Stones is backed to play game of chance
JOHN STONES will continue to be given an England licence to play the risk game.
But Manchester City’s centre-back has been warned by interim boss Gareth Southgate that there is a fine dividing line between bravery and stupidity.
Stones played himself – and his team – into trouble at times during Friday’s 3-0 win against Scotland at Wembley.
But Southgate, himself a former England centre-back, said: “For years we have talked about not being able to play out from the back.
“And if we are going to progress, we have to be different and encourage players.
“Stones knows, though, what I think of some of the things he did.
“I believe we have the technical ability. We want bravery – but not stupidity at times. We have to find that balance.
“I think what we have to remember is that he is 22 and in central-defensive terms, that is nothing.
“We talk about wanting a Mats Hummels, a Jerome Boateng or a Gerard Pique at the back.
“And I can remember managing a Middlesbrough team against Pique when he was 22 and in the Manchester United side.
“He wasn’t the all-round deal then. But I think John has got the perfect manager at City in Pep Guardiola to work with.
“And, for all our defenders, that is what we want to encourage.
“Anyone who has seen the Under-21s play knows what we believe is the right way to go forward.
“And I wanted us to be an England team that played with confidence and was prepared to use the ball, even though it was a very intense and difficult atmosphere.
“We knew what that match against Scotland meant to the country. Supporters made that clear to me everywhere I have been recently.”
England now move on to a different type of challenge against former world and European champions Spain at Wembley on Tuesday.
Southgate said: “We’ll review the Scotland game, then put that to bed and move on to Spain.
“This will be a very different challenge and one for which we have to be spot-on.”
The interim Three Lions boss secured a vital victory for his own job prospects when Scotland were beaten 3-0 at Wembley on Friday night.
And while Southgate still will not admit that he wants the position, he said: “There are no fears with the job.
“It would be easy to look at the negatives but to work with top players and be in big matches is what I want to do.
“So, from that there is no fear.
“All I know is that I’ve been asked to take the g ame on Tuesday against Spain, then that gives the FA time to go t h r o ugh what e ve r process they want.”
On whether he wants the job on a full-time basis, the former England defender said: “I’ve avoided answering that because I don’t think that it is necessary.
“I think you just have to do the job.
“With respect, I’ve seen people in this position talk about how much they want the job.
“But that becomes an irrelevance if you don’t prepare the team well. So it’s not really my decision but I have loved side, doing it and I’ve seen some signs of progress with how we’ve played. “From my point of view, it has been a brilliant experience, whatever comes next.” Southgate celebrated wildly as England got the better of Gordon Strachan’s side. And he said: “If you don’t think that I’m like that, you obviously didn’t see me at the end of matches when I was in charge at Middlesbrough. I enjoy winning. The person I am in a situation with the press, or outside meeting people, is different to the animal that wants to win matches. “I think the players get that now and that is important, because sometimes there is a misconception about how much it actually means to me to win. “Winning against Scotland was a special night to be involved in. “The way the coaching staff prepared the team meant there were a lot of really good things but we can do things better than we did in this match.” On what happens next as England look to appoint a successor t o Sam Allardyc e, Southgate said: “It’s right there is a process, as there is for any job. “Therefore, it would be hypocritical of me to say the FA shouldn’t go through that. “I don’t know if there is anyone else in the process. I have tried to avoid any of t hose conversations. “My experience in life and football is to do what you are doing as best you can, so let’s see.” With two wins and a draw from three games, Southgate certainly is doing his best.