5 | John Stones - 2024/25

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WallyA said:
Seems like it, but for how long... I kid.

That squad just seems like everyone bar Grealish, so not much of a indicator of who stays or goes, we know it's already above the non HG limit, so some have to leave like Gundogan.

On Stones, while clearly the most injury prone player we have, he is still HG and kind of like a "free player" in this sense, he doesn't impact squad planning, like Ake.

I've actually gone down from my 100% he is leaving, I think there is a chance he stays?

Yes he is paid well, any future contract has to be on reduced terms due to his injury, but if he becomes a rotation option purely... what an option to have.

He is also just turned 31, technically, could easily play 3 or 4 more years at the top level, just have to reduce his game time expectation.

It felt like when fit, because of how good he is, Pep just played him through straight every game, but we can't do that anymore if he stays.
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Christ, how do you reduce the playing time of a player who never plays
 
thegoatsthegoat said:
Christ, how do you reduce the playing time of a player who never plays
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By ensuring when they are fit... you don't play them straight through because they are so good.

That's going to be the challenge for Pep, because for how injury prone Stones is, Pep plays him immediately every game non stop when he is fit.

He has to resist that urge, he is HG, let Gvardiol and Dias take over. Don't rely on Stones, let him fill squad time instead.
 
WallyA said:
By ensuring when they are fit... you don't play them straight through because they are so good.

That's going to be the challenge for Pep, because for how injury prone Stones is, Pep plays him immediately every game non stop when he is fit.

He has to resist that urge, he is HG, let Gvardiol and Dias take over. Don't rely on Stones, let him fill squad time instead.
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Rely on Stones? Not sure when we have to be honest. Most unreliable player we have, I would be surprised if he has played even half the matches since arriving nearly 10 years ago. Dias is our go to centre half, not Stones. Akanji or Stones would be my choice of defenders leaving and Stones probably wins for the simple reason of not being reliable.
 
WallyA said:
By ensuring when they are fit... you don't play them straight through because they are so good.

That's going to be the challenge for Pep, because for how injury prone Stones is, Pep plays him immediately every game non stop when he is fit.
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Thats a difficult thing to do.
I think the last time he got injured was after a few minutes of play in the Madrid match.
It seemed innocuous at the time.
 
WallyA said:
It felt like when fit, because of how good he is, Pep just played him through straight every game
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It might have felt so, but it wasn't so. Stones was mostly on the bench in the final months last season, even though we had to win every single league game to win 4 in a row. The same with Ake.
 
I think a lot of stones Injuries are imaginary. He just doesn't trust his body anymore. Vinny went like this towards the end (one game in particular he just walked to the sideline after a nothing challenge). It's harder to recover from an injury that you think is there rather than one that actually is.
 
goater1985 said:
I think I want Stones fit and playing as much as any player we have.

Still think he's our best defender. Looking at it from a buyers perspective, if they view as finished why would anyone sign him. So hopefully he stays and magically finds fitness
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If he's fit, he's arguably our best footballing defender.

Big "if" though. I just don't think we can rely on him playing 30-40 games in all competitions. 50 - 60? Forget it.
 
jimharri said:
If he's fit, he's arguably our best footballing defender.

Big "if" though. I just don't think we can rely on him playing 30-40 games in all competitions. 50 - 60? Forget it.
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There is no “if” unfortunately.

He will continue to have regular/long term injuries.
 
B\connellblue said:
I think a lot of stones Injuries are imaginary. He just doesn't trust his body anymore. Vinny went like this towards the end (one game in particular he just walked to the sideline after a nothing challenge). It's harder to recover from an injury that you think is there rather than one that actually is.
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I'm sure the incredibly well educated medical staff would know if a player is injured or not.
 
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