John Stones

[billytoffee]

His form has absolutely gone off the Cliff, so much so that if we sell him now i think a lot of Evertonians won't be that bothered comapred to last summer we'd have been absolutely devastated. Seriously need to get him back to what made him standout intially which is his basic defending being top level for his age, the skill and bringing the ball out comes as gravy on top of that, really hope that whatever is up with him at the minute is sorted and we see him back to his best in our shirt for the start of next season. Right now he is out the team on merit, needs to get back in on merit as well

Agreed - there is no doubting that the whole Chelsea and media frenzy selling him to everyone has had an adverse effect on the lad. I do hope that his spell on the bench and the fact that he is going to have to fight his way back into this team helps to get him grounded again and teach him some valuable lessons.

I would also hope that his slight fall from grace would cool some of the belters who are constantly trying to sell him for us - alas Cocknocker Hansen appears to be still at it (surprise)!

 

[BoysInBlue]

At his current rate, he's more likely to end up more like Rodwell than Rooney. Any pundits who say it would be a disaster for us to lose him don't know what they're talking about.

Would rather keep him, but it wouldn't affect us that much if he left. Mori has been superb.

 

[BlueToff]

Jeez

watch it again. Not once does he lose control. Not once did he even look to do so.

One turn too many, in hindsight, but neither Stones nor the other players ever looked overly worried. The pressure came from the crowd and low and behold against Swansea, in a similar situation, he went back to that monstrosity we had as a keeper and look what happened.

@bluestevon

Think it may be a tad harsh saying it's dropped off a cliff mate.

Prior to the Leicester game he had been superb for about two months since he came back from a knock in September. He had an iffy moment for Leicester's second penalty but against Mahrez and Vardy given their form he's not the only one and won't be the last either.

I thought he was poor against Newcastle and bar the reckless challenge he was pretty decent (certainly not bad) against Stoke (and even so, it was clearly not a penalty...). Spurs game he played well, and it was in that game that you could clearly see RM's attempts to make us more solid (e.g. sitting deeper, not always looking for an offside trap etc.) He had the moment with the turns but as I've outlined above it's been a mountain out of a molehill.

Great against City in the cup, and then the league bar a shaky last 15 minutes when again he was at right back against Sterling. Chelsea he did fine and was not at fault for any of their goals, and he had a stinker in the first half vs Swansea. City away again, out of position, he did fine up until that moment for their second goal (where I will stress his defending was fine as he shepherded Sterling out of play!!!). We collapsed a bit from then on and him and Jags (as they did for Villa's goal yesterday) both made a mistake which Aguero took advantage off - from a very good cross by De Bruyne mind.

So yeh, harsh to say. I don't think there's anything 'up with him' other than having played a lot of football in matches where he was tasked - for the large part - in leading a very young and inexperienced (in the PL) defence when Jagielka was missing.

15 minutes playing out of position at right back/in a system we haven't used much if at all, having not played in over a month when we're 3-0 up and sitting very deep, doesn't really mean anything.

Now i'm not saying he should be a starter at the moment, as Mori and Jags are playing excellently, and yes it shows that if he does go then we'll be fine now that we know the money will be re-invested, but I'd much prefer him to be here and I think all this stuff about 'bad attitude' etc is utter nonsense.

He's a young player (albeit a very good one) who has hit a tricky spell of form and then an injury/rest. Simple as that.

Whenever he does come back in, however, it has to be as a centre back and with Joel behind him. Get him playing with a competent keeper who is emanating confidence to the defence and we'll see the real Stones soon enough. None of this playing him in midfield or at right back. He'll end up becoming a defender-version of Milner or Cleverley. Play him in one position and let him develop there - and that includes overcoming rough spells of form - and includes the fans sticking by him.

 

[BlueToff]

At his current rate, he's more likely to end up more like Rodwell than Rooney. Any pundits who say it would be a disaster for us to lose him don't know what they're talking about.

Would rather keep him, but it wouldn't affect us that much if he left. Mori has been superb.

A month of iffy form (and even then it was purely spells of 10/15 minutes not entire poor games!) and a month out injured and suddenly he's gone from world class to Rodwell?

You're a sensible poster mate but you're talking nonsense, IMO.

 

[BlueToff]

he's a class player, going through bad form and just needs to re-focus completely.

He's become more what the media want him to be, than what he was (which is what made him great)

Needs to remember defending comes first.

Anyway i'm doubtful he'll be here in the summer, but if we can get him, ross, and rom down to new long term deals and he can get his head back in place it'll be fantastic.

but as for right now we're playing better without him.

The pace of us coming out from the back is the one thing we miss without Stones, I believe. He'll get his form back quickly enough but at the moment I'm more than happy with Jags and Mori and both deserve there places.

 

[BlueToff]

I think we all know he's off. Now that the transfer money will be used to buy new players I reckon a mega offer from Barcelona should be accepted. Better that than seeing him go to another Premier League team anyway

If he goes this summer mate (not a guarantee but I admit it does seem likely), it's got City written all over it. Pep has had him scouted extensively for the last two years - I know that for a fact.

 

[BluenoseDK]

He does not care about us - 30mil+ /later dude

 

[technojoe]

I'd sell him, comes on, gets out jumped concede a goal loads of pressure on us for last 20 mins. Great.

His heads gone imo and if he thinks he's so good he needs to prove it.

 

[BlueToff]

I'd sell him, comes on, gets out jumped concede a goal loads of pressure on us for last 20 mins. Great.

His heads gone imo and if he thinks he's so good he needs to prove it.

]

Unbelievable...

Watch back for that Villa goal. Jags completely missed the flight of the ball and Stones tries to get across on the cover. He gets outjumped by a 6'3 lump who has scored all of his goals for about the last three seasons in similar situations against grock centre halves.

There is literally no proof at all he 'thinks he's too good'. It's pure conjecture yet you state it as fact. One of the best things about Stones when he came through was his composure and all-round aura of not giving a flying [Poor language removed]. It's what makes all the best players what they are.

As a 21-year-old centre half, he came on after 5 weeks out and played in a system we had never really played before when we had already been sitting deep for about 15 minutes since we had scored the third. It was nothing more than a run out and they were already pressing us long before that and had many chances when Stones wasn't on the pitch.

Also, some quotes here from December - after the Palace game. Now, I don't think i've seen any of the people I quote below say Stones is crap now, but this is the general feel of the forum at that time. I don't see how a few iffy games and a month out suddenly changes it to 'he thinks he's better than us do la, der lad is not a defender, etc. etc.'. Of course, there's a few posters who are very adamant in that belief and at least their consistent in their opinions.

Brilliant 1st half display from stones. So important to our style of play

Did a great little piece of game management today, stopped a quickly taken free kick and took a snide yellow. Bobby has obviously been showing them the second half against Bournemouth Clockwork Orange style

I think the appeal is that he has everything. You're right that there are plenty who are fine on the ball, but most of them can't read the game defensively as well as Stones, can't tackle as well, and don't have the same composure/leadership/other intangibles that are clearly apparent during games.

Our best player by far - incredible talent

I'm in love with him.

 

[BlueToff]

Check the replay Toff, all he was doing was playing himself further and further into trouble and nearer the goal...he didn't 'Pull it off' the reff bailed him out by giving him the daftest foul, a foul so none existent / none contact, as to rival Ali's Phantom Punch V's Liston.

old news anyway just saying don't re-write history... he was playing himself right into it... thing is if he had've given the Park End a big cheeky 'I got away with it' grin and 2 thumbs up we all would've been saying 'what a card'

I like Stones, or I like the 'Idea' of a Stones type player, at the moment he seems to be seriously out of form, which we hope is only temporary and we also hope that any previously seen class is permanent.

If not all he will be is a really class defender - so long as he hasn't got to really, really defend and as such not truly made for the hurley burley of the Prem.

just sayin like.

I didn't see it that way at all mate but we can agree to disagree.

I think his form has been way over-blown as you can't judge it on last night. He's been out for over a month, he came on and played in a kind of hybrid role that he's barely played before in a system we haven't played before and when we were already sitting extremely deep. The fact also remains that Jagielka was as much, if not more so, at fault for their goal as Stones was.

I appreciate people aren't saying he's crap, but it just shows how fickle we are as fans. It's right to point out faults in his game, but we've got some claiming he won't improve, which, quite frankly is mental when talking about a 21-year-old central defender...

 

[BlueToff]

He does not care about us - 30mil+ /later dude

I think this is the winner

 

[John Osters Love Child]

I don't think his heads gone. He's come back from an injury (doesn't look match fit) and the team in his absence is not conceding as many goals. He sits on the bench (something he'll need to get use to if he leaves for a City or Barca) until he's given his chance and then he'll have to earn his starting place again.

 

[catcherintherye]

]

Unbelievable...

Watch back for that Villa goal. Jags completely missed the flight of the ball and Stones tries to get across on the cover. He gets outjumped by a 6'3 lump who has scored all of his goals for about the last three seasons in similar situations against grock centre halves.

There is literally no proof at all he 'thinks he's too good'. It's pure conjecture yet you state it as fact. One of the best things about Stones when he came through was his composure and all-round aura of not giving a flying [Poor language removed]. It's what makes all the best players what they are.

As a 21-year-old centre half, he came on after 5 weeks out and played in a system we had never really played before when we had already been sitting deep for about 15 minutes since we had scored the third. It was nothing more than a run out and they were already pressing us long before that and had many chances when Stones wasn't on the pitch.

.

Great post. I don't completely agree with the analysis but the overall argument is correct.

Stones should have done better with last nights goal. He could have got there first, I'd have like to have seen a bit better challenge, but basically he got outjumped by someone who's prime strength is heading. In time I hope Stones will attack them a bit better and get there first (he was close).

There has been some criticism about allowing the cross in. I don't see that. Our biggest issue for me is how deep we are. When you play against Gestede you have to keep pushing the line out. Jagielka could do nothing with the cross but we should have been getting even further out and he should be marshalling that.

If we get 4 yards further out that ball flies past. It is hard work and requires a lot of shuttle runsup 5 yards at a time, but it is essential. As soon as the ball is knocked back Jags needs to be running forward and yelling "up".

As for Stones, he is having a difficult spell. He's a 21 year old lad, a baby for centre half. Give him time.

 

[BlueToff]

I don't think his heads gone. He's come back from an injury (doesn't look match fit) and the team in his absence is not conceding as many goals. He sits on the bench (something he'll need to get use to if he leaves for a City or Barca) until he's given his chance and then he'll have to earn his starting place again.

Exactly this.

 

[Donald Twain]