Deep Lying Midfield Stones

Ask almost any neutral fan and Rio Ferdinand will be their knee jerk response, when asked to name the most technically gifted centre half of the Premier League era.
Maybe Ferdinand was that. However begrudgingly, I'd have to admit he was a decent footballer.

Thing is though, I don't remember Ferdinand doing what Stones did at his best. I mean stepping into midfield and effectively controlling games.
Worth adding, Stones played that role in our treble-winning season too. That is to say, he did it successfully the heart of the greatest team English football has ever known.

The most technically gifted ce tre half of the Premier League era? I reckon we have been watching him, these last few years.
 
mad4city said:
Ask almost any neutral fan and Rio Ferdinand will be their knee jerk response, when asked to name the most technically gifted centre half of the Premier League era.
Maybe Ferdinand was that. However begrudgingly, I'd have to admit he was a decent footballer.

Thing is though, I don't remember Ferdinand doing what Stones did at his best. I mean stepping into midfield and effectively controlling games.
Worth adding, Stones played that role in our treble-winning season too. That is to say, he did it successfully the heart of the greatest team English football has ever known.

The most technically gifted ce tre half of the Premier League era? I reckon we have been watching him, these last few years.
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Rio was not technically gifted by today’s standards when you got Maguire top binning a penalty. he could sort of run with the ball and control it that was it. he stood out amongst centre half ogres of the era like Stam and Hypia.

the media is just too obsessed with turn of the century premier league, probably because half of them played in it.
 
Just commented this on the stones thread. Just hasn't got the legs for this IMO, it seems a good idea on paper because of his quality on the ball but in games where we have less than 97 percent possession he would be a vulnerability.
 
mad4city said:
Ask almost any neutral fan and Rio Ferdinand will be their knee jerk response, when asked to name the most technically gifted centre half of the Premier League era.
Maybe Ferdinand was that. However begrudgingly, I'd have to admit he was a decent footballer.

Thing is though, I don't remember Ferdinand doing what Stones did at his best. I mean stepping into midfield and effectively controlling games.
Worth adding, Stones played that role in our treble-winning season too. That is to say, he did it successfully the heart of the greatest team English football has ever known.

The most technically gifted ce tre half of the Premier League era? I reckon we have been watching him, these last few years.
Click to expand...
And Stonesy did it all natutally, no missed drugs tests for him
 
M Gaudino said:
No no no. last time we tried this as a no6 he looked like a fish up a tree.
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Eh? Last night he was a centre back who stepped into midfield anywhere when we were attacking. He played that role in the second half of the 22-23 season and it was one of the major components that won us the treble. You could see its effectiveness again last night as he linked play.
 
He might not uave caught everyone's eye but by doing what he did last night, he allowed Silva and Lewis to fill the channels between the centre halves and full backs. With Savinho and Doku fizzing out wide, Villaraell's defence didn't know whether to stick or twist.
Stones positioning was the catalyst for both of their full backs getting yellows and the subsequent reshuffling of their defence at half time.
Stones was also the reason Lewis had his best hane in ages (delighted fir him btw) and Silva had room to score.
Savinho, being involved in bith goaks probably deserved man of the natch but Stones played really, really well.
 
Didsbury Dave said:
Eh? Last night he was a centre back who stepped into midfield anywhere when we were attacking. He played that role in the second half of the 22-23 season and it was one of the major components that won us the treble. You could see its effectiveness again last night as he linked play.
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that wasnt what was being suggested rather he play as a no6
 
We only seem to try this at Villa Park and it’s not been successful as of yet.

Stepping into midfield works, but he’s not mobile enough to actually be the 6.
 
Against lower opposition brilliant. Against anyone else and his age shows.

Another fantastic player whose time with the club is natural coming to the end.
 
mad4city said:
Ask almost any neutral fan and Rio Ferdinand will be their knee jerk response, when asked to name the most technically gifted centre half of the Premier League era.
Maybe Ferdinand was that. However begrudgingly, I'd have to admit he was a decent footballer.

Thing is though, I don't remember Ferdinand doing what Stones did at his best. I mean stepping into midfield and effectively controlling games.
Worth adding, Stones played that role in our treble-winning season too. That is to say, he did it successfully the heart of the greatest team English football has ever known.

The most technically gifted ce tre half of the Premier League era? I reckon we have been watching him, these last few years.
Click to expand...
Ruud Gullit at Chelsea wasn't bad.
 
mad4city said:
Ask almost any neutral fan and Rio Ferdinand will be their knee jerk response, when asked to name the most technically gifted centre half of the Premier League era.
Maybe Ferdinand was that. However begrudgingly, I'd have to admit he was a decent footballer.

Thing is though, I don't remember Ferdinand doing what Stones did at his best. I mean stepping into midfield and effectively controlling games.
Worth adding, Stones played that role in our treble-winning season too. That is to say, he did it successfully the heart of the greatest team English football has ever known.

The most technically gifted ce tre half of the Premier League era? I reckon we have been watching him, these last few years.
Click to expand...

Stones controlled games? Stepping in midfield next to Rodri and Gundogan don't make you a game controller. That's a cringe exaggeration.
 
jimharri said:
He was phenomenal in the run in in the treble season. Arguably man of the match at Wembley, despite Gundogan's two goals. And outstanding in Istanbul.
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Stones completed 34 passes in Instanbul. He was outstanding but he didn't control the game. Games are controlled by players like Xavi or Rodri. Stones isn't at that level. Without a proper DM next to him he's wasted in midfield like vs Villa today.
 
alexmcity said:
Stones completed 34 passes in Instanbul. He was outstanding but he didn't control the game. Games are controlled by players like Xavi or Rodri. Stones isn't at that level. Without a proper DM next to him he's wasted in midfield like vs Villa today.
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And the run in in general, when Pep moved him into midfield. It's like he was made for that role.
 
jimharri said:
And the run in in general, when Pep moved him into midfield. It's like he was made for that role.
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Yes, that was a great tactical decision by Pep and Stones was excellent in that role. Again, he was great next to the best player in the world who has the quality to make the other players better. Stones can play next to a top DM but he isn't one. He can't move the ball like a top midfielder and complete 100 passes (the average for Rodri in 23/24).

Edit: Stones completed 25 passes vs Villa, Reijnders about 35: 60 passes between them in 135 minutes combined... No wonder we were a mess in midfield in the first half. A good DM would complete more passes than them both in fewer minutes.
 
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