The mancityfans.net football forum

I heard in commentary during the Burnley match, “Look at how many more options John Stones has to pass to for Man City as opposed to England to pass the ball out”

That said it all and hey may struggle in the England team, because England are not on the same level as City

I also feel Stones has increased his muscle mass, he’s definitely stronger this season and now doesn’t get pushed off the ball. He’s certainly growing into a fine footballing defender

Dameerto wrote:Still makes a dodgy pass attempt every now and then BUT he is a player who is looking to start attacks with his passing (I get the feeling Pep has been working with him as part of our total football approach), and some of the moves he starts can more than make up for giving the ball away occasionally. Pleased with his defending this season too when called upon.

John Stones has the past passing statistics in the whole of the premier league at 96.7% the next nearest is at 93.6 so I am not sure where these dodgy passes are going. He hardly ever gives the ball away

daveh1962 wrote:

Dameerto wrote:Still makes a dodgy pass attempt every now and then BUT he is a player who is looking to start attacks with his passing (I get the feeling Pep has been working with him as part of our total football approach), and some of the moves he starts can more than make up for giving the ball away occasionally. Pleased with his defending this season too when called upon.

John Stones has the past passing statistics in the whole of the premier league at 96.7% the next nearest is at 93.6 so I am not sure where these dodgy passes are going. He hardly ever gives the ball away

I assume you watched out last game - try watching it again. You are familiar with the phrase "every now and then" I assume? It means occasionally (which is another word that I used towards the end of my post), as in not often - so your very helpful stats of 96.7% support my point.

Dameerto wrote:

daveh1962 wrote:

Dameerto wrote:Still makes a dodgy pass attempt every now and then BUT he is a player who is looking to start attacks with his passing (I get the feeling Pep has been working with him as part of our total football approach), and some of the moves he starts can more than make up for giving the ball away occasionally. Pleased with his defending this season too when called upon.

John Stones has the past passing statistics in the whole of the premier league at 96.7% the next nearest is at 93.6 so I am not sure where these dodgy passes are going. He hardly ever gives the ball away

I assume you watched out last game - try watching it again.

Even Barca and RM make one mistaken pass a game mate (at the back ) - its inevitable.

carl_feedthegoat wrote:

Dameerto wrote:

daveh1962 wrote:

Dameerto wrote:Still makes a dodgy pass attempt every now and then BUT he is a player who is looking to start attacks with his passing (I get the feeling Pep has been working with him as part of our total football approach), and some of the moves he starts can more than make up for giving the ball away occasionally. Pleased with his defending this season too when called upon.

John Stones has the past passing statistics in the whole of the premier league at 96.7% the next nearest is at 93.6 so I am not sure where these dodgy passes are going. He hardly ever gives the ball away

I assume you watched out last game - try watching it again.

Even Barca and RM make one mistaken pass a game mate (at the back ) - its inevitable.

Not sure why he's disputing what I wrote - even his own stats prove my point - and the point wasn't an attack on Stones either, just an observation (and more to do with the way Pep has almost certainly asked him to play)

He's come on leaps and bounds in the last 12 months. Sure he'll have a few 'mares now and again; that misplaced back pass at Leicester away last season was embarrassing for him, but to be fair the rest of the goals we conceded that day weren't entirely his fault. We're seeing him play with confidence and he's making the right decision more often than not now. When Pep was talking about him having massive 'balls' he was on to something and you can see that in the way that nothing phases him, he handles pressure well. Plus he's starting to add headed goals to his game this season - which is amazing considering we've been the team that takes the worst corners in the league for the past few seasons.
If he carries on, I can see him being our captain one day.

Dameerto wrote:

carl_feedthegoat wrote:

Dameerto wrote:

daveh1962 wrote:

Dameerto wrote:Still makes a dodgy pass attempt every now and then BUT he is a player who is looking to start attacks with his passing (I get the feeling Pep has been working with him as part of our total football approach), and some of the moves he starts can more than make up for giving the ball away occasionally. Pleased with his defending this season too when called upon.

John Stones has the past passing statistics in the whole of the premier league at 96.7% the next nearest is at 93.6 so I am not sure where these dodgy passes are going. He hardly ever gives the ball away

I assume you watched out last game - try watching it again.

Even Barca and RM make one mistaken pass a game mate (at the back ) - its inevitable.

Not sure why he's disputing what I wrote - even his own stats prove my point.

Do you reckon they actually practise losing the ball at the back in training ? What to do if A happens ? B happens ? etc.....or maybe i've been watching too many Mission impossible movies )))

I'm sure they practise for having the ball turn over close to our goal - they looked well drilled in our last game when it happened.

carl_feedthegoat wrote:

Dameerto wrote:Not sure why he's disputing what I wrote - even his own stats prove my point.

Do you reckon they actually practise losing the ball at the back in training ? What to do if A happens ? B happens ? etc.....or maybe i've been watching too many Mission impossible movies )))

not aware of any bookie up to bet against that!
[shit me, I never remember the antinomical word for backing a bet]

https://youtu.be/py3wluMv_a8

Hope link works . Really comes across as a real team player and I love the clip of Pep as well.