Tony Pulis wants slick passing

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has expressed his desire to introduce a new philosophy of controlled build-up play to help win games instead of relying on their obvious strengths from long balls and set-pieces.

The Potters manager has said he is ready to "evolve" his team’s style to incorporate more intricate, quicker passes without compromising their transitional speed from defence to attack.

Speaking about such a style change, Pulis expressed a need for patience as such a drastic change of style cannot be adopted overnight:

“We are trying to evolve and we have got better players, but you have to get a balance and there’s no rush,” he said, speaking to The Sun.

“We know we are trying to evolve for the team to play through the pitch quickly. I will never change my views on that.

“We want smaller, quicker passes, but always through the pitch, not backwards or square.”

Pulis also reaffirmed his intention to stay at the club, again stating a need for time to implement a gradual progression within the club as a whole:

“I’m hoping to be here for a few more years and hoping the Coates family will be, so we have to move it up gradually,” he added.

“That will suit some people but not others because they want immediate success.

“But it takes time and it’s the way to do it, we think.

The Welshman also lauded the local community whose fans have helped turn the Britannia into one of the most intimidating grounds in the country.

“I don’t see myself going anywhere else. I’ve got fantastic respect for the place and the area. It’s a tough area,” noted Pulis.

“They say what they think, but they are hard-working, honest people and I enjoy the football club.”

Yeah and I intend to ride a dragon to work next weekend

Still not a complete overhaul to possession.

Looks like long ball to direct play.

They were outpassing and outplaying United for large portions of their game on saturday. There were actually some very impressive passing plays in there that I had no idea Stoke were capable of, particularly around United's 16yd box. Haters keep hatin'

Walters for Balon D' Or .

Seriously that guy is pretty good...no idea what he's doing at Stoke but I like him.

yeah, he's a pretty solid player. If only he finished off that orgasmic passing move by Stoke .. needs a gif

Charlie Adam found the perfect home I see

Be/\/ceCALI wrote:They were outpassing and outplaying United for large portions of their game on saturday. There were actually some very impressive passing plays in there that I had no idea Stoke were capable of, particularly around United's 16yd box. Haters keep hatin'

and by "large portions" I assume you mean a grand total of about 10 of the 90 minutes.

Firenze wrote:and by "large portions" I assume you mean a grand total of about 10 of the 90 minutes.

No.

I thought Stoke played very decent football against Utd, the best football I've seen them play this season. Kightly, Walters and Adam were bossing the United midfield in the first 20 minutes or so, till moments of brilliance from Rooney and Van Persie undid them. They came back attacking at 3-1 and scored a goal only to conceed again.

United though had a role to play in making Stoke look so good, they refused to press the ball, and had De Gea to thank for not going 2-0 or 3-0 down.

I've actually seen this ''evolution'' coming a while now. I read some stats a few months ago ( can't remember where ) in an article that was posted earlier this year or late last year about how Stoke were sort of playing the ball on the ground a bit more and it became evident after watching them soon after.

Should try evolving biologically first. Tactics can wait until then

Now there's no way Barcelona can get anything on a cold Britannia night