It could be that we finally have a manager in this country who will change our attitude to how football should be played. The Stones video only shows that other players in the Everton team were not in a position to receive the ball from Stones once the defensive work was done. It then looks like Stones over playing and taking unnecessary risk.
The football from the back against West Ham was some of the most exhilarating I have seen in my forty years of watching City. Watching three defenders completely remove the pressing attackers from the game and create extra space for the attack was a joy to watch. Conversely, I hear coaches every week telling defenders to 'get rid' because they've put a big lad at the back and all the footballers further forward.
Merson is just a product of the past where you take no risk at the back and rely totally on the attackers to create space. We have moved on but let's face it, many in the stands have gasped, game after game, as soon as a defender has passed the ball out to a deep midfielder or across the back. We all can learn and fortunately, it's us that will lay the foundations.
The football from the back against West Ham was some of the most exhilarating I have seen in my forty years of watching City. Watching three defenders completely remove the pressing attackers from the game and create extra space for the attack was a joy to watch. Conversely, I hear coaches every week telling defenders to 'get rid' because they've put a big lad at the back and all the footballers further forward.
Merson is just a product of the past where you take no risk at the back and rely totally on the attackers to create space. We have moved on but let's face it, many in the stands have gasped, game after game, as soon as a defender has passed the ball out to a deep midfielder or across the back. We all can learn and fortunately, it's us that will lay the foundations.