The 2009-10 campaign was a season that firmly established Stoke City's infamous Premier League blueprint under the demanding Tony Pulis, seeing The Potters secure a safe 11th-place finish. This era was defined by the legendary, chaotic attacking weapon of the Rory Delap long throw and a rugged, no-nonsense defense that led the league in headed clearances. Spearheading the charge with crucial attacking flair was the gifted Matthew Etherington, who contributed 5 league goals, ensuring The Potters comfortably avoided any relegation drama and cemented their defining, if unglamorous, period of top-flight consolidation.