John Stones - 2017/18 performances

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That goal stank of Falcaos against us in the Champs Leagues, when Falcao - yes Falcao not Drogba outmuscled him - thought I was watching a replay...needs to get meaner when needs must
 
City_Sean said:
True but why didn't Stones just take control of the situation and clear it for a throw in?
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The week's training and daily exhortations from Pep prohibit such basic approaches. The idea that yer start yer defence from an opposition throw isn't part of the manual. I've seen team after team come to the Etihad, defend in such a manner and for the meantime their goal remains intact. We seem to have this ethereal approach that the football is to be pure and unsullied. Nothing sullies a game, apparently, than a size thirteen hoofing the ball out of danger and into the second tier. Watch Pep when The Mangler does the simple thing!
 
Harlaching Sky Blue said:
That goal stank of Falcaos against us in the Champs Leagues, when Falcao - yes Falcao not Drogba outmuscled him - thought I was watching a replay...needs to get meaner when needs must
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I've thought for many a season that we need to get meaner. There were no meaner teams than The Arse and CFC when they won the title. The only trouble is that when we get mean the cards rapidly appear from the whistling wanker's pocket, and meanness in our area is a sure fire pen!
 
Dave Ewing's Back 'eader said:
I've thought for many a season that we need to get meaner. There were no meaner teams than The Arse and CFC when they won the title. The only trouble is that when we get mean the cards rapidly appear from the whistling wanker's pocket, and meanness in our area is a sure fire pen!
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Last season when we went meaner Fernandinho was getting sent off every 5 minutes
 
City_Sean said:
True but why didn't Stones just take control of the situation and clear it for a throw in?
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He was in control until the shove. He read the pass well, positioned himself correctly to deal with it and then gets a nudge in the back.
 
People still banging on about him being out muscled...tht wasn't the problem. The problem was not cutting out the ball in the first place and then stumbling to get back into position. From that point he was always going to be out muscled but that wouldn't have happened if he was balanced and in control.
 
jay_mcfc said:
People still banging on about him being out muscled...tht wasn't the problem. The problem was not cutting out the ball in the first place and then stumbling to get back into position. From that point he was always going to be out muscled but that wouldn't have happened if he was balanced and in control.
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Agree with every word.
 
Just a worry the Stones that has returned isn't the one that started the season for us. We needed his improvement along with Otamendis revival to defend well. Both terrible yesterday.
 
Tom_mcfc said:
Just a worry the Stones that has returned isn't the one that started the season for us. We needed his improvement along with Otamendis revival to defend well. Both terrible yesterday.
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Because we were pressured like we haven't been for quite some time high up the pitch. They both struggled with this and both were culpable for a goal because of it. There are no teams like Liverpool as good at it though so hopefully it's a one off.
 
Millwallawayveteran1988 said:
Because we were pressured like we haven't been for quite some time high up the pitch. They both struggled with this and both were culpable for a goal because of it. There are no teams like Liverpool as good at it though so hopefully it's a one off.
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I have to disagree with this, I don't think it was because of any press by liverpool. Otamendi has been beating the press all season against similar teams like spurs, arsenal and napoli who are even better at it than livepool. Likewise stones was like that before his injury so clearly they can handle teams that press high. Stones just hasn't looked right since coming back form his injury even before this game.
 
Millwallawayveteran1988 said:
He needs to go down then. He is not a novice. He should know how to win a free kick in that situation. Personally I thought it was shit defending either way.
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You can say "he should have gone down" but it could just as easily been seen as a dive and the ref waves play on and then the same people will be saying "should have tried to stay on his feet"... he really can't win and I feel it's unfair for this particular indecent.
 
Tough game for him having not been back from injury very long. We've got some good games coming up to get him back into form. Yes he hasn't been very good since coming back but I wouldn't worry just yet.
 
I’m still worried about the form he’s carrying. Three games in a row where he made an error the lead to a goal. It just isn’t normal for a defender. Let alone this season’s Stones who was arguably the best defender in the league before his injury. Stopped everything, was a rock, won every header, scored important goals in all comps, & could break the lines with ease

Optimist me says it’s just him back from injury, but hopefully he gets into gear & picks it up soon. We really need him to step it up now with Delph now inured. Have a feeling we’ll be a bit shaky in defense from here on in until Delph is back.
 
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