Kendall sees similarities between Stones and Beckenbauer

WeÂ’re a selling Club, alright. And Stones is first in demand, no doubt. We know heÂ’s going eventually.

But Jesus Christ, at least let other clubs come in for him first. WhatÂ’s next? Have him run round various pitches these last games with a "For Sale" sandwich-board hanging off his shoulders?

Why people within the club or associated with the club, talk our players up in the press, knowing (as we do) that weÂ’re a selling club, is beyond me. It just makes me nervous!

Still, not good enough to get in starting 11 in EnglandÂ’s U21 game last time out! WhatÂ’s more remarkable was that Southgate was an extremely good ball playing centre-half in his time who read the game fantastically well.

Only an odd few can claim that and many of them spent seasons out at full back or were relegated before making the grade when they had experience behind them.

Stones and Jags will be awesome together so long as we box the CM position off in front of them.
Also I’m with you Connor (#1), Gavin (#6), and dave (#7) – Moyes's transfer record was exceptional.
Value for money most of the time and IÂ’d go as far as to say without his shrewd transfer dealings we could have been relegated in past seasons, he created his own funds.

I donÂ’t believe that John Stones will move anywhere at this moment in time it will be more worrying in a couple of years time when he has even greater experience, of course that also depends on how his agent views the situation and whether the board can resist offers over a certain figure.

Given the uplift in mood in the camp in recent weeks I donÂ’t think weÂ’ll lose any of our stars for the start of the next campaign... but I wouldnÂ’t risk any hard cash on that belief either.

Exactly what was there to be displeased about? Having just read the article, I fail to see anything problematic or likely to cause the current manager to take umbrage. Do you mean because Howard compared him to Beckenbauer and that could be viewed as piling pressure on a young players shoulders? That happens all the time.

Tagging someone Â’the newÂ’ someone else is an everyday occurrence in sports journalism/punditry parlance. No manager is going to be pissed at one of his players receiving deserved praise from a former occupant of the hot seat and a club legend to boot.

Utter bollocks. Like the decision makers at all such clubs are anxiously waiting on tenterhooks to have a look at who Howard is tipping for big things in his Echo column: Â’Shit, better go get him boys. HK said heÂ’s the dogs bollocks and he hasnÂ’t even set foot in the bar yet.'

Stones has been performing admirably in the Premier League for the past two seasons, earning many plaudits along the way. ItÂ’s not like he wouldÂ’ve been flying, unnoticed, under the radar of Â’big clubsÂ’ prior to this hitting the press, is it?

ItÂ’s the sudden appearance in the press, just prior to the window opening, by an Everton legend, of how great Stones could be.

LyndonÂ’s just posted an OP from Roberto about EvertonÂ’s future regarding the way ahead and player movement. Right behind Kendall giving the big-up to Stones. Coincidence? No.

The only way Martinez gets anything close to whatÂ’s needed to replenishing the squad is by selling players. Stones is worth the most. WeÂ’re just being softened in the press for whatÂ’s coming.

And Christ JD. We go back a few years. No Star Wars references, comic book heroes, big-titted actresses? Maybe Stones isnÂ’t worth that much after all. WhatÂ’s footy in England coming to?

Please let Ross Barkley be an Evertonian.

Okay, James. IÂ’ll try again.

ItÂ’s not like Kendall (despite his liking for a tilt) spends his time decked out in dossy old robes whilst trekking through the footballing wastelands, convincing weak-minded chairmen, by mere virtue of his words, that Â’this is the boy youÂ’re looking forÂ’.
------------------
Â’This is the boy weÂ’re looking forÂ’

’You should get down to business’

Â’We should get down to businessÂ’

Â’Move along...Â’

Â’Move along...Â’

Â’...and help yourself to a bottle of Malt on your way outÂ’

Â’Nice try HowardÂ’
-----------------------

The fact that Kendall’s weekly column contained some complimentary words about a player and appeared in print the same day that Martinez mentioned to the press the sort of additions he might be looking to add to his squad in the summer is just simple coincidence. To try and connect the two,  in order to construct some forced conspiracy theory about Everton and Kendall planting seeds designed to lead to Stones sale, is the sort of comedic detective work not seen since Chief O’Hara helped the dynamic duo figure out that a criminal caper was defo the work of Catwoman... due to the fact that it was committed at sea, and ’sea’ is also ’C’ which is the first letter of her fucking name. (’Of course! It’s the only possible answer’).

You’re adding one and one together and coming up with three. Or... if you prefer, James... you’ve took parts from one fluff piece, parts from another fluff piece, tried to forcefully merge them together, and ended up with something resembling that freakish triple-titted tart from Total Recall.

Hardly Â’just prior toÂ’, James. The transfer window doesnÂ’t open until July. WeÂ’re only just going into May

If Everton wanted to sell, it would be Martinez bigging him up, and as we all know he does that to all the players anyway, so itÂ’d be hard to separate the veiled selling strategy from the ongoing man-management.

John, do us a favour, send in one of your funny letters, it will relax you and give us all a boost.

I see a bit of Jack Charlton in John Stones as well.

Not quite up there with Beckenbauer yet as mentioned, but certainly plenty of comparisons to been drawn with him and Charlton, to my mind.

Stones oozes class and hopefully will continue to progress as an Everton player for a few years yet. He has way more quality about him than Ross Barkley for example – as an ex-defender/goalkeeper myself I love watching him play.

I havenÂ’t been as excited when a player scored for us as I was when he glanced in that beauty against Man Utd last week, as I have in years!

After hearing him speak in a few interviews, he seems a very grounded young lad. I am sure heÂ’s aware that moves to the moneyed elite can end up in tears for many players, even with his talent.

I donÂ’t expect him to move in the near future, even if there are large offers made by other clubs. Unless he is sold against his wishes of course... great Blue though, our chairman, be careful what you wish for... VenkyÂ’s... Leeds... Portsmouth etc. etc.

Barkley is another who so far is really inconsistent and blows hot and cold. He is supposedly the one to build a team around according to some pundits. Unfortunately he does not score often enough and is presently being over shadowed by Harry Kane.

Jagielka is by far our best and most consistent centre back, he is better than Cahill in my opinion and does not concede stupid free kicks in dangerous areas. So long as Stones is paired with Jags he may well develop into a top class centre back. Even then he will need to do it over a sustained period to be compared to Beckenbauer.

Link

I said last year that Stones could easily slot into Real or Barca in the not-too-distant future. He needs to iron out the mistakes and is slowly doing that. As for someone mentioning £20M in a couple of years... get a grip, David Luis was sold for about £50M and he’s gash.

Anyway, great player and hope he stays at Everton for many, many years.