoted-out-of-every/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [I accept that in life and football you have good times and bad, and it's how you deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/i-accept-that-in-life-and-football-you-have-good-times-and-bad-and-it/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) [Explore all 103 Tony Pulis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) [Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The important thing is not just getting good players in, but getting good characters and the right types of player in.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tony Pulis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/the-important-thing-is-not-just-getting-good-players-in-but-getting/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/the-important-thing-is-not-just-getting-good-players-in-but-getting/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/tony-pulis-5053_football_the-important-thing-is-not-just-getting_2601529.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/tony-pulis-5053_football_the-important-thing-is-not-just-getting_2601529.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/tony-pulis-5053_football_the-important-thing-is-not-just-getting_2601529.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The important thing is not just getting good players in, but getting good characters and the right types of…” — Tony Pulis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tony Pulis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The important thing is not just...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/the-important-thing-is-not-just-getting-good-players-in-but-getting/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/the-important-thing-is-not-just-getting-good-players-in-but-getting/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```