I see Maloney dropped Stones out the squad against Crawley stating that Stones needed to work harder to get back into contention.
Back? what does he mean back ? he’s never really been in to be left out.
What I’ve seen so far is a lad brought on with 15-20 to go and asked to blast directly at the defenders at a 120mph while they simply pass it back and forth grinning like Cheshire cats. Stones is legging it round like a headless chicken bombing it like an idiot in the hope he can nick the ball (very rarely happens) but instead he simply just burns himself out like a fool.
What should be happening is, our midfield and widemen should be creating opportunities for him and he can focus all his energy into trying to score goals not chasing lost causes.
In 50 years of watching football I never seen any forward who can chase stupid hopelessly around at full pelt for the full 90 minutes but I think Maloney thinks thats Stones’s and Hugills roll with is utter utter bollocks.
Clever forwards conserve their energy and pick and choose the right moment to close the opposition defenders down but if your instructed to hopelessly leg it directly at them hoping the f*CK up then Stones will never be selected, he’ll simply gas out in 15mins.
I understand work hard off the ball but rule (1) not on your own do it as a team.
I remember a daft EFL trophy game a while back were Cze and Stones were brought on and they played off each other and to be honest they partnered up well and you could see an instant understanding and connection but that’s the only time they’ve been paired. When I say paired I mean playing 1-2’s off each other not 40 yard apart.
I’m 10000% convinced we’ll see some big daft 34+ year old lump come hold up forward come in before the window shuts and Stones banished to a loan move.
Im not sure why Stones isn’t been given a proper chance, he needs a run of games to get match fit and gain some experience, I honestly just don’t get it.
And before anyone pops up with a “He’s not good enough” remark, he’s our player, he’s very young, he needs the opportunity and experience I’m sure he would grow into that roll. Right now we’ve one young lad Hugill and it’s not happening for him. I’d like bet he’s a clause we’re he has to play X amount of games.
But not under Maloney he wont
