Stones expected to be fit for Old Trafford trip

You are right, Lyndon, about it only being a friendly; if he tries the same thing in the Euros against a good side, it could be curtains. He has a lot to learn in the art of basic defending.

In his defence. He is not helped by being saddled with the description "world class" when he clearly isn't.

It was Stones who the England manager turned to because he didn't have a left-footed center-half. It was Stones who he turned to when he didn't have a right-back. Considering that he has already asked him if he could do a job in midfield, I think that tells its own story.

We all know Roberto has been happy to play Stones in different positions; he's played across the back four for him too. Both managers have asked him to fill in even though there have been far more experienced alternatives.

Now a regular in the England set-up with nearly 70 Premier League games in positions where kids are not generally trusted. You have to pinch yourself to remember he is still only 21. Imagine what a player he will be when he gets a proper manager who recognises what to do with him.

Does he drop Jagielka?
Does he drop Funes Mori?
Does he go 3 at the back?
OR does he play him in front of the back 4?

The manager has a real dilemma with this one. John Stones is the future if we can keep hold of him – but so is Funes Mori. Jagielka is the club captain.

If he plays him in midfield who does he drop – Barry or McCarthy? I am finding it all a bit confusing at the moment – we seem to have a good squad of players but can't find the right mix.

Whatever happens I want to see Stones back in the team. I just feel we have to give him the chance to play his way back into form.

All the players should be playing for there future if they get selected. Most of us agree we would like to see a new manager.

The Arsenal game was a shambles, if Martinez has lost the players the rest of the season is over. Well it was over in January...

I can't see us winning many games now, we have not had any momentum for the last 18 months.

Big change are on the horizon but I think they are not on the up if we still have Martinez as manager.

I think Barry is still suspended.

It might make sense to play him in midfield in Barry's place, where he would have the opportunity to use his ball-playing skills without directly exposing the defence to immediate danger.

Then again, it might be argued that Funes Mori and Stones are the future for our defence and Jagielka should now be playing less than he is at present. As many have said, Jags isn't exactly an inspirational leader as captain, so it will be interesting to see how Bobby Brown shoes cocks this one up.

I think Barry is harder to replace than McCarthy (Cleverley or Besic).

Maybe that is the "out" for the manager – play Stones in the Barry role.

We always struggle defending against nimble quick attackers, same against Arsenal the other week, Welbeck done us like a kipper.

Such a move would also alleviate the need to mess around with the Funes Mori - Jagielka partnership just to accommodate Stones. I doubt if Stones will stick around if he knows he will be always competing with the two current incumbents.

The other advantage of going down this road is that it would provide a replacement for Barry who has been one of our key players this season, he cannot have many more seasons left in him. If Stones was a successful in this new position it might be the catalyst to keep him here as along term Evertonian.

If Martinez does nothing, he will go as I get the impression he is definitely pissed off.

Here's the Guardian:

"It was his (John Stones) diagonal slide-rule pass, perfectly weighted, which liberated a scurrying James Milner away down the left as England roused themselves to conjure an exquisite team goal just before the interval. The rat-a-tat of passes, with a Daniel Sturridge dummy thrown in, sliced the Dutch apart, but it was the centre-half who had spotted the break in the first place. He produced something similar in a tighter area for Theo Walcott as England chased the game late on. Therein lies the promise."

No English centre-back, and very few in the world, can do what he did in that game. Twice. You don't take a potential impact difference-maker at centre-back and move him to defensive midfielder. The former is world-class, the latter is much more common.

As the Guardian states, as well as many people here, Stones also makes mistakes. When a young midfielder makes a mistake, it does not often lead directly to a goal. Stones's mistakes are magnified because he plays right in front of his net. He'll get better. He needs support and time. He is too young and has too much talent to give up on.

And I will continue to oppose it every time it is mentioned.

People's memories of Stones's qualities seem extremely short. He is 21, playing in an extremely challenging league in an exceedingly challenging position. Even this season, when he is presumed to have been 'poor', he has had some stand-out games in his natural position.

But – quelle surprise! – he has had a loss of form for the first time in his meteoric rise to a regular in the Premier League and the national team.

This very season, he has 'owned' the types of players same claim he gets easily bullied by – the likes of Carroll, Pelle and Diego Costa.

Make no mistake, this dip in form is a test of his character and resolve. But, like Lukaku, Stones appears a well-grounded, intelligent and eloquent – and determined – lad and IMO before much longer his class and ability – at centre-back – will shine through.

And together with Lukaku, I hope Stones will still be plying his trade at Everton for many more years to come.

Looking forward to tuning in on Sunday but somewhat apprehensive about the outcome. Man Utd have been looking a deal better lately. My prediction?... 1-1

As an aside... Probably got RM for a while unfortunately but any one got a view on Ruud Gullit as potential replacement seeing as he's put his name up for the Villa vacancy?

Well said, you have just saved me some tapping time!

Ruud Gullit for manager... An interesting call. I am always impressed with his comments and manner of delivery whenever I've seen him on the telly, and always impressed by his organizational ability on the pitch.

He gets into my top 5 preferred options to Martinez:-

1st – Koeman
2nd – Laudrup
3rd – Howe
4th – Gullit
5th – Atkins

You could count on one hand the amount of 21-year-old centre-backs playing like Stones anywhere in the world.

Our Premier League season is over: can't do fuck all, can't go down – play Stones as often as possible, get him as much experience as possible, make him a permanent fixture for next season.

The guy is a unique defender, he sees pockets to step into that others either don't see, or lack the ability and courage to exploit. It's the gift of turning defence into attack in a few strides. When perfected, It will lay waste to any tactics. That is why he has attracted so much attention from the world's top clubs

These people who claim he can't defend simply don't understand what he is doing... Do they really believe he doesn't know he is taking huge risks? Their omelettes must be a bastard to eat if they aren't prepared to break the eggs first.

He knows he can defend. He was doing it with such ease for the first 18 months of his senior career. He also realises he is more than that, different, unique... it's that uniqueness which has the game's top coaches and thinkers fascinated.

If he is to become the world star he has the potential to be, he has to continue to upset the manual readers and the Paul Mersons of this world... break a few more eggs!

Absolutely. In the Chelsea game at Goodison earlier this season, Stones put in a consummate performance. The best I've seen from an Everton central defender for some time and, certainly, nothing's come close since. Stones oozed confidence and class that day. The confidence has taken a hammering, but a little self-doubt isn't sufficient to send the class into permanent hiding.

Sick of hearing absolute bollocks from so-called supporters who have a nasty negative petty agenda against the most talented young central defender in Premier League...

How the feck you can keep talking shite about our brightest talent, when all our other defensive players have been so inconsistent?

All this so-called age, experience needed to perform consistently in Premier League is crap! Just look at our players, been playing at top level for many years BUT still making basic mistakes on a regular basis: Jagielka, Baines, Coleman, Howard etc (when they should know better). You could also carry on further up the field.

The game's top players gradually decrease their basic errors during their early playing careers and start making better decisions, etc, becoming top performing players – consistently performing at a much more consistent level which creates a better team performance level. This development goes hand-in-hand with top coaches and managers who squeeze out every bit of talent you have to give.

Sadly that seems not to happen with our so-called more experienced players! They keep making basic errors... reasons? Lack of talent! ... Coaches' and management's lack of ability to develop our players to the top level. Yes, I blame our, overpaid talentless so-called management team that consistently fuck-up!

Look at other senior players at other major clubs, we are well behind their consistency level, what is needed to be successful.

Week-in and week-out, so much bullshit, inconsistencies... drabness talk from our leader? Just hope it ends soon.

I can't wait for a decent coach to get hold of these players to train them properly. Alas, I fear that we will still be left with Martinez next season and the likes of Stones, Lukaku et al elsewhere actually starting to realise their potential under a competent coach.

It's alright telling people that they must learn from their mistakes, it's actually decent management. But when you don't seem capable of practicing what you preach, how can you!

I know. Lukaku is just wallowing in potential but just not getting anything done. I guess another coach can get this forward scoring goals. And Stones. He's 21 for gosh sakes. He should have harnessed his massive potential by the age of 20. That's when all professional athletes reach their potential. Am I right?

As for young Stones, even all the so-called experts and media are taking notice at how he has regressed this season. The clamour for him to go and fulfill his potential will grow in the summer.

But if you think Martinez is doing a fine job with the young players then fair enough.

Lukaku is scoring plenty of goals but has quite a lot to learn. Martinez seems to pander to this player more than any other in the squad. Lukaku plays when he wants... he is improving but can switch off quite a lot during games. He needs to focus more for the team and not just his own needs.

I'm not exonerating the manager for poor tactics but surely these players know how to clear their lines, push up together, jump to head balls, get their bodies in the way, stop crosses from coming into the box etc.......?

Assuming the post is not an April Fool's Day joke, why, Question Mark?

Is it because they are English? Not sure how the Argentinian International is somehow less a player than those two. I don't really see TWers and the media having to make excuses for Funes Mori and his "mistakes" or using the "yeah but" agument or worse, inane qualifiers such as "unique" etc., to refer to his "defending" skills or lack thereof. Must be maybe because Funes Mori doesn't make as many?

Everton's best center pairing currently would not include Stones. Period.