Talking Tactics by Peter Smith
CASE FOR THE DEFENCE
Andy Wilkinson and Marc Wilson's stay in England this week will have given them the chance to prepare for a meeting with two of the Premier League's in-form wingers.
Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair's performances this season has seen calls for them to break into England's European Championship squad, albeit emanating from South Wales.
Packed with pace, the pair have weighed in with a combined four assists and 10 goals already this term.
They like to run at defenders and play in triangles with striker Danny Graham and midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Stifling the oft-wandering Graham will be the task of Ryan Shawcross and Matthew Upson, who will continue to fill in for the suspended Robert Huth.
Upson was disciplined last week against the powerful and highly-rated League Two striker Tyrone Barnett.
Handling Swansea's jet-heeled attack will be a different proposition.
Behind him, Asmir Begovic's Europa League rest in midweek seemed to cue a recall for domestic action.
The Bosnia international blew the cobwebs away with two largely steady showings at home to Valencia and at Crawley Town.
MIDFIELD BATTLE
Leon Britton has been Swansea's midfield conductor this season, completing 93.3 per cent of his many short passes – which is better even than Barcelona's Xavi.
He sits alongside Chelsea loanee Josh McEachran and former Crewe man Sigurdsson in a fluid three in the middle of the park.
Dean Whitehead and Glenn Whelan will have to be on their game to avoid chasing shadows.
The pair's energy and commitment should not be in question, however, given six days recuperation after the 2-0 win at Crawley.
Matthew Etherington presumably resumes his place on the left after a nine-day break with licence to run at attacking right-back Angel Rangel.
Jermaine Pennant's selection on the other flank would send out an intention to pin the Swans' attacking full-backs firmly on to the back foot.
But for the same reason, Tony Pulis might be tempted to slip the more defensive-minded Ryan Shotton back into right midfield, especially given the added threat of his long throws.
Neil Taylor has impressed darting up the Welsh side's left and there is no doubt who he would prefer to be occupying Stoke's right wing.
CUTTING EDGE
Peter Crouch and Jon Walters go into the game having both scored in their previous outing, via a towering header and penalty respectively.
The pair have linked up for six months now and still seem Pulis's number one option, even with the increasing influence of the strong and fast Cameron Jerome.
Ricardo Fuller would love to be given more than just a cameo, while Kenwyne Jones could have put more pressure on his manager if he had netted those two gilt-edged chances on Thursday.
Whoever is given a chance up top for Stoke, Ashley Williams and Tottenham loan-boy Steven Caulker will anticipate one of their biggest battles of the season.
Michel Vorm has looked a steal at £1.5m from FC Utrecht, especially given that at 6ft-tall he is one of the Premier League's smallest keepers.
The Dutch international will still have rarely had his ability to deal with balls in the air as tested he will be in a wind-swept Britannia Stadium with a noisy crowd breathing down his neck.
7 Comments
by soccerfoot11
Sunday, February 26 2012, 3:53PM
“well cant argue with a 2- 0 lead at half time. Now, with a -14 goal difference, will Pulis decide to try and pile on a bit or defend to the last that 2 goal lead ! Im hoping the latter ! But to do so he is going to have to take off the ineffective and really waste of time that Jon Walters has become. He is still my favorite player but damn, its a complete waste of a spot on the squad. Fuller in for him”
by soccerfoot11
Sunday, February 26 2012, 2:43PM
“of course i meant Martin Spinks”
by soccerfoot11
Sunday, February 26 2012, 2:42PM
“Walters will start, trouble is he hasnt played a very good game in months ! Martin Atkinson just said he was surprised that Pulis went with the more defensive Shotton at home instead of Pennant ! And he says the manager has put more pressure on himself with his selections today !”
by DJ_Stoke
Sunday, February 26 2012, 2:37PM
“You just love to bicker on here don't you soccerfoot?
Walters will defenitely start, and will play a very good game I bet. These players who were left behind have ALOT to prove to keep their places as first team regulars. The only question really is who will Pulis use as a sub for crouch, because the rest of the team almost writes itself.
You almost wonder if Coates has a lot more to say behind the scenes than we know about as fans. For all we know he was forced to leave a good portion of those players behind...”
by soccerfoot11
Sunday, February 26 2012, 1:50PM
“I always get a chuckle every week when this article comes out and how the Pulis rimmers on here never comment on this article ! Why? maybe because Pulis seems quite devoid of tactics and anyway most think that tactics have nothing to do wit how a team plays. After all, the only thing a manager really does is fill out the squad sheet before the game . right johnson ?”
by markinspain
Saturday, February 25 2012, 10:30PM
“of cause walters is playing do you ever think pulis would drop him”
by soccerfoot11
Saturday, February 25 2012, 1:38PM
“damn, after those descriptions of the mighty Swansea players, you would have thought he was talking about Barcelona themselves we are getting ready to play tomorrow !! How are they not 10 points clear at the top of the league with glowing reviews like that ??
amazing !!
PS, if Walters plays tomorrow the nick name some people use for TP's last name might just fit !!”