Rumoured John Stones

[robsblubot 3,509]

so how exactly do top elite teams play? give me in writing where its given that their is one way of playing.

how many other CBs of top elite teams are DMs. ramos? pepe? danta? benatia? boateng?

how was the song experiment at barcelona? the same mascherano-pique pairing that is being lauded by everyone now was being shattered and being made to look silly multiple times under tata.

17 clean sheets in 38 games. as for awards, GC was one of the best CBs in PL. who else was there? kompany was crap. toby and fonte declined massively towards the end. united and pool's defence was a joke. oh wait, probbaly stones?

You are mistaken. I am not advocating one way or another, even though I tend to dislike teams who utilize too many specialists - they are by definition more predictable and easily contained.

My critique is mostly concerning ignoring the evidence. I see the best teams playing a very different style and similar to one another.

Do your own research and change your mind or not. My opinion remains that the way we currently play is not competitive against the elite teams bc they always have more players involved at a given time - they multiply and dominate esp the middle.

[Adnane 1,101]

Yet we are ready to overlook the exact same weakness in Terry, who is even more a liability if we want to play expansively.

JT's anticipation, header and leadership skills put him light years beyond Cahill.

Tho, we can have one "slow" defender, not two, and if there's anyone to drop atm, it's Gary.

[RhesusReus 219]

JT's anticipation, header and leadership skills put him light years beyond Cahill.

Tho, we can have one "slow" defender, not two, and if there's anyone to drop atm, it's Gary.

that's beside the point.

to claim we can't play expansively because of Cahill is false. we play the way we do because of Terry. He is terribly exposed once the protection is gone. Jose understands this and as long as Terry is starting, we will be a compact team.

[Stats 7,059]

I'm not saying he is or isn't but the selections of Roy Hodgsdon is hardly conclusive evidence.

This is the guy who thought Pirlo played for AC Milan against Arsenal when he left for Juve the previous summer.

Fair enough because he even plays Phil Jones at RB ahead of Clyne which is ridiculous. But that being said, Cahill is definitely the 2nd best English CB for me. Stones may eventually be better but right now he is hardly an upgrade over Cahill. Cahill is not a world class CB but he is not as average as some people make out on here. He and Terry and were big factors in the many clean sheets we kept last season.

[Billy. 2,742]

ChelsTransfer ‏@ChelsTransfer 10h10 hours ago

In the last hour there have been significant steps forward (despite the attempts of #MUFC ) by #CFC for John Stones. (via @AlfredoPedulla)

ChelsTransfer ‏@ChelsTransfer 10h10 hours ago

Operation for John Stones between 30m-35m, if not more with bonuses, the deal is going ahead and is close. (via @AlfredoPedulla)

ChelsTransfer ‏@ChelsTransfer 10h10 hours ago

Important breakthrough for Stones as #EFC started looking for alternatives and are focused on Dragovic of Dynamo Kiev. (via @AlfredoPedulla)

[marketing media pet 27]

U guys must of never watch the kid from atletico play. Reason why selling miranda was so easy for simeone.

Or marquinhos.

Than their is FRANCE

I agree, Gimenez is definitely better than laporte (never really been impressed with laporte). Gimenez has "grinta" that reminds me of vidic and puyol.

[didierforever 7,349]

You are mistaken. I am not advocating one way or another, even though I tend to dislike teams who utilize too many specialists - they are by definition more predictable and easily contained.

My critique is mostly concerning ignoring the evidence. I see the best teams playing a very different style and similar to one another.

Do your own research and change your mind or not. My opinion remains that the way we currently play is not competitive against the elite teams bc they always have more players involved at a given time - they multiply and dominate esp the middle.

thats weird. our record against elite teams or big teams has been simple wonderful. i would say its more than competitive.

[Special Juan 27,432]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3178647/Chelsea-plot-John-Stones-Everton-knock-latest-25m-offer-Arsenal-look-set-beat-Manchester-City-French-kid-Ismael-Bennacer.html

[Pizy 18,376]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3178647/Chelsea-plot-John-Stones-Everton-knock-latest-25m-offer-Arsenal-look-set-beat-Manchester-City-French-kid-Ismael-Bennacer.html

Not sure I believe we've made a second bid if only the Daily Fail are reporting it.

If true, though, we're acting like Arsenal here. Stop bidding amounts that we know will be seen as derisory and get serious. No way they sell for less than £30m.

[ChelseaFanUK 1,014]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3178647/Chelsea-plot-John-Stones-Everton-knock-latest-25m-offer-Arsenal-look-set-beat-Manchester-City-French-kid-Ismael-Bennacer.html

More sources will report a rejected bid soon if this is true

[ChelseaFanUK 1,014]

Third bid expected Telegraph say

[Pizy 18,376]

Yep, now every other outlet is reporting it.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

FIrst thing we need to do with those 26m pounds is spending it on two back ups for attacking and central midfield. Annoying as hell.

[didierforever 7,349]

FIrst thing we need to do with those 26m pounds is spending it on two back ups for attacking and central midfield. Annoying as hell.

or get a left back. or atleast make a decision on who our 2nd LB is going to be for the next season. ake is an option, so i ll be glad if we just give some confirmation.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

that's beside the point.

to claim we can't play expansively because of Cahill is false. we play the way we do because of Terry. He is terribly exposed once the protection is gone. Jose understands this and as long as Terry is starting, we will be a compact team.

No we mainly do because of Cahill. We played a high line against Liverpool in the COC & coped relatively well.

No doubt Terry needs protection against pace but lets not pretend Cahill doesn't either. How many times has he failed to put in a challenge which eventually resulted in a goal?

[DavidEU 2,023]

SSN saying we've had a 25m bid rejected now.

[ChelseaFanUK 1,014]

SSN saying we've had a 25m bid rejected now.

was always going to be. 3rd bid will be the real tester. Whether we go to 30 or not.

[Pizy 18,376]

So if we keep going up by increments of five (and assuming the reports of it taking ~35m to get him) maybe we'll have him in 2 more weeks. They'll reject a £30m bid next week.