Stones plays follow the leader
Stones is over growing pains and talking his way to the top
JOHN STONES reckons England are now a team full of leaders – because their quiet men are turning up the volume.
Stones spent the goalless draws with Germany and Brazil barking out orders at the heart of Gareth Southgate’s back three. But the Manchester City star, who looks every inch a future England captain, insists he is not the only one doing the talking. He said: “Everyone on the pitch has got a role to play being a leader. Eric Dier’s been the captain for two games now. But I see another 10 leaders out on the pitch. “When you’re in the centre of a back three, you have to talk to each other. I think we should all look to talk more as well in the game. You get tired and sometimes can’t get your words out when it matters. “But as long as you’re giving information to everyone, defenders can see all the pitch and we’ve got to talk to everyone. “Do we need players who are more vocal? No, not at all. It’s hard because you can’t see it from watching on the sidelines. “We know who is doing it, who is talking, who the leaders are.” Stones has become the rock around which Southgate intends to build his defence and was instrumental against the world’s two top-ranked teams.
Decisions
He has now been involved in 13 clean sheets in 21 games for club and country this season. Many questioned whether Stones would fulfil his potential, but he is making better decisions this season and looks a better defender than ever. The 23-year-old admits he leaned heavily on former City team-mate Joe Hart and many others for help when he suffered a loss of form. But Stones believes he is over his growing pains and finds himself in a position of authority where he is expected to pass on his knowledge to rising stars like Liverpool’s Joe Gomez. He said: “Football’s never easy. I’ve had help from loads of people. I came into the squad when the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard were the old captains... Joe, Phil Jagielka. “Joe has had a lot to deal with himself at times. We got close at City, made a good relationship there and it’s carried on into England. “I think my performances speak for themselves really. I’ve done my talking out there. “You can’t argue with two clean sheets against two top opposition teams. I’m proud to say we came off with a clean sheet and all the other lads are as well.
“It’s about having a look at yourself and looking where you can improve and not shying away from where you’ve gone wrong. That’s what drives you to be a better player.
“For me personally, and anyone in life if it’s easy, you always want a challenge. Everyone wants to challenge themselves in certain ways.
“From my experiences, and I’m still reasonably young, I try to pass it on to the young lads and give them a few words. Like for Joe (Gomez) against Brazil. It’s short and simple, really.
“You don’t want to flood his brain for when he’s coming out on the pitch. That’s what I found out when I was growing up, playing in big games. I didn’t want to be overrun and have too much information.”
Stones reckons Gomez, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Jordan Pickford have given Southgate something to think about for the World Cup.
He said: “It’s been difficult for the manager, injuries and things like that. Whoever gets out on the pitch has got to give the manager a problem. In these two games the lads have definitely done that.
“The squad is deeper now, definitely. Even at our clubs we always go into a game knowing you’ve got to give everything in training and deserve to play.
“When you get the chance you’ve got to take it. The lads have done that. I think it’s healthy competition for everyone.
“The manager wants that problem, to know that everyone’s firing and we want to make it difficult for him to pick a team.
“That healthy competition is what makes us better as players fighting for our place.”