John Stones | Done Deal

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After Jose went almost all out to get hold of him, suggests that he rates him very highly. I personally rate him well too, i just feel he has regressed this year as he has been badly coached and advised by the Everton management team. Someone needs to get it into his thick skull that he is a defender first and foremost and his first duty is to stop the attacker, not be this elegant ball playing centre back. I think Jose would be the best influence for him and would be able to get him on the right road.

I'm sure Mourinho will go back in for him but I can understand why other options might be more attractive. If Pep or Wenger go in for him, then I can see him going to City or Arsenal. However, either way, Everton will be difficult to negotiate with and that might put off a few clubs.
 
siw2007 said:
I'm sure Mourinho will go back in for him but I can understand why other options might be more attractive. If Pep or Wenger go in for him, then I can see him going to City or Arsenal. However, either way, Everton will be difficult to negotiate with and that might put off a few clubs.
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This. They were already a pain to buy off and now they've got a new owner and all the new tv money coming in. Stones I imagine will push for a move though if a club goes in for him. He tried to last summer and this season Everton got even worse.
 
I think you have to take into account the fact martinez was his manager, and that everton side dont do defending anywhere on the pitch. Its no surprise he will be singled out for bad performances. However, you cant coach that Ferdinand esc swagger with the ball at your feet, but he can grow into a better defender with mourinho at the helm and a side thats set up more effectively.
 
I haven't seen a lot of Stones, is he really what we need now? I think we need an established top defender to partner Smalling rather than another "future" player like Jones...
 
Stones is a decent ball player, and he is brave, but I don't think he'll quite become the new Terry as some people expect. Terry's game this last few years, in the absence of pace, has been about positioning and reading the game. I think that's where Stones is weakest. Sure, he'll learn that more and more over time, no doubt. But we'll get fleeced with the transfer fee just because he's English, and there are alternatives out there. Laporte would have been nice, but it sounds like he's going to City, maybe even before he's fully fit. I like Gimenez at Atletico and Van Dijk at Southampton. Obviously the Jose connection to Varane makes him an attractive prospect too, and maybe the best of the bunch too.
 
Really strange to see "the best defensive talent" label given to him, even if it's only journalists talking. Gimenez (although a bad fit for Barca's style, probably), Varane, Laporte and even Marqinuos have a higher ceiling and are already better than him, imo
 
I don't particularly like him. Holding out that this is all hot air, or we baulk at Everton's fees and opt for someone else.
 
Mourihno was all over him last summer. It was a proper transfer saga. He seems to rate him extremely high. He had a piss poor season for someone who is rated so highly by many though. Although in fairness, Everton were shocking this season under Martinez. Much rather we bought someone a bit more proven. But judging by how much Mourinho wanted him, I'm not going to be shocked if he signs for us.
 
He's always been liability whenever I've seen him play. Personally I'm stunned that Jose and Guardiola seem to rate him considering the reports link him with City and us constantly. Must be missing something I suppose.
 
He turned a bit crap as the season went on, (but so did alot of Everton Players), and his reputation certainly took a hit, but I'd be happy if we got him.

Personally not sure about the Smalling partnership though, but if it worked it would be great, especially as we'd have a 75 % English defence.
 
harms said:
Really strange to see "the best defensive talent" label given to him, even if it's only journalists talking. Gimenez (although a bad fit for Barca's style, probably), Varane, Laporte and even Marqinuos have a higher ceiling and are already better than him, imo
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I agree and would rather any of those three myself, but they do play for bigger clubs, and sometimes when a talent moves to a big club their performances would elevate to the level of those around him, they would bring the best out of him. But unless Jose sees somethign in him that we don't, I would not want to overpay for him.
 
harms said:
Really strange to see "the best defensive talent" label given to him, even if it's only journalists talking. Gimenez (although a bad fit for Barca's style, probably), Varane, Laporte and even Marqinuos have a higher ceiling and are already better than him, imo
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Gimenez is pretty much better than anyone not called Godin, Thiago Silva, Sergio Ramos and Boateng.

He also has a perfectly reasonable release clause.
 
I hope we're not getting him. Didn't like his attitude at certain points throughout the season. It's not just about talent, we really need to get strong dedicated characters in. Also personally don't find him that extraordinarily talented either.
 
Attila said:
"City manager Pep Guardiola wants to pair Stones with Aymeric Laporte in a new-look partnership, while Barca see him as the best defensive prospect in European football and believe he is ideally suited to La Liga."

I find that surprising
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Have you seen some of their defensive choices in recent years. :lol:
 
Revan said:
Gimenez is pretty much better than anyone not called Godin, Thiago Silva, Sergio Ramos and Boateng.

He also has a perfectly reasonable release clause.
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Yes, that's why I placed him first - though I probably should've add some extra space between him and the others :)
 
He's not really an upgrade on Blind apart from being English, younger, taller and slightly faster. However, Smalling definitely needs a ball player next to him. I'd go all out for Varane, but I'd certainly be happy taking a gamble on Stones.
 
worldinmotion66 said:
He's not really an upgrade on Blind apart from being English, younger, taller and slightly faster. However, Smalling definitely needs a ball player next to him. I'd go all out for Varane, but I'd certainly be happy taking a gamble on Stones.
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Mourinho played Cahill and Terry together at Chelski. He isn't bothered about ball playing CB's or Left foot right foot thing that much usually though it's a plus.

Anyway, i'm not opposed to Stones. He has very good Raw material and great potential. Was overrated last season or so and it showed this season, but won't be a bad signing if we cannot get someone established.

In Jones, Smalling and Stones we would get a good partnership going somewhere under a Mourinho structured team.

Problem however is his price will be quite over the top.

Btw, Varane's current level is bit overrated too.
 
FromTheBench said:
Mourinho played Cahill and Terry together at Chelski. He isn't bothered about ball playing CB's or Left foot right foot thing that much usually though it's a plus.

Anyway, i'm not opposed to Stones. He has very good Raw material and great potential. Was overrated last season or so and it showed this season, but won't be a bad signing if we cannot get someone established.

In Jones, Smalling and Stones we would get a good partnership going somewhere under a Mourinho structured team.

Problem however is his price will be quite over the top.

Btw, Varane's current level is bit overrated too.
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I agree that Varane's technical ability may be overrated, but his physical attributes and massive potential make him a far better prospect than Stones. Also, I think you may be underrating John Terry's ability on the ball, he is particularly decent with his wrong foot.

I'd like Stones as I like to have a british core and I see he has huge potential, but there are better prospects out there for the price. I'm actually quite happy with Blind for the majority of opponents, but I can see him playing very well in Carrick's role next season. He can drop in and our full backs can bomb forward,
 
Marquinhos is my muppet dream but in all honesty I'm perfectly happy with the Smalling Blind partnership at CB. Would prefer we concentrate the big spending on other areas and just add some cover at CB (as opposed to spending Stones type money).
 
sullydnl said:
Has talent and, given Mou's ability to get defences playing well, you'd have to go with it if he's who Mourinho wants.
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I agree, he's had a poor season but the ability is there, Jose can refine him into a top CB IMO.
 
FromTheBench said:
Mourinho played Cahill and Terry together at Chelski. He isn't bothered about ball playing CB's or Left foot right foot thing that much usually though it's a plus.
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John Terry is definitely very good on the ball, and is very two footed. He almost came across as a left footed CB as his career progressed.
 
Just think another over-hyped English player that because he doesn't get a nose bleed cause he can cross the half way line, he's world class. Don't want or need him. Let's be old fashioned and actually buy a defender who can tackle, head and not afraid of his own voice to organise people around him.....
 
Joint best defense in the league with more defensive injuries than any other team and we "need" John Stones. Has anyone actually watched him play this season. He's levels below Blind, he's playing about as well as Jones would be if we forced him into the pitch. One of the most overrated players right now since Bebe when he signed for us. If he's worth more than 20m there are about 8 defenders in the PL worth 3 times more than him.
 
Mascherano and Dani Alves both leaving Barca.

Looks like my they building a new back 4, their interest in Stones now makes much more sense
 
They have the same options as we have. Stones, Marquinhos, Manolas, Mustafi. Missed out on Hummels and Laporte is injured/rumours about City.

Will be a very interesting summer in terms of CB's. Arsenal and Chelsea need one too.
 
RedorDead21 said:
One of the most overrated players right now ...
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And United have 5 teenagers in the first team squad, who might all be good enough to play premiership CB:
  • Cameron Borthwick-Jackson
  • Regan Poole
  • Ro-Shaun Williams
  • Axel Tuanzebe
  • Timothy Fosu-Mensah
It's not as if Stones is noticeably better than Blind or Mike. Doesn't have outstanding concentration either, which is essential to play for United when we're attacking most of the time, so need to defend against the counter. I'm baffled by the price fans are happy to pay for this guy.
 
I can see him going to Chelsea, City or us. I hope we end up with a better player like Laporte or even Varane (in case that's possible).
If we sign Stones, I hope we dont pay more than 30m
 
It's just a friendly against Australia. Let him show it next season in the PL on a consistent basis.
 
Laporte and Stones will be Guardiola's CB partnership for City next season

Hashtag intel
 
He is a lot better than playing under martinez will show. One of the worst defensive managers in the history of the premiership surely. Not a good place for a young kid. Would be perfect with mourinho you would think. Fine there are good defenders in spain, but it really is a different league. They won't be used to dealing with target men and we don't have time for them to try to adapt. Otamendi looked like a top notch hard man in spain and now looks like he's turned inside out by the pace and power the strikers here have
 
Had a good game tonight, I still think Jose could hone him into a top class CB, he's only 21.
 
Devil may care said:
Had a good game tonight, I still think Jose could hone him into a top class CB, he's only 21.
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Yeah he is obviously talented. Working under Martinez killed him. I'd take him in the summer and I too think Jose will improve him.
As long as the price isn't too steep, I'd gladly have him at United.
 
He looked much more reserved tonight, which is what I liked to see. At points this season he seems hellbent on showing he was a ball playing defender, once he ushers that in a little he looks pretty decent.
 
His performances against us recently, (also Lukaku, has put me off them both.

Both still have significant development work required and don't drastically improve what we have right now.

Given the deep youth talents and Blind as cover, we need a more established and proven CB to come in.
 
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