Looking at Stones’ WhoScored rating over the last three seasons he’s had an average of...
• 7.87/10 in 17/18
• 6.87/10 in 18/19
• Now just 6.56/10 so far this season.
You're only as good as your last performances. Nobody really cares how solid he was a few years ago. Every professional player has good and bad seasons, but what separates the good from the great is continuity and he is missing that.
I think he is making far too many basic defensive mistakes to be considered a starter at City. Tyrone Mings, Nathan Ake both look much more solid than Stones. He seem more afraid of messing up his hair in a duel than actually defending in a decisive matter. He has to toughen up and fast. I think Peps trust in him is decreasing rapidly. Pep even prefers Rodri and Fernandinho in centreback position ahead of an Actual centreback. Says a lot.
I really like the guy but I don't know what the fck happened.
You said he hadn't developed over the last 4 years, so even with these mythical ratings from some random website, he must have developed a tiny we bit into being the number one defender in Europe, even if it was for just half a season as he wasn't called that at Everton, this is why I commented.
His form is shot to pieces but that is form not actual talent, Stones can not play rotation, he needs to be playing pretty much weekly or he loses his form, it has happened every time he has been injured, he comes back in and makes mistakes, with a run in the team these usually subside.
Currently, I believe his head is up his arse for personal issues of his own making.