Kendall sees similarities between Stones and Beckenbauer

, 30 April, 30comments  |  Jump to most recent

(Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Writing in his latest column for the Liverpool Echo, Howard Kendall draws parallels between legendary German defender Franz Beckenbauer and Everton's exciting young talent, John Stones.

The 20 year-old centre half is coming to the end of his first full season with the Blues since breaking into the senior team in Roberto Martinez's first season in charge at Goodison Park and is now a fixture in the line-up.

The composure and precociousness he showed with his now famous "Panenka"-style penalty against Juventus in San Francisco two summers ago proved to be a mere hint at the player he has become alongside captain Phil Jagielka.

And while Evertonians wait for the penny to drop for England manager Roy Hodgson, ex-Blues boss Kendall is already appreciating Stones's ability and envisioning the kind of player he can blossom into.

"[T]he more I see of John Stones, the more he reminds me of Franz Beckenbauer," Kendall writes.

"Yes, I'm aware that's a hell of a compliment. And I'm definitely not saying Stones is as good as Beckenbauer — he has a long, long way to go before that can even be considered.

There [are], though...similarities between their styles of play, most definitely with the way Stones bring the ball out of defence.

The way his head is up. The way he's in control. His speed of thought and body. And the way he has great confidence in what he's doing.

For those who saw Beckenbauer play — and what a player he was — it is definitely alike."

Stones has now played 50 times for Everton, a milestone he marked with his first goal for the club against Manchester United last Sunday, since arriving as an unknown 18 year-old from Barnsley in a £3m deal on transfer deadline day in January 2013.

It was the last piece of transfer business conducted by David Moyes before he left the club for United the following May.

 

Reader Comments (30)

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Conor Skelly
1 Posted 30/04/2015 at 20:46:06
Say what you like about Moyes. His record in the transfer market was exceptional.
Mike Childs
3 Posted 30/04/2015 at 21:07:30
Given what Man City paid for Mangala IÂ’m super scared that the board isnÂ’t going to wait long to cash in. Another year of improvement by John and theyÂ’re easily looking at a 㿀 million plus profit.
Ross Edwards
4 Posted 30/04/2015 at 21:32:12
Not exceptional, Connor. He made a lot of good signings but, like all managers, had some stinkers.
Bill Gall
5 Posted 30/04/2015 at 21:34:27
Sorry, Conor. Moyes made some good signings but, like other managers, he signed players that did not meet their expectations.
Gavin Johnson
6 Posted 30/04/2015 at 22:02:01
Moyes did have a good record with signings, but IÂ’d hedge a bet that most managers would if they were in a job as long as he was.
Dave Williams
7 Posted 30/04/2015 at 22:03:04
IÂ’m with you Conor. Anyone who signs Cahill, Arteta, Pienaar, Stones, Coleman, Lescott etc for the money we paid out is exceptional. Just because he did not behave too well once he left does not detract from the fine job he did. Everyone signs some duds as did Moyes but if Roberto mirrors what Moyes did in the transfer market I will be well pleased.
James Flynn
8 Posted 30/04/2015 at 21:30:41
How come, with the window approaching, hereÂ’s Kendall comparing Stones to a legend of the game?

WeÂ’re a selling Club, alright. And Stones is first in demand, no doubt. We know heÂ’s going eventually.

But Jesus Christ, at least let other clubs come in for him first. WhatÂ’s next? Have him run round various pitches these last games with a "For Sale" sandwich-board hanging off his shoulders?

Winston Williamson
9 Posted 30/04/2015 at 22:27:58
Maybe a listing on eBay James?

Why people within the club or associated with the club, talk our players up in the press, knowing (as we do) that weÂ’re a selling club, is beyond me. It just makes me nervous!

Colin Glassar
10 Posted 30/04/2015 at 22:35:10
Beckenbauer and Hansen, IÂ’ve been saying it for ages. The kid is class.
Peter McHugh
11 Posted 30/04/2015 at 22:45:13
A fabulous footballer; I just hope he can stay injury free. He still dicks around and plays some terrible balls at times – ie, ball to Barry just after we scored on Sunday, but what a player at 20.

Still, not good enough to get in starting 11 in EnglandÂ’s U21 game last time out! WhatÂ’s more remarkable was that Southgate was an extremely good ball playing centre-half in his time who read the game fantastically well.

Ant Dwyer
12 Posted 30/04/2015 at 22:43:18
ItÂ’s clear heÂ’s a top talent, something me and many others pointed to last season was the lack of 20-year-old centre-halves that have held their own in the Premier League.

Only an odd few can claim that and many of them spent seasons out at full back or were relegated before making the grade when they had experience behind them.

Stones and Jags will be awesome together so long as we box the CM position off in front of them.
Also I’m with you Connor (#1), Gavin (#6), and dave (#7) – Moyes's transfer record was exceptional.
Value for money most of the time and IÂ’d go as far as to say without his shrewd transfer dealings we could have been relegated in past seasons, he created his own funds.

Patrick Murphy
14 Posted 30/04/2015 at 23:00:15
I think the booze is starting to get to old Howard, imagine if he was the Everton manager in the current climate and a former manager made the same statements - he would not be best pleased and rightly so, having said that Roberto hardly understates the skills and abilities of his own players so he can hardly complain when it is done in the press by others.

I donÂ’t believe that John Stones will move anywhere at this moment in time it will be more worrying in a couple of years time when he has even greater experience, of course that also depends on how his agent views the situation and whether the board can resist offers over a certain figure.

Given the uplift in mood in the camp in recent weeks I donÂ’t think weÂ’ll lose any of our stars for the start of the next campaign... but I wouldnÂ’t risk any hard cash on that belief either.

John Daley
15 Posted 30/04/2015 at 23:11:06
Patrick: "imagine if he was the Everton manager in the current climate and a former manager made the same statements – he would not be best pleased and rightly so."

Exactly what was there to be displeased about? Having just read the article, I fail to see anything problematic or likely to cause the current manager to take umbrage. Do you mean because Howard compared him to Beckenbauer and that could be viewed as piling pressure on a young players shoulders? That happens all the time.

Tagging someone Â’the newÂ’ someone else is an everyday occurrence in sports journalism/punditry parlance. No manager is going to be pissed at one of his players receiving deserved praise from a former occupant of the hot seat and a club legend to boot.

John Daley
16 Posted 30/04/2015 at 23:32:38
Never mind. Having read through the rest of the comments, I take it youÂ’re referring to the same thing as James Flynn and Winston Williamson, i.e: weÂ’re a selling club and such platitudes will bring him to the attention of prospective bidders.

Utter bollocks. Like the decision makers at all such clubs are anxiously waiting on tenterhooks to have a look at who Howard is tipping for big things in his Echo column: Â’Shit, better go get him boys. HK said heÂ’s the dogs bollocks and he hasnÂ’t even set foot in the bar yet.'

Stones has been performing admirably in the Premier League for the past two seasons, earning many plaudits along the way. ItÂ’s not like he wouldÂ’ve been flying, unnoticed, under the radar of Â’big clubsÂ’ prior to this hitting the press, is it?

James Flynn
17 Posted 30/04/2015 at 23:48:43
Lighten up JD. Only you are attaching some great weight to StonesÂ’s value based on KendallÂ’s comments. Of course, other clubs know who Stones is and are targeting him. We all know that.

ItÂ’s the sudden appearance in the press, just prior to the window opening, by an Everton legend, of how great Stones could be.

LyndonÂ’s just posted an OP from Roberto about EvertonÂ’s future regarding the way ahead and player movement. Right behind Kendall giving the big-up to Stones. Coincidence? No.

The only way Martinez gets anything close to whatÂ’s needed to replenishing the squad is by selling players. Stones is worth the most. WeÂ’re just being softened in the press for whatÂ’s coming.

And Christ JD. We go back a few years. No Star Wars references, comic book heroes, big-titted actresses? Maybe Stones isnÂ’t worth that much after all. WhatÂ’s footy in England coming to?

Andy Crooks
18 Posted 01/05/2015 at 00:54:36
James, would it not be good if Stones liked playing for Everton and wanted to stay? ItÂ’s the money that seems to make them different. If I was offered a job at an additional three grand a year, fuck me the wife and me would be discussing it into the early hours. LetÂ’s take a chance IÂ’d say. Better the devil you know sheÂ’d say. Three grand is three grand IÂ’d say. What if it goes pear shaped? sheÂ’d say. Your right IÂ’d say, I m staying with Everton... sorry, I meant IÂ’m staying in my shit job that enables me to go and see Everton once a year.

Please let Ross Barkley be an Evertonian.

John Daley
19 Posted 01/05/2015 at 03:48:12
"Christ JD. We go back a few years. No Star Wars references, comic book heroes, big-titted actresses? Maybe Stones isn't worth that much after all. What's footy in England coming to?"

Okay, James. IÂ’ll try again.

ItÂ’s not like Kendall (despite his liking for a tilt) spends his time decked out in dossy old robes whilst trekking through the footballing wastelands, convincing weak-minded chairmen, by mere virtue of his words, that Â’this is the boy youÂ’re looking forÂ’.
------------------
Â’This is the boy weÂ’re looking forÂ’

’You should get down to business’

Â’We should get down to businessÂ’

Â’Move along...Â’

Â’Move along...Â’

Â’...and help yourself to a bottle of Malt on your way outÂ’

Â’Nice try HowardÂ’
-----------------------

The fact that Kendall’s weekly column contained some complimentary words about a player and appeared in print the same day that Martinez mentioned to the press the sort of additions he might be looking to add to his squad in the summer is just simple coincidence. To try and connect the two,  in order to construct some forced conspiracy theory about Everton and Kendall planting seeds designed to lead to Stones sale, is the sort of comedic detective work not seen since Chief O’Hara helped the dynamic duo figure out that a criminal caper was defo the work of Catwoman... due to the fact that it was committed at sea, and ’sea’ is also ’C’ which is the first letter of her fucking name. (’Of course! It’s the only possible answer’).

You’re adding one and one together and coming up with three. Or... if you prefer, James... you’ve took parts from one fluff piece, parts from another fluff piece, tried to forcefully merge them together, and ended up with something resembling that freakish triple-titted tart from Total Recall.

John Daley
20 Posted 01/05/2015 at 03:54:12
"It's the sudden appearance in the press, just prior to the window opening"

Hardly Â’just prior toÂ’, James. The transfer window doesnÂ’t open until July. WeÂ’re only just going into May

Sam Morrison
21 Posted 01/05/2015 at 09:48:44
IÂ’m with John here. The conspiracy theory that implies Kendall has been given the nod to big up Stones with a view to selling him in July... do we really need to debate how ludicrous that is?

If Everton wanted to sell, it would be Martinez bigging him up, and as we all know he does that to all the players anyway, so itÂ’d be hard to separate the veiled selling strategy from the ongoing man-management.

Dave Abrahams
22 Posted 01/05/2015 at 09:57:39
John, relax – you're making a mountain out of a molehill. We all know he will go eventually, let’s just enjoy him while he’s here. Not many people take any notice of Howard anyway,

John, do us a favour, send in one of your funny letters, it will relax you and give us all a boost.

James Marshall
23 Posted 01/05/2015 at 12:52:17
It was (as a much younger man) once said of me by an opposition manager "you look like a young Jack Charlton striding out of defence". A comment IÂ’ve dined out on for 20 years!

I see a bit of Jack Charlton in John Stones as well.

Not quite up there with Beckenbauer yet as mentioned, but certainly plenty of comparisons to been drawn with him and Charlton, to my mind.

Stones oozes class and hopefully will continue to progress as an Everton player for a few years yet. He has way more quality about him than Ross Barkley for example – as an ex-defender/goalkeeper myself I love watching him play.

I havenÂ’t been as excited when a player scored for us as I was when he glanced in that beauty against Man Utd last week, as I have in years!

Kevin Tully
24 Posted 01/05/2015 at 13:37:03
I wish they would use his full name; Â’Future Everton & England captain, John Stones.Â’

After hearing him speak in a few interviews, he seems a very grounded young lad. I am sure heÂ’s aware that moves to the moneyed elite can end up in tears for many players, even with his talent.

I donÂ’t expect him to move in the near future, even if there are large offers made by other clubs. Unless he is sold against his wishes of course... great Blue though, our chairman, be careful what you wish for... VenkyÂ’s... Leeds... Portsmouth etc. etc.

Trevor Lynes
25 Posted 01/05/2015 at 14:55:37
To actually compare a very young talented kid with Beckenbauer is ridiculous. Stones is a talented kid who is still learning from Jags and latterly Distin. The same things were said about a host of young players who never actually developed into anywhere near the standard. I put Jeffers, Cadamarteri and many from other clubs youngsters in this bracket.

Barkley is another who so far is really inconsistent and blows hot and cold. He is supposedly the one to build a team around according to some pundits. Unfortunately he does not score often enough and is presently being over shadowed by Harry Kane.

Jagielka is by far our best and most consistent centre back, he is better than Cahill in my opinion and does not concede stupid free kicks in dangerous areas. So long as Stones is paired with Jags he may well develop into a top class centre back. Even then he will need to do it over a sustained period to be compared to Beckenbauer.

Jay Wood
26 Posted 01/05/2015 at 18:55:01
I hardly think RM will take umbrage at HKÂ’s comments, given his own public statement about John in February.

Link

Ernie Baywood
28 Posted 02/05/2015 at 03:48:45
You say that, Trevor, but how many English defenders have ever carried these kind of comparisons? The only one in the last, say, 15-20 years I can think of is Ferdinand. He turned out pretty good and wasnÂ’t up to StonesÂ’s ball-playing ability at this age.
Harold Matthews
29 Posted 02/05/2015 at 04:48:55
Terrific prospect but nothing like The Kaiser, who had a lower, quicker stride pattern. I well remember the game where he floated around with his arm in a sling. Of course, in those days, he was a midfielder.
Paul Rimmer
30 Posted 02/05/2015 at 07:47:53
Think heÂ’s more like Bobby Moore in his style personally. I also think heÂ’ll be a future Everton and England captain.
Tony Doran
31 Posted 02/05/2015 at 10:37:07
Still pisses me off... the only thing that should be getting sold is the club. We need investment to not only keep our jewels but add to them. If we canÂ’t push this club for top 4 finishers in this crop of Premier League teams then we never will.

I said last year that Stones could easily slot into Real or Barca in the not-too-distant future. He needs to iron out the mistakes and is slowly doing that. As for someone mentioning 㿀M in a couple of years... get a grip, David Luis was sold for about 㿞M and heÂ’s gash.

Mark Stone
32 Posted 07/05/2015 at 11:39:15
High praise indeed.
Andrew Ellams
33 Posted 07/05/2015 at 11:40:11
Does anybody believe you can play for Everton and captain England in modern football? His media profile is nowhere near high enough. It’s not who you are – it’s who you play for.

Anyway, great player and hope he stays at Everton for many, many years.


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