Tony Adams has revealed that he has “always” had his “doubts” over Manchester City defender John Stones.
The 23-year-old centre-back made a £50million switch to the Etihad Stadium from Goodison Park last summer but he has failed to impress during his debut campaign.
Pep Guardiola’s side finished off the Premier League season in third place, with Stones being a regular member of that defensive backline.
Former England captain Adams, who was regarded as one of the greatest centre-backs of his era, has not been impressed with the overhyped City player.
“John Stones was hailed as a great new English central defender, first at Everton and then at Manchester City,” said Adams, as quoted by the Mirror. “I have always had my doubts about him; considered him to be average in all honesty, despite this hyping of him as a ball-using defender.
“I saw him as a Tony Gale — a centre-back who passed the ball well, and was good enough to win a Premier League with Blackburn Rovers, but who did not win an England cap.
“Such is the dearth of English ball-playing defenders though, that Manchester City were willing to pay nearly £50m for Stones.”
Barnsley-born Stones is a ball-playing centre-back but during his time in the Premier League, he has been criticised for his inability to defend.
Many supporters and ex-players have praised the youngster for the manner in which he brings the ball out from the back but they have criticised the defensive side of his game.
During the recently concluded season, Stones played 41 matches in all competitions for Guardiola’s side, helping his side secure 12 clean sheets.
Guardiola used the likes of Nicolas Otamendi, Vincent Kompany, Stones and Aleksandar Kolarov at the heart of the club’s defence.
On the international scene, he has represented his home country on 14 occasions and he will be looking to impress manager Gareth Southgate for the forthcoming campaign because the 2018 World Cup in Russia is around the corner.