John Stones

[gaino92]

No, he looks fine.

The only people panicking were the crowd mate. He dawdled in possession too long at times, yes, but the movement ahead of him in the first half was diabolical.

It's no surprise that when we upped the ante after the break that he looked back to near his best - that pass to Coleman was simply sublime.

It's not just the game yesterday, when he gets further up the pitch his distribution isn't up to scratch, fair enough he's an centre half but 1 pass out of 4/5 (not a actual stat) forwards not reaching a man in an everton shirt isn't good enough. We all got on Lukaku's back because he couldn't pass so why should Stones be given a free pass? Still believe it should be Jags and Mori as they look solid together and Mori has been the better of the two.

 

[BlueToff]

It's not just the game yesterday, when he gets further up the pitch his distribution isn't up to scratch, fair enough he's an centre half but 1 pass out of 4/5 (not a actual stat) forwards not reaching a man in an everton shirt isn't good enough. We all got on Lukaku's back because he couldn't pass so why should Stones be given a free pass? Still believe it should be Jags and Mori as they look solid together and Mori has been the better of the two.

I agree on the point his passing has dropped slightly in recent weeks. He seemed a bit iffy in the home game against City (after he'd got the stick for doing the turn in our box) and seemed to second guess himself.

That's the only thing that will ever hold the lad back - self doubt. When he's playing with confidence he does not make those mistakes - simple as.

The crowd have been on his back for the last few games, and it's shown that he's a 21 year old being tasked with leading a Premier League team's defence with a terrible goalkeeper behind them. When he did that turn in our box vs. Spurs - while he overdid it - he then won a free-kick. The fans could have shown their support by chanting 'money can't buy you Stones' or the like, but no, they get on his back. Does that indicate support? No, so why should Stones feel like he's wanted here - despite the fact he's one of the best we have???

It works both ways I know, but the players (especially at such a young age) feed off the crowd and the atmosphere at home is toxic.

Getting on his back, or dropping him, certainly won't help. Stones plays on Wednesday for me.

 

[gaino92]

I agree on the point his passing has dropped slightly in recent weeks. He seemed a bit iffy in the home game against City (after he'd got the stick for doing the turn in our box) and seemed to second guess himself.

That's the only thing that will ever hold the lad back - self doubt. When he's playing with confidence he does not make those mistakes - simple as.

The crowd have been on his back for the last few games, and it's shown that he's a 21 year old being tasked with leading a Premier League team's defence with a terrible goalkeeper behind them. When he did that turn in our box vs. Spurs - while he overdid it - he then won a free-kick. The fans could have shown their support by chanting 'money can't buy you Stones' or the like, but no, they get on his back. Does that indicate support? No, so why should Stones feel like he's wanted here - despite the fact he's one of the best we have???

It works both ways I know, but the players (especially at such a young age) feed off the crowd and the atmosphere at home is toxic.

Getting on his back, or dropping him, certainly won't help. Stones plays on Wednesday for me.

I agree with everything here apart from playing him against City. Jags doesn't play half as good as a left centre half and Stones doesn't either. We need some rigidity against city on Wednesday and I believe Jags and Mori are our best pairing for that. We need to win/draw ugly and I believe Jags and Mori are the 2 to help us do that. Horses for courses.

 

[BlueToff]

He didn't need to turn away, he was facing up the pitch and had the ball on his right side so he had the chance to clear it, but then he moved inside and logic failed him and he tried to pass it to the clown in goal.

Watch it back. When it comes to him, he hasn't judged it right so he can't move his feet to make the clearance first-time. He takes a touch, and then he should clear it, but he hesitates.

He then hits a really poor pass (no doubt) but Howard offers him no support throughout. As an experienced goalkeeper, Howard should be making the shout as soon as Stones fails to clear it.

It's obvious that there is simply no communication or trust between the defenders and Howard, whereas with Joel, they are happy to play it back to him. That lies at the feet of Martinez, unfortunately.

 

[scottym]

Anyone else think Stones' passing, one of his better attributes, has been incredibly half-arsed for a while now?

I remember last season where I'd fully trust him to walk the ball out of defence and pick out a pass 25 yards away time and time again. I've lost count of the number of times he's mishit fairly simple passes allowing teams to come back at us in the past few weeks.

 

[Titus Bramble]

I'd rest him on Wednesday.

 

[Cultured right foot]

We're the most fickle fans in the league.

 

[Éireannach blue]

I'd play him and Jags together on Wednesday night with Baines and Coleman, might actually be the first time this season that what most people would claim to be our 1st choice back four have started a game together this season. Two naturally attacked minded full backs should hopefully ease the pressure on the centre halfs. But he has to start.

 

[BlueToff]

I agree with everything here apart from playing him against City. Jags doesn't play half as good as a left centre half and Stones doesn't either. We need some rigidity against city on Wednesday and I believe Jags and Mori are our best pairing for that. We need to win/draw ugly and I believe Jags and Mori are the 2 to help us do that. Horses for courses.

Fair do's mate. Just has to start for me, wouldn't even consider dropping him at this point

 

[gaino92]

Fair do's mate. Just has to start for me, wouldn't even consider dropping him at this point

By all means bring him back in on the weekend but against City in a game this big my opinion is to go with Jags and Mori. I can see why you wouldn't drop him but him and Jags don't have the greatest partnership

 

[BlueToff]

By all means bring him back in on the weekend but against City in a game this big my opinion is to go with Jags and Mori. I can see why you wouldn't drop him but him and Jags don't have the greatest partnership

They looked excellent at the end of last season and through september. Since then they have rarely played together due to injuries. We'll see I suppose but I'm fully behind keeping Stones in the starting XI

 

[Space Cowboy]

Anyone noticed he dives in a bit more than he used to? My favourite thing about him was that he knew how to stay on his feet. It's like at the moment he's just generally more reckless.

 

[Khalekan]

Watch it back. When it comes to him, he hasn't judged it right so he can't move his feet to make the clearance first-time. He takes a touch, and then he should clear it, but he hesitates.

He then hits a really poor pass (no doubt) but Howard offers him no support throughout. As an experienced goalkeeper, Howard should be making the shout as soon as Stones fails to clear it.

It's obvious that there is simply no communication or trust between the defenders and Howard, whereas with Joel, they are happy to play it back to him. That lies at the feet of Martinez, unfortunately.

I am sitting here watching this again.

I have been critical about Stones for playing Howard into trouble.

I still stand by that.

To me Howard's mistake was in tackling Ayew when he was going nowhere and the ball would have went over the line.

But I will also say that Stones himself was played into trouble with that back pass....I am not sure if it was Barry or Oviedo who played it back to him.

He had a man on him and his options were limited.

John himself had headed the ball forward from a central-ish position and immediately went to cover the right back position.....a very clever thing to do.

IMO the fault lies in philosophyball......this notion that the ball must be "played out of defence" all the time.

It doesn't.

That is what Row ZZZ is for.

 

[BlueToff]

I am sitting here watching this again.

I have been critical about Stones for playing Howard into trouble.

I still stand by that.

To me Howard's mistake was in tackling Ayew when he was going nowhere and the ball would have went over the line.

But I will also say that Stones himself was played into trouble with that back pass....I am not sure if it was Barry or Oviedo who played it back to him.

John himself had headed the ball forward from a central-ish position and immediately went to cover the right back position.....a very clever thing to do.

IMO the fault lies in philosophyball......this notion that the ball must be "played out of defence" all the time.

It doesn't.

That is what Row ZZZ is for.

I agree with being critical of Stones mate. He messed up. But he got no help from the last line of the defence, who then decided to do that on Ayew rather than just stand his ground.

Howard genuinley doesn't know his arse from his elbow

 

[Brendan Janus]

Stones had a stinker !!