As a Premier League snob, I mi s the old days when NottinghamForest, Leeds, Southampton, Coventry, Derbyand I could go onwere in the Premier League. Despite my utopian image of the Prem, there is one team that have cemented their place in this league for me. That team is Stoke City.A lot of people would say that Stokes style of play is boring and ancient, but I think otherwise. Marcus Johnson Jersey The way Stoke play is the way I have always pictured English football to be: strong, aggre sive and neat. And Stoke also have a flair going forward, which makes them a very entertaining side to watch.When most people talk about beautiful football, they mention Arsenal doing 149 pa ses around the centre circle before Theo Walcott runs blindly down the wing and loses po se sion,andthis season also sees Liverpoolstarting touse tiki-taka, is a shame Steve McNair Jersey to English football. I would much rather see a perfectly timed crunching challenge, or a perfectly weighted through ball with a clinical finish, both of which Stoke show regularly. There is nothing wrong with physical approach to the game. It is simply a different approach to trying to win, and its proven to be a effective way.The way football is going, Iwouldntbe surprised if in a few years any sliding tackle, whether its clean or not, will be considered a foul. Dillon Radunz Jersey The thought of this depre ses me, and could put me off the game entirely. I like to see good defence as much as good attacking play, but if players are falling to the ground after a tap or trying to get players sent off like in the Spanish and Italian leagues, then I can see the Premier League losing what it has always been about.Thats why I like Stoke.Tony Pulis is a great manager, and when Stoke hold so called superior teams to draws, or steal three points, the opposing manager slates his tactics deeming them too aggre sive or negative.Thats ridiculous.Stoke are obviously not the most Racey McMath Jersey gifted skill-wise, so Pulis does what he can so his team can get results, which is what a managers job is supposed to be. Also, the signings they have made have always Eddie George Jersey impre sed me , and looking at their squad it looks strong in every area of the pitch. They are alwaysinsolid mid-table position without spending big.I just wish other teams would take a leaf out of Stokes book and play the game as I believe it should be played in this country, notcopy theSpanish style of play.Its not as if Stoke havent had succe s since rejoining the top flight. They have reached an FA Cup final and have had a mini European adventure.