Should Roy Hodgson Gamble on John Stones for England at Euro 2016?

With the dust settling over the initial announcement of England’s 26-man preliminary squad for Euro 2016, we can begin to dissect what the inclusions (and exclusions) mean for the tournament.

Yes, Theo Walcott is out and yes, Marcus Rashford has been added to the group to gain experience, but let’s dig a little deeper into what some of Roy Hodgson’s tough decisions mean.

Running the rule over the full squad, it’s notable that only three centre-backs—Chris Smalling, Gary Cahill and John Stones—have been called up. Eric Dier is in there as a fourth option, but he’s scheduled to play (or perhaps start) in holding midfield.

The major name missing here is Phil Jagielka, who has been near-ever-present for the Three Lions under Hodgson, but a bad season with Everton has seen him fall off the pace.

Some fans are concerned a lack of defensive cover (i.e. a fourth option) may harm England, and that injury could force Dier back into defence, robbing the nation of their only player genuinely able to play as an anchor and break up play.

The Danny Drinkwater vs. Fabian Delph debate aside, centre-backs are the biggest talking point of the squad; the spotlight has firmly been pulled onto the fact that a) there’s only three, and b) there’s a real lack of star quality among them.

With all due respect to Smalling, who has had a great 18 months at Manchester United, Cahill, who has won the UEFA Champions League, and Stones, who possesses great potential and is a target for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola this summer (per B/R’s Dean Jones in the video below), this is not a class of yesteryear.

There are no John Terrys, no Rio Ferdinands, no Sol Campbells; gone are the days where a Jamie Carragher-type figure must make do with a spot on the bench—a point hammered home well by uMAXit Football’s Alex Keble.

That reality is hammered home by the fact that, despite having a distinctly up-and-down season, Stones is genuinely in with a chance of starting the first game against Russia at Euro 2016. The defensive line is entirely in flux, and Smalling is the only nailed-on starter at this point, with both full-back positions and the role of his partner all ostensibly up for grabs.

What Stones offers is different to any other centre-back eligible for England, and it’s easy to see why Hodgson is intrigued by the idea of playing him.

His on-the-ball ability is distinctly un-English, if you will; he never hoofs it, he never just “clears his lines;” he’s willing to take the ball under pressure, attempt to dribble out under duress and insists on playing it on the deck—short or long.

Put simply, he’s the best ball-playing centre-back England have by a mile, and while his shortcomings are clear—that insistence on playing out of trouble can get him into even more trouble, particularly when his team-mates don’t want to play the same game—the added element in the build-up phase he gives may be too tough to ignore.

Credit: FOX HD

Take, for example, his pass to start the move for England’s goal against the Netherlands at Wembley in March.

It was a pass Daley Blind—a similarly pass-focused centre-back this season—would have been proud of; a cutting ball between the lines to find James Milner in acres of space on the left. That direct, accurate movement of the ball allowed England to get in behind the Dutch midfield line quickly, and within five seconds, Jamie Vardy had the ball in the back of the net.

This quality is what enamours England’s coaching staff to Stones, and why he has a chance of assuming the role of starting centre-back alongside Smalling.

The reality is that England are set to come up against three teams they will dominate the ball against. If they accrue possession figures in the 60s no one will be surprised, and coming up against deep-set teams can be a problem when trying to break them down.

In this scenario, it’s wise to load your team with as many creative weapons as possible—but that notion isn’t restricted to the front six positions in the team.

Stones would arguably be a more creative, penetrative presence than Dier despite playing behind him. If, for example, Slovakia sit in and counter, closing the space and blockading the middle, the Everton man could be an unlikely key to victory.

Credit: FOX HD

The balancing argument, of course, is that his errors could cost goals. In the match against the Dutch where Stones pulled off the aforementioned lovely pass, he also slipped on the ball in a dangerous area and allowed a clear-cut chance, which eventually led to the concession of a penalty.

The slip was just a slip—it could have happened to any of Jagielka, Smalling or Cahill—but because of Stones’ reputation for overcomplicating things, it was used as a stick to beat him with.

Contrast England fans’ reaction to losing the ball in dangerous areas (agitation, vocalised displeasure and the general waving of arms) to other nations’ and the results can be quite revealing.

Despite the fact the Three Lions faithful are desperate for their team to emulate Spain and Germany’s free-flowing football, once one mistake is made, they offer no reprieve to the culprit. When Mats Hummels or Gerard Pique make an error in possession, the reaction is not the same.

Hodgson’s faith in Stones goes against the entrenched practicality of English football, and he is therefore fighting an uphill battle to convince doubters that the 21-year-old's upside is worth the risk. He is essentially the ying to Jagielka’s no-nonsense yang, and despite years of calls for England to use the ball better, the chance comes along and many fans are suddenly suggesting it’s a bad decision.

If Hodgson does take the plunge and start Stones at Euro 2016, he could be rewarded with an extra edge in creativity and a pivot from which good football flows.

You roll with the punches when you start the Everton man; the good far outweighs the bad, but convincing the public it’s worth the gamble may be Hodgson’s toughest sell of the summer.

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