John Stones

[Ashtonluke]

Rare to see a player so young play at centre half and look so comfortable. I agree with those above who said he need to bulk out a bit but that comes with serious gym time and age.

His comfort on the ball is outstanding. That moment in first half where he brought the ball down and played a ball up to lukaku was sheer class. Imagine Jags trying to do that...

Playing the system we do, we need centre halves with his level of quality on the ball.

 

[MartSlinger]

Rare to see a player so young play at centre half and look so comfortable. I agree with those above who said he need to bulk out a bit but that comes with serious gym time and age.

His comfort on the ball is outstanding. That moment in first half where he brought the ball down and played a ball up to lukaku was sheer class. Imagine Jags trying to do that...

Playing the system we do, we need centre halves with his level of quality on the ball.

To be fair had Jagielka been younger and not played under both Warnock and Moyes he'd be far more comfortable on the ball.

 

[Bilko]

How far off is this fella from being a first team choice I wonder.with jags doubtful tomorrow I'd imagine he gets the start,which when you think about it,the fan base quite happy for a 19 year old to replace the Everton Captain and England International,that's quite remarkable.Is there another center half at that age playing premiership football to his standard.
would we expect him to be first choice by next season ?.

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

Lets just cut out the middle man and give him the armband tomorrow. Go'ed Stonesy lad.

 

[mightymoyes]

How far off is this fella from being a first team choice I wonder.with jags doubtful tomorrow I'd imagine he gets the start,which when you think about it,the fan base quite happy for a 19 year old to replace the Everton Captain and England International,that's quite remarkable.Is there another center half at that age playing premiership football to his standard.
would we expect him to be first choice by next season ?.

when jagielka is fit i'd like to see him replace distin so him and stones have a chance to develop a partnership for next season.

 

[davek]

Hmmm.

I'm really not sure about him yet. Distribution ok, but his awareness of opposition players peeling off around him is pretty poor, IMO. His ball watching reminds me a bit of Coleman when he first came into the side. Distin/Stones looks a pretty poor combination to me. We cant get Jagielka back quick enough.

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

I'm prepared for whatever tribulations he has to go through...the potential makes it easy. He'll learn.

 

[bluestevon]

Hmmm.

I'm really not sure about him yet. Distribution ok, but his awareness of opposition players peeling off around him is pretty poor, IMO. His ball watching reminds me a bit of Coleman when he first came into the side. Distin/Stones looks a pretty poor combination to me. We cant get Jagielka back quick enough.

Aye Dave he's not the finished article by a long shot obviously but the potential and level of play he's at already bodes very well for a dominant cb for years to come, for what its worth i think he'd actually suit playing alongside Jags better, which i'm guessing is the plan over the next few seasons

 

[toffeejack]

Hmmm.

I'm really not sure about him yet. Distribution ok, but his awareness of opposition players peeling off around him is pretty poor, IMO. His ball watching reminds me a bit of Coleman when he first came into the side. Distin/Stones looks a pretty poor combination to me. We cant get Jagielka back quick enough.

he's still young and will adapt with age.

it is his main weakness from what i've seen so far, noticed it in his first start? vs norwich, i agree that he doesn't look great next to distin, would look much more assured next to jagielka i'd think.

 

[hktoffee]

Hmmm.

I'm really not sure about him yet. Distribution ok, but his awareness of opposition players peeling off around him is pretty poor, IMO. His ball watching reminds me a bit of Coleman when he first came into the side. Distin/Stones looks a pretty poor combination to me. We cant get Jagielka back quick enough.

It seems that Stones does not know how to deal with those lopping high ball/pass. Jags and Distin should give him some lectures on that.

 

[tommye]

Hmmm.

I'm really not sure about him yet. Distribution ok, but his awareness of opposition players peeling off around him is pretty poor, IMO. His ball watching reminds me a bit of Coleman when he first came into the side. Distin/Stones looks a pretty poor combination to me. We cant get Jagielka back quick enough.

He's 19 Dave.

19.

Mistakes are inevitable in his game at his age. I am quite happy to sit and watch him learn his trade the hard way. The lad is a natural and will be there for another 10+ years. Little things like that will be ironed out playing games.

 

[davek]

Aye Dave he's not the finished article by a long shot obviously but the potential and level of play he's at already bodes very well for a dominant cb for years to come, for what its worth i think he'd actually suit playing alongside Jags better, which i'm guessing is the plan over the next few seasons

He's got great potential. Obviously he can do a job against standard PL opposition, but for me there's no way he threatens our (still) best CB pairing of Jags and Distin. I'm in half a mind he might be destined to play further up the pitch, tbh.

 

[Walken]

thought distins marking was worse than stones to be honest

 

[Azzurri]

thought distins marking was worse than stones to be honest

Thought Distin was quality today.

Stones not so much.

 

[davek]

He's 19 Dave.

19.

Mistakes are inevitable in his game at his age. I am quite happy to sit and watch him learn his trade the hard way. The lad is a natural and will be there for another 10+ years. Little things like that will be ironed out playing games.

Yeah, I accept that. It's important to remember it.

I'm not having a go, just pointing out the obvious weakness in his game atm...which is a pretty big one for an aspiring CB.