City fans writing John Stones off too early?

[mosssideblue]

I like Stones and think he has a lot to offer still (if he can get himself mentally straight).

However Peps most recent comments on him leave his future very open. If we could get 40-50m for him that will mean nearly 100m brought into the club from sales of him and Sane - plus potentially another 10-15m of from selling Zinchenko. This would be a good wedge of money to reinvest into the team especially if we are going for someone like Koulibaly for anywhere int he region of 60-90m

However id prefer to keep stones and get Koulibaly as along with Laporte and Garcia that would make a good centre half collective

Sell Otto as well - not sure we will get much if anything for him however.

£40m _ £50m for Stones. Behave

 

[Shaelumstash]

The LC final you say.
He single handily gave them a chance in that game from one of the most embarrassing dying swan routines I have ever had the displeasure of seeing on a football field.

I have nothing against the lad and will remember fondly but sadly, his time is done with us I’m afraid.
It’s coming on three years since he did his hamstring at Leicester away and he has not put in a consistent run of good form at any point since.

For the 3rd time, I was specifically replying to a poster that said Stones had lost his quality on the ball.

I'm not excusing his fuck ups. I was talking specifically about his ability on the ball.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

Are you suggesting Maguire and / or Van Dijk are better on the ball than John Stones? I think that's absolutely insane.

It's easy to play long diagonals out from the back. Anyone who's half decent with that much time on the ball can play a long diagonal.

And Maguire's runs out of defence, I heard those described by a United fan recently as "Like watching a Hollyoaks star get carried away at Socceraid".

The true test of quality on the ball from a centre back is how good they are at keeping the ball under pressure and how well they play forward through the lines in to midfield. Stones is the best centre half in the league at both of these things.

When is he ever under pressure with ball at his feet? I reckon no more than a handful of games a season. Most opposition we face don't get within 20 yards of Stones when he has the ball, as they are typically camped on the edge of their own 18 yard box in a 9-1-0 formation. Stones capabilities with the ball at his feet are being extremely over-exaggerated here.

 

[Shaelumstash]

When is he ever under pressure with ball at his feet? I reckon no more than a handful of games a season. Most opposition we face don't get within 20 yards of Stones when he has the ball, as they are typically camped on the edge of their own 18 yard box in a 9-1-0 formation. Stones capabilities with the ball at his feet are being extremely over-exaggerated here.

Weird, because one of the biggest criticisms of Stones is that he overplays when under pressure and takes too many risks.

But you're saying he's never put under any pressure. The guy can't win.

 

[burnley blue mcfc]

£40m _ £50m for Stones. Behave

That would be the deal of the century!! we’ll be lucky to get half that in reality

 

[toffee balls]

For the 3rd time, I was specifically replying to a poster that said Stones had lost his quality on the ball.

I'm not excusing his fuck ups. I was talking specifically about his ability on the ball.

Not a dig at you pal.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

Weird, because one of the biggest criticisms of Stones is that he overplays when under pressure and takes too many risks.

But you're saying he's never put under any pressure. The guy can't win.

He has carried the overplay tag from his Everton days. At Everton he would try knocking it around when under pressure, with some very average players around him, he often put them in danger of conceding with his overplaying. At City I don't feel he consistently puts us in danger of conceding but I do think his "overplay" slows us down, because he is the absolute master of taking five touches when one would do.

His quality on the ball is no better than Otamendi in 17/18, or Laporte in 18/19 but they were also able to defend. For him to get away with his largely terrible defending, he would have to be KDB like on the ball to make it worthwhile and he is nothing of the sort.

 

[Shaelumstash]

Fucks sake, he’s playing alongside Otamendi tonight. That will do wonders for his confidence.

 

[cleavers]

Fucks sake, he’s playing alongside Otamendi tonight. That will do wonders for his confidence.

I hate to say I told you so :) and with Zinchenko as one of the full backs.

 

[Shaelumstash]

I hate to say I told you so :) and with Zinchenko as one of the full backs.

Thrown to the lions.