'When Pep Guardiola came in and began to play the beautiful game, people thought it was the first time ever that teams had played football in England' Tony Pulis on the continuous cycle of football

"Few figures in Premier League history have been as polarising as Tony Pulis. The former Stoke City boss had one of the most clearly defined styles in football during his cap-wearing reign at the Britannia Stadium in the late 2000s and into the early 2010s, with the Potters' brand of direct and physical play splitting opinion. Some saw Pulis Ball' as a side playing to their strengths and an unapologetic way of getting results,"

"Man City have been absolutely fantastic and Pep is probably one of the most influential managers this country has ever seen, Pulis tells FourFourTwo. But when he came in and began to play the beautiful game, people thought it was the first time ever that teams had played football in England. Pulis is full of praise for Pep Guardiola (Image credit: Getty Images) Have a look at the 1961 and 1962 Tottenham teams though, the push and run team."

Tony Pulis established a recognisable, direct and physical style at Stoke City in the late 2000s and early 2010s that polarised opinions across the Premier League. The approach prioritized strength, pragmatism and set-piece effectiveness, prompting praise from some and criticism from others, including Arsène Wenger. The style faded by Pulis's 2013 departure, but tactical fashions in football are cyclical and direct, physical strategies have since regained prominence. The modern possession era under Pep Guardiola is highly influential, yet historical teams such as 1961–62 Tottenham, successful Manchester United and Liverpool sides illustrate that varied styles have alternated over time.

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