A section of Manchester City fans took to Twitter to criticise John Stones for his performance in their team’s 3-0 League Cup win at Oxford United on Tuesday night.
The England international played the full 90 minutes of the clash against the League One side in a new defensive midfield role as goals from Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden secured a comprehensive City triumph.
Many City supporters were unimpressed with comments including “out of place”.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below.
COMMENTARY:
There is no better opportunity to experiment than the early rounds of the League Cup against lower league opposition, especially one that is struggling, and Pep Guardiola made full use by starting Stones in central midfield at the Kassam Stadium. The centre-back, who was outstanding for England at the World Cup in the middle of a three-man defence, was deployed as the midfield screen, with teenage pair Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz either side of him. The youngsters thrived but, as City supporters pointed out on social media, Stones looked a fish out of water in a more advanced role. The fan who pointed out he lacks the athleticism for central midfield was spot on. The position makes different requirements of a player, where you are constantly playing on the half-turn and needing to operate in small pockets of pace. At the back, Stones has time on the ball to pick out the passes that is his hallmark as well as read the game and his opposition strikers.
Yeah Stones playing as a DM ain’t it. Poor judgment from Pep
— George (@FutbolGeorgee) September 25, 2018
Stones isn't athletic enough to be a DM. I've said it for a long time man, HE'S NOT A DM @PEP
— Nabeel (@NA1907_) September 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/JoshCannon99/status/1044682089973600256
https://twitter.com/MbapPep_/status/1044688145634267136
Stones looked a lot like a Central Defender in midfield
— slbsn (@slbsn) September 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/HawkesTeeter/status/1044705604059697152
Despite the result I'm still strongly opposed to using Stones in midfield, he looks so out of place. Zinchenko did much of the work for him tonight from what I could tell.
— Rob (@Razza_7) September 25, 2018