Let's be realistic here, not sentimental. Stones has been world class but he's been mostly injured last 2 seasons .We should be trying to offload him this summer because we simply cannot rely on him being fit anymore.
I think if we could move him on now we would, but will any club take a punt on him with his dreadful injury record?People at the club will obviously know more than us. I agree they won't be sentimental though - but if they think he's over the worst of his issues and could play in maybe 25 league games, plus selected other games (35-40 in total), then he needs to stay. If they think they can manage the worst of it, then he can make a huge difference.
He isn't old in centreback terms, he isn't old in appearances terms. If they think they're on top of his issues then that's brilliant.
Huge IFs though.
Yes.does his contract expire in summer '26?
I think if we could move him on now we would, but will any club take a punt on him with his dreadful injury record?
I very much doubt it so we'll keep him till next summer and just hope we can get some decent game time out of him.
Well; I can’t see him getting a new contract next summer. Do we keep him this season (a huge risk, given his injury record), and lose him for nothing in 12 months' time? Or move him on before the window closes in a few weeks' time, for whatever we'd get for him?Yeah, that's the other side of the coin. You don't spend millions, plus wages, on someone who may still have huge injury issues. It's be a proper risk.
It’s not sentimental. He genuinely is a world class player. The season we won the league and kompany scored that amazing winning goal - he was always injured, but made a huge difference.Let's be realistic here, not sentimental. Stones has been world class but he's been mostly injured last 2 seasons .We should be trying to offload him this summer because we simply cannot rely on him being fit anymore.
Stones has been a fine player when he's been fit, pity he's had such an horrendous injury record, not his fault of course.Yeah, that's the other side of the coin. You don't spend millions, plus wages, on someone who may still have huge injury issues. It's be a proper risk.
He is unsellable.Stones is a brilliant player and I think we’d be daft to sell him. Seems like pep and the club think the same as well
Sorry, but he's not a world class player when he's out injured the majority of time, is he?It’s not sentimental. He genuinely is a world class player. The season we won the league and kompany scored that amazing winning goal - he was always injured, but made a huge difference.
Stones is a brilliant player and I think we’d be daft to sell him. Seems like pep and the club think the same as well
Well; I can’t see him getting a new contract next summer. Do we keep him this season (a huge risk, given his injury record), and lose him for nothing in 12 months' time? Or move him on before the window closes in a few weeks' time, for whatever we'd get for him?
Sorry, but he's not a world class player when he's out injured the majority of time, is he?
I can't think of another City player who's had as bad a worse injury record and missed as many games pro-rated to length of time at the club.
But comparing him to any past City player plagued by injuries is irrelevant as they are no longer on the club payroll, JS is and costing City 250k per week for not a lot in return.
How do you know that? He’s one of the best centre backs in the league, so I’m sure there would be plenty of interestHe is unsellable.
There is no club interested in buying him.
I'm not sure Pep and the club think we'd be daft to sell him, we just can't.
If other teams wanted him, they would be enquiring about his availability .How do you know that? He’s one of the best centre backs in the league, so I’m sure there would be plenty of interest
If pep didn’t want him, he wouldn’t be in the squad or starting 11 - which I think he will do if fit
Or he's made it clear he doesn't wish to leaveIf other teams wanted him, they would be enquiring about his availability .
I havent heard of any interest.
We know he is one of the best defenders and that he would be starting for us but he is not fit.
Its not his ability, it's his availability.
You say it yourself at the end .
You’ve kind of answered your own first point. You actually don’t know if any teams have enquired about him. Unless you work for the club or have inside knowledge none of us doIf other teams wanted him, they would be enquiring about his availability .
I havent heard of any interest.
We know he is one of the best defenders and that he would be starting for us but he is not fit.
Its not his ability, it's his availability.
You say it yourself at the end .
Well; I can’t see him getting a new contract next summer. Do we keep him this season (a huge risk, given his injury record), and lose him for nothing in 12 months' time? Or move him on before the window closes in a few weeks' time, for whatever we'd get for him?
Absolutely. Along with Kompany, he's been our best defender since we were founded 17 years ago. Remember whenThere doesn't seem to be much sign that we can get anything for him. He was one of the most cultured central defenders in all of Europe. Was being the operative word.
Who on here would not love to see him return to full fitness and form? It would be magnificent. I'm afraid it's a pipe dream.