Stones has to keep on rollin’ CITY FLOP CAN STILL BE A HERO
JOHN STONES is now facing the most important four months of his professional life as he looks to salvage what has become a stagnating career.
Stones is suffering from what is now known as ‘Jesse Lingard Syndrome.’
It’s the condition that sees players appear in a World Cup Semi-Final for England, think they have made it, then end up falling off the edge of a cliff instead.
Since that incredible summer of 2018, this particular Stone has done nothing but gather moss on the rapid return down to the bottom again.
The £50million man once had the world at his feet but a combination of some well-publicised personal issues, injuries and a dramatic loss of form have left someone once touted as the next Bobby Moore looking more like Dudley Moore in one of his comedy performances. Stones has played in less than half of Manchester City’s games this season after finding himself below Nicolas Otamendi and makeshift centre-back Fernandinho in the defensive pecking order. He’s been axed from the last two squads altogether and it remains to be seen if Pep Guardiola will recall him against West Ham today. Stones doesn’t need reminding of how poor he’s been. But you know how bad things have got when you start getting futile advice from a controversial has-been like Trevor Sinclair (left).
Sinclair has advised Stones to see a psychologist. That old chestnut.
“John needs to refocus his career,” said Sinclair. “If I was advising him I’d tell him to get some help from a sports psychologist.”
Sinclair should focus on putting his own house in order before telling others what to do.
This is the same Sinclair who was axed by the BBC in January 2018 after racially abusing a police officer who had the temerity to arrest him for drink driving.
In 2004 he was arrested for allegedly assaulting his wife and earlier this season had to apologise to the people of Liverpool for describing them on social media as “bin dippers”.
The highlight of Sinclair’s 19-year career was winning 12 England caps and the Intertoto Cup with West Ham. Stones, who has already won 39 caps, should be grateful this man isn’t his agent.
Stones is 25 and still to reach his peak. He shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that his best days remain ahead of him.
He’s proved he can be world-class before and is more than capable of doing so again. He needs an arm around the shoulder, not someone filling his already muddled head with clap-trap.
Gareth Southgate needs a fit, fresh and focused Stones this summer as England look to win Euro 2020. There’s a reason the Three Lions boss still rates him amongst the very best.
He might feel down but if he can help England conquer Europe life will feel amazing again.
That’s how fickle football can be.