John Stones

[Tugay One Cup]

Agree with all of that except where do you think Kane would fit in to the team? He would normally play where aguero plays

I wouldn't be too surprised to see Aguero make appearances on the left. He's done it for Argentina and Pep has a history of turning players like Villa and Henry into wingers. Sergio naturally drifts out that way anyway and it sometimes leaves us short in the box.

Could be talking out of my arse but either way I wouldn't be opposed to signing another class striker.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Try and keep this on topic please

 

[Neville Kneville]

The best prospect out there, defensively.

Better than Denayer, Otamendi or Mangala.

As for his performances this week, the kid demanded to play despite a serious case of stomach flu.

Too many are looking at his valuation, which is Everton's right and nothing to do with the player.

We can afford it.

He's got a Rolls Royce engine hiding under the bonnet.

I can't see anything about his defending that suggests he'll ever be better than any of those 3 defensively. Not saying it can't happen but it isn't happening right now. If stomach problems are the excuse for his shit defending then he needs a serious check up.for the othef 25 occasions he's been fucking terrible so far. Not bad on the ball but Denayer is probably better already. Well he is better already by some tune at the level he's played but of course he doesn't play in the Prem.

I have no idea why we need to gamble on him even if he was to become the best cb in the world. Whoever ends up being 2nd 3rd 4th 5th & 6th best must surely be better than him right now. Sign a couple of them if we're that desperate.

 

[City_Sean]

The best prospect out there, defensively.

Better than Denayer, Otamendi or Mangala.

As for his performances this week, the kid demanded to play despite a serious case of stomach flu.

Too many are looking at his valuation, which is Everton's right and nothing to do with the player.

We can afford it.

He's got a Rolls Royce engine hiding under the bonnet.

Is he coming instead of, or as well as Laporte mate?

 

[Tugay One Cup]

He finished last season and started this one really well. IIRC, despite the win, Aguero had a really tough time against him at the beginning of the season.

As time's gone on, Martinez has been totally found out. I was pretty shocked when I watched their 4-3 loss to Stoke at their complete lack of protection of the back line. Stones played right back in that game but the midfield pairing of Barkley and McCarthy offered absolutely zero defensively and the whole team suffered as a result. Our midfield overhaul should hopefully offer far more in that department.

I think he's shown more than enough promise early on to suggest he has everything needed to be a top class centre back.

That being said, it's a huge risk and I'd rather wait and see if he can regain his form. The first problem there is that Martinez isn't likely to sort the defence out and the second is that I'd guess there's at least one other club which would be willing to take that gamble.

 

[BigOscar]

I could easily see Pep using him as a midfielder.

Why on earth would anyone pay £50m for a Cb and then use them as a holding midfielder? Even proven holding midfielders are pretty cheap, yet alone ones who you have no idea if they can play there or not. Personally I don't think he's anything like good enough for midfield as he struggles on the ball even at RB, to me he's decent on the ball for a centerback and that's about it.

 

[meeesh]

If we do get him,I hope its nowhere near as much as what is being touted for him

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Why on earth would anyone pay £50m for a Cb and then use them as a holding midfielder?

Now I'm worried.

 

[IWasHere]

He finished last season and started this one really well. IIRC, despite the win, Aguero had a really tough time against him at the beginning of the season.

As time's gone on, Martinez has been totally found out. I was pretty shocked when I watched their 4-3 loss to Stoke at their complete lack of protection of the back line. Stones played right back in that game but the midfield pairing of Barkley and McCarthy offered absolutely zero defensively and the whole team suffered as a result. Our midfield overhaul should hopefully offer far more in that department.

I think he's shown more than enough promise early on to suggest he has everything needed to be a top class centre back.

That being said, it's a huge risk and I'd rather wait and see if he can regain his form. The first problem there is that Martinez isn't likely to sort the defence out and the second is that I'd guess there's at least one other club which would be willing to take that gamble.

It's amazing, some on here blame pellers when sterling isn't performing well but when stones has a shit game because of Martinez shit tactics it's somehow stones fault

 

[BigOscar]

Now I'm worried.

David Luiz is ten times the footballer that John Stones is. Defensively I think they are pretty similar, although I'd still rate Luiz higher as he's got more pace and is much more aggressive in the air, but with the ball Luiz is a genuine midfield level ball player. Stones is nowhere near that

 

[Neville Kneville]

He finished last season and started this one really well. IIRC, despite the win, Aguero had a really tough time against him at the beginning of the season.

As time's gone on, Martinez has been totally found out. I was pretty shocked when I watched their 4-3 loss to Stoke at their complete lack of protection of the back line. Stones played right back in that game but the midfield pairing of Barkley and McCarthy offered absolutely zero defensively and the whole team suffered as a result. Our midfield overhaul should hopefully offer far more in that department.

I think he's shown more than enough promise early on to suggest he has everything needed to be a top class centre back.

That being said, it's a huge risk and I'd rather wait and see if he can regain his form. The first problem there is that Martinez isn't likely to sort the defence out and the second is that I'd guess there's at least one other club which would be willing to take that gamble.

People were bigging up Shawcross as a possible signing for us as he was better.

Stones has been one of Everton's weak links & they have had to move him from cb. If the other guy had been available v the rags, they would most likely be in the cup final.

 

[OB1]

I remember you being as confident about Bony's abilities,i say that because I agreed with you :-(

It looks like this is happening and i cant pretend to be impressed,however,he certainly plays the ball better than Otamendi and Mangala,so,in that respect at least,its an improvement.I guess the masterplan is that he wont have much defending to do when our midfield is revamped.

I remember that too and I still think we have not got the best out of Bony. His holdup play was excellent yesterday and his pass to Nacho a real delight. So I wouldn't hold that against Tolm but I would ban him from making optimistic predictions about City results ;-)

I've really not seen enough of Stones defending to conclude on him but recent comments I've seen from Alan Hansen, who we can allow knows a thing or two about centre backs, supports the view that the kid has the talent. If Pep thinks he can turn him into a top CB, that is enough for me.

 

[OB1]

He finished last season and started this one really well. IIRC, despite the win, Aguero had a really tough time against him at the beginning of the season.

As time's gone on, Martinez has been totally found out. I was pretty shocked when I watched their 4-3 loss to Stoke at their complete lack of protection of the back line. Stones played right back in that game but the midfield pairing of Barkley and McCarthy offered absolutely zero defensively and the whole team suffered as a result. Our midfield overhaul should hopefully offer far more in that department.

I think he's shown more than enough promise early on to suggest he has everything needed to be a top class centre back.

That being said, it's a huge risk and I'd rather wait and see if he can regain his form. The first problem there is that Martinez isn't likely to sort the defence out and the second is that I'd guess there's at least one other club which would be willing to take that gamble.

I suspect Martinez is the big problem.

 

[pudge]

Hopefully we can get him in in the summer. It'll be nice to have a CB who doesn't shit himself or one who spends all game on his arse diving in.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I remember that too and I still think we have not got the best out of Bony. His holdup play was excellent yesterday and his pass to Nacho a real delight. So I wouldn't hold that against Tolm but I would ban him from making optimistic predictions about City results ;-)

I've really not seen enough of Stones defending to conclude on him but recent comments I've seen from Alan Hansen, who we can allow knows a thing or two about centre backs, supports the view that the kid has the talent. If Pep thinks he can turn him into a top CB, that is enough for me.

He'll have to have a big two weeks coaching when Stones gets back from the euros then.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

It's amazing, some on here blame pellers when sterling isn't performing well but when stones has a shit game because of Martinez shit tactics it's somehow stones fault

I suspect Martinez is the big problem.

A little from column A, a little column B.

The responsibility is shared between manager and player. As poor as Martinz has set his defence up, it doesn't fully explain his downturn in form.

It's sink or swim time for Stones I think and that's why, in an ideal world, we'd have another season before making the decision.

 

[Bluearmy]

He finished last season and started this one really well. IIRC, despite the win, Aguero had a really tough time against him at the beginning of the season.

As time's gone on, Martinez has been totally found out. I was pretty shocked when I watched their 4-3 loss to Stoke at their complete lack of protection of the back line. Stones played right back in that game but the midfield pairing of Barkley and McCarthy offered absolutely zero defensively and the whole team suffered as a result. Our midfield overhaul should hopefully offer far more in that department.

I think he's shown more than enough promise early on to suggest he has everything needed to be a top class centre back.

That being said, it's a huge risk and I'd rather wait and see if he can regain his form. The first problem there is that Martinez isn't likely to sort the defence out and the second is that I'd guess there's at least one other club which would be willing to take that gamble.

The 4 3 loss to Stoke was a horror show for Stones. At fault for 3 goals and questionable on the other...!! 1st goal he gets skinned by Bojan, 2nd he passes the ball straight to a Stoke player under no pressure which directly led to the goal and 4th he brings his man down for a penalty. He also played at centre half that day, Coleman and Galloway were the full backs...!! And Barry played, so they didn't have a midfield 2 of Barkley and McCarthy. People keep saying Martinez is responsible for his poor performances, but I think it's the other way around and Stones is responsible for Evertons awful defensive record. When he doesn't play, Evertons defensive record is miles better...!! Funny that..... Steer well clear...!!

Other than all that, your post is spot on the money

 

[Andouble]

There's definitely a very good player inside there that a Conte, Mourinho, or Pep can progress. 50m is a joke, though.

Guess it depends on if we can get CL football next season or not.

 

[OB1]

He'll have to have a big two weeks coaching when Stones gets back from the euros then.

Right!

 

[Tugay One Cup]

The 4 3 loss to Stoke was a horror show for Stones. At fault for 3 goals and questionable on the other...!! 1st goal he gets skinned by Bojan, 2nd he passes the ball straight to a Stoke player under no pressure, and 4th he brings his man down for a penalty. He also played at centre half that day, Coleman and Galloway were the full backs...!! People keep saying Martinez is responsible for his performances, but I think it's the other way around.. When he doesn't play, Evertons defensive record is miles better...!! Funny that..... Steer well clear...!!

Maybe I've got my games muddled up then. Your memory appears to be a lot better than mine!