I agree 100% but don't forget McCarthy at CM! With him being just 23 the long term future of this team could be very, very exciting!
This is very true! The future is bright, the future is blue!
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This is very true! The future is bright, the future is blue!
JamesMcarthy
Player Valuation: £225k
Looked shakey on one or two occasions today but one if them did lead directly to the goal. He's a fantastic player.
The player Rodwell could have been...
How does Jagielka get his spot back??
The player Rodwell could have been...
How does Jagielka get his spot back??
The lads getting there, mega talent!
toffeejack
Player Valuation: £100m
Jags and Stones is my 1st choice centre back pairing for next season. he'll obviously get rests along the way being the age he's at, but he's looked more assured in this system than distin.
just_COYB
Player Valuation: £8m
Who is?
Distin is a beast mate one of our most underatted players, most consistent and vitally important - that said I know he went to school with papa smurf!
toffeejack
Player Valuation: £100m
wonderful player yes, just think he looks a tad nervous with the ball at his feet this season
toffee matt
Player Valuation: £60m
I love this guy
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...to-Martinez-is-the-right-man-for-the-job.html
Nice write up
John Stones, in truth, did not enjoy his best game. One or two avoidable lapses could have led to much worse than a sorry Arsenal side managed to produce. But the young centre-half also showed his good side on Sunday, the ability that makes him such a favourite with his Evertonmanager.
Roberto Martínez actually tried to buy the teenager from Barnsley when in charge of Wigan Athletic, only for David Moyes to win the day with an offer that saw Stones head to Goodison Park in January last year.
From that point of view, Martínez’s arrival on Merseyside was a stroke of good luck. Another manager, after all, might have turned up and decided that Stones was not quite up to scratch.
Doubtful, though, because anyone with half an eye can see that this lad has got something worth nurturing. And on that particular score, there are not many better qualified than the clever Spaniard blessed with a wonderful knack for improving players.
He is doing it with Romelu Lukaku, James McCarthy, Steven Naismith and Ross Barkley and he is certainly doing it with this talented defender. Stones, in fact, is right up Martínez’s street as someone perfectly fitting the boss’s modus operandi: comfortable in possession, a good passer of the ball and capable of bringing it out from the back with a bit of style.
Stones can do all of that and more. This tall, languid figure covers the ground really well, as proved when he matched Lukas Podolski stride for stride down the channel to stop the German from getting in a cross. If that showed real tenacity, one or two other moments betrayed the inexperience of a player making only his 10th Premier League start.
By chance, the first of those errors inadvertently led to Everton’s opening goal. A risky pass across his own penalty area, intended for Sylvain Distin, was badly under hit, forcing Tim Howard to rush out of goal and slide the ball off the toe of Olivier Giroud.
Stones was still busy apologising when Leighton Baines latched on to the clearance to help set up Naismith.
In the second half the 19-year-old dallied on the ball in a dangerous area to let Santi Cazorla rob him. On another day the opposition might have punished such over-elaboration but, thankfully for Stones, nothing came of the chance.
Not that Martínez would frown on this kind of mistake. As a committed devotee of patient football, he positively encourages his charges to play out from the back, even if it means occasionally giving the ball away.
In any case, Stones knew he had erred and, like any good player, he should learn from these moments.
In fairness, it must help a great deal to have Sylvain Distin alongside as a font of advice throughout the match. Nearly twice his partner’s age, Distin took the brunt of Arsenal’s attacking threat by shackling Giroud with relative ease.
Stones, meanwhile, was left to mop up and head away the odd cross, clearly determined to protect the clean sheet.
For one so new to this level, he happily took responsibility by yelling at team-mates if someone needed picking up. Natural leaders do not have to be old.
Watching on, the injured Phil Jagielka would have approved, as well as perhaps feeling a touch concerned.
Since coming in for Jagielka, Stones has been part of a 100 per cent record, the side recording six league wins on the trot. For Martínez, then, it might not be an easy decision when the senior man once again becomes available.
Club recognition has now been attained. So has approval from England’s Under-21s.
If he carries on like this, how long before this classy competitor makes the full squad?
Nice write up
John Stones, in truth, did not enjoy his best game. One or two avoidable lapses could have led to much worse than a sorry Arsenal side managed to produce. But the young centre-half also showed his good side on Sunday, the ability that makes him such a favourite with his Evertonmanager.
Roberto Martínez actually tried to buy the teenager from Barnsley when in charge of Wigan Athletic, only for David Moyes to win the day with an offer that saw Stones head to Goodison Park in January last year.
From that point of view, Martínez’s arrival on Merseyside was a stroke of good luck. Another manager, after all, might have turned up and decided that Stones was not quite up to scratch.
Doubtful, though, because anyone with half an eye can see that this lad has got something worth nurturing. And on that particular score, there are not many better qualified than the clever Spaniard blessed with a wonderful knack for improving players.
He is doing it with Romelu Lukaku, James McCarthy, Steven Naismith and Ross Barkley and he is certainly doing it with this talented defender. Stones, in fact, is right up Martínez’s street as someone perfectly fitting the boss’s modus operandi: comfortable in possession, a good passer of the ball and capable of bringing it out from the back with a bit of style.
Stones can do all of that and more. This tall, languid figure covers the ground really well, as proved when he matched Lukas Podolski stride for stride down the channel to stop the German from getting in a cross. If that showed real tenacity, one or two other moments betrayed the inexperience of a player making only his 10th Premier League start.
By chance, the first of those errors inadvertently led to Everton’s opening goal. A risky pass across his own penalty area, intended for Sylvain Distin, was badly under hit, forcing Tim Howard to rush out of goal and slide the ball off the toe of Olivier Giroud.
Stones was still busy apologising when Leighton Baines latched on to the clearance to help set up Naismith.
In the second half the 19-year-old dallied on the ball in a dangerous area to let Santi Cazorla rob him. On another day the opposition might have punished such over-elaboration but, thankfully for Stones, nothing came of the chance.
Not that Martínez would frown on this kind of mistake. As a committed devotee of patient football, he positively encourages his charges to play out from the back, even if it means occasionally giving the ball away.
In any case, Stones knew he had erred and, like any good player, he should learn from these moments.
In fairness, it must help a great deal to have Sylvain Distin alongside as a font of advice throughout the match. Nearly twice his partner’s age, Distin took the brunt of Arsenal’s attacking threat by shackling Giroud with relative ease.
Stones, meanwhile, was left to mop up and head away the odd cross, clearly determined to protect the clean sheet.
For one so new to this level, he happily took responsibility by yelling at team-mates if someone needed picking up. Natural leaders do not have to be old.
Watching on, the injured Phil Jagielka would have approved, as well as perhaps feeling a touch concerned.
Since coming in for Jagielka, Stones has been part of a 100 per cent record, the side recording six league wins on the trot. For Martínez, then, it might not be an easy decision when the senior man once again becomes available.
Club recognition has now been attained. So has approval from England’s Under-21s.
If he carries on like this, how long before this classy competitor makes the full squad?
bilyaletdinov_
Player Valuation: £35m
No coincidence that we've won the last six games that Stones has started, top player
carolinablue232
Player Valuation: £70m
The young core of this team can be great if they stay together. Stones, McCarthy, Barkley, Lukaku if he stays...That's a ridiculously good spine to build around. I'm not sold on Robles taking over for Howard, but I think we'll sign another young keeper before that happens. I knew Stones was gonna be class when he had the audacity to chip his pen in preseason. He's gonna be playing with England in a few years.
Based on his current form...and if I were the England Manager...he'd be on a plane to Brazil. This WC should all be building towards the next Euro's and WC. I'd be playing only players I'd see as potential starters for those tournaments. England have very little chance after the group stage. I think sucking it up and playing the 'kids' at the risk of failing to get out of the group would benefit them in the long term.
carolinablue232
Player Valuation: £70m
This is likely Roy's only World Cup as England manager. He'd get no benefit from blooding the young players. I actually think England have a decent chance of advancing. Very tough draw, but it's doable. Uruguay weren't too impressive when I watched them during qualifying. Why are England fans so negative?
Back on topic, I think Stones has a huge future ahead of him. He seems pretty level headed as well which is great. Still think he needs to hit the weights a bit more. He should eat a Distin diet. Whatever that man does is magic considering he's a monster and playing great at 36.
Yeah...I get what you're saying, and I may have misspoke...I think England will advance out of their group. What I was saying is that beyond the group, they won't go far.
Regarding Woy...if he loved his country he'd go with my plan
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