catcherintherye
Player Valuation: £80m
Normally agree with you mate but I don't on this one. I don't believe he's as far away as you say. As a week in week out starter I'd agree, but we're talking about a back up here and barring injury, he'd be learning his trade against lesser opposition. Anyway, not going to fall out with you over it mate.
Just one thing, the two comments I've highlighted above seem to contradict each other. Whether he's playing for us in a back 4, or one of the other 4 teams mentioned, he'd be playing against the same strikers who would presumably adopt the same tactics against him. Why would playing for us inflict long term damage to his development, but playing for one of the others do him wonders?
Just a matter of the calibre of the team around him and in our team i think he'd stand out as a weak link mate, at the aforementioned teams he would be much closer or even better than some of the players around him, thus not targeted.
Also at a team that has lower expectations or aims, the cost of mistakes or poor games becomes lessened in many ways[/QUOTE]
I think he fits perfectly for us in a back 3. For me he looks out best defender in that system, comfortable on the ball, quick and reads the game ok.
In a 4 he's not big enough yet to be a centre half. I know we loved Stones but there's no way Koeman or a side challenging for Top 4 has Stones at his best (at 19) in a two man defence in the middle. At right back I actually think he does ok but I do get the idea he doesn't offer enough offensively.
In a 3 he will get some games and that will help his development. We are doing it right with the young players now, they are getting chances but if they are exposed (as he was at Stoke) not hung out to dry.
