Stoke - Cheating or just bending the rules slightly?

[First Wazzock 1,011]

I notice that they vary both the length and width of the pitch. I assume this is to negate teams with wingers and for other tactical reasons. Is this within the rules or just unsporting?

Also I noticed one of their players had a towel stitched into his shirt to allow the ball to be wiped dry, again, cheating or gamesmanship?

[CDMullins 498]

FA Laws state the minimum and maximum pitch lengths, aslong as the Stoke pitch is inside this in cannot possibly be classed as cheating or even gamesmanship

[Canaries Utd 0]

Spurs didn''t statnd a chance yesterday, the ref was shocking!!! Stoke seemed to be blessed, they were at our place too.

[Canary_on_the Trent 0]

I don''t think there is a problem with Stoke shrinking their pitch as long as it meets the standards.

In other sports, pitch size is universal but I quite like how pitches are varying sizes in football as it means teams have to adapt and makes away games a considerable challenge to be met.

[Rob Sims 0]

Stoke have the smallest pitch, man u and man c have the largest.

You can google it tho. Arsenal who I expected to have a large pitch are only 6th.

[norfolkchance1 0]

Don''t think they change it on a game by game basis in the Premier League. The other markings are for the Europa league, in Europe the minimum pitch size is bigger than the minimum Premier League pitch size.

Personally I don''t like it. All pitches should be same size.

[Yobocop 1,444]

Answer above, it''s not cheating though

[nutty nigel 7,902]

I think you nailed it Norfolkchance. Stoke have to have a larger pitch in the Europa League. I rather suspect they prefer a smaller pitch because it suits their style of play. If you watch them play they defend from the front and when not in possession they surround the ball like bees around a honey pot. This takes a lot of energy and obviously a bigger pitch would make that tactic even more tiring.

 

I don''t think it''s cheating. Just like I don''t think Grant Holt "going down easily" is cheating. The gap between the teams in the Premier League is such that any advantage that other clubs can be gain, within the laws of the game, is fair enough by me.

 

 

[Yobocop 1,444]

Thought I''d replied here

Answer above, not against the rules, just a clever way of playing within the rules

[BroadstairsR 2,273]

To doctor the pitch to gain home-team advantage has  been accepted practice in cricket for as long as I can remember, and the state of the pitch is certainly a more vital ingredient in this sport than in football.

 

I am slightly critical of them being able to change the dimensions of the pitch according to their opponents style. If it is true, then it is stretching gamesmanship to the limits, like diving, shirt-pulling, time-wasting, injury-feigning and all the other little tactics that have crept into the game over the years. 

[SwindonCanary 457]

Ya, Stoke cheat, the size if the pitch doesn''t annoy me, it''s all that holding/pushing/blocking in the box when defending,  that gets my back up!  

[Syteanric 1]

Port Vale actually have the largest football pitch in englandv i read a while back... not sure how much of a "run off" this includes, or if they vary the size.

[Shack Attack 0]

It''s not cheating or bending the rules but I''d be pretty embarrased if Norwich had to do something like that to gain an advantage. Their fans seem to love it though as evidenced by the ''2-1 to the rugby team'' and ''Swing Low Sweet Chariot'' chants. Each to their own I suppose but if Stoke were playing in my back garden I''d close the curtains. They''re a pretty despicable football team.

[Shyster 0]

[quote user="nutty nigel"]

I think you nailed it Norfolkchance. Stoke have to have a larger pitch in the Europa League. I rather suspect they prefer a smaller pitch because it suits their style of play. If you watch them play they defend from the front and when not in possession they surround the ball like bees around a honey pot. This takes a lot of energy and obviously a bigger pitch would make that tactic even more tiring.

 

I don''t think it''s cheating. Just like I don''t think Grant Holt "going down easily" is cheating. The gap between the teams in the Premier League is such that any advantage that other clubs can be gain, within the laws of the game, is fair enough by me.

 

 

[/quote]

Very well put, Ed -- it''s all in the game as they say.

[Shyster 0]

[quote user="Shack Attack"]It''s not cheating or bending the rules but I''d be pretty embarrased if Norwich had to do something like that to gain an advantage. Their fans seem to love it though as evidenced by the ''2-1 to the rugby team'' and ''Swing Low Sweet Chariot'' chants. Each to their own I suppose but if Stoke were playing in my back garden I''d close the curtains. They''re a pretty despicable football team.[/quote]

You have that big a garden, Shack?I always envisaged you as living in a Housing Association dwelling.

[mrs miggins 0]

i know i''m going off at a bit of a tangent here, but i''ve always thought it must be so boring being a stoke fan. all they do is a long ball system which has shown in their signings.

[Shack Attack 0]

[quote user="Shyster"]
You have that big a garden, Shack?

I always envisaged you as living in a Housing Association dwelling.
[/quote]

 

I''ve had enough children that we are now housed in a six bedroom property with a garden big enough for a football pitch. All at your expense. Cheers taxpayers [Y]

[Mister Chops 7]

[quote user="Shyster"][quote user="Shack Attack"]It''s not cheating or bending the rules but I''d be pretty embarrased if Norwich had to do something like that to gain an advantage. Their fans seem to love it though as evidenced by the ''2-1 to the rugby team'' and ''Swing Low Sweet Chariot'' chants. Each to their own I suppose but if Stoke were playing in my back garden I''d close the curtains. They''re a pretty despicable football team.[/quote]

You have that big a garden, Shack?I always envisaged you as living in a Housing Association dwelling.[/quote](a) even they have communal gardens, (b) Even if Shack lived on the 22nd floor, with Stoke playing, his windows would be at risk, curtains drawn or not.Anyway, I see the stitch-in towel as gamesmanship rather than cheating, it''s that 1% advantage but presumably there''s nothing in the rules about it (and I wouldn''t want a freezing cold and wet undershirt especially in Stoke where it''s usually -8 when the sun''s out).

[BroadstairsR 2,273]

Seven other ways to ''bend'' the rules:-

 

1. Have Delia greet them off the team bus. Sorry Dels, I think you look great for your age.

2. Have a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Grant Holt waiting in the opponent''s dressing room.

3. Pipe medieval dirges into their dressing room prior to the match. Failing this, any Des O''Connor record would do.

4. Play "You''ll Never Walk Alone" over the loudspeakers as they run out. 

5. Slip a little diazepam into the opponent''s half-time cuppa.

6. Put on a slighly deflated replacement ball if we are narrowly ahead with little time left.

7. Get Ruddy some of those Kenny Everett style out-sized gloves.

8. Ring the fire-alarm in the middle of their manager''s pre-match talk.

9. Spread superglue onto the opponent''s bench.

10. Bribe a linesman. Oops, wrong sport. 

 

Are you reading this Pulis? They all worked in Italy.

[Mister Chops 7]

[quote user="BroadstairsR"]

Seven other ways to ''bend'' the rules:-

 

1. Have Delia greet them off the team bus. Sorry Dels, I think you look great for your age.

2. Have a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Grant Holt waiting in the opponent''s dressing room.

3. Pipe medieval dirges into their dressing room prior to the match. Failing this, any Des O''Connor record would do.

4. Play "You''ll Never Walk Alone" over the loudspeakers as they run out. 

5. Slip a little diazepam into the opponent''s half-time cuppa.

6. Put on a slighly deflated replacement ball if we are narrowly ahead with little time left.

7. Get Ruddy some of those Kenny Everett style out-sized gloves.

8. Ring the fire-alarm in the middle of their manager''s pre-match talk.

9. Spread superglue onto the opponent''s bench.

10. Bribe a linesman. Oops, wrong sport. 

 

Are you reading this Pulis? They all worked in Italy.

[/quote][:D] Excellent!  [:D]

[Shyster 0]

[quote user="Shack Attack"]

[quote user="Shyster"]You have that big a garden, Shack?I always envisaged you as living in a Housing Association dwelling.[/quote]

 

I''ve had enough children that we are now housed in a six bedroom property with a garden big enough for a football pitch. All at your expense. Cheers taxpayers [Y]

[/quote]

Spoken like a true Lefty.

[CantonsHero 0]

Slightly off topic, but I think Pulis would have gained a lot of respect if he''d have come on the TV and said the truth yesterday.

"We got the run of the green with a few decisions, and my condolescences go out to Harry and to Spurs. We worked extremely hard today and feel that our first half performance was enough to get 3 points, but If I''d have been on the end of those decisions today I''d have been aggrieved."

I get incredibly irritated with managers who, evidently protecting their players, just blatantly lie. Yes Roy "It was an accident collision" Hodgson, I''m talking about you: the only person in the world who saw Herd''s stamp. You tit.