Deep Lying Midfield Stones

When I saw the headline, I imagined another Stonehenge had been discovered using Lidor technology, deep beneath the centre circle.
 
He's a fine player, imagine how good he could have been without the many, many injuries
 
I liked him there and thought he did a great job. Given that Pep had previously said he can only do it alongside another player, I thought he was quite commanding regardless of whether Bernie was alongside or roaming upfield.

I think the rumoured Akanji injury puts pay to him getting much more time there this season, unless Kusa really steps into the defensive role, but I did think it was the wrong decision to push Kovacic on and move stones back as Kovacic's "head down and run" philosophy has gotten us into heaps of trouble this season already. Maybe Nico just wasn't ready but I think he's more in a similar vein to Rodri and Stones than Kovacic.

I also absolutely loved his celebrations for both our goals. Even yards away you can see how up for it he was, class player and could play for us for a few more seasons easily if he can stay fit.
 
uwerosler28 said:
We didn't Stones was at CB today with Nico in DM.
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Topic title is misleading. What I mean is the back two are splitting and the deep lying midfielder is receiving, whilst the rest of the team rotates around the pitch; drawing every player in.
 
He was very good last night in midfield with NG..

Now would you offer him a new contract? Will the club offer him a new contract? If we did think it wouldn’t be more that 1 year if that’s the case would stones just move on, on a free?
 
waspish said:
He was very good last night in midfield with NG..

Now would you offer him a new contract? Will the club offer him a new contract? If we did think it wouldn’t be more that 1 year if that’s the case would stones just move on, on a free?
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One or two year extension on reduced weekly wage and bonuses for time on the pitch

There's no doubting his ability on the pitch but its getting him on it often enough thats the problem
 
Stones is so effective in this role..his ability to step out of the back line is better than anyone we have had (sidenote - could Gvardiol do it more and more in the future?)

Like others have said its just his fitness levels/injuries that are a concern...

When he is on the pitch and can do this we miss Rodri a little less...both of them on the pitch and that is our strongest core
 
Sleeping_Easy said:
One or two year extension on reduced weekly wage and bonuses for time on the pitch

There's no doubting his ability on the pitch but its getting him on it often enough thats the problem
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I think fans underestimate the £ value of experience and leadership. He's apparently on 200k/week, I don't think he'll drop much from that.

AHe's only 31, so still got potentially 4/5 more years especially if he's not starting every week and retires from England in a year or 2. More importantly though, he's played 300 games, won 16 trophies, has 10 years of experience under Pep - he'll be our 2nd most experienced player when Bernardo leaves.

You can't just let that walk out of the door for free. Doubly so when the other defenders are so young and inexperienced (Khusanov, Nico, Rico, Gvardiol, Bah, Reis, RAN).

I suspect he'll take a paycut because he's not at his "peak" anymore, but it'd be amazed if the club got mired in a dispute over £3-4 million a year on revenues of £750m.

Not to mention you'd still struggle to find a player better than him for <£60m (although you'd probably get a fit player for that tbf)
 
domalino said:
I think fans underestimate the £ value of experience and leadership. He's apparently on 200k/week, I don't think he'll drop much from that.

AHe's only 31, so still got potentially 4/5 more years especially if he's not starting every week and retires from England in a year or 2. More importantly though, he's played 300 games, won 16 trophies, has 10 years of experience under Pep - he'll be our 2nd most experienced player when Bernardo leaves.

You can't just let that walk out of the door for free. Doubly so when the other defenders are so young and inexperienced (Khusanov, Nico, Rico, Gvardiol, Bah, Reis, RAN).

I suspect he'll take a paycut because he's not at his "peak" anymore, but it'd be amazed if the club got mired in a dispute over £3-4 million a year on revenues of £750m.

Not to mention you'd still struggle to find a player better than him for <£60m (although you'd probably get a fit player for that tbf)
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Precisely
 
I'd be happy with any decision the club would take. They have a lot more info.

Apparently, Reis is expected to come next season back. And Gaughan wrote recently that we consider signing a RB, which would mean more minutes for Khusa at CB.

Basically, one or both from Stones and Ake should make way. Ake's contract is up a bit later, in 2027. Experience is important, but we let one of the best players in PL history go, who was more available than Stones. Ruben turns 29 next summer and Gvardiol will be 24, having played a lot of football.

Can see Stones staying if Ake leaves (and Stones proves his fitness). Ake's minutes will go to Reis then. Much depends on how this Bah lad develops too. If he is great in Ligue 1, then we might want him here.
 
alexmcity said:
I'd be happy with any decision the club would take. They have a lot more info.

Apparently, Reis is expected to come next season back. And Gaughan wrote recently that we consider signing a RB, which would mean more minutes for Khusa at CB.

Basically, one or both from Stones and Ake should make way. Ake's contract is up a bit later, in 2027. Experience is important, but we let one of the best players in PL history go, who was more available than Stones. Ruben turns 29 next summer and Gvardiol will be 24, having played a lot of football.

Can see Stones staying if Ake leaves (and Stones proves his fitness). Ake's minutes will go to Reis then. Much depends on how this Bah lad develops too. If he is great in Ligue 1, then we might want him here.
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So we keep the more injury prone player and let the more reliable player go?
 
alexmcity said:
"if Stones proves his fitness"
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He has been available for less than half the games since joining, a player like that cannot prove fitness at his age.

I love the man but I think if his contract was up summer just gone he would have left, just like KDB. There was too much change going on for him to probably go last summer. He can't be relied on and I feel when he plays he isn't what he was. Now against lesser opposition where we have more control he can more than do a job. As we seen early season, against sides where we have less of the ball and are attacked more, he isn't solid enough.
 
AK45 said:
He has been available for less than half the games since joining, a player like that cannot prove fitness at his age.

I love the man but I think if his contract was up summer just gone he would have left, just like KDB. There was too much change going on for him to probably go last summer. He can't be relied on and I feel when he plays he isn't what he was. Now against lesser opposition where we have more control he can more than do a job. As we seen early season, against sides where we have less of the ball and are attacked more, he isn't solid enough.
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You still got Van Dijk above him in your rankings then?
 
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