5 | John Stones - 2022/23

[jimmygrimblesboots]

First full game of the season and missed the pre-season , not at his best , but he will be fine after a couple of more games , on their best form Stones/Dias still the best combination

 

[Mike N]

Hopes he improves from his display today. His foul for their third goal was awful.

 

[Withnail]

Poor from Stones today, looked very uncomfortable and his challenge on Schar was very clumsy.

 

[LongsightM13]

An absolute shocker with and without the ball
Often seems to lose his head in hostile atmospheres

 

[lmhblue1]

Don't know what the thought process was behind starting him yesterday considering it's a fixture we've had problems with in the past. Should've played at home against Bournemouth or used the friendly midweek to get minutes in his legs first.

(Obviously he would've ended up having to play most of the match anyway assuming Ake still gets injured in this alternate timeline, but I just didn't understand the initial selection)

 

[FantasyIreland]

hmm ake got injured and laporte is out. he was the only cb left?

Eh? Ake was replaced by Dias...not sure what you are talking about?

 

[FantasyIreland]

Poor from Stones today, looked very uncomfortable and his challenge on Schar was very clumsy.

It was a bit naïve the way he gave the opposition player the opportunity to manoeuvre/position himself to make Stones look like he had committed the foul.

But overall,he did look what he was......very rusty.

 

[Cotontoquinn]

An absolute shocker with and without the ball
Often seems to lose his head in hostile atmospheres

I find it totally amazing that in 2018 John Stones and Harry Maguire were an excellent defensive pairing for England.
In 2022 both are ……shite.
What’s gone so badly wrong for this pair…..apart from one being at the Rags??

 

[footballmanager]

Eh? Ake was replaced by Dias...not sure what you are talking about?

i couldnt watch the game live. you're right, sorry. Now im also confused why did he start stones and not dias. A bit random

 

[Keeper!]

Looked way off the pace, strange game to bring him back in to the team.

 

[Withnail]

It was a bit naïve the way he gave the opposition player the opportunity to manoeuvre/position himself to make Stones look like he had committed the foul.

But overall,he did look what he was......very rusty.

Agreed, Stones is an excellent cb but his lack of pre-season/game time clearly showed yesterday.

 

[Keeper!]

I find it totally amazing that in 2018 John Stones and Harry Maguire were an excellent defensive pairing for England.
In 2022 both are ……shite.
What’s gone so badly wrong for this pair…..apart from one being at the Rags??

Stones had a great last season, yesterday was his first game, why the hell are you comparing him to the lump that is Maguire?

 

[dave_blue12]

Looked rusty but improved as the game went on.

 

[Akira]

Didn't get a pre-season and barely got starts for awhile, I wouldn't be too harsh on the lad.

 

[oakiecokie]

Didn't get a pre-season and barely got starts for awhile, I wouldn't be too harsh on the lad.

And whose fault was that ??

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Did alright considering this was his first game of the season. Good to get minutes into his legs.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

I thought he played well. He looked a bit rusty, but that’s to be expected.

He also had no cover at all with Walker struggling all game

 

[richards30]

seemed strange for this to be the game that Pep decides to start him? Especially not alongside Ruben as both Stones & Ake arent what you would call leaders? They both flourish alongside Ruben as he leads from the front, organises etc.

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

Very poor yesterday, still the start of the season but he has to hit the ground running or risk being the next "recipient" of Pep's wrath. The man has very little patience for slackers.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

An absolute shocker with and without the ball
Often seems to lose his head in hostile atmospheres

A few years ago I’d agree with that. I wouldn’t call it a shocker, I think that’s a an exaggeration/ overreaction.

He looked rusty after not playing at all.