Stones has what it takes to dominate centre-half position for a decade
IT IS really encouraging to see John Stones in the England line up today against Slovakia. This is a real opportunity to make this position his own over the next decade and I hope he takes it.
He is a wonderful footballing centre-half and the only way to learn is to play. After his dip in form at the end of last season, before Euro 2016, he seems more settled now he has his move to Manchester City and he has seized his chance there. Let’s see if he can do the same with England.
I know it might surprise some people that manager Sam Allardyce has given Stones this chance because, at times, his football has been more direct. But I think it is a bit of myth that Allardyce will play that way with England. If you look at these team he has picked, with Wayne Rooney as a fulcrum linking midfield and attack, it would not make sense to play long. I can’t see there being radical change of style, though each manager brings his own personality to bear on the team.
What is clear is that there can be no revolution regarding England. This is the team that started against Iceland, more or less, with Jordan Henderson in for Dele Alli and Stones for Chris Smalling. There is not the depth of talent in England to make wholesale changes. The job now is more about getting these players to fulfil their potential.
As well as an opportunity for Stones, I also see this as chance for Adam Lallana to bed down his place in the England side. We’ve spoke a lot about creative players such as Ross Barkley and Jack Wilshere, but quietly and without as much fanfare, Lallana is becoming a regular starter for England. If he could just add goals to his game, that little bit of composure, he would be a much more complete player.
For England though, this is an opportunity to get over the
scars of that awful Iceland game. I would imagine that they cannot wait to play again and start to put it behind them.
But it will not be easy. Slovakia away may be the toughest game in this World Cup qualifying group. But this selection of players know they have the potential to win, just as they did but failed to do at Euro 2016. An efficient 1-0 win tonight would at least be a step in the right direction.