Absolutely woeful at the back for Manchester City at Norwich today. I know Stones has been working his way back from another injury but he just has far too may errors in him to be considered a top class defender at present.
Not sure much of today was his fault in fairness, let down massively by those around him Possibly shouldn't have tried to play offside for the second, but why on earth was Walker so deep? Third was just shocking by Otamendi in my eyes
Another 'playing out from the back' horror show. At first, I thought 'ah well, Otamendi was too casual, so it's not just a British problem' but then I saw the 'hot potato' pass from Stones who must have seen the Norwich player closing in. It's great to see the total football, but it's always one bad pass away from looking silly.
I love John Stones, and I wish him every success in the world but hes nothing special really, is he? I honestly believed in his early days at Everton that he was going to captain England for 10 years or so but he seems to switch off far too much and he clearly dwells on previous mistakes which lead to even more mistakes. Dont get me wrong hes a tidy player, and a good player. Hes not a brilliant player though. Hes one of those players that just doesnt seem to suit the premier league, I always think that. If he goes to La Liga then he bosses it, but the speed and the quick press of the football in this country seems to catch him out far too much.
They’ll be fine together soon enough, the pair of them have barely played for months through a combination of injury & the form of Laporte & Kompany at the back end of last season. People have short memories, it was only 2 seasons ago these two were the first choice partnership for City when they won the league & looked superb together. Stones & Laporte also looked quality together the first half of last season before Stones’ injury as well so he’ll be back to his best before long.
Stones had done the exact same thing as otamendi about 2 mins before but Norwich just didn’t finish it. He had a very poor game - worse than Ota for sure.
Stones didn’t have a great game but there was nothing wrong with the pass for the third - Otamendi took a bad touch, didn’t look and ignored stones’ advice to send it back to Ederson - then moaned that he didn’t tell him! It wasn’t a hot potato pass at all - the lad sprinted fifteen yards to get to him. But even if it was, that’s how they are coached and are expected to play. And as for the other comment about playing offside - he didn’t really actively step up did he, just held the line whilst two ran ‘offside’, he did what any centre back worth their salt would have. Only Kyle Walker with absolutely no defensive awareness or instinct whatsoever decided, instead of keeping his line as he will have been coached since he was an under 9, to track the runner well before the ball was played. All he had to do to defend it effectively was stand still. Otamendi going for a wander didn’t help but that could have been accounted for, that was all on Walker that goal for me. There is a reason, despite his obvious qualities, that even in picking three right backs the other week, Gareth Southgate didn’t select him.
Stones did the exact same thing ota did just before the third but poor finishing meant it didn’t go in.