Everton benefit from add-on clause following Stones's success with Man City

I think Pep is seeing that over the last season. Plus, he can fill those deeper positions if someone is caught high up the pitch. I think he will only get better under Pep.

Stones has been very good in for City this season and has shown up even more in the run in and last night. Looks totally at home when pushed further forward.

As well as he has played, Rodri has been the lynchpin of this City team, a Rolls Royce of a player who has got the lot. Any club in the world would welcome him with the red carpet rolled out.

He took a while to get established at City but has been outstanding this season. The media never mention he played for Everton though, he's known as the Barnsley Beckenbauer.

It's Phil Neal syndrome.

At one time, Neal was the most decorated player in the game statistically making him the greatest player of all time, haha.

So glad Giggs come along to knock that madness on the head.

He is simply blessed. Not with pace, or aggression, or insight, or skill, or leadership or actually anything definable to the naked eye. But, blessed he is, and nowhere else in time or place could it have happened. What is magnificent is the calmness and self-assurance with which he handles this blessedness.

Nick Kent once wrote that David Bowie's greatest work of art was his career and stardom, not the songs or shows. John Stones looks the part so much that actually being the part doesn't really matter.

Obviously there are still flaws in his game, but both in the World Cup and playing for Man City he has had a great season, playing in two very different positions.

That's why Pep picks him every week and he's a regular in a treble-winning team, for fuck's sake.

A very talented footballer that we collectively didn't appreciate.

He's a sweeper hence the Barnsley Beckenbauer tag.

The sweeper remains alert to assist the defence, but can also go on the front foot to help the attack.

In the modern game it has become more what we define as a defensive midfielder, but under Pep's model, it is expected to assist the attack.

Stones can do both.

One thing Stones does often display is what they call time on the ball. For some other-worldly reason, certain players are not immediately confronted or closed down when they have the ball. Others attract an instant Exocet missile attack.

This goes beyond paying attention to those known as danger players or that can move the ball and leave a tackler trailing - or can't; all very weird.

A lad I played with at school - a little heavy and not quick, but a very good central midfielder. He wasn't so hard to dispossess in training but everyone we played backed off him and left him alone!

Something about calmness, body shape, how the ball is carried, movement maybe... time? Mysterious.

Sheedy was a master of it.

John, I feel dirty and will go to confession but Hansen is one of the best defenders / sweepers I witnessed. Whilst at Everton, I compared Stones to him in terms of ability and style.

I have to agree mate. He’s always hit with the “he has a mistake in him” but who hasn’t? The best before him I recall was your Forest team mate Des Walker. He had a few bad games then was hounded out of England before having a renaissance at Sheff Wed. The other thing to consider is for every mistake how many times do Rhino type CBs give the ball straight back to the opposition with aimless clearances and thus put the team back under pressure?

As Stones is nearing 30, he's too old for us to consider bringing him back, but would perhaps be a useful squad player, perhaps a few games in the Cups!

For me, all his talent was on show in the 2nd half of the 2016 FA Cup semi-final, when he nearly turned the game around with his surging runs out of defence to take the ball at Man Utd.

I'm delighted he has gone on to fulfil his potential, sadly not with us.

He fits the system, rather than being a top class player and in team sports, that's incredibly important.

Pushing him higher up simply means the risks he takes and mistakes he makes can be covered by team mates rather than in his own box.

We have done well out of it considering he didn't fit the profile of defender we needed then and still need now. I wouldn't have him back, wouldn't pick him for England and yet enjoy watching the unusual but successful way he and City play.