John Stones

[streeky]

you can coach players in most positions including centre half, but this position is so dependent on experience.Look around the top sides how many teenagers play centre half. He will have to do his time to become the class defender we all know he will be.

 

[chippy1722]

I fear losing Rom and Ross as they for me are both irreplaceable. I'm not too bothered about losing Stones providing the money is good, £45 million and I would happily see him out the door. As good as he will be im happy with Mori and a good CB signing coming in with Jags and Galloway/Browning as back ups with a wad of cash left over for a top quality goalkeeper and left sided player.

If he doesn't regain his place, which is pretty unlikely, I doubt he will start in the Euro's, Smalling is pretty much nailed on if fit, and Jags/Cahill will take other place. I think we would be lucky to get £45m. The good thing is that because he's out the limelight a little, we may have more chance of keeping him. I think if Stones goes it will be £35-£40m with a lot of add ons. Personally I want to keep him, but I think with the emergence of Mori has probablylessened the blow of losing him with a lot of fans. I think this pre-season is going to be a very Important one, he normally takes a few kids away, and he could have Holgate, Browning and Galloway stepping up too.

 

[BlueToff]

well he was at fault in both those goals that day! head gone, head turned bin him off.

amazing.

He was partially at fault for their penalty. It's not his fault Howard is terrible...

Oviedo got completely skinned for their second. Stones dived in and it deflected in. Not exactly at fault for trying to make a block mate!

There's literally zero evidence that his drop in form is anything more than that, and due to an accumulation of playing a lot of football in games where, for two months, he was a 21-year-old tasked with leading a very inexperienced back line.

 

[BlueToff]

If he doesn't regain his place, which is pretty unlikely, I doubt he will start in the Euro's, Smalling is pretty much nailed on if fit, and Jags/Cahill will take other place. I think we would be lucky to get £45m. The good thing is that because he's out the limelight a little, we may have more chance of keeping him. I think if Stones goes it will be £35-£40m with a lot of add ons. Personally I want to keep him, but I think with the emergence of Mori has probablylessened the blow of losing him with a lot of fans. I think this pre-season is going to be a very Important one, he normally takes a few kids away, and he could have Holgate, Browning and Galloway stepping up too.

We could get £45mil easy or we won't sell.

 

[Smudge1985]

I dont think Stone so much went through a spell of poor form, he was having one of those spells where everything he did wrong was punished. Even stuff he didnt do wrong, like the penalty against Stoke. It happens to all players. Look at Norwich on Tuesday, yes they've plummetted down the League because they're playing awful, but then also luck isnt going in their favour when they are playing well. I think thats what happened to Stones, lost his confidence a little bit when we've had a bad run, got punished a few times, and when thats happening, if you've got other players available, as we have in Funes Mori and Jagielka, then it does no harm to just be taken out of the team for a little while. Doesnt mean he's gone crap overnight, had his head turned, any of that bull. He's 21. Very few 21 year old Premier League footballers are that consistent. Barkley still isnt, Kane and Alli have their off days for Spurs, Kane couldnt hit a barn door for the first month or two of the season, but he's come good again. Just as Stones will. Just on current form, Jagielka and Mori are playing well, so we shouldnt change it.

 

[technojoe]

amazing.

He was partially at fault for their penalty. It's not his fault Howard is terrible...

Oviedo got completely skinned for their second. Stones dived in and it deflected in. Not exactly at fault for trying to make a block mate!

There's literally zero evidence that his drop in form is anything more than that, and due to an accumulation of playing a lot of football in games where, for two months, he was a 21-year-old tasked with leading a very inexperienced back line.

If you're good enough you're old enough, an he's meant to be just that. No excuses on his age im afraid. his head is already out the door.

 

[BlueToff]

If you're good enough you're old enough, an he's meant to be just that. No excuses on his age im afraid. his head is already out the door.

no proof at all of that.

even if his head was out of the door, he'd be putting in performances to the best of his ability due to the Euros - if he was that concentrated on himself...

He's hit a shaky patch of form not helped by the boo boys getting on his back straight away (e.g. like Barkley last year). He then had an injury that came as a result of playing so much at the intensity of the PL.

Messi would have got hounded out of this club by some.

 

[BlueToff]

I dont think Stone so much went through a spell of poor form, he was having one of those spells where everything he did wrong was punished. Even stuff he didnt do wrong, like the penalty against Stoke. It happens to all players. Look at Norwich on Tuesday, yes they've plummetted down the League because they're playing awful, but then also luck isnt going in their favour when they are playing well. I think thats what happened to Stones, lost his confidence a little bit when we've had a bad run, got punished a few times, and when thats happening, if you've got other players available, as we have in Funes Mori and Jagielka, then it does no harm to just be taken out of the team for a little while. Doesnt mean he's gone crap overnight, had his head turned, any of that bull. He's 21. Very few 21 year old Premier League footballers are that consistent. Barkley still isnt, Kane and Alli have their off days for Spurs, Kane couldnt hit a barn door for the first month or two of the season, but he's come good again. Just as Stones will. Just on current form, Jagielka and Mori are playing well, so we shouldnt change it.

Brilliant, well-reasoned post. I miss rep!

 

[Eric Djemba-Djemba]

There some weirdos in this thread. Talented young footballer goes through a period of poor form. Sell him this instant.

 

[technojoe]

no proof at all of that.

even if his head was out of the door, he'd be putting in performances to the best of his ability due to the Euros - if he was that concentrated on himself...

He's hit a shaky patch of form not helped by the boo boys getting on his back straight away (e.g. like Barkley last year). He then had an injury that came as a result of playing so much at the intensity of the PL.

Messi would have got hounded out of this club by some.

nah. you gonna be there on Sat? I am an I cetainly won't be booing our players. I hope for his sake he puts in some decent performances soon but the papers have already picked him for the england squad so he'll be fine

 

[BlueToff]

nah. you gonna be there on Sat? I am an I cetainly won't be booing our players. I hope for his sake he puts in some decent performances soon but the papers have already picked him for the england squad so he'll be fine

I'm working Saturday (on our game strangely enough, so will be watching). Off to the Arsenal game in a few weeks.

I'm not disagreeing saying he hasn't been out of sorts (before his injury) for a few games, but even so, it isn't because his head has been turned or he thinks he's better than us. He's just had a dip in form as most (well, all) players do at some point. Unfortunately some of the mistakes he's made have cost us rather than get away with it.

And I wasn't accusing you of being a boo boy, I'm just saying it's certainly a factor. I had a ST last season and went to every game that I could manage (think I missed three or four in total in the league). The amount of stick Barkley got was unbelievable, and it's been clear to me at times this season (specifically Swansea at home and a few others) fans getting on the players backs so quickly - especially the younger ones.

I know it's born out frustration more than anything else, but it's knee-jerk and stupid to think that it in any way helps them.

 

[WA Toffee]

amazing.

He was partially at fault for their penalty. It's not his fault Howard is terrible...

Oviedo got completely skinned for their second. Stones dived in and it deflected in. Not exactly at fault for trying to make a block mate!

There's literally zero evidence that his drop in form is anything more than that, and due to an accumulation of playing a lot of football in games where, for two months, he was a 21-year-old tasked with leading a very inexperienced back line.

Exactly. A 21 year old kid is playing as the senior defender, he makes 2 or 3 mistakes and all of a sudden he has been rubbish all season and his heart isn't in it.
Some people need to have a read of some of the posts in here between August and February to realise what a special talent we are fortunate to have.

 

[technojoe]

I'm working Saturday (on our game strangely enough, so will be watching). Off to the Arsenal game in a few weeks.

I'm not disagreeing saying he hasn't been out of sorts (before his injury) for a few games, but even so, it isn't because his head has been turned or he thinks he's better than us. He's just had a dip in form as most (well, all) players do at some point. Unfortunately some of the mistakes he's made have cost us rather than get away with it.

And I wasn't accusing you of being a boo boy, I'm just saying it's certainly a factor. I had a ST last season and went to every game that I could manage (think I missed three or four in total in the league). The amount of stick Barkley got was unbelievable, and it's been clear to me at times this season (specifically Swansea at home and a few others) fans getting on the players backs so quickly - especially the younger ones.

I know it's born out frustration more than anything else, but it's knee-jerk and stupid to think that it in any way helps them.

Totally agree with the stick handed out to Barks, it doesn't help. The two sides of Goodison Barry talked about in a recent interview is very accurate. If the crowd gets on their own teams back it shatters the confidence, but reversed like in the City CO Cup game it spurs the team to supreme glory. I'm a ST holder in Lower G an there are plenty of boo boys and quick to anger lids, its tough down there for some of our players.

 

[blueblue]

When players come from different countries, different leagues they often make a huge impact(Payet at West Ham for instance).But, the Premiership is a very competitive place with very good players and very good coaches. Weaknesses and strengths are soon found out and that is why no player should be judged on the performance of their first season alone.

John Stones is something similar, players and coaches have discovered his weaker areas and are targeting them. He has not been given the time he likes on the ball and under pressure he sometimes does daft things(Swansea at home).
The test for Stones now is to cut out the mistakes and bring new things to his game, including putting his foot through the ball at the right time.
It is not a given that this learning and improvement will happen, but it is what will determine how good a player he can become.

 

[D410]

Stones and brown shoes are to blame for the situation.
Stones needs a manager who can take him to the next level.