City weren't blinded by sentiment to a legend like KDB. I doubt the club would treat Stones differently. If he stays fit for most of the season and helps us compete, we may offer him a new contract or may not. If he misses many games, especially when other CBs are injured, then the situation is rather clear.
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Deep Lying Midfield Stones
- Thread starter SamTheGuru
- Start date
City weren't blinded by sentiment to a legend like KDB. I doubt the club would treat Stones differently. If he stays fit for most of the season and helps us compete, we may offer him a new contract or may not. If he misses many games, especially when other CBs are injured, then the situation is rather clear.
Even if I didn't, there are quite a few better, injury free defenders than him.You still got Van Dijk above him in your rankings then?
Eccles Blue
Well-Known Member
There's the problem right there in your first sentence.
Along with a few others you are pushing your luck...... there is a limit to what I will put up with relating to a certain player!!!! ;-) ;-)He's a fine player, imagine how good he could have been without the many, many injuries
couldn't resist it lads, you know I'm a defender for that certain player. :-)
Salford_Blue
Well-Known Member
We are a far better team with Stones in it.
He relaxes me.
But as others have said, no time for sentiment. If he can't stay fit, he needs to be moved on
He relaxes me.
But as others have said, no time for sentiment. If he can't stay fit, he needs to be moved on
Didsbury Dave
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I love seeing him in this role, stepping up from centre back when we have the ball. It brings us a new dimension. Last night it created a new role for Nunez which he did really well in too.
blueparrot
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So that's a yes then.Nobody is talking about injuries. If fit,and by rotating him we can manage that, there are hardly any better centre backs than John Stones certainly not van dijk. Imperious was one description I saw for him last night.Even if I didn't, there are quite a few better, injury free defenders than him.
So that's a yes then.Nobody is talking about injuries. If fit,and by rotating him we can manage that, there are hardly any better centre backs than John Stones certainly not van dijk. Imperious was one description I saw for him last night.
Fitness is a key quality, though. If you have to choose between a player who scores 5 goals per game but can play only 10 games and Haaland, you go with Haaland any day of the week. Availability is not something additional. It's part of the overall quality. Let's hope that if Stones play only once a week he will stay fit. Pep said he wants players who can play 3 times per week (Dias and Gvardiol can do it).
Also, Stones was fit for many important games and Pep left him on the bench. The idea that he's first choice whenever he is fit is a myth.
Well we would be stupid to not talk about injuries over a player who hasn't been available for half the games he's been here? There are many better than him, many and against lesser opposition with less pressure he will do alright as he possesses quality still. Against better and physically opposition he isn't good enough. Keeping him as a bit part player on reduced terms wouldn't be a problem, but still in 2025 people are saying "if he can stay fit"So that's a yes then.Nobody is talking about injuries. If fit,and by rotating him we can manage that, there are hardly any better centre backs than John Stones certainly not van dijk. Imperious was one description I saw for him last night.
blueparrot
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Yes it is and we will judge that through the season, but if next season we have Dias, Khusonov, Gvardiol, maybe Reis then having Stones for one more year as the 4th/5th centre back, limited games, would be ideal mentoring for Reis.Fitness is a key quality, though. If you have to choose between a player who scores 5 goals per game but can play only 10 games and Haaland, you go with Haaland any day of the week. Availability is not something additional. It's part of the overall quality. Let's hope that if Stones play only once a week he will stay fit. Pep said he wants players who can play 3 times per week (Dias and Gvardiol can do it).
Also, Stones was fit for many important games and Pep left him on the bench. The idea that he's first choice whenever he is fit is a myth.
Too early to decide now but if possible would be ideal.
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)
I’d give him a 3 year contract but a basic of 100k when injured and 250k when he plays a game! Would he take that?
Yes it is and we will judge that through the season, but if next season we have Dias, Khusonov, Gvardiol, maybe Reis then having Stones for one more year as the 4th/5th centre back, limited games, would be ideal mentoring for Reis.
Too early to decide now but if possible would be ideal.
Yes, I agree. If the club, especially Pep, want him to stay, that's the right decision for me.
I've posted stats with him in the team: 2,36 pts per game with Stones in the first XI since 2020. That's the best ratio amongst the CBs (marginally better than Dias's 2,35 ppg). So, it's only about his fitness. If he can start 25 games and performs well, that's good enough for me.
Mr Ed (The Stables)
Well-Known Member
Stones is a fantastic footballer, and a quality CB who can step into midfield as others have said.
However he needs to bag off playing for England to extend his career at club level, unfortunately the lad is made of glass and ultimately the club will make an informed decision on him.
I personally would like to see him extend his contract with us, but for him to play less than 20 games per season because of injury in all competitions is "neither use nor ornament"
However he needs to bag off playing for England to extend his career at club level, unfortunately the lad is made of glass and ultimately the club will make an informed decision on him.
I personally would like to see him extend his contract with us, but for him to play less than 20 games per season because of injury in all competitions is "neither use nor ornament"
I love seeing him in this role, stepping up from centre back when we have the ball. It brings us a new dimension. Last night it created a new role for Nunez which he did really well in too.
Nunes was outstanding against Everton as well, had similar stats like last night. Villarreal away is a more difficult game than Everton at home, so Stones's presence next to Nico might have helped Nunes indeed.
Eccles Blue
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John Stones is an asset to Manchester City. :-)
Zenmanc
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We played a right odd formation to last night- Stones seemed to be squarely in midfield unless eyes deceive: was it
---------Donna--------
Nunes----Dias---Gvad
-----Stones--NicoG---
-----Rico----Bernie---
Savi------Erl----Doku
WTFDIK
---------Donna--------
Nunes----Dias---Gvad
-----Stones--NicoG---
-----Rico----Bernie---
Savi------Erl----Doku
WTFDIK
Didsbury Dave
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Yes, he did well against Everton too nut Nunez actually played a slighyl different role last night because of Stones' inclusion. He defended as a standard right back like against Everton but when we had the ball Stones dropped into midfield and Nunes tucked in alongside Dias and Guardiol to make a back three. It seemed to suit us because his pace helped deal with their occasional breaks.Nunes was outstanding against Everton as well, had similar stats like last night. Villarreal away is a more difficult game than Everton at home, so Stones's presence next to Nico might have helped Nunes indeed.
Are you thinking of taking his place? ;-)couldn't resist it lads, you know I'm a defender for that certain player. :-)
Gobshiight
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His legs haven't gone yet as they did for Kevin and Gundo, so I'd keep him on for a year or two
Think he's been our greatest ever defender and would be England's greatest too if it wasn't for injuries. He doesn't get the recognition he deserves imo
Think he's been our greatest ever defender and would be England's greatest too if it wasn't for injuries. He doesn't get the recognition he deserves imo