John Stones

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Neville Kneville said:
New cbs will almost certainly make the same mistakes early on.

But the thing Stones did do, was plenty of excellent defending either side of his fuckups, rather than the weak, hopeless, shit or Kamikaze nonsense, we have seen recently from others, which turns the whole team to jelly.
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Agree. Our high line exposed even Kompany at times(think back to the Leicester game where he could have been red carded early on) the whole team tired in the second half and the intensity and press dropped off, leaving the central defenders exposed at times. I thought after that 15 minute spell of pressure and errors by Stones, he regained his composure and put in some good tackles, and kept close to the man he was marking to give no space to turn
 
eastlands oasis said:
Agree. Our high line exposed even Kompany at times(think back to the Leicester game where he could have been red carded early on) the whole team tired in the second half and the intensity and press dropped off, leaving the central defenders exposed at times. I thought after that 15 minute spell of pressure and errors by Stones, he regained his composure and put in some good tackles, and kept close to the man he was marking to give no space to turn
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His overall defending either side of the fuckups was way way above what we were used to seeing from our cbs last season.

The pressure was initially created by people such as Mendy & even KDB imo, suddenly trying to hit longish forward passes, when we were much more careful first half, plus Rodri's legs went shortly after half time & he was 2nd to everything.

The biggest mistake Stones made, was reacting badly to Ake attacking the ball. Decent chance that wouldn't happen much, if he got used to playing with him.
 
Stones did make a couple of errors but otherwise looked better and more motivated than many of us probably expected. That, plus his low current market worth, would persuade me to let him stay and fight for contention and let Ota and Garcia leave.

He knows he’ll start low in the pecking order but if he’s prepared to battle I wouldn’t write him off.
 
Desperate for Stones to regain his confidence. I’m in no doubt of his quality. A decent run of games will hopefully sort his head out.
 
It looked to me as though Stones and Ake were dropping back more than we usually do last night. We got exposed by a ball over the top when Ake followed Jimenez up the pitch. Stones seems to have a problem reading the game and I cant see anyway that can be improved. Overall I thought he played well as did Ake. Mendy as to be expected had problems with Traore but the midfield and especially Fernandinho definitely improved us defensively
 
riley347 said:
Desperate for Stones to regain his confidence. I’m in no doubt of his quality. A decent run of games will hopefully sort his head out.
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Agree he has had the full arse hole treatment on here. When fit for a long run of games he is one of the best defenders in the league. He hasn't been in that form for a while now but no reason he can't get back there. No different to Mendy although at least he hasnt got a wrecked knee.
 
One issue we have faced is rotating the back four so much. Particular the centre backs. The central pair need to have a run of games so that they have the understanding of how each other plays. Stones did make a couple of errors, but when he had that run of games before injury a while back he was excellent. Whatever partnership we come up we need to not rotate as much. Loved Ake yesterday, led the line well, and when he had the ball he was so comfortable. I had no worries at all when he had the ball, and no worries he was going to put us I trouble.
 
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Stones and Ake both had a good game, especially as a pair, and considering the lack of preparation. Yes, there was a spell when we conceded chances but overall plenty to be positive about. Stones, la Porte, Ake and Kounde would do us nicely.
 
blue61 said:
It looked to me as though Stones and Ake were dropping back more than we usually do last night. We got exposed by a ball over the top when Ake followed Jimenez up the pitch. Stones seems to have a problem reading the game and I cant see anyway that can be improved. Overall I thought he played well as did Ake. Mendy as to be expected had problems with Traore but the midfield and especially Fernandinho definitely improved us defensively
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They were dropping back more, but it's because they were just much smarter & better than the people they replaced imo & doing their job properly. It covered most of the stuff which has caused us nightmares recently.

Stones' mistake was a result of misunderstanding what Ake was going to do & reacting incorrectly. I recon we'd have seen that 10 times if our usual, recent back 4 had started.
 
Ability this ability that, we know he is capable, but inconsistent, and injury prone. Yesterday's performance doesn't change that and the fact that Koundé is coming in probably reiterates it.
 
Still not sure why anyone would want to sell him right now. Garcia wants to leave and it looks like we're still trying to find Otamendi another club. On top of that, due to covid and the current public perception of him, we'd get fuck all for John right now.

If he can stay fit and stay relatively cock-up free this season then his value will rise again. Even then, I'd rather keep him. If he spends a year getting injured and making stupid mistakes then offload him next summer.
 
While he had a decent enough game positionally he was caught out a couple of times, him and Mendy both being culpable for the goal. For once we were fortunate, Wolves missed four good chances and on another night we'd have lost after being 2-0 up. I appreciate we lacked match fitness and Ake and Stones hadn't played together before but a decent European team or the dippers wouldn't have let us off the hook. For me his faults are still there, nothings changed, last night luck was on his and our side.
 
I'd keep John Stones. Not sure if thats because he's english or because i'm an optimist or some other reason. Lets say we did sell him, who would fill his english/hg spot given our foreign quote is pretty stretched? Also its pretty late in the window.
( on the proviso that he cuts that stupid mop top though )
 
Stones only seemed for solid because he had a double pivot in front of him first the first time under Pep. As soon as Pep reverts back to his two 8s in the mid then you're just back to square one with him.
 
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