Milner: I’ll be there for Lions if there’s a crisis
SAM ALLARDYCE has warned John Stones that his England future could be in jeopardy if he doesn’t learn from his mistakes – and fast.
New Three Lions boss Allardyce is a big fan of the £ 47million Manchester City star and plans to start the 22-year-old centre-back against Slovakia next Sunday in England’s opening 2018 World Cup qualifier.
But while admiring the quality and ability of the former Everton star, Allardyce knows the cut-andthrust nature of international football means there’s no room for self-inflicted defensive errors.
And when the squad meet up for their first session tomorrow, he’ll remind Stones that, in tight situations in England’s box, he expects safety first, not Lionel Messi-style dribbling.
Stones was often criticised for over- playing under Roberto Martinez at Goodison Park and it sometimes led to trouble.
And t hat won’t be tolerated by Allardyce (right).
Allardyce said: “I am not going to change him that much, but I’ll be t alking t o him somewhere down the line.
“Stones has that change of pace that top defenders JAMES MILNER has told Sam Allardyce he will always help England out in a crisis.
Despite calling time on his 61-cap England career after playing just three minutes at Euro 2016, Liverpool star Milner (right) have. But it just seems to be that the mistakes that have been highlighted recently seem to have knocked him back a little bit.
“If he learns from those as quickly as possible and puts them right, fine. England lost their opportunity to go farther in the European Championship because of our mistakes, not t he opposition’s brilliant football.
“So you have to make fewer mistakes at international level than at Premier League level and that is the difference between success and failure.
Expensive
“In terms of risk-taking, it is what comes out of it and how successful he is when the game is finished. “Even if you are successful, everyone gives the ball away or makes a mistake, but if the mistake costs a goal, then it’s a problem. “You don’t have to come out and play every time. I am sure Pep Guardiola will be the same as me – you can take a risk, but it has to be minimal because if you lose the ball and the opposition score, it can be a real problem.” Allardyce will also have a close eye on how well Stones manages the expectation of being the most expensive England defender. “Hopefully, he manages the challenge of the size of the fee at such a young age,” he said. “And then t here is t he criticism he had at the back end of last season for the first time. “So, we will see has revealed he would pull on a Three Lions shirt again in a crisis.
Allardyce said: “James is a man who said he would always be there for us if we want him, but he how well he handles that and the £47m fee. It’s a big challenge and, hopefully, he lives up to that.”
With Manchester United star Chris Smalling – Gary Cahill’s partner at Euro 2016 – struggling to force his way into Jose Mourinho’s side after injury and suspension, Allardyce is short on centraldefensive numbers.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a crisis at centre- half. I think the biggest problem is in the goalkeeping area, rather than the centre-backs, but I’d agree we haven’t got as many as we’d like,” says Big Sam.
“There’s Gary Cahill at Chelsea, Stones seems to be playing very well at Manchester City and Phil Jagielka’s back. But good defensive partnerships are very important.”
One option would for Spurs star Eric Dier to drop into defence – but Allardyce reckons he’s too good in the midfield screening role.
Interested
“What a player, eh?” he said. ‘‘ He’s like an Ivan Campo or a Fernando Hierro. He’s got that vibe.
“He seems to have mastered the role very, very well. It’s actually made him a better player.
“I’ll be interested to look at his statistics on how many interceptions he makes, how many headers in front of the back four, as well as his control and passing game.
“He’s the link at Tottenham between how they play and his reading of the game seems to be very good.” can’t go traipsing over Europe and not playing any more.
“But he’ll always be there if we need him to step in if there is a crisis of injuries and suspensions.
“That is great, from my point of view, and I can understand his point of view after having 10 years of international duty, and, in his words he’s only had four weeks off in the last 10 years.
“And there is one of our problems. I’ve got to try to help get that mid-season break.”