28 May 2016 09:42:24
There's a lot of debate over Stones at the minute so thought I'd give my thoughts.
At the moment he'd get in our team ahead of Blind, however, I don't think he's anywhere near as good as someone like Varane who we have been linked with. If we sign Stones we are probably going to be spending at least £40 million. That's a huge investment on its own but we would likely need to sign another CB as he will take time to settle and develop further. So all in all looking at about £70 million on two CB's is taking away a lot of money from what we will spend this summer.
I'm leaning towards him being worth it though. Admittedly, we signed Jones and Smalling who we were touting as soon to be top quality and that hasn't happened. Stones would get in the City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool team IMO so why not ours? People have said he's not the greatest defender but at 21 to be starting for England and have a coach like Mourinho be a fan then he must be doing something right.
I've also seen people say he makes too many mistakes. I've seen probably 2/ 3 this season. He wouldn't have made a couple of them were he not trying to play instead of punt but that's exactly why I think he's a worthwhile signing. Hypothetically, him trying a riskier pass or beating a man could cost a goal or two per season but him playing these passes or trying these things could lead to 100 extra attacks over the season. In the situations where a CB will boot the ball out or play it back to the keeper to boot upfield, he always looks for something different. He plays passes that take 4/ 5 players out of the game sometimes and that's a fantastic quality in a CB.
This isn't a time where we need to buy more potential, however, if we sign Stones I'll be very happy. If we sing another quality CB to go along side him like Varane, Manolas etc then we'll have the best CB pairing we've had since Ferdinand and Vidic.
Cheers.
28 May 2016 09:52:48
For me if we buy 1 CB it will be to play with Smalling. Ifound we go. for Stones it will be in addition to a second older head leader.
Both Smalling and Stones need a leader beside them for me.
Any thoughts on a less sexy CB to come in for a year or so. Williams at Swansea as an example.
I genuinely think that Stones will play better with better players. and in higher level CL.
28 May 2016 10:01:23
Williams is far too handsome probably someone like Kompany I don't find him sexy at all!
28 May 2016 10:52:21
@rjmanutd
Its not the mistakes made by overplaying it in dangerpus positions that worry me, those can be ironed out. Its his defensive positioning, constantly getting drawn out of position and being turned is what worries me. Its very similar to Smalling getting caught out sometimes and getting himself yellow carded.
I have really watched Everton' games closely the last 2 years and he doesn't strike me as someone who knows how to defend. We can't afford a shaky defense next season with all the competition that there is going to be and a partnership of Smalling and Stones doesn't fill me up with any confidence at all.
You are right we need 2 defenders and if we are spending big with 1 experienced and another younger then why not get someone who has actually proven to be a good defender and just needs a little more consistency instead of Stones who looks suspect every game.
28 May 2016 10:20:42
We build players up from other leagues .
Varane is a good player but was dropped due to the mistakes he was making .
This is playing in la liga which is very different to the epl in its demands and playing for madrid who dominate most games.
The lad himself said last week
"I know my qualities and I know what I'm capable of doing. But it's true there have been a few unusual mistakes. "
The las is a good player but like stones makes mistake, isn't really first choice for madrid yet people talk as if he is the finished article.
I would have him in the same braket as stones .
Not sure varane would look quite as good playing for everton under martinez as well.
One last thing why would madrid sell him to united for anything under 30 mill in todays market?
28 May 2016 10:21:10
I agree with brad, in that we should sign an experienced centre back to partner smalling this season and if chelsea or city do go in for stones then we should get him.
Otherwise another season at everton would be good for his development under a new manager thus making him more ready to sign for the 2017/ 18 season.
28 May 2016 10:58:44
I've seen Shappy talk about Winston Reid as perhaps the other CB we should sign which in all honesty I hadn't considered, however, he has been very good over the past couple of seasons. There are a couple of others in the PL like Dann, Fonte or Williams and though they would do a good job are they what fans are looking for?
Someone like Dragovic might be worth a look. Even Eric Bailly at Villarreal who is incredibly athletic.
One thing I will say is that if we can trust Mourinho with any kind of signing it's a CB as he has coached some of the best and sets his teams up with a very strong spine and a focus on defending well.
28 May 2016 10:45:50
He'd get in our team ahead of Blind? Not on current form mate.
28 May 2016 11:11:17
Redfaith, there's no denying there are frailties in Stones game and we can't afford a leaky defence, however, I think Mourinho is the perfect coach for him. He's also been put under even more pressure due to the fact he's been playing under Martinez who leaves his defence quite open. He has 2 full backs bombing on and McCarthy can only do so much running in front of them. Barry is there as well but is not athletic enough to shield the back 4 consistently. He intercepts well but when he plays the opponent can get at the defence more easily.
If we already had another CB capable of playing at a high level then I'd say Stones would be a no brainer but because we should be looking for 2 this summer it's quite rightly raising question marks. Ultimately it's not my money so I think we should go for him.
28 May 2016 11:19:50
@Ajh
Completely agreed. Blind has been a much much better defender than Stones this year and is probably better on the ball than Stones as well. Blind's intelligence and positioning is superb imo. Its his pace and lack of height that let's him down.
28 May 2016 11:54:12
At one point our fans wanted Stones, Coleman and Baines, who with Jagielka make up a pretty leaky defence. Maybe it's Martinez's fault, or maybe they're not very good, or maybe Stones would be a better player in a better team with a better coach and a little more maturity. Based on this last season it's hard to see anyone paying £40m+ for him right now, and doing so would constitute a major risk. but then isn't it always?
28 May 2016 17:49:27
Jred
You have some love affair for stones and barkeley, both above average players if you ask me. I can write a page of british players who have been the flavor of the year or 18 months and you look back in 3 or 4 yard and they are good enough for mid table teams. Not too long ago people though Wilshire was worth 50 mill, Sterling the headless chicken went for 50 lol, Carol, Henderson, allen, andros townsend and then there was zaha and depay who people here were talking about ronaldo caliber lol.
The reason varrane is not getting much game time is because pepe and Ramos are both great defenders and as a pair very difficult to play against. Aguero did not get a sniff against them 2 in 2 legs. that's considering Ronaldo and Bale who hardly defend or track back.