Bet young Chris doesn't get dogs abuse from fans and the media for being non existent in such an important match. Stones makes a mistake and he shouldn't play for England again.
Some people on here need to realise John Stones isnt as good as what he's made out to be just because he's from Barnsley. Right now, hes very average. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
He is right nothing will get said about smalling been non existand today.... where as stones everyone can't wait to get on his back. Angus had another good game yesterday donny you still think he isn't upto it?
Love to see Stones play defensive midfield Because he's very quick - can tackle - good passer of the ball - freightens opponents to death when he runs forward with the ball For me - he's too good a footballer to play the traditional English centre back
It's the media and social commentator's way nowadays. Get a young star, build him up to be the next Bobby Moore/Maradonna/Pele/Messiah, then start tearing him to shreds as soon as he hits a dip in performance. Smalling has already had it, now he's old news and Stones is the current player of interest. The early appraisals of John Stones being the best English centre half for since Rio, future England captain, Barcelona bound were as premature as the current critcism of him is short-sighted. He's a young defender with bags of talent learning the game in a difficult league in the spotlight. Everyone needs to let him develop into whatever he develops into. I also wouldn't mind seeing him as a defensive midfielder. He seems too talented to be just stood there heading the ball away whilst being grappled with.
Didnt go due to being ill so cant comment. From what I've seen he is far from being ready though. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Stones and Smalling will probably be England's centre backs for at least the next couple of competitive tournaments...We've had a lot worse. Obviously this has no interest to the...I couldn't care less about England...nonces on this forum.
Stones has made mistakes & there's no defending today but I also think he gets the blame for errors that aren't his own. I was reading criticism of him from the Barcelona game so expected to see him making mistakes but what I saw was Gundogan pinging a ball too hard to him which he understandably thought was for the keeper behind him. He then apparently got 'turned inside out' by Neymar but he was left in a 2 v 1 situation & couldn't do a lot. If Neymar ran at him one on one & skinned him fair enough but he didn't. He was outstanding at Spurs the other week but the 3 defenders alongside him were poor so it unfairly got labelled as a bad performance by the City defence. At least Stones' mistakes come from errors in possession than basic defending ones. I'd be more concerned if he made the kind of mistakes Cahill & Smalling do, I think they're easier to work on. Smalling got built up as improving loads last season but he benefitted from 2 holding midfielders & 2 full backs that didn't cross the half way line. Van Gaal's style of football meant he didn't have a lot to do & he still looked vulnerable when Man Utd had to take risks
