Player Focus: Stones Must Learn From Mistakes to Salvage His Season
In a season of inconsistency in the Premier League that has led to such an open title race it’s perhaps Everton that best epitomise the unpredictablility of England’s top-flight. The fact, however, that the Toffees have become so predictably unpredictable has ensured Roberto Martinez’s side are nowhere near the position they so easily could have been given the struggles of some of the league’s biggest clubs.
The Merseysiders sit 11th despite boasting two of the most consistent attacking threats in the Premier League this season, with Romelu Lukaku (16 goals) and Ross Barkley (8) starring for the club. The fact is Everton could easily end the campaign as the league’s leading scorers (currently two off the lead on 46) but well out of the running for a place in Europe.
With 35 goals conceded, there is one glaringly obvious reason why the Toffees haven’t been able to trouble the top four. While Tim Howard has faced plenty of criticism for that return, he hasn’t been helped by those in front of him on numerous occasions. Joel Robles’ inclusion in the side has been credited for an improved defensive record but Everton’s progress has also coincided with John Stones’ absence.
Speaking of how Stones had ‘become a man in a very short space of time’ following a summer that saw him constantly linked with a move to Chelsea as recently as last month, Martinez stated: “What John has done is always be there to perform for Everton, always be there to help his teammates and always made himself available”. A week later the manager said that while reluctant to judge players as early in their career as the 21-year old, Stones had the potential to be “one of the greatest players England has ever seen.”
The following day Stones was guilty of over-playing - not for the first time this season - as Everton let a two goal advantage slip in their Capital One Cup semi final second leg with Manchester City. While injury has played it’s part in his absence since, a dip in form has seen Martinez opt for more experience at the back. Indeed, following a Boxing Day win over Newcastle Stones’ performances left a lot to be desired prior to his withdrawal from the starting XI.
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A torrid afternoon in a 4-3 defeat to Stoke saw the youngster pick up his lowest WhoScored.com rating of the season (5.66), and while unfortunate to give away the decisive penalty in that game, he would very much get away with one at Manchester City a fortnight later. An error against Swansea - for which Howard was also somewhat culpable - before Everton’s cup exit ensured it had been a difficult start to the year for the defender, with a WhoScored.com rating of 6.45 from his last 7 games highlighting that Stones had become more of a hindrance than a help.
As Martinez stated last month, however, it is of course too early to dismiss the England international. In that sense speaking so incredibly highly of the youngster may not have helped the situation, though the Spaniard is no stranger to hyperbole as far as his players’ abilities are concerned. An obvious ploy to build an individual’s confidence and self belief - perhaps picking that up from Dave Whelan in his time at Wigan - there was a sense that Stones was showing signs of believing the hype.
Everton’s fans aren’t the most forgiving or indeed accepting of Martinez’s demands to play the ball out from the back at times, particularly at home, and the youngster began to irk some who felt he overcomplicated things. Stones undoubtedly has the ability to carry the ball forwards and work his way out of tough situations, but he can be overconfident. The dilemma is that such confidence in a defender is so rare - even more so in England - that it would be a mistake to discourage too much.
Indeed, the youngster’s willingness to receive possession under pressure is admirable, but there comes a stage when removing the ball from danger should be a defender’s first and last thought. Too often prior to his recent lay-off that wasn’t coming into his thinking whatsoever.
It's a case of Stones' greatest strength proving to be his biggest weakness at times and while such a scenario is easier to manage for an attacking player, the fact that errors are easier to scrutinise at the back means it requires intelligent man management in this instance. Indeed Everton, and later Manchester United, had a similar problem with Wayne Rooney.
His determination and aggression went overboard at times but the consensus was that you couldn't dampen the fire that made him such a phenomenon at the time. It took years for Rooney to temper his temperament but in such a high pressure position on the pitch the Toffees will hope that Stones can better channel his innate confidence quickly.
Always willing to show for the ball, Stones was clearly riled when supporters disapproved of his showboating inside the Everton box earlier this year against Tottenham. He turned and shouted as if to suggest that they were ludicrous to doubt his ability and control of the situation.
While it would indeed be wrong to question his skill, disagreeing with his decision making is completely understandable at times and that is the biggest lesson Stones has to learn. With age he will surely develop a greater understanding of situations and circumstance. For example, it’s more acceptable to show off when you’re winning matches but this is Everton not Barcelona. Immediately after having had a shocker in defeat the week before it’s perhaps best to simplify things.
Incredibly young for a centre-back, he has time to learn from his mistakes, but not too much if he is to feature week-in, week-out at club level and pursue a starting berth for England at Euro 2016.
A shoo-in to start in France for many a matter of months ago, that number has dwindled significantly and so too will Roy Hodgson’s confidence that Stones is the right man to partner Chris Smalling this summer. The stats with and without him as far as Everton are concerned certainly suggest that he shouldn't yet be considered an automatic choice at the back for his club, let alone his country.
The Toffees have won 6 and lost just one of the 8 games he has missed in all competitions this season, whilst winning 9 (excluding penalty shoot-outs) of 27 when he has featured, and only 5 of 21 in the league. With 40 goals conceded across said 27 outings (1.48 per game) compared to just 4 in 8 (0.5 per game) in his absence, Stones' influence at this stage is questionable.
While recently having returned to full fitness, for the time being Martinez is right to persist without Stones at the heart of the defence. Indeed, his recent injury may have come as a blessing to both the club and the player. Such a break can come at the right time, when players are in need of a rest either physically or, in Stones’ case, mentally, taking him out of the firing line.
The case remains that the 21-year old has an exceptionally bright future ahead of him as long as he remains level-headed. He will get his chance again before long but must learn from his errors where he was failing to do so prior to this most recent lay-off to ensure both Everton and England see the best of him this season and beyond.
Stones' injury has seen him miss out in recent weeks and with Everton improving at the back in his absence there is no guarantee he will return to the line-up straight away. As a result I'd tip his value to fall slightly in Buabook's season market and would only buy shares for around £7.50.
