John Stones

[ravenrover]

Crikey how much are Barnsley going to make out of that deal if it goes through?

[drfchound]

A nice little windfall but don't get jealous.

[nortikorner]

Alot of hedgehogs

[roverstillidie91]

Going to pay more out in transfer fees and wages due to other clubs being aware of any windfall.

[DonnyNoel]

Everton have probably bought out the clause months ago once the top clubs started sniffing round. Still for seven figures I'd imagine but not the original percentage.

[ScillyRover]

Everton failed in their attempt to buy out the clause just after Chelsea were rumoured to be interested last season. So if the deal goes through with Man City at the reputed figure of 50m, Barnsley stand to get 15%, ie. 7.5m

[Colemans Left Hook]

is it just me or is he of ridiculously priced

I've watched him he doesn't mark attackers - just space -- he doesn't actually tackle  - it's a bit hard to put into words  the way he tries to block an attackers shot

the way to "derail him" is for an attacker to stay close TO HIM  that really would unsettle him effectively marking him out of the game

basically he thinks he is a lot better than he is

of course ten years ago when tackling was allowed he would have been of no consequence
sadly people who can tackle in a sport once known as football are hounded out of the game in this sport of "basketball football" where no contact is allowed

[drfchound]

Or, basically some professional football people think he is better than you think he is.

[boro_rover]

That is called zonal marking CLH it is quite a popular tactic among teams. Also it is worth considering that just because he doesn't slide about in the mud all day like a 60's clogger that doesn't mean he can't tackle. I don't know what you think but I was always taught it is better to stay on your feet if possible because if you get done you have at least some chance of getting back. Once you are on your arse and you miss your tackle you are out of that play.

[Nudga]

Boro Rover, well said. I was also told that good players stay on their feet.

[drfchound]

Bobby Moore was a decent enough defender and as I recall he wasn't one for making crunching tackles.
He read the game well enough not to need to.

[ravenrover]

That is called zonal marking CLH it is quite a popular tactic among teams. Also it is worth considering that just because he doesn't slide about in the mud all day like a 60's clogger that doesn't mean he can't tackle. I don't know what you think but I was always taught it is better to stay on your feet if possible because if you get done you have at least some chance of getting back. Once you are on your arse and you miss your tackle you are out of that play.

I was taught you take man and ball but if you miss the ball, you take the man 

[Sammy Chung was King]

Stones is rare in modern football, he is a defender that reads the game, he see's situations and nips them in the bud without needing to slide all over.
He isn't the finished article, he is overpriced for what he has achieved so far, but he is far and away, the best central defender england have.
Smalling has no brain and reacts after things have happened, cahill is much the same, stones is a future england captain, similar to rio ferdinand in his style of play, he just needs a john terry type at the side of him.

[Sammy Chung was King]

He played in the same Barnsley youth team as one of my mates who is now in America.

He rates him highly, but was amazed when Chelsea wanted him as a basic replacement for John Terry last summer.

I dread to think how much a top quality defender like Rio Ferdinand, at his peak, would fetch in today's market considering he commanded some massive fees in his youth.

Totally different defenders, him and terry, you couldn't replace them like for like. Man united would be the better move for him, mourinho would improve him, even though i'm not convinced he is the manager he was.
Ferdinand would bring, sixty or seventy million, at today's prices. He will only do well if he goes to city, if they can get kompany fit, he needs that sort of assurance at the side of him at the moment, mangala or otamendi, wouldn't give him that.

[GazLaz]

A defender is a defender. Terry and Stones are similar. Both read the game, both very good on the ball. Terry better in the air and more disciplined.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Stones couldn't get in the defensive line up of a side that conceded two Sunday League  goals against Iceland.

I reckon that makes him worth £50m of anybody's money.