A big shout for John Stones to take the title as the Premier League’s best English centre-back following a massive resurgence in form for both him and the club.
Manchester City have quietly and swiftly fought their way back into the mix at the top of the table following a long spell lingering in the midsection. A string of good performances and positive results places them in third place, three points behind first-placed Leicester City.
The Foxes took all the points when they hosted Chelsea at the King Power Stadium on Monday night. They gave Chelsea the blues in a convincing 2-0 victory.
They still have a game in hand but have already slingshotted themselves above their closest title rivals, Liverpool. This has been thanks to a solid backline and number of top showings from the men protecting the goalmouth.
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Pep Guardiola’s striking force was struggling to find consistency in the first part of the season when trying to find the back of the net. Last season after 17 EPL games player, the Manchester side put away 47 goals already.
This season they’ve hit just over half of that amount with 29 goals scored after 17 played. They had their best at the top end of the pith missing in the beginning.
Also, Guardiola’s been modifying things at the back with the inclusion of Ruben Dias – putting all their planning in the defensive side of the game.
Following his transfer from Benfica back in the summer, Man City have now recorded the best defence in the Premier League this season. They’ve conceded the least amount of goals with 13 let in.
The closest to them after the same amount of games played is Tottenham with17 goals conceded and Arsenal with 19 goals conceded.
Comparing this to last year – at this point, the Cityzens already conceded 19 goals. And this is not because of Dias’ inclusion only but also because of John Stones’ career revival.
Before this season his Manchester career looked dead in the water and an exit from the Etihad was only a matter of when and not if. Adding fuel to the exit rumours, the arrival of Nathan Ake and Dias. But he is back now!
John Stones is back in the discussion as the best English defender in the game.
In the Premier League, he has made nine appearances and has scored twice already – both goals came in his last display where he scored a brace against Crystal Palace – aiding in their 4-0 win to take them back into the top four.
Across all competitions, he’s taken the field 16 times, starting 12 of the 16 fixtures. Of these features, City have only conceded on two occasions. Adding to this already impressive figures, they are yet to lose with him in the side.
Man City's record with John Stones on the pitch this season:
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 18, 2021
⬢ 16 games
⬢ 15 wins
⬢ 2 goals conceded
⬢ 0 defeats
And he's scored three goals himself to cancel out the ones they let in. 😉 pic.twitter.com/FXFZ3d39gk
Who is in competition with him for the bragging rights of being named the best?
Joe Gomez has been and will be out for a large portion of the current campaign. He has automatically been removed from this discussion but was easily rated as the Three Lions’ best centre-back when Liverpool were unstoppable and he was fit.
Other English CB’s in comparison
Micheal Keane – Everton
Tyrone Mings – Aston Villa – 7 Clean Sheets
Eric Dyer – Tottenham
Harry Maguire – Manchester United
Joe Gomez – Liverpool (long-term injury)
So this really only leaves Maguire from Man United, Mings from Villa, and Keane from Everton in the running with Stones – Mings and Maguire being his closest rivals for the bragging rights.
Captain Harry has improved his game at Old Trafford, but is better than Stones? Mings, we need to wait and see if this brilliant run of Aston Villa and his is going to last to the final matchday. One good season might not be enough to put him in the same bracket.
One thing is for certain… England’s national team is not short of talent and the future is looking very bright for English fans.