John Stones | Performances

[padr81]

Where does Sane fit in that formation?

he doesn't but it was Pep's first idea this season, he largely stumbled upon the Sane/Delph combo because of Mendy's injury. Sane and Sterling could likely have been benched for a lot of the season if not for that injury. Who knows how different things would be. Pep even tried playing Sane at wingback to make the formation work early days but he was terrible at it.

Our early season formation was

------------------------Ederson-----------------------------
------------Kompany--Stones--Otamendi-----------------
----------------------Fernandinho--------------------------
Walker----------Silva-----------------KDB----------Mendy
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------Aguero---------Jesus-------------------

 

[Adisa]

I can see us return to 3 at the back like early season when Mendy returns. I think before Mendy's injury and during the preseason Pep favored that. A trio of Stones, Laporte and Otamdendi with Walker and Mendy on the wings. Of course it won't be used every game but Pep was leaning towards that as a way to make playing Jesus and Aguero play together. I would say atm he's definately 4th choice.

Which midfielder or attacker would be sacrificed?

 

[padr81]

Which midfielder or attacker would be sacrificed?

Personally I like the 433, but Sane and Sterling were the likely casualties, first 5 or 6 games of the season we played without them.

 

[Adisa]

he doesn't but it was Pep's first idea this season, he largely stumbled upon the Sane/Delph combo because of Mendy's injury. Sane and Sterling could likely have been benched for a lot of the season if not for that injury. Who knows how different things would be. Pep even tried playing Sane at wingback to make the formation work early days but he was terrible at it.

Our early season formation was

------------------------Ederson-----------------------------
------------Kompany--Stones--Otamendi-----------------
----------------------Fernandinho--------------------------
Walker----------Silva-----------------KDB----------Mendy
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------Aguero---------Jesus-------------------

Would be a huge mistake dropping Sane.
He's a huge reason you lot open up teams.

 

[padr81]

Would be a huge mistake dropping Sane.
He's a huge reason you lot open up teams.

Yup but what I'm saying is Pep had the formation and style that went so well this season as our 2nd way of playing. His original plan was the above.

All early season we played that formation. I could well see it being the formation we use v Liverpool on Tuesday given Pep played 3 wingers and started neither Jesus nor Aguero today.

The general idea is that we have 2 players pushed forward who can hold the width so we can create overloads, with the above Pep was probably thinking it creates 6 attackers with 1 deeper as opposed to the 433 which has 5 players advancing on the defensive line with 2 sitting deep.

It's also the formation he used in the 5-0 v Liverpool.

 

[Adisa]

Nowhere to be found again.
When will the press pick up on it?

 

[SwansonsTache]

Where is the outrage?

Redknapp should write an article.

 

[el3mel]

Should leave for his own sake. His career is getting destroyed.

 

[padr81]

He's injured according to some on other forum but I can't find any official info.

Actually its on the official site, nevermind.

 

[vangagal]

Nowhere to be found again.
When will the press pick up on it?

He is on incubator to be ready to become a monster of ball playing defender world has never seen before. Its a plot by Santo Baldy to shock the world of football. We are not ready to embrace him yet according to Santo Baldy.

#50milfailureofcourse

 

[Gazza]

How are his long term prospects of being first choice at City? Now they have Laporte, still have Kompany and Otamendi, and will most likely be after another CB if not this summer then next.

 

[Damien]

Nowhere to be found again.
When will the press pick up on it?

Guardiola said he's been injured the past few weeks.

“We have problems, we have injuries. We don’t have a lot of players for the next games.

“Aguero is injured. He was injured before the game but made a huge effort to help us for 10 to 15 minutes.

“After the actions from Ashley Young against United, he had problems with his knee and could not train.”

“Fernandinho is suspended. Mendy is out. Stones is out. We have 14 players for the next game.”

 

[padr81]

How are his long term prospects of being first choice at City? Now they have Laporte, still have Kompany and Otamendi, and will most likely be after another CB if not this summer then next.

I think he has a long term future if we revert to a back 3. He was our best defender until his injury but has been shit since. I think he'll outlast Kompany and Otamendi here for sure but I don't think he'll ever be the first name on the teamsheet.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

How are his long term prospects of being first choice at City? Now they have Laporte, still have Kompany and Otamendi, and will most likely be after another CB if not this summer then next.

If he can get back to his early season form he should fine since Kompany has injury issues and Otamendi is not a natural fit for Pep's system. But, his early season form is starting to seem like a fluke.

 

[adexkola]

How are his long term prospects of being first choice at City? Now they have Laporte, still have Kompany and Otamendi, and will most likely be after another CB if not this summer then next.

He'll be fine long term. Was rushed back after his hamstring injury IMo, before then he was near perfect this season.

 

[padr81]

If he can get back to his early season form he should fine since Kompany has injury issues and Otamendi is not a natural fit for Pep's system. But, his early season form is starting to seem like a fluke.

I think its more that he played in a back 3 more often than not, than a fluke.

 

[Bubz27]

They only have 14 players? Poor City.

 

[wythyred]

Been very good so far.

He has such potential, he gets a lot of stick on here but i wish we bought him tbf.

 

[Trizy]

Been very good so far.

He has such potential, he gets a lot of stick on here but i wish we bought him tbf.

He's play two shite teams. He's not a good defender.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

It would be sort of funny if he makes the World Cup team of the tournament because he scored twice against Panama. And then makes the FIFA team of the Year because he made the World Cup team of the tournament.

 

[Stacks]

Been very good so far.

He has such potential, he gets a lot of stick on here but i wish we bought him tbf.

Hes not a very good defender hence his omission from his club 1st team. His potential is impossible to determine as he doesn't seem special in any aspect in defending. cannot even name the attackers he was playing against

 

[11101]

Been very good so far.

He has such potential, he gets a lot of stick on here but i wish we bought him tbf.

Except for the fact he was directly responsible for the only goal England have conceded.


With all his mistakes at club level it's the same theme; he never seems to know whats going on around him.

 

[robinamicrowave]

See this thread has been deathly fecking silent over the past week or so. Wonder why.

 

[IrishRedDevil]

See this thread has been deathly fecking silent over the past week or so. Wonder why.

Because Maguire and Trippier are getting praise as being the best England defenders. Your point?

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Still got a mistake in him,just hasn't had enough pressure.

Harry Maguire, Young and Trippier have been excellent,particularly the former

 

[ravi2]

Still got a mistake in him,just hasn't had enough pressure.

Harry Maguire, Young and Trippier have been excellent,particularly the former

Maguire and tripper have really surprised me with how solid they have been.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Maguire and tripper have really surprised me with how solid they have been.

Comes from a Utd supporting family too,shame we didn't bid for him. Superb all round and better than Walker

 

[Giant Midget]

Really lie Trippier. Had no idea he was this good. Pace to burn, excellent delivery and has really good technique.

I see why Spurs let Walker go to City so easily when they had this guy to take over.

 

[DannyCAFC]

Still got a mistake in him,just hasn't had enough pressure.

Harry Maguire, Young and Trippier have been excellent,particularly the former

Young has been bang average, just hasn't been tested an awful lot defensively yet. Going forward he's been predictable and easy to defend against in open-play.

 

[Damien]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-c...kely-ally-lothar-matthaus-followingworld-cup/

Lothar Matthaus: “I said to my neighbour [in the seat next to me], ‘This Stones is one of the best central defenders in the world’.”

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

The English lindelöf.

 

[BlueMoonOutcast]

Nice to see Stones getting some praise, he's been really good in the WC so far. His partnership with Maguire is very effective. He started last season well but it derailed after his injury. Hopefully he continues this form.

 

[Samid]

Still got a mistake in him,just hasn't had enough pressure.

Good call.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Still got a mistake in him,just hasn't had enough pressure.

Harry Maguire, Young and Trippier have been excellent,particularly the former

Wish I kinda got it wrong but he's a bit of a twat...

 

[izec]

Keane is right. The ball watching and his lack of awareness were criminal. Look at the reaction of Mandzukic and Stones, says it all.

 

[BlueMoonOutcast]

Keane is right. The ball watching and his lack of awareness were criminal. Look at the reaction of Mandzukic and Stones, says it all.

In his defence though, Mandzukic was behind Stones and in front of Maguire. Maguire is the one who is more aware of his position so surely he shoulders more of the blame?

 

[izec]

In his defence though, Mandzukic was behind Stones and in front of Maguire. Maguire is the one who is more aware of his position so surely he shoulders more of the blame?

Yes. Maguire should have done better. I think playing in a back three and only having Mandzukic centrally, they both thought the other one will take it, without knowing if he will. It started from not challenging the header to Perisic (Trippier) to the ball rolling between Stones and Maguire, needing smelling the danger. Mandzukic was looking down after the first cross, looked at Perisic and made the reaction for a run immediately. He smelled it with all his experience and fight. England are ok, but paying attention to these sort of situations makes a world cup winner. Same for Walker, who wanted to head the ball and came too late against Perisic with his foot.

I thought England had problems in the whole tournament about communication and organisation back there. Every game, they gifted a few chances to opponents due to lack of communication and disorganisation or some individual feck up from someone. Stones, Walker and Maguire didnt work great together, that goal was a nice example of it.

 

[adexkola]

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He and Laporte both had excellent showings against Liverpool's attack, both in winning duels and keeping the ball away from Liverpool's press, so much so that Klopp told his forwards to back off.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

Laporte starts whenever fit but, Stones has not really cemented himself as Laporte's CB partner yet. Otamendi and Kompany have been rotated in that position but, by what Pep wants in CBs it should be Stones.

 

[Gentleman Jim]

Laporte starts whenever fit but, Stones has not really cemented himself as Laporte's CB partner yet. Otamendi and Kompany have been rotated in that position but, by what Pep wants in CBs it should be Stones.

Kompany and Otamendi need games so I understand an element of rotation just not sure why it's always Stones rather than Laporte that makes way.
Maybe later in the season he'll flip it if Laporte starts to wear down.