Soccer Saturday panel say John Stones has much to learn

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The Sky Sports panel urged the Manchester City and England defender to ‘add a bit of Bonucci’ to his game.

The Sky Sports Soccer Saturday panel have urged defender John Stones to add intensity to his game and to prioritise being a defender.

Speaking on Gillette Soccer Saturday, panelists Iain Dowie, Paul Walsh and Tony Cottee called on the Manchester City man to modify his game and reel in his penchant as a ball-playing centre-back.

England’s John Stones in action with Scotland’s Scott Brown and Darren Fletcher

Stones helped England to 3-0 win in Friday night’s World Cup Qualifier against old foe Scotland at Wembley Stadium, but domestically has been at fault on more than one occasion for Pep Guardiola’s Citizens this season.

Speaking in regard to The Three Lions victory against Gordon Strachan’s side, panelist Iain Dowie described the 22 year-old as having the potential to be a great defender, but must add defensive intensity to his game, citing Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci as an example to follow.

Dowie said: “He’s got no defensive intensity. I think he’s got the ability to be a great defender, he’s got great potential. But he’s got to get some defensive intensity.”

He also urges the England international to be more become more natural in his approach and to replicate what Rio Ferdinand did for the national side.

England’s Rio Ferdinand

“Rio Ferdinand was the best we’ve seen at coming out from the back, he was an incredibly gifted footballer”, Dowie adds, “but he had defensive intensity. He was a monster of an athlete, and so is Stones.

“But Stones has got to get that ability. He’s got to love to defend. He wants to play more than he wants to defend. That’s wrong.”

Former England and Liverpool forward Paul Walsh was in agreement and stated that Stones still has a lot to learn, adding he must stop making elementary mistakes for both club and country.

“He’s still got to learn,” said Sky Sports pundit Walsh. “You can’t keep letting people make mistakes in qualifying games. At this level of football, it’s too important.”

Manchester City’s John Stones in action

The former Everton defender has failed to live up to expectations since his switch to Manchester in the summer, with many believing the Barnsley-born man should now have developed more maturity having made 14 appearances for The Three Lions.

Under Guardiola, Manchester City have experimented with a wing-back system at times, which Walsh says will suit Stones’ game far more. Tony Cottee agrees but regarding criticism, also points out that errors are part of the learning curve.

“You’re pointing the finger at John Stones to a degree but you’ve got to encourage him to have the ball at the back,” Cottee says.

He adds, “We’ve been crying out for someone to bring the ball out from the back. I want to see him do that more, not less.

“He’s still a young player and he will make mistakes. His game’s not going to change. He’s at Man City and Guardiola has been encouraging him to play out from the back – if he hoofs it down the pitch for them he’ll be out of the team.”