Talent is a wonderful thing. It can earn
you loads of money, fame and adulation. A talented person is the subject of
many conversations, arguments, and disagreements and can be the source of joy
to many as well. If only I was talented. :)
Despite these, lots of knowledgeable people
have commented that talent alone can get you so far. Talent requires a few bolt
on. Application is my favourite one. No matter how talented you are, if you
don’t apply yourself, you are unlikely to achieve your true potential. Other
bolt - on that can potentially accompany talent are charisma, luck, judgment,
and probably the right mentors to channel you in the right direction.
Footballers in the current age are very
lucky. Averagely talented players can become multimillionaires before their 21st
birthday. Those who are able to apply their talents can become rich beyond
imagination.
No doubt John Stones is talented. He is
young and some might say good-looking. He looks supremely comfortable with the
ball at his feet. He appears to be a natural footballer and we have heard lots
of comparisons to Franz Beckenbauer and Rio Ferdinand.
John Stones has come a long way in his somewhat
short professional football-playing career. He came through the Barnsley
academy and signed his first professional contract as a 17 year old about 5
years ago. He made his debut for Barnsley the year after signing his
professional contract and less than 11 months later he left for Everton for a
transfer fee of £3m. 2 years later some money miss road wanted to pay £50m for
him. If you have a money-printing machine at home, I doubt if you can turn £3m
into £50m in less than 2 years. I digress.
You can see young John has achieved so much
in such a little time and I wish him continuing success in his footballing
career. However I genuinely think he is a spoilt child. Many commentators have complained about the side
effects of young players in England having it all too early as it negatively
affects their football development. It is clear to me that John Stones is one
of these young players whose success has gotten into his head.
I suspect he has read all the headlines and
news column comparing him to a genuine great like Beckenbauer. He has probably
lapped up all the salivating comments about him been the future of English
football and a nailed on future England captain. As far as he is concerned, he
has arrived.
I hope I am wrong but I am convinced I am
right. If John Stones is not pig headed, why hasn’t he cut out this silliness disguised
as ball playing out of his game? I listened to the first 5 minutes of the
England match versus Netherlands last night on radio and the commentators were
appalled about his ball playing in the England penalty area. What pig headedness.
In the first 5 minutes for God’s sake. After the flak he has received this
season. SMH
I watched the remaining 85 minutes plus on
TV and was disgusted by some of the moves he attempted in defence especially
the slip leading to Netherland’s first goal. In life and often in football, not
everything is right or wrong. Mostly the things that come off justify the
action you took before hand. Conversely if the results are negative, it
evidences the fact that you perhaps made the wrong choice. John slipping
yesterday directly resulted in Netherland’s equalizing goal. He was at fault
for that goal although Danny BLOCKBRAIN Rose didn’t help matters.
Stones is a player that has been roundly criticized
by many of his own fans this season for his dangerous ball play in his own
penalty area. He has lost his starting position to a frankly average central
defender in Funes Mori and this is despite the fact that Stones is clearly a
favourite of his Club manager. Roberto Martinez has taken him out of the firing
line and saved him from the ire of the Everton fans. You will think he will
learn TIME & PLACE. No. First 5
minutes. I despair.
John Stones’ promoters in the media have
been out in droves, defending him, egging him on. Pointing out his contributions
to the Vardy goal and another pass to Walcott that almost came off. Good luck
to them. They obviously know more about football than I do. But one thing is
clear for me and to me. If your redeeming feature as a central defender is your
assist or goal scoring record, you need to contemplate a change of position on
the football field. As a defender.
PLEASE DEFEND FIRST. Don’t create panic in your penalty area.
I saw Roy’s reaction after England conceded
their first goal and knew he was very upset. I’m not sure what he was upset
about. I hope he is the safety first manager that everybody thinks he is. If
so, he should drop John Stones from all of his future plans right away. He is a
disaster that will happen time and time again if he has his current mind set. John
is young enough to play a role in future England set up with Roy’s successor and
this is only if young John cuts out the pig headedness and silliness in his
play especially the dangerous play in the penalty area.
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