Why Southgate must wring the most out of John Stones for England | Barney Ronay

The England manager could do a lot worse than take a tip from Pep Guardiola and put as much energy as possible into wringing the most out of John Stones

This time. More than any other time. We’re going to find a way. Find a way to express key drivers of our unique but non‑prescriptive footballing DNA under a holistic development pathway. Getting it all together. We’re on our way!

Well, that’s all done now. England will be present at Russia 2018 after a room temperature qualifying campaign reached a grippingly dull resolution against Slovenia at Wembley. And really, it is worth remembering that for those who follow England these are the good times. With a place in the velvet ball bag assured we have a small interlude to purr at the prospect of wandering around the vast city-scapes of Europe’s great alien superpower worrying about Gary Cahill’s minor calf strain; to argue with doltish enthusiasm about tactics and selection; and above all to dream a little. Although if you believe the publicity it seems likely Gareth Southgate and his team of FA wonks, hangers-on and brochure‑wanglers are just as likely to spend the next few months worrying about the wider existential questions that have preoccupied the current FA.

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