sonson
Striker
Remember that game as well, and it was f***ing disgusting the way they went on. I think it is down to the ref to clampdown on them though. It was the 0-0 game wasn't? I think anyway.
Looking at the stats i posted before they commit the same number of fouls on average as we do, but have slightly worse disciplinary. Going off that game it suggests the refs aren't picking up on their behaviour sometimes.
I think Stoke very clearly exploit rules which aren't taken as given, such as shirt pulling, holding etc. Everyone team does it to an extent, but they make a real point of doing it and I think they actively work on it as a form of mental disintegration. Aesthetically and morally I think it's pretty grim, but like I say, tactically, it's very clever.