Stoke City under Pulis: an icon of Premier League set pieces.

Under Tony Pulis, Stoke City transformed set pieces into their identity and competitive advantage. In the late 2000s, every trip to Britannia was a test of physical and mental fortitude: cold winds, damp pitches, stifling atmosphere – and above all, Rory Delap's throw-ins were as deadly as a corner kick.

Throw-ins like corner kicks: Stoke City's ultimate weapon.

Rory Delap is Tony Pulis's tactical spearhead in every situation where the ball touches the wing. In Stoke's system, throw-ins are no longer a link to maintain tempo but become a direct attacking opportunity. The structure of movement, tackling, challenges, and heading is programmed like a laboratory exercise – where every square meter in the penalty area is fought for with strength and discipline.

Under Pulis, Stoke didn't have world-class stars, but they had organization, spirit, and unwavering loyalty to their philosophy: force opponents into fouls, win corners or throw-ins, and then punish them with set pieces. It was primitive and raw football, but effective enough to make big-name opponents wary.

Britannia – a nightmare for candidates.

"Going to Stoke is a nightmare" isn't just a metaphor. Arsene Wenger once described trips to Britannia as "more of a physical and mental test than a football match," and at times criticized Stoke for playing rugby rather than football. This very unpleasantness makes Stoke a difficult opponent for many strong teams, especially when the game is drawn to second ball challenges and a series of set pieces.

The key takeaway: Stoke didn't simply play long balls; they played long balls with a purpose. From a through ball, a physical pressing sequence, and a ball recovery right on the wing, it immediately transformed into an attacking throw-in – the premise for a pre-planned sequence of action in the final third of the pitch.

Pulis' tactics: long balls with a target, set pieces are the focus.

Pulis's philosophy is encapsulated in two words: efficiency: getting the ball to danger zones as quickly as possible, creating as many set pieces as possible, and optimizing every tackle. His machine operates on strength, height, and the ability to read the ball's trajectory; but what makes the difference is discipline. At Stoke, every player understands their position, when to press, when to block, and when to race for the ball's trajectory to create space for the shot.

With that "mechanical" approach, almost every throw from Delap was a live ball in the penalty area. Opponents had to defend as if facing a corner kick: positioning themselves at the near post, blocking headers, and preparing for the unpredictable trajectory of the ball. A small mistake could be costly.

Timeless influence in the Premier League

The legacy of Stoke under Pulis hasn't faded as English football has changed. On the contrary, many modern teams – from Brentford and Nottingham Forest to Arsenal – are utilizing set pieces and strategic throw-ins to gain an advantage in an increasingly fierce and tightly-knit league. What was once considered outdated, like long balls or physical pressing, is making a strong comeback in a more optimized version.

While modern football celebrates control and creativity, Pulis emphasizes that efficiency is the ultimate goal. He may not be considered a flamboyant strategist, but his team – with its obsession with set pieces – has forced the entire league to tremble and adapt.

Legacy: It doesn't need to be loved, it just needs to be remembered.

Pulis' Stoke may not have been loved, but they are certainly remembered. From Delap's throw-ins that looked like corners to their long-ball system, Stoke redefined the value of "small moments." At Britannia, every throw-in was a warning, every corner a battle. And that is perhaps the highest respect football can bestow upon a team: making others change for you.