5 | John Stones - 2023/24

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Turns 30 next month and still has two more years on his contract. Hasn't managed 3,000 minutes since the 16-17 season, so how best to utilise him in the next two years? First thing I would be doing would be whispering in his ear that it's time to retire from international football at the end of the summer (same message to Walker/de Bruyne) and to work on a training regime/game plan that maximises the return for both parties.
 
Gabriel said:
Turns 30 next month and still has two more years on his contract. Hasn't managed 3,000 minutes since the 16-17 season, so how best to utilise him in the next two years? First thing I would be doing would be whispering in his ear that it's time to retire from international football at the end of the summer (same message to Walker/de Bruyne) and to work on a training regime/game plan that maximises the return for both parties.
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I know it’s a long shot but with the way his body is, I wish he’d quit the international scene after this season. However, it’s crazy that we’re even thinking it. Just shows how much we’d appreciate his availability. It’s just that, he’s not always available. The only thing one can think of is getting rid of something somewhere i.e. international games.

I know it won’t happen but I can only wish. Couldn’t even imagine we’d be discussing this when Stones is only 29!!
 
Josh_D said:
I know it’s a long shot but with the way his body is, I wish he’d quit the international scene after this season. However, it’s crazy that we’re even thinking it. Just shows how much we’d appreciate his availability. It’s just that, he’s not always available. The only thing one can think of is getting rid of something somewhere i.e. international games.

I know it won’t happen but I can only wish. Couldn’t even imagine we’d be discussing this when Stones is only 29!!
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I don't think it's a ridiculous proposition. He's part of a back six that includes two players who have a history of injury (himself and Ake) and one that will turn 34 on the same day Stones hits 30. At this rate, neither will be in the England World Cup party in 2026, so I think Stones should be looking at a regime similar to that which prolonged Ledley King's career at Tottenham.
 
Gabriel said:
I don't think it's a ridiculous proposition. He's part of a back six that includes two players who have a history of injury (himself and Ake) and one that will turn 34 on the same day Stones hits 30. At this rate, neither will be in the England World Cup party in 2026, so I think Stones should be looking at a regime similar to that which prolonged Ledley King's career at Tottenham.
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I agree with all of that but again, I can’t see it.

Even that **** Henderson is still playing for England. Doubt Stones will make that decision. Ake and Stones are both 29. Despite both having injury issues, I don’t think Ake playing for the Dutch does much harm. He’s available a lot more than Stones but I’m sure everyone would like more availability.
 
Macca77macca said:
You know he “dallies” on the ball for a purpose don’t you? To purposely pull in opposing players and create space? You know he points because he knows exactly where to pass the ball to ?

Never mind
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It doesn’t work though, because 9.9/10 he just plays it square or backwards after taking 5 touches without even opening space up where he points it - great ball playing defenders break the lines sharply within 2/3 touches maximum. It’s something he’s regressed massively in in his time here - at Everton and in his first two years here he would generally look to get the ball into the #8s quickly.

It’s the same when he’s in midfield - his role in there is vastly overrated and if an actual midfielder played those kinds of passes they’d be crucified.

The remainder of his career should be spent exclusively in the centre of defence with the primary focus of playing progressive vertical passes.
 
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Libero. said:
It doesn’t work though, because 9.9/10 he just plays it square or backwards after taking 5 touches without even opening space up where he points it - great ball playing defenders break the lines sharply within 2/3 touches maximum. It’s something he’s regressed massively in in his time here - at Everton and in his first two years here he would generally look to get the ball into the #8s quickly.

It’s the same when he’s in midfield - his role in there is vastly overrated and if an actual midfielder played those kinds of passes they’d be crucified.

The remainder of his career should be spent exclusively in the centre of defence with the primary focus of playing progressive vertical passes.
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I have nothing more to say other than this is horseshit.

I will leave you all with your weirdo analysis now. Enjoy.
 
Libero. said:
It doesn’t work though, because 9.9/10 he just plays it square or backwards after taking 5 touches without even opening space up where he points it - great ball playing defenders break the lines sharply within 2/3 touches maximum. It’s something he’s regressed massively in in his time here - at Everton and in his first two years here he would generally look to get the ball into the #8s quickly.

It’s the same when he’s in midfield - his role in there is vastly overrated and if an actual midfielder played those kinds of passes they’d be crucified.

The remainder of his career should be spent exclusively in the centre of defence with the primary focus of playing progressive vertical passes.
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He becomes an extra man in the middle and drawing players onto him and passing to others is exactly what his job is. If he plays a riskier attacking pass he's out of position to recover so it's all about keeping it simple and trying to draw the opposition onto him to allow space for our attacking players to form overloads and attack.
 
Can’t believe the guy is being dug out for his performance on Saturday when he was literally retching his guts up on the pitch.

Sublime player, just needs managing carefully with his fragility, but was clearly unwell on Saturday and so it can be chalked off. I’m impressed he could actually carry on for as long as he did!
 
Libero. said:
It doesn’t work though, because 9.9/10 he just plays it square or backwards after taking 5 touches without even opening space up where he points it - great ball playing defenders break the lines sharply within 2/3 touches maximum. It’s something he’s regressed massively in in his time here - at Everton and in his first two years here he would generally look to get the ball into the #8s quickly.

It’s the same when he’s in midfield - his role in there is vastly overrated and if an actual midfielder played those kinds of passes they’d be crucified.

The remainder of his career should be spent exclusively in the centre of defence with the primary focus of playing progressive vertical passes.
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Might I politely suggest you do not understand how pep wants City to play, especially when you start talking about square, backwards and vertical passes?

Your “vision” of the game is different from Pep’s. Not necessarily worse, but different.

In addition, he points where the player should be to OPEN UP the space for the passer. Football is a game of triangles. If you move into one space, you’ve opened up another space. When the ball goes into that space, at least two players should be moving to create the next space, and on and on and on. Options, open man, open space. Love it, live it, learn it!
 
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TFC said:
What a weird place blue moon has become, full of ‘hot takes’ and absolute fucking horseshit opinions.
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We've all got our fair share of couch coaches.
I seem to recall Vince the Prince struggling often with niggles but when he was on we couldn't do without him.
John's at that level for me. An absolute must play, any day.
 
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