John Stones

The Cowboy · March 31, 2016

Billy Dean said:
This on toast

If those 2 go ahead of him to the euros what little's left of my faith in English football will be destroyed forever and I don't think I'l ever recover.

Jones, agreed. Got no problem with Cahill tbh.

duncan's pigeon · March 31, 2016

I think that Talksport thing yesterday is commonly known as an agenda!

BlueToff · March 31, 2016

The Cowboy said:
They do 'play football'. They play the appropriate type of football for their position. Stones is all too often playing an inappropriate style (ie the fannying around) and thus his errors become even more noticeable.

Mate...

Cahill and Jones are awful. Ask any Chelsea or United fan.

Stones is a footballer and a defender who likes to play out from the back.

His 'playing out from the back' rarely costs us, or England for that matter.

He's a young player who's going to make mistakes. And it's why this country will again squander one of the best young cores of a side it has had in years.

Wait for Alli to be half as effective next year - and suddenly he'll be the worst player in the Prem.

BlueToff · March 31, 2016

blue61 said:
Stones will go, but I suspect not as first choice.

He was never gonna be first choice mate.

Even had he continued his fine form from October - December time through to now, Roy would have still picked Cahill and Smalling ahead of him.

Stones had a very solid game the other day (his first 90 minute appearance for club or country in over two months). He made a mistake which led to England conceding a penalty - though that could easily have been avoided - just as Stones' slip could have been avoided.

It happens. Still one of the best youngsters around.

As I've said, had Stones played for one of the 'money' clubs, the fault would now be lying at Roses' door in the media. Guaranteed.

Billy Dean · March 31, 2016

The Cowboy said:
Jones, agreed. Got no problem with Cahill tbh.

he was at fault for one of Germany's goals last week and has been no more convincing in the league than Stones.

bobafro · April 1, 2016

Elong said:
More more caps than many of our players, and more trophies than any of our players. I'd judge that a success.

To be honest, the way you're looking at it is completely fair. He probably has his best period for England while at City as well.

I guess all I'm trying to say is that he went from a player that was considered to be one of the best defenders in the league to the player that is probably considered to be the worst first choice CB in the premier league (if you ask Villa fans).

But my point is pretty much irrelevant as what you're saying is true, when his achievements are looked back on he will have had a successful career due to leaving Everton when he did. I just don't think he'll be remembered in 20 years as a great premier league defender and well I think that if he had continued playing the way he was at Everton he would be. (but that's all hypothetical so again... irrelevant).

blueblue · April 1, 2016

bobafro said:
To be honest, the way you're looking at it is completely fair. He probably has his best period for England while at City as well.

I guess all I'm trying to say is that he went from a player that was considered to be one of the best defenders in the league to the player that is probably considered to be the worst first choice CB in the premier league (if you ask Villa fans).

But my point is pretty much irrelevant as what you're saying is true, when his achievements are looked back on he will have had a successful career due to leaving Everton when he did. I just don't think he'll be remembered in 20 years as a great premier league defender and well I think that if he had continued playing the way he was at Everton he would be. (but that's all hypothetical so again... irrelevant).

The Lescott situation is weird. He has been past his best for about three or four seasons now, but instead he should be at his very peak.
He got a big move, earned lots of money, has had a couple of moves since then which I assume has earned him a lot more. He won a league title,got international caps and yet when you look back at his career it all seems very indifferent.

Elong · April 1, 2016

bobafro said:
To be honest, the way you're looking at it is completely fair. He probably has his best period for England while at City as well.

I guess all I'm trying to say is that he went from a player that was considered to be one of the best defenders in the league to the player that is probably considered to be the worst first choice CB in the premier league (if you ask Villa fans).

But my point is pretty much irrelevant as what you're saying is true, when his achievements are looked back on he will have had a successful career due to leaving Everton when he did. I just don't think he'll be remembered in 20 years as a great premier league defender and well I think that if he had continued playing the way he was at Everton he would be. (but that's all hypothetical so again... irrelevant).

I know what you mean. He was a beast for us, but got swallowed up as Kompany's shadow when he moved.

Zaschrona · April 1, 2016

Do you think we should at least try to play Stones as a central midfielder? In my opinion he is way better suited to play there than as a central defender. He loves to take a risk, he loves to play with his back away from the opposite goal, he loves to invite opponents to go after him only to then pass the ball to his team mates. And he has some serious creativity and passing ability. Not really the greatest defender, I personally belive Jags is better one-on-one defender than him. This is not a campaing agaist John at all, but I think Stones is better suited to play as a central midfielder than a center half. I hope Martinez will at least try him there in the pre-season. Martinez previously talked about playing Baines there, but I think Stonesy is even better suited to play there than Bainesy, that Lahm-move could make him even better player than he is about to become.

Deleted member 28206 · April 1, 2016

Brexit exit = Stones fault

Jags..class · April 2, 2016

Zaschrona said:
Do you think we should at least try to play Stones as a central midfielder? In my opinion he is way better suited to play there than as a central defender. He loves to take a risk, he loves to play with his back away from the opposite goal, he loves to invite opponents to go after him only to then pass the ball to his team mates. And he has some serious creativity and passing ability. Not really the greatest defender, I personally belive Jags is better one-on-one defender than him. This is not a campaing agaist John at all, but I think Stones is better suited to play as a central midfielder than a center half. I hope Martinez will at least try him there in the pre-season. Martinez previously talked about playing Baines there, but I think Stonesy is even better suited to play there than Bainesy, that Lahm-move could make him even better player than he is about to become.

Hmm I would rather he stayed in defence for now and let him learn to defend as well, he very young and defenders are not complete at the age of 21

whiteshadow · April 2, 2016

Zaschrona said:
Do you think we should at least try to play Stones as a central midfielder? In my opinion he is way better suited to play there than as a central defender. He loves to take a risk, he loves to play with his back away from the opposite goal, he loves to invite opponents to go after him only to then pass the ball to his team mates. And he has some serious creativity and passing ability. Not really the greatest defender, I personally belive Jags is better one-on-one defender than him. This is not a campaing agaist John at all, but I think Stones is better suited to play as a central midfielder than a center half. I hope Martinez will at least try him there in the pre-season. Martinez previously talked about playing Baines there, but I think Stonesy is even better suited to play there than Bainesy, that Lahm-move could make him even better player than he is about to become.

Stones excels at everything that is of secondary importance as a defender but which is much more important as a midfielder. It seems crazy to not at least test him in midfield as his ability on the ball and range of passing is great.

If you compare Stones to Rio Ferdinand at a similar age I'd argue Stones is better on the ball and has a way better pass but Ferdinand had far superior defensive qualities. When you're touted as a potential world class defender but all your best attributes aren't related to defending you have to wonder if switching position is a better option.

Groucho · April 2, 2016

I hear there's an imminent interview with John Stones on The Everton Show, on YouTube and that Bay TV. Don't know when but they claim it's in depth.

AndyC · April 2, 2016

whiteshadow said:
Stones excels at everything that is of secondary importance as a defender but which is much more important as a midfielder. It seems crazy to not at least test him in midfield as his ability on the ball and range of passing is great.

My older brother and a real student of footie has been saying exactly this for the past 18 months - that JS has all the ingredients to make a dominant midfielder.

whiteshadow · April 2, 2016

BlockHead said:
My older brother and a real student of footie has been saying exactly this for the past 18 months - that JS has all the ingredients to make a dominant midfielder.

The question is wether he could learn how to position himself well in midfield but Barry is the ideal player to learn from.