John Stones - 2017/18 performances

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Gundogan's Moustache said:
My first choice defender for next season. Being in and out of the team doesn’t help him
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RandomJ said:
Stones and Laporte are the future of our defence. Could go down as one of the great CB pairings if they reach their potential.
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I'd be amazed if it wasn't Laporte+Stones as first choice. Otamendi+Laporte might start the season because Otamendi will get to preseason earlier, but Laporte and Stones will probably be playing together from September onwards and then injuries, form and suspensions will take over, so you can never really definitively say they'll start together all season but I think Pep will want those 2 kids to be his CB's.

We're well sorted there.
 
The Barnsley Beckenbauer was excellent tonight. Stones and Laporte will be our cb pairing next season barring injuries
 
He's been our best player at this tournament yet has barely featured when the praise is being dished out.

His form is fine,it has been for a long time,the injury doesn't need bringing up every time a comment is made - its history.
 
Outstanding again. Regarding that pass that went out for a throw in...it looked like Rose was out of position after just coming on bc John looked pissed and threw his hands up in the air.

Can’t really say I have much substance to this but I think he’s at his very best and is most comfortable at the center of a back three. I suspect we’ll see that more than we did last szn.
 
My word, what a World Cup Stones is having!

Apart from the daft moment when he got tangled up with Falcao, he was immense last night. So calm on the ball, he’s brilliant and at 24 he looks the part already.

Can’t wait to see his partnership with Laporte flourish. The next seven years with those two will be brilliant!
 
didn't watch the match until last minute of extra time and the pens,but the praise was being heaped on maguire ?saying that the lads on our work WhatsApp were praising stones (and pep) and some were united fans ?.
 
So much of this team is reliant on Stones & Maguire, who are both have excellent tournaments
 
Would like to see Walker and Maguire bring the ball forward more. The team balance is not quite right. Too much of a gap between Henderson and the front 4 who all want to play in the no10 role. Sterling is doing the hold up work and trying to link with others, Alli is playing at a snails pace and Lingard isn't showing for the ball enough.

Too much of our possession is defence to Henderson amd back due to a lack of options dropping for the ball. Alli hasn't justified his selection. Get Delph in the side instead to provide more of a box to box player so Sterling Lingard and Kane can run into space and our full backs can push up. Rose for Young.

Stones is trying to get that to happen and clearly is frustrated. We looked best when Walker and Maguire brought the ball forward to suck in a Colombian player and then find a teammate in space. Otherwise it is too static and you can see Stones getting frustrated. Was a rock last night though. Strong against Falcao too which was good to see. When he is used to Silva, Ferny and De Bruyne all wanting the ball it must be frustrating to play in this England team at times.
 
adrianr said:
Going by last night he's basically our midfield too. Henderson might be doing a lot of running around but he's never showing for the ball and all forward movement is completely reliant on Stones and Maguire!
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Southgate actually seemed to move Dier into the back line and Stones into midfield for the second half of extra time and it worked, don't be surprised if you see more of it.
 
adrianr said:
Going by last night he's basically our midfield too. Henderson might be doing a lot of running around but he's never showing for the ball and all forward movement is completely reliant on Stones and Maguire!
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You're right, of course, but England's basic problem — and it is a huge weakness — is that they haven't got a midfield. Up front, we're actually as good as most of what's left, and at the back we're fairly sound. I think that Henderson entirely lacks vision, whether for Liverpool or England. Dele Alli should be making his presence felt more.
Interestingly, one of Belgium's great strengths, and why they will come good, I believe, is that that they have a central defender, Vinny, who can cut a beautiful through ball from behind the midfield (he did it several times against Japan) straight to their front men, and they've also got a class midfield to take over if he, Alderweireld and Vertonghen choose to play the short ball. I still have them as (strong) dark horses to win. Brazil, of course, is the great test. Now we will really see what those two teams are made of, and if one of them has been hyped.
 
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FantasyIreland said:
He's been our best player at this tournament yet has barely featured when the praise is being dished out.

His form is fine,it has been for a long time,the injury doesn't need bringing up every time a comment is made - its history.
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Yup, thus far he has been England's best player in terms of all round contribution. He is quite literally central to how England are trying to play.

What I also liked last night was that we saw some real edge from him.
 
OB1 said:
Yup, thus far he has been England's best player in terms of all round contribution. He is quite literally central to how England are trying to play.

What I also liked last night was that we saw some real edge from him.
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Edge,calmness,confidence and leadership.

He should be Captain.
 
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