John Stones

[ilikecheese]

He is the most complete centre back I have seen since the great Bobby Moore - yet he needs to work on his aerial ability in every aspect of defending long balls set pieces - corners - I watch out for him on these points I list , and he his upper body strength he needs to bully players more in the air to win headers - He is the hottest defender England has ever produced since the great Bobby Moore he is so talented he could play in front of two centre halfs and go forwards even more - the best of him is yet to come he is just so cool and brilliant!

He is so crap in the air. Class throughout his game save that very noticeable flaw.

That 70 yd punt to the edge of the box ended up a free header and nearly caused us a problem. Stones backed off to allow him to have the free header.

 

[scratchnsurf]

Whats the point of this post?

Theres another 3 defenders and a goalkeeper whos job is to keep a Clean Sheet.

Well, it's actually the job of all the players to defend.

They're just stats - and they seem to suggest on average, when Stones plays we concede more than a goal per game.

 

[Jags..class]

If we get a huge offer for him next summer. I would consider the bid.

 

[Gerbs]

If we get a huge offer for him next summer. I would consider the bid.

I'm glad you have zero say

 

[MACCA75]

Not sure his price has gone up at all this season. Think he's gonna be much more suited to La Liga than the Prem in all honesty.

 

[Titus Bramble]

He's so boss

 

[thirdmantackle]

Stoke are going to physically maul him

 

[sportbillyblue]

I think Stones needs a monster next to him.

Jagielka is a solid player and Mori "may" become that player in time but needs a fair bit of improvement.

Have to say, looking at Bonucci (Stones) and Chiellini (Jagielka) i think Shawcross would be the best match in the league and hes only 28. Would cost too much off Stoke i think though.

Hard to know what to do here for Stones partner aa Jags isnt getting any younger, Mori we will only really see next season and Galloway needs a year longer i think.

yeah .... I'm liking the Shawcross shout.

 

[sportbillyblue]

He is the most complete centre back I have seen since the great Bobby Moore - yet he needs to work on his aerial ability in every aspect of defending long balls set pieces - corners - I watch out for him on these points I list , and he his upper body strength he needs to bully players more in the air to win headers - He is the hottest defender England has ever produced since the great Bobby Moore he is so talented he could play in front of two centre halfs and go forwards even more - the best of him is yet to come he is just so cool and brilliant!

he reminds me of Beckenbauer rather than Moore ... brilliant nevertheless.

Lest not forget be it Beckenbauer or Moore they generally had a big lump besides them doing lots of the dirty work.

 

[Lowste]

I think you may need to rethink that post.
Without RM it is questionable if Stones would be regarded as one of the best young defensive prospects in world Football.


I don't think that would be the case if he was weak at defending.

I can see were @daz4matty is coming from on the defensive front, as he can be suspect and easily pulled out of position.
I would disagree over the RM comment as I think RM has recognised him as a footballing defender and has let him flourish in being positive when on the ball.
In the UK we don't get many footballing CH so in Stones he becomes a very prized asset.

I always thought going to Chelsea would be a mistake as JM would of made him a out and out defender, and I think he has more to offer

Depends what you want from him...

 

[Lowste]

Not sure his price has gone up at all this season. Think he's gonna be much more suited to La Liga than the Prem in all honesty.

Barcelona written all over him

 

[Joey66]

he reminds me of Beckenbauer rather than Moore ... brilliant nevertheless.

Lest not forget be it Beckenbauer or Moore they generally had a big lump besides them doing lots of the dirty work.

Hardly call Billy Bonds a big lump!
Or in the 1970 World Cup our own Brian Labone a cultured centre half!
Perhaps we should have kept Duffy to play along side him then as he is a stopper?

 

[Dithering Dougie]

There was a point yesterday in the second half when he stood at the edge of our area with the ball at his feet with two Newcastle players closing him down. He glanced at Howard to see where he was stood and the two players went hurtling towards Howard like he'd played him then ball then he just jogged off up the pitch. Pure class.

He's unflappable and is only going to improve as he gets more experienced.

 

[sageyefc]

Hes simply unmatched on the ball, just needs to attack headers more off it

 

[Eggs]

....in commentary yesterday, Michael Owen said he was one of the very few defenders he'd pay to watch. There was one incident 2nd half where he won a header and then absolutely threw himself to get in the way of an attempted shot on the edge of the box. It just demonstrated that he is a die for the cause defender as well as being a class act.