smalling is a top top defender and stones will become one. hopefully we sign him
John Stones | Done Deal
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And I hate the argument as if in other league's the opponents just come and play fr fun and have no intensity and just let teams play as if it's training..only in the PL twams take matches seriously and they get tired from those matches, in other league's everyone is one 70% just doing something. Get real.
Well I guess you dont rate Carvajal, Alaba, Marcelo, Bellerin, Dani Alves, Alba, Aurier, van der Wiel, as well then, in the current game full backs have other roles, only defensive sound top class fullbacks are pretty much Lahm, Filipe Luis, Juanfran at this moment. Full backs are far more susceptible to positional weaknesses in the defensive aspect, cant see that as something you can really hold unto a player when even the most rated full backs get caught out frequently.
Can't recall those patches, he played RB and was often injured, in which run did he play CB in order to be poor to eventually get lower on the pecking order? Evans was a more experienced CB, was fit that season and actually played the best football he ever has, cant really see the dig on Smalling there.
The players I named arent world class, but they are far better options than Stones, all but Umtiti playing for better teams than Everton and being their best Cb's while Stones couldnt even get in the starting 11 for an underperforming Everton near the end of the season. The guy is another hyped English prospect, who still has to show a lot, not to mention thay the likes of Koulibaly, Umtiti, Manolas also showed their capabilities in the Europa League and Champions League this season, Varane having proved himself earlier, although I'm not his biggest fan.
After that season and the fact that he's far from the finished product I'd give no more than £18m.
i never judge a player on how well the team does. likewise i never judge a player on how bad a team does either. I look at the player on an individual level and analyse his performances independent of the performance of the team. everton had a bad season, no doubt, but stones is a top defender. Tall, quick and has very good intelligence for a young player. him and smalling would be a great CB partnership if we get him.
So you think he as an individual played well? He was at times their worst defender. He obviously is talented but his form hasn't been very good at all.
That is not what I said. I said Evra plays against a lower quality week in and week out. Not once did I imply that its "training" level.
Aside from Aurier, those players are very good (Some world class). They are complete, ie they can defend and attack. Evra in his final years with us turned into a defensive liability, and you cannot say the same about the others in the list (bar Aurier of course).
I'm not going to dig into each example - Smalling has been with us for what, 5 seasons? He hasn't played RB every season and only came into form post the City game in 14/15. The caf mostly wrote Smalling off after that fixture when he received a red card. A lot of posters are writing off Stones too.
Whilst that it does not equate that Stones will surprise the world in his defensive maturity - it does suggest you shouldn't write off 22 year old centre backs when their potential is high.
How are they better options than Stones when they play in lesser leagues? Christ. You really are clutching at straws if you elude to European form, where Roma (Manolas) barely passed the group stage (lucky go get through groups I remember), Lyon (Umtiti) lost every game in the Champions League and Napoli (Koulibaly) got eliminated early on from both competitions.
Seriously.
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Then how do you explain Jagielka looking a far better defender?
Experience. Unlike. Stones he didn't need coaching to improve. Martinez was a serious handicap to Stones improving as a defender.
Some reports in Spain are saying that he is off to city.
I reckon he will develop into a top cb under Pep
I reckon he will develop into a top cb under Pep
Makes sense, Stones is a very Guardiola player.
Always said he was talented, not gonna change my opinion if they sign him. Hope they pay an absolute fortune though.
Always said he was talented, not gonna change my opinion if they sign him. Hope they pay an absolute fortune though.
So they're looking at £90M between Stones and Laporte.
Hope this means they get rid of Kompany, not many leaders in that side and Kompany is one of them.
Hope this means they get rid of Kompany, not many leaders in that side and Kompany is one of them.
I just don't get the hype. Same with Ross Barkley.
Would be happier if they kept Kompany as a key part of their first 11. Can't do much leading or defending from the treatment room.
Hope it's true. Good on the ball, but such a mediocre defender.
Stones, Laporte, Mangala and Otamendi. There must be over £150m worth of central defenders there, Jesus.
Heard the same said about Pique for years tbf.
Koeman off to a flyer.
Can see Guardiola using Stones at RB to start in a similar fashion to how he did with Alaba. An inverted FB that moves into a wide DM role to keep ball possession but not be the last man in case of a cock up on the ball.
If City are going to keep insisting on paying top dollar for defenders who can't defend I'm not going to stop them. It's hilarious.
That's all City need, another CB that can't defend 
..
In all seriousness though, I think he'll eventually become class.
..In all seriousness though, I think he'll eventually become class.
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This sounds incredibly over complicated. Maybe I'm just behind the curve here. That or thinking about everything like this is part of why Pep seems to burn out quickly.
Agreed, both are rather overrated.
As of now the only English player I want is Kane.
The rest are either shyte or not done enough yet.
Dele Alli ?
City will break the record for a team's whole spend in a transfer window.
Really not bothered. He's good but he will never be world class IMO. Will always take too many risks and let in goals.
Do you reckon they'll still go for Laporte if they get Stones?
He's nowhere near as good on the ball or as athletic though.
No doubt. Can just see him trying to apply the Guardiola basics on Stones from there. Could move to a back 3 in game from there with Laporte on the other side of Kompany then too.
City!
Surprised they're not in for David Luiz next!
Insane money on defenders that most people don't think are very good at..defending!
Surprised they're not in for David Luiz next!
Insane money on defenders that most people don't think are very good at..defending!
I think if Pep sold Kompany and Hart they'd struggle big time.
I cant believe some posters on here. Stones is a good player, miles better and more consistent than Jones was at the same age. He is talented but had an off season, but more experience in a good team will be good for him. I just hope its not the end of another good English player though,
So if they actually conclude the Stones and Laporte deals, how much have they spent the last three season on CB's alone? I know that Stones won't come cheap in todays market (they already said no to £40m from Chelsea) and Laporte got a high buyout clause. Add the cost of Mangala and Otamendi and you get some insane numbers.
Would be a good signing for City - I thought he might go to Barca but then I guess City will be the new Barca soon anyway, in terms of playing style at least
I'd still like to see Stones at United. More than anything, he needs to learn under the tutorship of a great manager (and coaches) - who'll embrace his ability on the ball and help him to improve his decision making.
If that coach is Guardiola then so be it. As for their expenditure on central defenders, the biggest criticism I'd have is why City's executives, Soriano and Begiristain, didn't have the foresight to plan ahead. Guardiola's arrival has been long in the planning, yet their transfer policy during Pellegrini's tenure has been odd to say the least. They've ended up with two costly centre defenders (Mangala/Otamendi) that the incoming manager seemingly doesn't care for.
That said, money is no object.
If that coach is Guardiola then so be it. As for their expenditure on central defenders, the biggest criticism I'd have is why City's executives, Soriano and Begiristain, didn't have the foresight to plan ahead. Guardiola's arrival has been long in the planning, yet their transfer policy during Pellegrini's tenure has been odd to say the least. They've ended up with two costly centre defenders (Mangala/Otamendi) that the incoming manager seemingly doesn't care for.
That said, money is no object.
Massively overrated rated because he's English.
Yeah I think so. Pep's probably looked and it and realised the entire back line is useless without Kompany.
Not overly bothered about missing out on him. A CB pairing of Smalling and Stones doesn't seem that strong imo.
No chance Kompany goes. Captain of the club and our best defender when fit, he has no desire to leave and his injuries mean we'd get a fee that would not reflect his ability.
As for Stones, a bit 'meh' towards his potential arrival. Happy enough with Laporte to be honest. Kompany, Otamendi, Laporte, Denayer. Should be enough, that's if we ship Mangala out too. The money we've spent on defenders is ridiculous, while our best ones over the years have often been the cheapest e.g. Kompany, Zabaleta, Clichy, Demichelis (was our best defender for about 12 months despite his poor start and awful last season). Still, have faith Stones can become one of the best defenders with the right coaching but I've never been fully convinced by his current ability.
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