John Stones

[Wolfkin]

Nope. I think he's going to be a top player. Surprised we've not bid already but it can't be far away now.

Hopefully

 

[BillyShears]

There is more chance Hart could become an England legend. It is partly dependent on the England team finding success in tournaments. Stones is not even well regarded by fans of his own club, that watch him week in, week out. He has some promise but is completely unproven as a world class/ top defender. Even Messi has praised Hart as being a world class keeper.

Pique wasn't rated by United supporters and our supporters still don't rate Boateng.

Joe's nearly a decade older than Stones.

 

[Neville Kneville]

You and Guardiola and Mourinho and apparently Barcelona, so we might be a smallish group but we are in good company.

The point is, it's all 'maybe'.

Guardiola etc maybe think he will 'become' a great defender. And 'maybe' the reason he isn't one, is someone else's fault.

Of course it could be that he is what he is, & will continue to be found out, for the rest of his career, like David Luiz. Neither Pep nor Mourinho know the answer to that. Whoever signs him is gambling on him becoming a different player, not signing him because of the player he actually is now.

 

[Kippax.]

Only if someone had listened to me :(

To be honest pal, you would of been hung out to dry. Don't ever try to swim upstream in this forum as you will be ridiculed about your lack of football knowledge. But guess what you knew more than the majority of sheep in here so well done on standing up for yourself. :)

 

[uwe rosler 28]

Does anybody no what fee we are looking at?

 

[bluetonium]

Toffee I work with is firmly of the opinion that they should get rid, says he's too showy and not a solid enough defender, position and decision making is terrible.

Personally it think that is a bit of an overreaction, he's being hyped for a reason and in a team such as ours, where we should be knocking it around, covering for others and maybe have a little more time on the ball at the back, he could excel. His ability to place 2/3 positions will be useful too, can see him as CB, RB or even DM.

But, I am sure Everton will not entertain offers until after the Euros - no manager confirmed, no confirmed discussion on their own targets & expectations for next season, or how big their pot is, plus his value is only ever going to go up. Unless he gets injured.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Toffee I work with is firmly of the opinion that they should get rid, says he's too showy and not a solid enough defender, position and decision making is terrible.

Personally it think that is a bit of an overreaction, he's being hyped for a reason and in a team such as ours, where we should be knocking it around, covering for others and maybe have a little more time on the ball at the back, he could excel. His ability to place 2/3 positions will be useful too, can see him as CB, RB or even DM.

But, I am sure Everton will not entertain offers until after the Euros - no manager confirmed, no confirmed discussion on their own targets & expectations for next season, or how big their pot is, plus his value is only ever going to go up. Unless he gets injured.

I think that if we do sign him, it will be because he can possibly cover more than one position, not because we have him down as a nailed on starter at cb.

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Does anybody no what fee we are looking at?

I'm sure Everton turned down a 40mil bid last summer from Chelsea, so I'm guessing its going to take atleast that to make this happen.....Laporte has a 39mil release clause so I would think it would be easier to get that deal done but we dont know if Stones is Pep's main target out of the two....

 

[OB1]

I think that if we do sign him, it will be because he can possibly cover more than one position, not because we have him down as a nailed on starter at cb.

Nah, if we are as keen as we appear to be, he's being bought primarily to be a centre back. I suspect Pep thinks he can turn him and Laporte into a pair of Piques.

From what I have seen and read, Stones can play football. I don't know about him as a person but hopefully homework has been done by the club on that front and he bright enough to learn from Pep. A lot of what a defender needs to do, positioning etc can be learned and often comes through experience; touch and technique are more of a DNA thing, imo. I never played football at anything but the very lowest level but I did play in goals a lot for many years and my positioning and reading of the game never stopped improving. Stones will obviously need to learn quickly if he joins us to get to an acceptable level defensively but he should still keep on improving for years.

I'm not a big admirer of Boateng but he has definitely improved since he was at City and Pep unquestionably has been behind that.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Toffee I work with is firmly of the opinion that they should get rid, says he's too showy and not a solid enough defender, position and decision making is terrible.

Personally it think that is a bit of an overreaction, he's being hyped for a reason and in a team such as ours, where we should be knocking it around, covering for others and maybe have a little more time on the ball at the back, he could excel. His ability to place 2/3 positions will be useful too, can see him as CB, RB or even DM.

But, I am sure Everton will not entertain offers until after the Euros - no manager confirmed, no confirmed discussion on their own targets & expectations for next season, or how big their pot is, plus his value is only ever going to go up. Unless he gets injured.

I thought he was dog turd when he played right back. I'm not 100% convinced by this signing but its Pep so let's see how it goes.

 

[blueparrot]

The point is, it's all 'maybe'.

Guardiola etc maybe think he will 'become' a great defender. And 'maybe' the reason he isn't one, is someone else's fault.

Of course it could be that he is what he is, & will continue to be found out, for the rest of his career, like David Luiz. Neither Pep nor Mourinho know the answer to that. Whoever signs him is gambling on him becoming a different player, not signing him because of the player he actually is now.

Of course it may or may not work out, there is a risk to any young player, but it's the idea that successful people at the top of the game, can't see he's shit and a waste of money when a few internet posters can, that I find difficult to get. Personally if Pep thinks he can play, personally I'm prepared to trust him until I see differently in a year or two.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Nah, if we are as keen as we appear to be, he's being bought primarily to be a centre back. I suspect Pep thinks he can turn him and Laporte into a pair of Piques.

From what I have seen and read, Stones can play football. I don't know about him as a person but hopefully homework has been done by the club on that front and he bright enough to learn from Pep. A lot of what a defender needs to do, positioning etc can be learned and often comes through experience; touch and technique are more of a DNA thing, imo. I never played football at anything but the very lowest level but I did play in goals a lot for many years and my positioning and reading of the game never stopped improving. Stones will obviously need to learn quickly if he joins us to get to an acceptable level defensively but he should still keep on improving for years.

I'm not a big admirer of Boateng but he has definitely improved since he was at City and Pep unquestionably has been behind that.

I will be very surprised if we take on the Premier League with Stones as one of our main cbs unless we play 3 there.

 

[FFPbegone]

Currently reading pep confidential and it is incredible the defensive work pep does and the drills and exercises. Absolutely amazing.
After reading that chapter, I could not care less who we have in defence.
I am certain pep could have a chimpanzee in defence and turn him into a world beater.

 

[its a Barm]

Are we really after stones, it would suprise me if so, as i am not sure on his quality, but what do i know, i think we can put our trust in Pep.

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Are we really after stones, it would suprise me if so, as i am not sure on his quality, but what do i know, i think we can put our trust in Pep.

Everything points to him being one of our main targets mate......personally think this transfer will drag on like Sterling's deal last summer...Everton not going to let him go on the cheap (as we saw by the rejected 3 bids from Chelsea last summer).....The speed of this deal could come down to how much Txiki willing to pay....

 

[g180aj]

Currently reading pep confidential and it is incredible the defensive work pep does and the drills and exercises. Absolutely amazing.
After reading that chapter, I could not care less who we have in defence.
I am certain pep could have a chimpanzee in defence and turn him into a world beater.

Although Javi Martinez can't quite grasp it lol

 

[RandomJ]

Everything points to him being one of our main targets mate......personally think this transfer will drag on like Sterling's deal last summer...Everton not going to let him go on the cheap (as we saw by the rejected 3 bids from Chelsea last summer).....The speed of this deal could come down to how much Txiki willing to pay....

The last thing he needs is the transfer to be like Sterlings. Months of the media and nob head pundits slagging his character, calling him a money grabbing twat, destroying his confidence. If we are going for him it needs to be done fast. Money on the table, negotiate contract, thanks very much.

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

The last thing he needs is the transfer to be like Sterlings. Months of the media and nob head pundits slagging his character, calling him a money grabbing twat, destroying his confidence. If we are going for him it needs to be done fast. Money on the table, negotiate contract, thanks very much.

I agree mate but sadly from history, Txiki doesnt seem to work that way.......For this reason I was hoping we'd get Laporte sorted first...rumoured to have already agreed personal terms and a very fair release clause(39mil) for one of the top CB's in euro....with the Laporte deal we should be able to close quickly but Stones might take alittle longer.....

 

[Kompany is King]

Before Euros. Isn't that what Pep wanted with his transfers?

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Before Euros. Isn't that what Pep wanted with his transfers?

Thats what was reported.....Fingers crossed Txiki is listening!; )