Tony Pulis, at least, had the chance to write his own epitaph. In what proved to be his final column for the matchday program as West Bromwich Albion manager, he laid down a staunch defense of his record: a list of achievements, a blueprint for how he would like to be remembered.
At first glance, it seemed combative: a reminder of all he had achieved in almost three years at the Hawthorns, the success he had enjoyed and the challenges he had faced. In hindsight, it reads differently. It has the feel of Pulis running through his arguments, making a case against his dismissal; a man getting his rebuttal in first.