John Stones

[Hong Kong Phooey]

I'm still not convinced that Stones OR Howard are currently injured to be honest. They are both very fit and rarely miss games.

I think they've both been taken out of the firing line for a while.

 

[kithnou]

Spends too much time trying to show what a great footballer he is rather than helping keep clean sheets. And while I can forgive the transfer request I can't forget. It happened. He was ready it jib us off. Be perfectly happy to keep him but of our young diamonds I'd sell his first if it came to it.

Agree with everything after the first sentence. Love what he tries in your first sentence. Wouldn't have mattered if he had a top keeper behind him I believe.

 

[Kev The Rat]

I'm still not convinced that Stones OR Howard are currently injured to be honest. They are both very fit and rarely miss games.

I think they've both been taken out of the firing line for a while.

And how can they be brought back in while we are winning games? The issue I have with Stones is that his reputation makes him virtually undroppable unless things go badly wrong - as they have now. He cannot just be shoehorned back into the side at the next opportunity, but the likelihood of that happening means I think we should get rid in the summer to the highest bidder.

 

[Rupert's Tower]

I'm one of Stones' biggest fans but I'll fume if he comes back in once he's fit. He's been poor all season, his head was turned by Chelsea and he hasn't recovered

 

[Coffee and TV]

I'm one of Stones' biggest fans but I'll fume if he comes back in once he's fit. He's been poor all season, his head was turned by Chelsea and he hasn't recovered

I thought he was really good at the start of the season, his form dipped after Jags got injured.

 

[blueboy1945]

That's why he's played most of this season!

If you're picked you play.

 

[blueboy1945]

what a tremendous group of utter morons some evertonians are, he will be an all time great, and the dinosaurs on here want a 'for sale' sign on him, of course ross is playing too well for them to slate, so they are getting brave with stones, the clean sheets are down to that assclown howard being out the team, nothing more, nothing less

Not stopping you slating Howard though is it?

 

[parksey69]

I think Howard would of kept clean sheets in the last 3 games too because all the defence has been on top form. I'm not saying I want him back in because you don't change a winning team. The whole defence including gk look so confident together. Stones just needs time out of the team and will come back stronger. At the moment jags and mori are the best centre pairing

 

[Charlie Sweet]

Unlike Barkley I think Stones has genuine quality and will, in all probability, go on to realise it. That said whether Everton is the right place for one of the world's great flair defenders is another question. Transfer prices are going up all the time so quoting figures is a little pointless but if we could sell Stones and get:

- a top class keeper
- a replacement top class defender

and then a few million on top for Martinez to pick up a rough diamond or two then I'd sell.

In theory we'd all like the best players to be at our club - but there has to be a bit of common sense at play.

 

[hullefc]

Stones needs this time on the sidelines and to get down to some serious work on those aspects of his game that he needs to improve - attacking the ball in the air for one. Noticeable today that the defenders still tried to play it out when in some tricky positions rather than just giving it the welly. That part of our game will continue despite Stones not being there. Stones will come back a better player from his lay off.

 

[oldblue]

Brilliant young player who needs out of the spotlight for a bit as they always do. Glad we're in a position to do that and hopefully he gets some competitive time away from the pressure to keep learning.

 

[Joey66]

I think Howard would of kept clean sheets in the last 3 games too because all the defence has been on top form. I'm not saying I want him back in because you don't change a winning team. The whole defence including gk look so confident together. Stones just needs time out of the team and will come back stronger. At the moment jags and mori are the best centre pairing

Rubbish he would have been stuck on his line, no communication with the defence stupid roll outs, and tried to save every shot with his legs, and caused mayhem leading to goals against!

 

[LocalNative]

Aye mate same ones most likely that advocated selling Lukaku after last season and Barkley too, and yup remember distinctly a fair few people giving those shouts

I don't remember anything more than a very, very small minority ever advocating the sale of Lukaku or Barkley.

For me Stones would be similar. Don't really want to, but as Jdawg said, wont be the end of the world.

 

[Mogwai]

Unlike Barkley I think Stones has genuine quality and will, in all probability, go on to realise it. That said whether Everton is the right place for one of the world's great flair defenders is another question. Transfer prices are going up all the time so quoting figures is a little pointless but if we could sell Stones and get:

- a top class keeper
- a replacement top class defender

and then a few million on top for Martinez to pick up a rough diamond or two then I'd sell.

In theory we'd all like the best players to be at our club - but there has to be a bit of common sense at play.

I know you have been berated a lot on this, but how you can not see Barkley's genuine quality is beyond me.

 

[Charlie Sweet]

I know you have been berated a lot on this, but how you can not see Barkley's genuine quality is beyond me.

Wrong threat for Barkley so I'll answer in the context of why I think Stones is at a higher level.

Rightly or wrongly I think Stones has both the brains and the desire to make it to the top international level in the game.