Stones shouldn't play for England until the World Cup | Called up again (pg13)

[Bettys Bell]

Thank you. I’m getting there but he is the second of my brothers to die in 13 months and I suddenly feel every one of my years! Sorry to interrupt the thread. Cherish your loved ones and give them a big hug tonight. :-)

Sorry to hear about your brother . Take care my thoughts are with you .

 

[Marvin.]

I feel sadness for John Stones. I note that is described as a 'minor issue' but it is time for him to retire from international football.

 

[Buckshaw Blue]

I feel sadness for John Stones. I note that is described as a 'minor issue' but it is time for him to retire from international football.

Won’t happen before the World Cup. He’ll be desperate to play in that.

 

[kunaguero10]

Those two were possibly retained for the "home grown" squad rules.

Definitely, they’ve survived on a technicality (and I assume no takers due to high wages) while the centre half who is actually reliable fitness-wise and can still run properly is gone. Hey ho.

 

[skillman]

The fact it’s been described as minor to me suggests that he’s absolutely fine and has been told by Pep to prioritise certain things after spending most of last season out injured.

I.e. the club.

 

[skillman]

He was the worst. 1511 days injured, 211 games missed!

Kompany was 1419 days injured and 176 games missed.

Surely Michael Johnson, no?

 

[Tier2Blue]

Stones must be so frustrated. He has been a class act for us when fit and confident. If he had a period of 3 seasons of staying fit then I think he would have become one of the best regarded players in the world. In the treble year he was on another level. Hopefully it’s minor and he will play the derby but sadly I don’t see anyway we can retain him after this season.

 

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

Whether Johnny boy is fit for the Greater Mcr Derby or not, its only a matter of time before he pulls up again. Sad as it is, Pep needs to start building that defence around Kushinov and Gvardiol. Ake is now in the same boat and doesn't play 4 or 5 games without getting injured(and this is a player who never got injured for Bournemouth) Dias hasn't been the the player he was for 18 months or so, yet gets awarded a contract extension until 32.Yet another strange decision from above. It seems like we want to keep players up until their 30s and beyond,just when the injuries start to kick in. I'd love nothing more than see JS have a blinding season playing week in week out etc etc, but unfortunately that's not happening. :(

 

[alexmcity]

Whether Johnny boy is fit for the Greater Mcr Derby or not, its only a matter of time before he pulls up again. Sad as it is, Pep needs to start building that defence around Kushinov and Gvardiol. Ake is now in the same boat and doesn't play 4 or 5 games without getting injured(and this is a player who never got injured for Bournemouth) Dias hasn't been the same for 18 months or so yet gets awarded a contract extension until 32,yet another strange decision from above. It seems like we want to keep players up until their 30s and beyond,just when the injuries start to kick in. I'd love nothing more than see JS have a blinding season playing week in week out etc etc, but unfortunately that's not happening. :(

Dias is important for his experience and leadership qualities. Without experience and leadership in the squad we can't compete for anything. Also, last season aside, he's quite fit compared to Stones and Ake. These two are likely to leave next summer. It's suicidal to have only one 23+ CB in the team. A good team is much more than its parts, and experience plus leadership are among the things that makes the whole greater than the parts.

 

[CΛL]

Dias is important for his experience and leadership qualities. Without experience and leadership in the squad we can't compete for anything. Also, last season aside, he's quite fit compared to Stones and Ake. These two are likely to leave next summer. It's suicidal to have only one 23+ CB in the team. A good team is much more than its parts, and experience plus leadership are among the things that makes the whole greater than the parts.

That’s all true but it’s also suicidal to play Dias the way he’s been for 2 years now.

Extension was the wrong move, he had years left anyway, we should have looked to the market.

 

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

Dias is important for his experience and leadership qualities. Without experience and leadership in the squad we can't compete for anything. Also, last season aside, he's quite fit compared to Stones and Ake. These two are likely to leave next summer. It's suicidal to have only one 23+ CB in the team. A good team is much more than its parts, and experience plus leadership are among the things that makes the whole greater than the parts.

I didn't mean injured when I said the same, I meant he'd not been on form(I'll change that) I agree about his experience being vital and before this blip he was outstanding and one of the best centre halves in world football,but his forms been patchy at best and hasn't started this season any better. When this season ends do Stones and Ake leave ? Do we bring the kid back who we've just paid huge money for? And do we buy a world class leader for the back 4 ? Decisions Decisions. Id love to see Dias back to his brilliant best and take command of that defence, its just these last 18 months or so give me a little doubt.

 

[BluestBlue]

He’s injured again, surprise !

Have zero clue why he wasn’t forced out the club like Ederson Akanji Grealish and Gundo.

Yes he’s the most injury prone and big wages but the club has clearly demonstrated they can get anyone out the club if the really wanted to.

Cancelo to Bayern was done in a couple hours.


We are in the same position we were in last season Dias and Ake the only fit defenders and Ake can’t stay for long either.

Should’ve sold one of Ake and Stones and kept Reis or bought a new CB

 

[alexmcity]

That’s all true but it’s also suicidal to play Dias the way he’s been for 2 years now.

Extension was the wrong move, he had years left anyway, we should have looked to the market.

It's not simply that Dias is experienced in purely footballing terms but that he understands the values of the club, what it takes to play for City, and so on. Also, he offers leadership. Some may offer more than him in purely defensive actions, but they may lack leadership qualities. Again, it's simplistic to judge the importance of players just in terms of their onfield individual performances. Offering him a new contract was logical.

Now, Pep can drop him for some or many games. Dias will know he has to improve if he wants to start.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

This was always on the cards, especially with Bobb and Rodri returning from long term absence and the injury prone liabilities, Stones and Ake still at the club.

All it needed was another 2-3 injuries such as Kovacic and Gvardiol, plus a few "What the fuck's wrong with him now?" setbacks to Savinho and Foden.

However most of us expected this once the CL fixtures started to kick-in and City were playing every few days.

To suffer now is either a blessing in disguise or an absolute unmitigated shambles

 

[King Jay]

Dias is important for his experience and leadership qualities. Without experience and leadership in the squad we can't compete for anything. Also, last season aside, he's quite fit compared to Stones and Ake. These two are likely to leave next summer. It's suicidal to have only one 23+ CB in the team. A good team is much more than its parts, and experience plus leadership are among the things that makes the whole greater than the parts.

This is just an excuse. If you bad you bad. What leadership? What experience? He got completely exposed in the last 2 years - had an absolute horrible display against Kudus and was a big reason why we lost 1-2 against Brighton. That goal wouldn’t happen if he didn’t stop running.

 

[Dial M 4 Mercer]

The fact it’s been described as minor to me suggests that he’s absolutely fine and has been told by Pep to prioritise certain things after spending most of last season out injured.

I.e. the club.

Defending.

 

[skillman]

He’s injured again, surprise !

Have zero clue why he wasn’t forced out the club like Ederson Akanji Grealish and Gundo.

Yes he’s the most injury prone and big wages but the club has clearly demonstrated they can get anyone out the club if the really wanted to.

Cancelo to Bayern was done in a couple hours.


We are in the same position we were in last season Dias and Ake the only fit defenders and Ake can’t stay for long either.

Should’ve sold one of Ake and Stones and kept Reis or bought a new CB

In the recent Txiki documentary, he picked Stones as his favourite ever signing for the club (Pep picked Gundo, Soriano picked Navas) so I suspect there’s been an emotional attachment there from the decision makers with Jonny Boulders.

I’m not complaining because I’d keep him here for life if I had the choice. His experience, mentality and quality would help the youngsters tenfold. I think the biggest regret this Summer will be loaning Reis out.

 

[HelloCity]

In the recent Txiki documentary, he picked Stones as his favourite ever signing for the club (Pep picked Gundo, Soriano picked Navas) so I suspect there’s been an emotional attachment there from the decision makers with Jonny Boulders.

I’m not complaining because I’d keep him here for life if I had the choice. His experience, mentality and quality would help the youngsters tenfold. I think the biggest regret this Summer will be loaning Reis out.

Might explain the current winger situation.

 

[kaz7]

Well in this instance you must be wrong because @jimharri is never wrong.....unless of course he was saying anything detrimental about John Stones!!

I'm not having a good week, my brother died yesterday so please people do not upset me over Johnny Boy because that might just bring on a meltdown of epic proportions. I don't mean a crying one but an ANGRY one. ;-) :-)

John will be all right for the Derby, he has probably told Mr Tuchel or whatever his name is, that he wants to be sure that he is recovered and 100% fit so that he can show everyone just how we beat Stretford United. :-)

Sending you big hugs xx

 

[Gorbachev]

If it is a proper injury and not an "international injury", I think he might just have shot himself in the foot of any possible contract extension.

He should have known better than to take liberties with his body thinking that he can just go back to playing 3 games a week after such a tumultuous last couple of years with injuries.