5 | John Stones - 2025/26

He already is one of the greatest English centre backs of all time,by virtue of his unique ball playing style,honours won,and oh yes,the little matter of high number of international caps .....for England.

Longevity matters ? What does that mean as far as Stones is concerned ??
Over the last few seasons Stones has been unavailable for us a large proportion of the time. I think this is the key feature not that he does seem to be able to join up with England squads and may get injured. We pay him a lot of money and no longer get anything close to a return on that. I think he has been a good servant for the club but I certainly would not place him anywhere near legend status, apologies Eccles Blue, and at this stage imo is very much surplus to requirements. Longevity is probably not a good term but perhaps sustainability is.
 
No what’s clear is that Stones priorities are with England and not City. He can’t put 90mins together for City but runs off to England duties knowing full well his body can’t take it.

What relevance is David Silva? After what he did when his son was born let’s not get into sacrifices being made for City eh.
But for the record yeh he was rarely injured and played for City and Spain without much issue.
John makes himself available for his club and country, BOTH, in equal measure. So your point is flawed, his priority is BOTH. He gets picked more for England cos City have got better players than England. Been a great player for City and I don’t begrudge him also representing his country one little bit
 
No what’s clear is that Stones priorities are with England and not City. He can’t put 90mins together for City but runs off to England duties knowing full well his body can’t take it.

What relevance is David Silva? After what he did when his son was born let’s not get into sacrifices being made for City eh.
But for the record yeh he was rarely injured and played for City and Spain without much issue.
If it’s clear John’s priorities are with England name me a single occasion when he’s made himself unavailable for City other than due to injury?
 
Over the last few seasons Stones has been unavailable for us a large proportion of the time. I think this is the key feature not that he does seem to be able to join up with England squads and may get injured. We pay him a lot of money and no longer get anything close to a return on that. I think he has been a good servant for the club but I certainly would not place him anywhere near legend status, apologies Eccles Blue, and at this stage imo is very much surplus to requirements. Longevity is probably not a good term but perhaps sustainability is.
I'm not entering the argument of weather JS is a legend for this club.
I'm saying as a ball playing centre back with a unique style who was brave enough to play that style in this country before it became fashionable ,and judging by the amount of caps he has won for England ,the high class performances at the top international tournaments in the world ....then ,in answer to another poster..yes,yes he is one of the best centre backs to ever play for England .
That cannot be denied JS because of his injury record ffs

People still go on about Bobby Moore ,and his great ability to bring the ball out from the back and pass with both feet....any of that sound familiar ?
 
How do you know that? Have you spoken to him?

To be fair I bet if you asked every city player club or country, they’d probably pick country. Why on earth would stones or anyone else not do everything they can to play for their country in a major tournament?

He’s also done everything he can to get back and be fit for city. He’s just injury prone
How do you know he does everything with his focus on City, you spoke to John?

This isn’t about every other player is it, it’s not a club wide pandemic. It’s a John Stones issue, has been since he arrived here.
John makes himself available for his club and country, BOTH, in equal measure. So your point is flawed, his priority is BOTH. He gets picked more for England cos City have got better players than England. Been a great player for City and I don’t begrudge him also representing his country one little bit
No it’s not, he’s made it very clear how much he wants to play for England and so is quite clearly doing everything with that in mind.
If it’s clear John’s priorities are with England name me a single occasion when he’s made himself unavailable for City other than due to injury?
Name me a single occasion he’s made himself unavailable so he can have a rest and play for City? He knows he can’t play all of them, plenty of players have fucked international football off to prolong club careers. This idea that he has to show up or Tuchel wouldn’t pick him is hilarious as well, he’s the best CB the country has. There’s about three positions up for grabs and Stones CB slot isn’t one of them.

None of us have the facts and receipts of him telling the club they can do one, he’s going to St George’s park, correct. Just in case you’re going to come back with a sarcastic comment about that.

From the outside it looks pretty obvious.

City in the middle of a title run in and FA cup run, we already lost two senior CBs to injuries and left with someone who’s been here 5mins, another injury prone CB in Ake and a youngster, if Stones was prioritising City he would have skipped England and gone on holiday for two weeks to hopefully play against Liverpool on Saturday. But no he will be sat in the stands again.
 
How do you know he does everything with his focus on City, you spoke to John?

This isn’t about every other player is it, it’s not a club wide pandemic. It’s a John Stones issue, has been since he arrived here.

No it’s not, he’s made it very clear how much he wants to play for England and so is quite clearly doing everything with that in mind.

Name me a single occasion he’s made himself unavailable so he can have a rest and play for City? He knows he can’t play all of them, plenty of players have fucked international football off to prolong club careers. This idea that he has to show up or Tuchel wouldn’t pick him is hilarious as well, he’s the best CB the country has. There’s about three positions up for grabs and Stones CB slot isn’t one of them.

None of us have the facts and receipts of him telling the club they can do one, he’s going to St George’s park, correct. Just in case you’re going to come back with a sarcastic comment about that.

From the outside it looks pretty obvious.

City in the middle of a title run in and FA cup run, we already lost two senior CBs to injuries and left with someone who’s been here 5mins, another injury prone CB in Ake and a youngster, if Stones was prioritising City he would have skipped England and gone on holiday for two weeks to hopefully play against Liverpool on Saturday. But no he will be sat in the stands again.
You really are a sad and bitter “man”. John has never let City or his country down, never
 
How do you know he does everything with his focus on City, you spoke to John?

This isn’t about every other player is it, it’s not a club wide pandemic. It’s a John Stones issue, has been since he arrived here.

No it’s not, he’s made it very clear how much he wants to play for England and so is quite clearly doing everything with that in mind.

Name me a single occasion he’s made himself unavailable so he can have a rest and play for City? He knows he can’t play all of them, plenty of players have fucked international football off to prolong club careers. This idea that he has to show up or Tuchel wouldn’t pick him is hilarious as well, he’s the best CB the country has. There’s about three positions up for grabs and Stones CB slot isn’t one of them.

None of us have the facts and receipts of him telling the club they can do one, he’s going to St George’s park, correct. Just in case you’re going to come back with a sarcastic comment about that.

From the outside it looks pretty obvious.

City in the middle of a title run in and FA cup run, we already lost two senior CBs to injuries and left with someone who’s been here 5mins, another injury prone CB in Ake and a youngster, if Stones was prioritising City he would have skipped England and gone on holiday for two weeks to hopefully play against Liverpool on Saturday. But no he will be sat in the stands again.

Or he's cautiously withdrawn rather than risk playing two games and actually getting injured
 
Or he's cautiously withdrawn rather than risk playing two games and actually getting injured
He didn’t play in the first England game, so likely injured when he showed up given he’s not played a minute for us for three weeks. So why bother going.

Some are giving him way too much credit here. He showed up because he likes going away with the lads, he’s made no secret of that and to me doesn’t look too fussed if he plays for City or not given this is his last chance at a World Cup and so feels he has to strain every fibre to prove to Tuchel he’s ready. He isn’t doing the same for City, simple.
 
Absolutely world class when fit but unfortunately others got injured overplaying while he couldn’t stay fit but was pocketing £250,000 a week! Thanks for some wonderful memories and performances Johnny boy but it’s time to go.
 
I thought he would be an absolute certainty to go to World Cup but I think tuchel will be having his doubts as to whether he can rely on him.
 
I thought he would be an absolute certainty to go to World Cup but I think tuchel will be having his doubts as to whether he can rely on him.

And he would be right to doubt it. I still reckon he might go though. We have nothing like him as a defender for England. I think you risk a squad space in the hope he can play.

Besides, they usually have players on standby until quite last minute. So I'll be shocked if he's not in the main squad but won't be shocked if he's out at the last minute.
 
I'm not entering the argument of weather JS is a legend for this club.
I'm saying as a ball playing centre back with a unique style who was brave enough to play that style in this country before it became fashionable ,and judging by the amount of caps he has won for England ,the high class performances at the top international tournaments in the world ....then ,in answer to another poster..yes,yes he is one of the best centre backs to ever play for England .
That cannot be denied JS because of his injury record ffs

People still go on about Bobby Moore ,and his great ability to bring the ball out from the back and pass with both feet....any of that sound familiar ?
I don't didpute he is a useful footballer and one when fit that normally gets in my team. I don't like comparing players from different era's but Mr. Moore was a legend and I can remember some of his performances in an England shirt. Brazil in the WC in Mexico was a performance seldom bettered by anyone. But your right Stones does carry the ball out of defence well and if fit will likely start in the US in June. Whether he starts in a City shirt in August and September is another matter entirely.
 
Oh Jonny Boulders. What a man. What a man. What a man. What a mighty good man.

I’ve watched loads of central defenders in my 25 years as a season ticket holder from Van Buyten, to Dunney, to Distin, to Vinnie, to Demichelis, to Dias and even more. But Jonny Stones is, and likely always will be, by far my most favourite of all time.

Top 10 for my favourite players - not just City - of all time. Elegance personified, a beautiful footballer with fantastic temperament, ability and confidence. His only downside being his fitness like a few before him, Vinnie included.

Gutted he’s seemingly going. I’d have had him here forever. His knowledge and experience of the role would be massive to help with youngsters like Reis, Khusanov and even Gvardiol but his wages can’t warrant that sort of role. Would kill for him to come back in the future when he eventually hangs up his boots.
 
Oh Jonny Boulders. What a man. What a man. What a man. What a mighty good man.

I’ve watched loads of central defenders in my 25 years as a season ticket holder from Van Buyten, to Dunney, to Distin, to Vinnie, to Demichelis, to Dias and even more. But Jonny Stones is, and likely always will be, by far my most favourite of all time.

Top 10 for my favourite players - not just City - of all time. Elegance personified, a beautiful footballer with fantastic temperament, ability and confidence. His only downside being his fitness like a few before him, Vinnie included.

Gutted he’s seemingly going. I’d have had him here forever. His knowledge and experience of the role would be massive to help with youngsters like Reis, Khusanov and even Gvardiol but his wages can’t warrant that sort of role. Would kill for him to come back in the future when he eventually hangs up his boots.
Never stuck me as a coach but you never know. Given his injury record particularly recently it would be grossly negligent to offer the man a contract extention.
 

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