Season › 2014-15 › News Kendall sees similarities between Stones and Beckenbauer Lyndon Lloyd , 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) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer 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 IÂm super scared that the board isnÂt going to wait long to cash in. Another year of improvement by John and theyÂre 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 IÂd 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 IÂm 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, hereÂs Kendall comparing Stones to a legend of the game?WeÂre a selling Club, alright. And Stones is first in demand, no doubt. We know heÂs going eventually.But Jesus Christ, at least let other clubs come in for him first. WhatÂs 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 weÂre 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, IÂve 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 EnglandÂs U21 game last time out! WhatÂs 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 ItÂs clear heÂs 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 IÂm with you Connor (#1), Gavin (#6), and dave (#7) – Moyes's transfer record was exceptional. Value for money most of the time and IÂd 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 donÂt 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 donÂt think weÂll lose any of our stars for the start of the next campaign... but I wouldnÂt 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 Âthe new 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 youÂre referring to the same thing as James Flynn and Winston Williamson, i.e: weÂre 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: ÂShit, better go get him boys. HK said heÂs the dogs bollocks and he hasnÂt 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. ItÂs not like he wouldÂve been flying, unnoticed, under the radar of Âbig clubs 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 StonesÂs value based on KendallÂs comments. Of course, other clubs know who Stones is and are targeting him. We all know that. ItÂs the sudden appearance in the press, just prior to the window opening, by an Everton legend, of how great Stones could be.LyndonÂs just posted an OP from Roberto about EvertonÂs 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 whatÂs needed to replenishing the squad is by selling players. Stones is worth the most. WeÂre just being softened in the press for whatÂs coming.And Christ JD. We go back a few years. No Star Wars references, comic book heroes, big-titted actresses? Maybe Stones isnÂt worth that much after all. WhatÂs 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? ItÂs 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. LetÂs take a chance IÂd say. Better the devil you know sheÂd say. Three grand is three grand IÂd say. What if it goes pear shaped? sheÂd say. Your right IÂd say, I m staying with Everton... sorry, I meant IÂm 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. IÂll try again.ItÂs 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 Âthis is the boy youÂre looking forÂ.------------------ÂThis is the boy weÂre looking forÂÂYou should get down to businessÂÂWe should get down to businessÂÂMove along...ÂÂMove along...ÂÂ...and help yourself to a bottle of Malt on your way outÂÂNice try HowardÂ-----------------------The fact that KendallÂs 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 OÂHara 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 Âsea is also ÂC which is the first letter of her fucking name. (ÂOf course! ItÂs the only possible answerÂ).YouÂre adding one and one together and coming up with three. Or... if you prefer, James... youÂve 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 Âjust prior toÂ, James. The transfer window doesnÂt open until July. WeÂre only just going into May Sam Morrison 21 Posted 01/05/2015 at 09:48:44 IÂm 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 itÂd 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, letÂs just enjoy him while heÂs 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 IÂve 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 havenÂt 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; ÂFuture Everton & England captain, John Stones.ÂAfter hearing him speak in a few interviews, he seems a very grounded young lad. I am sure heÂs aware that moves to the moneyed elite can end up in tears for many players, even with his talent. I donÂt 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... VenkyÂs... 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 HKÂs 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 wasnÂt up to StonesÂs 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 heÂs more like Bobby Moore in his style personally. I also think heÂll 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 canÂt 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 heÂs 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. ItÂs not who you are – itÂs who you play for.Anyway, great player and hope he stays at Everton for many, many years. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads © ToffeeWeb