NdJ labels Stoke 'kick and rush'

True enough, although Stoke don't mind being patronised by those associated with bigger clubs, if only because their siege mentality and club unity feed off it. So I don't know how wise it is for players who grew up in the Ajax youth teams to criticise Stoke for their style:

"I like the ball played along the ground a lot, but I think we can expect a lot of long balls against Stoke, so you have to be prepared for the second ball and knock-downs.

“It’s going to be a battle and it’s probably not the best pitch in the league to play football on at the moment, but we know Stoke away is going to be hard whenever you take them on...

The former Hamburg star added: “In Germany and Holland all the teams try and play football - here you still find teams who play kick and rush. But they are doing what they feel they have to in order to survive in this league."

That said, if we're going to beat Stoke we're going to have to beat them at their own game. Few teams go to Stoke and win, and those that do only triumph on Stoke's terms. And so de Jong is going to be more engaged and more involved than he was on Saturday evening.