5 | John Stones - 2025/26

FromPollockToSilva said:
Like Kompany's last four seasons (14, 11, 17, 17)

If he stays I hope he goes out with a bang like VK did in 2018/19
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10th season with us this year.

He’s never played more than 30 league games in any of the previous 9 and only managed over 20 in 4 seasons.

However, despite all his injuries he has played in 20+ games overall in all 9 seasons.

If we get 20+ games again this year I’ll be happy.

Same with Ake who has not made 20 games overall in 2 of his 5 seasons with us.

Now with the extra defenders and players adapting we can cope with injuries better and hopefully avoid them.

It was noticeable last year because pre January we had all the injuries and had not discovered Nunes for RB or O’Reilly for LB.

We now have a defence if there are no further additions of:

Nunes
Lewis
Gvardiol
Ait Nouri
Akanji
Khusanov
Reis
Stones
Ake
O’Reilly
Dias

Compared to pre Jan with all the injuries that then resulted in Akanji and Dias getting injured of:

Lewis
Gvardiol
Dias
Akanji
Walker - to a degree

So there will be much more rotation and ability to even bring subs on when we are winning.
 
Now Pep it’s really time to shut the John Stones dislikers up and give JB a call up. Maybe not a full 90 if you’re saving him for the new season but perhaps 30 or so minutes to finally get them off his back. Please, pretty please. Thanks so much!
;-) :-)
 
Eccles Blue said:
Now Pep it’s really time to shut the John Stones dislikers up and give JB a call up. Maybe not a full 90 if you’re saving him for the new season but perhaps 30 or so minutes to finally get them off his back. Please, pretty please. Thanks so much!
;-) :-)
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Would be great if Stones could help us win the CWC.

If he is ready to contribute Pep will use him.
 
Are we sure Pep actually wants Stones to stay? Last season he said he needs players that can play twice per week (ie not John Stones). Then in the last week or two he said that some players can stay if they want to but warned them that “they will be sad” if they do. Then when you see Stones not kicking a ball this tournament, it does make me wonder if it’s in response to Stones saying he wants to stay. I feel like Pep is subtly saying “look mate, you can stay if you want, but have a taste of what it’ll be like if you do”.
 
I thought he was fit a week or two ago. Odd he didn't get a single minute. By far our best defender when fit.
 
Gabriel said:
Might be wrong but I think the only outfield player not to have featured at all in the CWC.
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Pep is trying to get him to find a new club imo. Stones said he wants to stay and Pep’s response seems to be “ok, fine. But this is what it will be like for you”. Since he’s not non-homegrown, there is no desperate requirement to sell him, but Pep knows John won’t be happy if he stays and is trying to get him to take the hint. Honestly think Pep doesn’t want to lead him on by making him feel more involved.
 
Tricky_Trev said:
Are we sure Pep actually wants Stones to stay? Last season he said he needs players that can play twice per week (ie not John Stones). Then in the last week or two he said that some players can stay if they want to but warned them that “they will be sad” if they do. Then when you see Stones not kicking a ball this tournament, it does make me wonder if it’s in response to Stones saying he wants to stay. I feel like Pep is subtly saying “look mate, you can stay if you want, but have a taste of what it’ll be like if you do”.
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Fair point, hadn't thought of it like that. I think Pep just doesn't want to take chances with him and wants him to be in his best possible condition, as he's the most 'Pep' defender we have. But I could be wrong and you might be spot on.
 
Tricky_Trev said:
Pep is trying to get him to find a new club imo. Stones said he wants to stay and Pep’s response seems to be “ok, fine. But this is what it will be like for you”. Since he’s not non-homegrown, there is no desperate requirement to sell him, but Pep knows John won’t be happy if he stays and is trying to get him to take the hint. Honestly think Pep doesn’t want to lead him on by making him feel more involved.
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I think you could be right, but I also think that we cannot afford to 'carry' players in the squad.
 
Gabriel said:
I think you could be right, but I also think that we cannot afford to 'carry' players in the squad.
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Especially players with little prospect of making the necessary recovery.

Ruthlessness in replacement or change of tactical approach is needed imho.

In no way disrespecting the roles these superb players have played for the club.
 
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