Stoke City - From Long Ball to Keep Ball

Article by Stoke City Correspondent Alastair Turner

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There was a large sense of uncertainty when Tony Pulis was dismissed after 7 years at the helm of Stoke City. In May 13 after a discussion with Chairman Peter Coates there was an apparent “mutual decision” to let Pulis leave.

After years in charge Pulis’ reign included successful promotion to the Premier League, years of Premier League survival, an FA Cup Semi Final mauling over Bolton, and a respectable FA Cup Final defeat. He then went on to take the team from the Potteries to the last 16 of the Europa League, how could they let the man leave?

Many will remember Pulis as the man who brought a team of thugs from the Championship, playing route one football, relying on set plays to provide goal-scoring opportunities to the Premier League. To Stoke City fans that sat and watched week in week out it will be very much the same; although the players were seen as committed, and driven as opposed to dirty. Goals from corners, and the chance for a Delap throw-in would be celebrated as much as a 30-yard screamer.

Sidibe scoring the winner against Aston Villa at the Britannia Stadium in a 3-2 thriller, and watching Pulis, the man in the cap, jump around like a child who’d just won the egg and spoon on sports day is a great memory of Stokes City’s debut Premier League season. It doesn’t matter how the ball goes in the net, it’s the points on the board come May that’s important. I supported this opinion, and I will not begrudge the way Stoke City played under Pulis, he built a team hard to break down, with players that will fight for the cause, and put fear into the opposition. The sell out crowds also played their part roaring them on through thick and thin.

Shawcross from Man Utd, Robert Huth from Middlesborough, and Asmir Begovic from Portsmouth were all recruited under Pulis’ management, and are now the backbone of a Stoke City side. Begovic is now being regarded as one of the top keepers in the PL, but they all came in for fairly small fees and scouted relatively quietly. All good signings and a credit to Pulis, but were they playing the football wanted by the Stoke faithful and Chairman?

Results were still coming and points on the table, but there is only so long you can pay for a season ticket to sit and watch a game of kick and rush. Initially yes, points were there, and promotion succeeded, leading to PL survival. Over the years the fans began to change their minds. Having visited the Etihad and Emirates a few years running Stoke fans, and the hierarchy, wanted to see free flowing exciting football. They wanted the ball on the floor, with all the flicks and tricks.

Pulis tried to implement this during 2012/13 pre-season, but not managing to score over 1 goal in all the pre-season friendlies indicated Pulis’ men could have done with target practice during the holidays or a striker coming in to aid the transition. Beautiful football was not Pulis’ style and was not going to be an easy task to fulfil; getting the lads to play from the back, and create through the middle. Stoke only managed to score 2 or more goals in a PL game 10 times throughout the whole 2012/13 season. With a lack of goal scoring opportunities, accompanied by lack of composure in the final third, followed by a stint of 1 win in 13 starting from January was the final straw.

You would assume the decision was made after the poor run, but after PL survival was assured at the end of the season the rumours began. Peter Coates then sacked his friend Pulis, with the question who would be a suitable replacement? Benitez, Poyet, Di Matteo were all linked with the job, and many fans seemed to be wrapped up in the large media hype surrounding the big name managers. Mark Hughes however, who had been out of a job since seeing QPR decline under his reign, snuck in under the radar to sign a 3-year deal. This was met with great scepticism, as he had thrown a lot of money at the squad at QPR, and Man City, yet the results on the pitch didn’t seem to be reflecting the investment.

The Chairman and his family brought Hughes in to do away with the long ball, and Delap throw ins, and for the gaffer to bring his hi-tech training plans, and well drilled staff to create an attacking philosophy that would excite the fans. Hughes is known for his statistician approach to management and various contacts, of which some criticised, in the transfer market, would definitely bring something different to the club. It would be a time of change, with many fans liking of the idea of nice “pretty” football, but most sensible enough to think this could be too much too soon.

Are Stoke City Football club trying to run before they can walk? It wasn’t too long ago that Stoke City were in the Football League Second Division playing Notts County and competing in the Auto Windscreens Trophy.

Mark Hughes began his reign by releasing the typical Pulis era players such as Rory Delap, Dean Whitehead and Mamady Sidibe. Hughes also brought in Jermaine Pennant, a fans favourite, from out in the cold after he had been training with the reserves, and was due to be released after having a disagreement with Pulis.

Players were then coming in from Europe with international pedigree, Marko Arnautović, Erik Pieters both of whom regularly represent their country followed by Marc Muniesta a Barcelona academy star. This was a completely new Stoke City attracting players unimaginable to the normal fan from Hanley.

Pre-season was very much average with wins over Wrexham and a couple of wins in America, but Stoke were playing a different style of football. Shawcross and co would have their heads up looking for a pass, to a playmaker, instead of punting the ball to the tall striker bypassing the midfield. Begovic was passing the ball to his defenders, instead of trying to launch it into an opposition penalty area, Stoke now trying to retain possession and wait for their opportunities.

The first half of the season has seen heavy defeats to Everton, Newcastle, and Spurs accompanied by a surprise win against Chelsea. Players like Oussama Assaidi seemed to be a right off when he first joined from Liverpool on loan, as fans thought he was lazy and lightweight. He was, or is, but that is because the Britannia faithful needed time to warm to players like him, and Arnautović who aren’t in the team to battle or commit fouls; they now add the extra guile and trickery that Stoke teams of the past were lacking. They are now accepted by the fans and have won over the majority, largely helped by wonder goals against Chelsea and Man Utd. Stoke now lose games but with over 60% possession, something unheard of 12 months ago. Still the 1 or 2 shots on target during the 90 minutes still haunts the Potters, but Mark Hughes is actively trying to recruit people who will hopefully improve that, or at least raise the chance conversion rate in the January market. Fingers crossed he can pull someone out of the bag to bang in 10 plus goals before the end of the season.

Even though the majority of the PL fan base will still look at Stoke City as the team that kick and hassle other teams off the pitch, I firmly believe the Stoke City under Mark Hughes, is a far more entertaining and attractive footballing side. They might have some players like Adam, N’Zonzi and Huth, that will put a foot in were it hurts, but try and name a PL side that doesn’t have a midfield enforcer and a tough centre half. Peter Coates wants a top 10 finish from his side this season, including a change in philosophy; something I think is a bit ambitious. Players and staff need time to settle in, and develop others around them. Premier League survival and regular entertaining football back at the Britannia Stadium is a successful season for me. Next season a PL top 10 finish is a reasonable target, Hughes then having had 4 transfer windows to shop and a good pre-season with his own players.

We shall see come May whether it was the right decision to sack the man now fighting to keep Crystal Palace in the PL, and bring in a man with vast experience of the top flight, and an array of transfer contacts. All I can say is I am certain Stoke City will stay up this season, but keep an open mind when watching Stoke last on Match of the Day; you might be pleasantly surprised.

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