John Stones

[degsy]

No, I think he's ok for screening. He can deal with danger in front of him and he is combative enough for the role. And if he wins the ball he can use it. He's just terrible in terms of falling back as part of a defensive unit and keeping positional discipline.

Sorry mate but It'll never happen...it's computer game stuff.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Eamon is right

Bloody Hell we must be approaching the end times if Eamon is starting to get stuff right!

 

[Khalekan]

@davek you and Eamon are on the same page it seems

Actually, I've never see the two of you together in the same room at the same time...

Old Eamon doesn't look too well there.

I wonder if he has been poorly.

And how refreshing to hear a panel of pundits tell it like it is with Stones.

On TV over here, all the pundits do is make excuses for him and pin the blame on everyone around him when he is caught out of position or fails to pick up his man.

 

[Khalekan]

So every coach he's had since he was 13 through Barnsley, Everton reserves / first team, England and now City have all somehow missed this all so obvious thing.
I
Wonder
Why.

Just be happy we skinned them for 60M for him and Rodwell...tbf they got some decent use out of Lescott, but we still made 17M net. on him. ( back when 17M WAS 17M)
The ability to look 'cool' bringing the ball out does not make you able to screen the back 4, you need a brain for that.
some have it built in, he don't...he's forever getting caught on the wrong side - zigging when he should zag...the sort of person who goes through life pushing doors marked 'pull'

Yay....well said Eamon Degsy

 

[bicycleheader]

Sign him back Everton, you buffoons

 

[Neiler]

We have Roberto to thank for that. He brought him through as a ball playing centre back and persevered with his sometimes costly mistakes and the media were onto it - and then England.

All the talking up by the likes of Glenn Hoddle (who really should have know better) heaped millions on his fee.

In reality he's a very decent (potentially very good) defensive midfielder worth about £30M in the current transfer market.

Have to say i completely agree with this i think he would be an excellent midfield player, the semi final Vs Utd when he moved in there was the best game i saw him play.

He could have been a centre half under a good structured defensive coach like Moyes, but he will never progress there after years under Martinez and Pep.

 

[Old Blue 2]

So every coach he's had since he was 13 through Barnsley, Everton reserves / first team, England and now City have all somehow missed this all so obvious thing.
I
Wonder
Why.

The same reason Osman got games for us when he was well past his 'sell-by' date; the same reason Howard got games for us when he was well past his 'sell-by' date. Hibbert also.

Sometimes, those in the sharp end of the game do not see/realise what is going on with certain players, when all around the fans can see clearly that the time for change has not only arrived, but has been here for some considerable time. Ditto for Barry at present, unfortunately...

 

[degsy]

The same reason Osman got games for us when he was well past his 'sell-by' date; the same reason Howard got games for us when he was well past his 'sell-by' date. Hibbert also.

Sometimes, those in the sharp end of the game do not see/realise what is going on with certain players, when all around the fans can see clearly that the time for change has not only arrived, but has been here for some considerable time. Ditto for Barry at present, unfortunately...

so is stones a defensive screener or not?

 

[Old Blue 2]

so is stones a defensive screener or not?

I look at someone like Jagielka, and compare Stones to him.

Jags is an out-and-out defender, that's what he is/was best at.

Stones is a different player altogether. With his skill, yes, I think, as davek has suggested, that his best position is probably as a defensive screener in front of a back four, with the ability to see opposing attacks build up and then be best placed to position himself, and also to be the springboard for his own team attacks once in possession. He has shown some excellent skills on the ball, and the ability to pick out a forward pass accurately.

 

[dublinbluenose]

He wouldn't get into any elite European team's midfield. He is not a holding midfielder, he was supposed to be the best ball playing centre half of his generation, which at the moment his is not.

He could quite easily find himself without a position.

 

[degsy]

I look at someone like Jagielka, and compare Stones to him.

Jags is an out-and-out defender, that's what he is/was best at.

Stones is a different player altogether. With his skill, yes, I think, as davek has suggested, that his best position is probably as a defensive screener in front of a back four, with the ability to see opposing attacks build up and then be best placed to position himself, and also to be the springboard for his own team attacks once in possession. He has shown some excellent skills on the ball, and the ability to pick out a forward pass accurately.

If he hasn't (yet or ever) got the ability to 'read' the play as a CB marking one man, which he hasn't, as he is constantly getting caught out, how the 'k will he manage in front of the back 4 when he has multiple options coming at him...eg. do I hold, drop, go forward to meet it, are they going left (or right) if I follow, is it a 'dummy' (or am I? answer yes) etc etc
Half of the time he can't do the basic sunday league stuff of keeping goal side one on one

 

[Old Blue 2]

If he hasn't (yet or ever) got the ability to 'read' the play as a CB marking one man, which he hasn't, as he is constantly getting caught out, how the 'k will he manage in front of the back 4 when he has multiple options coming at him...eg. do I hold, drop, go forward to meet it, are they going left (or right) if I follow, is it a 'dummy' (or am I? answer yes) etc etc
Half of the time he can't do the basic sunday league stuff of keeping goal side one on one

What you say in your first paragraph is the reason why goals are scored in football, and apply to every defender that has ever strode onto a football pitch...

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Stones leaving us, the age he was and fee was a no brainier, we really could not afford his mistakes while he develops. Anyway for me defenders don't really reach their peak until at least 26. I don't follow other football, however, I read Kompany is often out, ideally Stones should be playing along side him more often and learning...

 

[DanEFC92]

@davek you and Eamon are on the same page it seems

Actually, I've never see the two of you together in the same room at the same time...

Had to throw in a wee dig at Everton, didn't he

 

[degsy]

What you say in your first paragraph is the reason why goals are scored in football, and apply to every defender that has ever strode onto a football pitch...

Well obviously - there has to be a mistake. But for somebody 'enbiggened' like him, nobody's going to include him in a poll for 'one of the 2 'best CB's in recent Everton history...except maybe in the option 'cheese covered John Stones on toast' part.
He's 'the Emperors new clothes' of CB's