Latest Stoke City news from StokeonTrentlive brings you what the former Watford striker has had to say about the Potters
Troy Deeney has leapt to the defence of Stoke City and former manager Tony Pulis after Dimitar Berbatov compared Arsenal to the Potters.
Arsenal have scored a hatful of goals from set-pieces this season and bagged another two in the win over Manchester United in midweek. That led Berbatov to say the Gunners reminded him of the Stoke team that punched above its weight in the Premier League under Pulis.
The Potters were renowned for being exceptionally strong at dead ball situations but former Watford striker Deeney was not impressed by Berbatov’s comments. And he went as far as to say that Bukayo Saka would not have made Pulis’ Stoke team due to the style of play.
“If anything, it is really disrespectful to Tony,” he wrote in the Sun. “He did a wonderful job with a bang-average Stoke team keeping them in the Premier League — and yet it was ONLY because of their set-pieces? And why is there a stigma attached to it? Maybe everyone should play wonderful football like at Southampton — then get hammered for being bottom?
“I was there on Wednesday. It was a sh*t game which Mikel Arteta and his side won from two corners. I played against Pulis’ Stoke and they were nothing like Arsenal of today. Bukayo Saka wouldn’t get into that Stoke team. Not because he isn’t good enough but because it is a completely different style.
“But God forbid a team gets in the box and wants to head a ball — compared to a United team that didn’t want to head anything.
“I loved Berbatov as a player, he is a real football man. But it feels a lazy comparison from a really smart guy just to protect his old club. If United won 2-0 from two corners, would Berbatov call it a tactical masterclass? Yet, when Arsenal do it, it’s Stoke? Arsenal dominated possession for most of that game, too. It’s called winning football.”
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