Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 9y

Leighton Baines: Everton nullified Man United philosophy; hails John Stones

Leighton Baines believes Everton showed they found an answer to Manchester United's gameplan by stifling Louis van Gaal's attack in Sunday's 3-0 win.

United recorded emphatic victories over Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City in recent weeks after Van Gaal switched to a 4-1-4-1 formation.

But while United had 65 percent of possession at Goodison Park, they failed to score for the second successive game -- and left-back Baines thought Everton's planning paid off.

"I think it worked very well," he said. "We know what United's strengths are and how they have been getting their success, so we looked at that and we nullified it for most of the time.

"We caught them on the counter-attacks and got the goals as well so that was the plan and it worked. It was a great win. We showed a few different sides to us.

"We had to be resilient at times and dig in and United had a lot of possession at times; to keep a clean sheet under those circumstances are the fundamentals, and they are what we have been trying to get back to. In the last two months that has been the foundation for our success."

Baines said much of his job was preventing United from supplying former Everton players Marouane Fellaini and Wayne Rooney from the right flank.

"Myself, Ossie [Leon Osman] and James [McCarthy] did that job trying to stop the bulk of the crosses coming into the box to Felli and Wayne, who are both big strong players," he said. "We did that in the main, and that was part of what we knew we would have to do if we were going to win."

John Stones scored Everton's second goal --  his first for the club -- and was praised by manager Roberto Martinez, who felt the 20-year-old defender had enjoyed he had his best game for the club.

United have two young England international centre-backs in Chris Smalling and the injured Phil Jones, but Baines feels Stones is the pick of the bunch.

"He has got a huge future ahead of him at international level because not only is he top class defender, but his composure as well... you need a bit of that at international level," he explained. "You need to be able to play and when you look at the young centre-halves around the country, John is the best in that respect.

"When you look at John, we signed him from Barnsley not long ago. David Moyes brought him in and his composure for a lad of his age is unbelievable. We talk about his frame of mind, not just on the pitch, but off it; he is such a level headed lad and he has got no airs and graces.

"He is just such a down-to-earth kid that he just wants to play football and work hard. He doesn't get involved in anything else, and when you are around people like that you just want to see them be successful.

"That is the road that John is on at the moment and he is going to continue to grow and develop as a player, and he is going to be a top player for Everton and England."

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