The butterfly, John Stones
The butterfly, John Stones
We should not flinch at the suggestion that John Stones is one of, if not the best centre-back on the planet.
Under the blanket of night, planted in his half of the Wanda Metropolitano, the Englishman anchors his side — unfazed by the opposition war-cries that echo around him.
Chance after chance, unwavering concentration and game-saving blocks…
For a Manchester City side who’s existence has been celebrated for its wonderful attacking patterns and goals records, last night was one for the defenders.
Man of the Match John Stones had done his part, valiantly, over a gruelling 180 minutes like Walker, Laporte, Cancelo and an Ake cameo deserving of the roses it’s received in the hours since.
Progression into the final four of Europe’s elite had not come easy and maybe the Spanish side deserved to have been rewarded for their attacking efforts with a goal in the second half. Regardless, it was the composed steeliness of Stones at the heart of Manchester City’s defence that helped cement City’s place in the semi-finals for the third time in their history.
For as long as I can remember there has existed a particular trope within football lore: an English player will always be rated highly, overrated by the media, journalists and fans of English football when discussing the best players on the planet. Paradoxically, this doesn’t seem to apply to a John Stones.
Within the sport, there are players who, given shakier periods earlier in their career, are misjudged — their outdated reputation parading them as football watchers refuse to reassess their initial judgement.
Combined with the disrespect defenders receive, a general lack of attention that is paid to the defenders’ games and the defensive spotlight at City being shared between the excellent Dias and Laporte, there is evidently a myriad of reasons as to why there has been reluctance to vocally praise the Man City centre-back.
For some non-Manchester City viewers, there is this misconception that John Stones is the same of old: an infamy of mishaps punctuating that wildly exciting profile full of potential.
With the £50m fee looming over his head, Stones was expected to immediately perform as the perfect player and every action was combed through with excessive scrutiny but development is anything but linear.
Above results from 2017.
The on and off periods of top form have, since the beginning of the 2020 season, been replaced by an evolved John Stones — a John Stones that is an ever-reliable, easy on the eye, duel-monster with the generational passing and ball-carrying ability he was brought in for, only now at a consistency that lacks any hint of an error-prone player.
To qualify his game in this form holds Stones as a flawless centre-back. There is not a thing you’d want a centre-back to do, that Stones cannot do.
For those who remember the boy touted as Pep Guardiola’s next project, with all the hype around his game not entirely understood or seen by some watching his performances, these 2022 descriptions may come as a surprise.
This metamorphosis is, however, a testament to Stones’ ability to overcome adversity in the most impressive of ways.
The initial unparalleled potential has and continues to be actualised, over a large enough sample size, in the biggest games, as City win and win and win some more, breaking records upon an unwavering defensive foundation.
On the way to the 20/21 Premier League title, Manchester City broke the record for most consecutive wins in the top-flight of English football and it was during this period that the Stones-Dias duo put up numbers that would rival any of the defensive greats.
In the summer following, Stones was the centre-piece in a side that again, broke further defensive records.
Harry Maguire rightly received his praise for his contribution to the England side but it was John Stones who was the only defender to play every game in a tournament in which England’s 5 clean sheets acted as the base for the success they saw. The next closest sides, in terms of clean sheets during the tournament could only boast having shutout opponents on 3 separate occasions.
The two goals England did end up conceding all tournament were a Damsgaard direct free-kick and the Italian’s winner in the final, coming from a corner. To not concede a single goal from open-play all tournament simply highlights how secure the England backline were even above the already impressive 5 clean sheets.
These were the record-breaking defensive showings from Stones and co. that at club level had contributed to a Premier League trophy, an EFL Cup, a Champions’ League final place and an FA Cup exit at the semi-finals. On the international stage, the performances took England to a Euros 2020 final — achievements that aren’t coincidences, achievements that don’t happen with passengers. They were special things done by special players.
At this point in the season, Stones has found himself again as the starting central defender, in Ruben Dias’ absence. Injuries throughout the season, a late return from the Euros and the good form of Laporte have afforded John Stones fewer minutes than his quality has warranted, but it is in this current business end of the season where Stones is particularly thriving.
In Stones’ 10 Premier League starts this season, Manchester City have only conceded 3 goals (two vs Liverpool, one vs Man Utd), the Englishman possessing a tally of 8 clean sheets, 8 wins, 2 draws (vs Liverpool and Palace) and 0 losses.
On an individual level, Stones has the highest aerial duels won % in the Premier League this season at an imperious 84.6%. His 93.4% pass completion in the league this season puts him near the very top, alongside Aymeric Laporte, a pair who both play a considerable selection of risky, beautiful line-breaking passes to much success.
As of March 27th 2022, there hasn’t been a centre-back in Europe with a better duel win rate either. Comprehending these absurd numbers justify some of the lofty superlatives of earlier.
The Barnsley Beckenbauer was a nickname given endearingly but for the level that John Stones has displayed over the last few years, for the sides he’s played in and as a mainstay within them, that nickname serves as a more appropriate suggestion now that he has seasons of a great under his belt.
There will be push back, a reluctance to mention his name in the eventual conversations of John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and so on, but there shouldn’t be.
Does John Stones need further longevity to cement his place in those conversations? Yes. But is his current level up there with some of the finest centre-backs to play the sport? Yes.
At the mere age of 27, John Stones has become the butterfly. An effortless floating anomalous centre-back who, to remember the Ali quote, holds too a sting like a bee.
There is nothing soft, unreliable or nervous about this John Stones. The cocoon of boyish flaws that would remain present at parts of his earlier City career have been shed entirely. The caterpillar is no more.
This current, polished product is one we should not be shy in holding as one of, if not the best centre-back in the world and he’s only now reaching his prime years with some way to go.
The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Kalidou Koulibaly, the centre-backs that accompany Stones at City, Marquinhos and others of course exist in the same conversation, but it is the gliding, formidable Englishman who deserves to be mentioned in the same breath when discussing current and historic greats.
The likes of Thiago Silva (37) continue to perform at the highest level in the Premier League and Raul Albiol’s (36) masterful display vs Bayern Munich in the Champions League serve as a reminder that John Stones’ ascendency is potentially only the beginning for a blossoming all-timer. There is genuine hope that there is far more of the John Stones story to enjoy.
As he typically does, Manchester City’s cornerstone Vincent Kompany almost prophetically narrates the John Stones ascendancy (in 2019):
"I've always said John is one of the most talented defenders. He's got such a bright future. He's a multiple Premier League-winning central defender that is growing. The one thing I wish for him is consistency - consistency of games and consistency of fitness - and then he will show the world how good he is.”
And the captain’s wish was granted. John Stones blessed with a consistency of both fitness and games, has shown the world just how good he is and man, how good is he…
Kompany continues the quote:
"By the end of it, if City can win a Champions League or something, all of a sudden [Stones will] be mentioned in a completely different category.
Perhaps that is the crux of this entire article. For how people see the sport of football, for most people to universally agree upon the elite status of a player, something like the Champions League does most of the heavy lifting in elevating their status.
The Manchester City viewers will hold John Stones in that esteem regardless but the lingering words of Captain Kompany seem eerily relevant in John Stones’ current Manchester City story.
The recent Man of the Match in an away Champions’ League quarter-final game against Atletico Madrid is only a few steps away from, ‘all of a sudden [being] mentioned in a completely different category’.
He’s been playing at that level for a while now, maybe he’ll finally get his roses in 3 games time.
- Umir