John Stones

[Bluearmy]

I'm not oblivious to why you do. He looks shit sometimes. Or at least has shit looking moments would be a better way to put it. But we wouldn't look like Everton under Pep I reckon. We'd control possession. We'd play an organized form of defense that requires everyone doing specific things out of possession. Stones will be just fine. O believe :)

Just don't see it. Watched him closely for the first time against Stoke in Dec, after reports he was coming here. And as much as possible since. Responsible for 3 goals that day against Stoke... 5 last week (Liverpool first 3 and both Rag goals) and another 10 or 11 in between. And he's been injured for a month, so could of been responsible for more.... Then you factor in 40 million and it's madness to me. Let's hope I'm wrong.....

 

[BlueDeadHead]

please dont compare delph with lahm

I didn't.

 

[The Richard Wright Fan Club]

He is a lot lke Clichy. He tackles well. Quick off the block. Lots of energy, athletic. Yet he has Better ball skills than any fullback we have. Better crosser of the ball too. You know what just Watch this video:


If you don't see a LB in there, then OK. But every time I watch him, all I see a leftback playing out of position.

It's a bit of a shame no one has pointed it out yet. I trust Pep will see it.

Just watched about half of the video. Was impressed by his covering and his crossing but I'm still not convinced it's a possibilty, I'll bookmark this post and bump it in a year as I think he'll be off in the summer, not in the know. Just a hunch.

 

[RichardDunneOwnGoal]

that 40m figure was from last year.

i can't see everton being able to demand that after the 4 or 5 months stones has currently had.

if stones wants city i think we can get him for 25m.

denayer will be here next season.

pep for me will at times play three at the back like he has done at bayern at times, so 5 central defenders will be needed.

No way in a million years would Everton part with Stones for £25m, no chance.

He'd cost at least £35m, probably more, and he isn't worth it.

Sooner give Denayer the chance, and just bring in Laporte. Probably Mangala to leave.

Kompany, Laporte, Otamendi, Denayer.

That'd have us nicely covered at centre half, a good mix of experience and youth, a nice age profile. No room in there for a shit Gerard Pique tribute act.

Would fucking pain me to see us spend £20m on this charlatan, letalone £35m+. No more bang average overhyped young players bought because they hold the right passports please.

 

[sam-caddick]

No way in a million years would Everton part with Stones for £25m, no chance.

He'd cost at least £35m, probably more, and he isn't worth it.

Sooner give Denayer the chance, and just bring in Laporte. Probably Mangala to leave.

Kompany, Laporte, Otamendi, Denayer.

That'd have us nicely covered at centre half, a good mix of experience and youth, a nice age profile. No room in there for a shit Gerard Pique tribute act.

Would fucking pain me to see us spend £20m on this charlatan, letalone £35m+. No more bang average overhyped young players bought because they hold the right passports please.

i just can't see city risking 40m on laporte after that injury he had a few weeks back. i think we will wait to see how he recovers first.

i like stones and i think it's a myth that he cannot defend because before january i saw plenty of games where he had some outstanding defensive displays.

i just don't think martinez is a very good defensive coach, his record at wigan and everton shows that.

i don't think any defender at everton - fullbacks included - have had a consistent run of decent performances this season, so something has gone wrong because some of the same players under moyes were very good for the most part.

 

[Dax777]

Just don't see it. Watched him closely for the first time against Stoke in Dec, after reports he was coming here. And as much as possible since. Responsible for 3 goals that day against Stoke... 5 last week (Liverpool first 3 and both Rag goals) and another 10 or 11 in between. And he's been injured for a month, so could of been responsible for more.... Then you factor in 40 million and it's madness to me. Let's hope I'm wrong.....

3 goals against Stoke? How? This is where preconieved notion tends to paint a developing narrative.

First goal: Wasn't anyone's fault. Stones Closed a guy down and followed, everyone was on man, his man got his pass off, Mori's man nutmeged him in a smart cutback, and Shaquiri outhustles Galloway or someone. Bad organization, sure. Individual defender's fault? I think not.


2nd goal: Sure, it was his long pass that got intercepted around Stokes final third, now if you ascribe fault for Shaquiri magical goal to a guy who misplaced the last lob pass into the other team's final third, Then i cant agree with you. I reckon If you are predisposed to not rating him, of course you'd see his to link to anything bad.

The 4 goal was a slide tackle in the box. Bad idea, shouldn't have done it. Unlucky too coz he got the ball first. Ever so slightly. So sure, that you can blame him for it. But seeing as we have Otamendi who slides on sight, Mangala who balls people over inside the box, and Kompany who can't stop arm and shoulder pushing. I don't think he'd be out of place at all.

I see his errors, but he is funny enough, not as error prone as Mangala or Otamendi. Both commit as many errors under fewer attacks. Stones deals with more attacks in a game, plays well under pressure. Strong in the tackle, but commits errors at a rate similar to those we already have, but he is shit?

I think not.

 

[ballinio]

Not with a barge pole

 

[Dax777]

Just watched about half of the video. Was impressed by his covering and his crossing but I'm still not convinced it's a possibilty, I'll bookmark this post and bump it in a year as I think he'll be off in the summer, not in the know. Just a hunch.

Luke I've said a million times. Delph plays LB or his out. He is unlikely to make it here as anything but a solid leftback. But that's my thinking, I'm no Pep Though.

 

[kevin horlocks wand]

3 goals against Stoke? How? This is where preconieved notion tends to paint a developing narrative.

First goal: Wasn't anyone's fault. Stones Closed a guy down and followed, everyone was on man, his man got his pass off, Mori's man nutmeged him in a smart cutback, and Shaquiri outhustles Galloway or someone. Bad organization, sure. Individual defender's fault? I think not.


2nd goal: Sure, it was his long pass that got intercepted around Stokes final third, now if you ascribe fault for Shaquiri magical goal to a guy who misplaced the last lob pass into the other team's final third, Then i cant agree with you. I reckon If you are predisposed to not rating him, of course you'd see his to link to anything bad.

The 4 goal was a slide tackle in the box. Bad idea, shouldn't have done it. Unlucky too coz he got the ball first. Ever so slightly. So sure, that you can blame him for it. But seeing as we have Otamendi who slides on sight, Mangala who balls people over inside the box, and Kompany who can't stop arm and shoulder pushing. I don't think he'd be out of place at all.

I see his errors, but he is funny enough, not as error prone as Mangala or Otamendi. Both commit as many errors under fewer attacks. Stones deals with more attacks in a game, plays well under pressure. Strong in the tackle, but commits errors at a rate similar to those we already have, but he is shit?

I think not.

He is not that good. Over hyped emotion that follows all players who play for Liverpool and Everton. They see us coming every summer. They would snap your hand off for 25 mill.

Which players have we signed from merseyside that have been real value. Mark seagraves rodwell, et al all for absolute fortunes . Think of all the city players stolen from us. Milner, Paul power, Paul stewart

Please don't buy any players from scousers this summer. We always get bummed.

 

[Dax777]

He is not that good. Over hyped emotion that follows all players who play for Liverpool and Everton. They see us coming every summer. They would snap your hand off for 25 mill.

Which players have we signed from merseyside that have been real value. Mark seagraves rodwell, et al all for absolute fortunes . Think of all the city players stolen from us. Milner, Paul power, Paul stewart

Please don't buy any players from scousers this summer. We always get bummed.

I get your sentiment. Used to feel the same way about Portugal and Italy. Think they have the shittiest exports, and they cost the most. So I can't argue with that :-)

 

[kupest]

No way Everton would part with him for 25m. With young players the fees dont tend to drop a lot. They reject 40-45m off Chelsea, I think it will take around 45m even this time around.

 

[Bluearmy]

3 goals against Stoke? How? This is where preconieved notion tends to paint a developing narrative.

First goal: Wasn't anyone's fault. Stones Closed a guy down and followed, everyone was on man, his man got his pass off, Mori's man nutmeged him in a smart cutback, and Shaquiri outhustles Galloway or someone. Bad organization, sure. Individual defender's fault? I think not.


2nd goal: Sure, it was his long pass that got intercepted around Stokes final third, now if you ascribe fault for Shaquiri magical goal to a guy who misplaced the last lob pass into the other team's final third, Then i cant agree with you. I reckon If you are predisposed to not rating him, of course you'd see his to link to anything bad.

The 4 goal was a slide tackle in the box. Bad idea, shouldn't have done it. Unlucky too coz he got the ball first. Ever so slightly. So sure, that you can blame him for it. But seeing as we have Otamendi who slides on sight, Mangala who balls people over inside the box, and Kompany who can't stop arm and shoulder pushing. I don't think he'd be out of place at all.

I see his errors, but he is funny enough, not as error prone as Mangala or Otamendi. Both commit as many errors under fewer attacks. Stones deals with more attacks in a game, plays well under pressure. Strong in the tackle, but commits errors at a rate similar to those we already have, but he is shit?

I think not.

First goal gets dragged out of position, then is turned and shown up by Bojan who walks past him with ease, the ball gets passed into the area he should be in for Shaqiri to score with ease. 2nd goal he brings the ball out, plays a lazy ball under no pressure straight to a Stoke player who promptly plays a ball back over the top of the area he should be in for shaqiri to score.. And last goal he dives in desperately and brings the man down for the penalty..... So can't mark, can't tackle, dives in, not the quickest and poor positionally. And last weeks performances against Liverpool and the Rags...!!
Doesnt jump for the Origi goal, stood in the left back position as sakho is stood on 6 yard line for a free header for the 2nd and the 3rd goal he plays and awful pass which direcly leads to the 3rd while he's stood with his hand up appealing for offside. So add, gives it away and doesn't jump to the list of what he's poor at. Credit to him though, how he managed to not know Fellani was stood on the 6 yard box on Sunday, is Special..... Out of position for the Martial goal too, but I'd already mentioned his poor positional play earlier, so will let him off...!! He's cost them 20 goals since December. If we spunk 40/50mil on him were nuts and he will be a disaster.... Bookmark this....

 

[Dax777]

First goal gets dragged out of position, then is turned and shown up by Bojan who walks past him with ease, the ball gets passed into the area he should be in for Shaqiri to score with ease. 2nd goal he brings the ball out, plays a lazy ball under no pressure straight to a Stoke player who promptly plays a ball back over the top of the area he should be in for shaqiri to score.. And last goal he dives in desperately and brings the man down for the penalty..... So can't mark, can't tackle, dives in, not the quickest and poor positionally. And last weeks performances against Liverpool and the Rags...!!
Doesnt jump for the Origi goal, stood in the left back position as sakho is stood on 6 yard line for a free header for the 2nd and the 3rd goal he plays and awful pass which direcly leads to the 3rd while he's stood with his hand up appealing for offside. So add, gives it away and doesn't jump to the list of what he's poor at. Credit to him though, how he managed to not know Fellani was stood on the 6 yard box on Sunday, is Special..... Out of position for the Martial goal too, but I'd already mentioned his poor positional play earlier, so will let him off...!! He's cost them 20 goals since December. If we spunk 40/50mil on him were nuts and he will be a disaster.... Bookmark this....

Well I will.

I find it interesting that you blame him for a goal for giving up a bad pass, then turn around and blame him for being out of position on the other goal.

Yet Mor I was out of position on the ball he lobbed forward that got intercepted, but you didn't blame him for that. Nor did you blame the guy who lost possession prior to him being dragged out of position.

Not to mention others being out of position the whole first goal. Singling out just Stones, suggests you are doing what most people who've already made their minds up do. Had he and Mori switched places you'd have faultec him for the goal for being easily nutmeged.

Against United, I think it is silly that folks blame him for the Felliani goal. Too many just watch the last guy around the goalscorer and conclude he must be at fault.

Again, that was just poor team defending. Baines or whoever the LB was, originally had Felliani. Never passed him off or stayed with him. Felliani made a good play, he checked to the top of the Six box. At the last instant before the cross Jageilka takes a step towards the byline and away from Felliani's Line for a pass and Felliani. Stones looks over Jageilka' shoulder to see the play, pass is given in that instant. He jumps for a block but fails to get there. It is beyond silly to suggest he is to blame.

And I am not calling you specifically silly, it's the simplistic view of what good or bad defending is that is silly. Even the Telly people do it and I roll my eyes.. Oh Stones should have stayed close to his man there. Really? I can play you 100 video shots from this season alone of similar circumstances like that, and every time all the defenders stay deep. It's natural football instinct, you wanna be as deep as the balls line and no deeper. So long as Feliani keeps moving away from defenders, they are not going to follow him. No defender does. Not Kompany, not Hummels, not Boateng, not Pique or any other defender you can think of.

The key is pressure on the initial ball. United leisurely moved around on Everton's right flank, the guy beat his man with ease, had time to look up and find feet in the box, and all people see is the last ditch effort defender's error?

If there is pressure on the ball paaer, the best he can do is swing the ball into the box and hope, that he didn't have to do that, tells you where the real error lies. But it's not just the defender who was easily beaten, it is his midfield help who was also soft on support. Once United watlz to the byline the goal was already in. Everyone else was just trying.

The 2nd goal is give more credence too. Sure he let the French kid in easily, but really, back the tape up half a second, and watch the midfielder who had Martial originally, lazily not track him once Martial passed the ball off to the guy Stones was originally marking. Stones then rightly drops off, and should have been doubling Martial with the lazy midfielder who just dropped him off.

He, Stones, did hesitate for a second as he Thought they had possession when the United player bubbled it and it fell in front of an Everton player, but the United guy was quicker to react and poked it into Martial's path. Leaving Stones a bit flat footed. Is that an error? Perhaps. But again, I see more bad team defending than bad individual defending from Stones.

This will not be his reality on a better organized team. Will he have errors? Absolutely. Will we be better with him? I think so.

 

[Joe Hart's Dandruff]

Couldn't agree more with those against this move, i mean this is right up there with us apparently being interested in Wilshere. Like WTF!? I woke up in a cold sweat the other night at the thought of a Stones Mangala partnership. God, shuddered as I typed that.

 

[Dax777]

Fuk me that was long. My apologies :-)

 

[oakiecokie]

Fuk me that was long. My apologies :-)

If only I could utter those words to my missus.

 

[aguero93:20]

Luke I've said a million times. Delph plays LB or his out. He is unlikely to make it here as anything but a solid leftback. But that's my thinking, I'm no Pep Though.

Out then. Doesn't have it.

 

[Dax777]

Out then. Doesn't have it.

So let's assume Kola leaves, and we don't bring in a LB ( none seriously linked at the moment), what's your thinking as to how to deal with the LB issue. I reckon Clichy will be starter. But who backs him up?

 

[aguero93:20]

So let's assume Kola leaves, and we don't bring in a LB ( none seriously linked at the moment), what's your thinking as to how to deal with the LB issue. I reckon Clichy will be starter. But who backs him up?

That's a pretty big assumption to start off with there, may as well ask who's backing Nacho up if we let Bony and Aguero leave and don't sign any strikers.

IF that happens though, it'll be somebody who's come through the ranks either having played in a wide or defensive position or having shown ability in both, with good reading of the game and a tough mentality, with good fitness to boot. Not a midfielder who can't defend, has looked utterly shite every time he's been put out wide (in complete contrast to Dinho on the other side who'd make a great right back), has no history of playing well, or indeed playing at all in defensive or wide positions and has a questionable fitness record. Defending isn't something you can suddenly coach into somebody in their mid 20s, nor is playing in a wide position. It's something you find you either can or can't do at a young age.

Yours,
A left back.

 

[richards30]

Maybe we are signing him for right back?