John Stones

[CahillsCornerFlag]

liverpool finished 2nd witrh much worse defenders making mistake week in week out

Do we have Suarez to outscore everyone though?

 

[davek]

Coleman made plenty of mistakes on his way to becoming the player he is today. It's just part and
parcel of any young defender's career.

If Stones plays in 25/30 games this season then he'll be a far better player for it.

But Coleman came through because Moyes made sure he was in and out depending on performance, and let him go on loan. I'm not saying that's the best policy for Stones (either loaning him or leaving him out for long periods) because all players are different and they need assessing what they'll positively react to. With Barkley that was a mistake, for example. I'm sure Roberto will see what's what and determine whether Stones' development is better off sitting a few out. We'll no doubt need him in there of necessity in the coming months (both him and Besic and possibly Duffy) as Distin and Jagielka are going to miss games given their age/recent injury record.

 

[davek]

People need to get off his back, he is a centre half, not a right back!

He was covering for Coleman against Leicester and got caught out for the goal not doubt about it, but he was covering in the middle for Distin and thinking like the centre half he is. Had Distin been where he should have been Stones would have been marking Wood and it wouldn't have happened.

It did happen though, no point pointing the finger, we defended badly all game.

To blame Stones is wrong though, he was playing out of position. For me, our worse defender was Distin.

Stones has to play centre half he is better than Distin, he and Jagielka are our best partnership, not doubt!!

This will be delightful vaulting.

The lad is class. He will be one of the best in Europe. He's 20 and playing the position that takes the longest to learn. His mistakes are magnified because they can lead directly to goals.

He's not one of our best two CB's today, because he's 20, but I'd much rather have him step in than Alcaraz. Patience is required when you don't have money. We can't buy the best CB in the world today, so it makes sense to wait for ours to develop into a player of that caliber.

So because he has a meh game in a position he doesn't play in for us he's not ready.

Yeah okay.

That's not what's been argued at all. Is anyone saying he's poor or not a CB?

This is a point about the development long term of a prize asset.

*sigh*

 

[RaleighBlue]

That's not what's been argued at all. Is anyone saying he's poor or not a CB?

This is a point about the development long term of a prize asset.

*sigh*

Not a CB for me. Not part of a two or three at the back. This isn't going to work out, not in the short term anyway. I dont think he's anywhere near positionally aware or dominant enough to play in such a sensitive position. Mistakes made there are disastrous and this lad is costing us.

I've believed for a while that he's better further up the pitch. He shows for the ball very well and has excellent distribution. Unfortunately we have a number of players in the middle of the park who are ahead of him in the pecking order. For me he should be sitting out games now that Coleman is back. We go to a four at the back and Stones should be used as an emergency CB.

Isn't it?

 

[Mr Besic]

Don't use the "he's not a right back" card please. It doesn't matter if Lukaku is there, I expect him to stay with Wood, he was caught ball watching and was caught out

 

[ah11984]

He will be VERY, VERY good, I'm sure.

But he still has a lot to learn defensively, which is understandable at the age of 20.

 

[topbalcony5boy]

Center back*

i know

 

[davek]

Isn't it?

That's a point later developed in following posts that he can be one. I was speaking in present tense initially.

The substantive point about his development is one that should be debated on these pages...or we could just trip each other up and ignore it.

 

[Del]

He's having a poor spell

SELL HIM

 

[blueblue]

The very best of players are making mistakes at the start of the season. A lot of the better players have had shortened preseason and in truth some are not fully fit or ready to play full games.

This season will probably be more difficult for Stones(the infamous second season) and I believe we will see him play in the centre as part of a back three almost playing the role Barry plays now but with Jagielka and Distin helping to cover any mistakes he makes in what is a steep learning curve for him.

 

[Walken]

He doesn't look a RB, but he will still be a better CH than jags or distin who aren't exactly bad, for some reason some people seem to be enjoying their first opportunity to slate the lad, he is going to be essential to the club, like an english thiago silva

 

[Walken]

Did my post go through?

you might have yourself on ignore mate

 

[FTY]

IMO we should loan him out to get experience and bring in some proven Prem quality like Kolo Toure or Senderos IMO.
Hahahahaha as if.

 

[Mr Besic]

IMO we should loan him out to get experience and bring in some proven Prem quality like Kolo Toure or Senderos IMO.

Don't know if serious

 

[davek]

IMO we should loan him out to get experience and bring in some proven Prem quality like Kolo Toure or Senderos IMO.

The alternatives are:

a) leave him in the team and let him find his feet/lose his way and confidence
or
b ) make sure a fantastic young prospect is guided in a professional way

I think maybe it'll come down to finances as most things do at Everton. We'll leave him in for long periods and hope that the second part of
alternative a) doesn't happen.