Famed for their tough tackling, route one style and Rory Delap’s bullet long throws, Pulis turned Stoke into Premier League also-rans to the team no-one wanted to play.
It led many to use a ‘can they do it on a Tuesday night against Stoke’ as a barometer of how good a team was.
And, for Crouch, that Stoke side were so good that they could have taken on Barcelona.
“I always felt that Stoke City under Tony Pulis would give Barcelona a game,” he said on That Peter Crouch podcast.
“That team that we had was strong, physical players, it would be unsettling for them.
“I think 11 men behind the ball at every opportunity. There would be absolutely no gaps for them to play.
“Then, when we do get set pieces, we take our time over them and everyone’s going forward.
“We are making it as difficult as possible. When I look at some teams in La Liga and they are playing expansive football and there are holes everywhere.
“If you just make it as difficult as possible, you stop them playing, yeah be nasty at times but how else are you going to beat them?
“I think you’ve got to play one up. I’d play 4-5-1 and I’ve that midfielder to be the sort of link to the striker.
“I’d have the two wingers being the possible out-balls. The rest of the time everyone is behind the ball. If you’ve got a little bit of pace on the flanks…”
Lionel Messi has never played in the Premier League but Crouch even had a plan for how to deal with him.
“I think Lionel Messi is the best player who has ever walked the planet. It’s going to be difficult,” he explained.
“I wouldn’t necessarily man-mark him but I would give him a kick or two when you are close to him.
“If you are going to let the best player in the world dictate the game, you’re going to lose.”