Pulis big on proper tackling - Matteo

Dominic Matteo claims Tony Pulis is a stickler for "fair and proper tackling" that would never send Stoke out to break any rules. Stoke have found themselves at the centre of some unwanted attention recently following comments from Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy.Murphy named Pulis as one of three managers - the others being Mick McCarthy and Sam Allardyce - that sends out his team "so pumped up there is inevitably going to be problems".However, Matteo, who played under Pulis for Stoke, says the Welshman is always insistent his players follow the rules."I know what was said inside the dressing room at Stoke City and on the training pitch," he said in his column for the Yorkshire Evening Post."Any suggestion that Tony Pulis pushes the rules beyond the limit is miles from the truth."As a manager he's as fair as they come and I wouldn't say that if I didn't mean it."As far as underhand tactics go, if the cap fits then a manager should wear it. It doesn't fit Tony."This is not a debate about style because, as anyone can see, his tactics are not the prettiest."But flagrant with the rules or the spirit of the game? I can't go along with that. Pulis never sent us out to injure or rough up the opposition. If anything, he was big on fair and proper tackling. "You might not believe me but that's how is was. He wouldn't have tolerated players crossing the line deliberately."As far as Danny Murphy's comments go, I agree with half of what he said. You do see reckless tackles and you do get the feeling from time to time that a few footballers are out of order. "But I can't accept the opinion that teams who go out with a fair strategy for containing the opposition are somehow ruining the game. "And you can't tell me that Danny's Fulham haven't done that from time to time."

Source: Team_Talk