Martinez rejects notion that Stones has requested a move

, 21 August, 209comments  |  Jump to most recent
Boss not drawn over Yarmolenko; Mirallas fit for Sunday
Roberto Martinez says he is unaware of any decision on the part of defender John Stones to hand in a transfer request in the face of three rejected bids for his services from Chelsea.

The manager was again asked about Stones at his pre-match press conference ahead of the home clash with Manchester City on Sunday after baseless claims about the 21-year-old's intentions were made in The Sun newspaper.

The tabloid claimed that the centre-half, for whom Chelsea have reportedly bid £20m, £26m and £30m in recent weeks, is "set to" request a transfer from Goodison Park, the latest galling attempt from the gutter press to push the Barnsley-born player away from Everton.

"I'm not aware of any transfer request [from John Stones]. The only focus is on Man City on Sunday. I have no problems picking John for that game," Martinez said.

"The Southampton game has given us a feel-good factor and shown what we can do. The performance showed a level needed to win games."

The Catalan said that Kevin Mirallas is now "100% fit" after he was left on the bench during the win at St Mary's last weekened.

Martinez refused to be drawn on the intense speculation surrounding Everton's interest in Andriy Yarmolenko for whom the club have reportedly agreed a £14.25m fee.

"We will use the transfer window in our favour," is all the manager would say when asked about the Ukrainian as he repeated his desire to bring in quality additions to the squad.

"In terms of transfers I like to be involved all the way through. Players must fit a profile that we look for."

"When we announce a player, our fans will be the first to know."

 

Reader Comments (209)

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Phil Davies
2 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:04:55
Stones is gone, it should have been "He's not handed in a transfer request" rather than "I'm not aware of any transfer request". Surely this is the reason why transfer activity is being given more air time on SSN, they're expecting something big to happen over the next week or so.
Paul Kennedy
3 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:06:39
I would love to think Stones will be with us all season; my heart says Yes but my head says No. He will go; it's more a case of 'when' than 'if'... especially when you see we are looking at central defenders and paying £12-14 million we can't afford, and then have them sit on bench anyway.

ull credit to Stones for the way he has conducted himself thus far – a big difference from Sterling!!!

Paul Cherrington
4 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:08:48
I hope he doesn’t go but, as Phil says above, I fear the worst. There seems to be too many stories and rumours flying around for there to be nothing in it.

At the end of the day, would the club seriously turn down an offer of £30/£40 million for one player? I’m not saying we should but, once the board see that sort of money, I think it's too tempting for them.

Funny that we seem to be more active ourselves in the market all of a sudden too – knowing we have money to spend?

Dave Pritchard
5 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:17:44
Oh, he's gone has he?
Brian Williams
6 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:17:47
No he hasn't Phil. You're being pedantic over wording.
Paul Smith
7 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:19:35
This is getting a bit tiresome now over Stones but worrying as well as it's very rare when these signings don't happen with all this media speculation. Personally I think it will only happen if Stones does say he wants to go (it is a year to early for him I think) but, if he does say that, we want the David Luiz money.

If we do sell Stones, we need to have already got players in as otherwise prices go up. So that would mean Yarmolenko, Mori, Van Dijk, Lennon and a striker but not Austin for me.

I wouldn’t begrudge Stones his move but honestly feel it's in his best interests to stay another year, play for England at the Euros and he will then have his pick of all the major clubs. It doesn’t bother me what club he goes to as, when he’s gone, that’s it... but we must get the best price possible, whoever it’s off.

Eivind Nyhus
8 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:22:13
If Stones handed in a transfer request, Martinez would be the first to know. Therefore, he obviously hasn't. I'm confident in Stones staying with us.
Shane Corcoran
9 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:23:40
Even if he hands in a request, I think the club has to say No.

You can’t preach all summer about him not being for sale and then sell just because he wants to go. This used to be the way of it but Liverpool held on to Suarez in a similar situation.

He’s been well paid to do a job so he should just do it.

When he signed his contract it was stated (as it always is) that "he has committed himself to the club for x years". Time go get literal.

Brian Williams
10 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:26:09
And you can’t exactly believe what’s written anyway. Below is a report on Sky Sports which contradicts itself within a matter of several lines.
Everton have agreed a £15m deal to sign forward Andriy Yarmolenko from Dynamo Kiev, according to Sky sources.

It is believed the Ukraine international, who scored in Dynamo’s 5-2 win over Everton in the Europa League last season, has a buy-out clause in his contract.

Sky sources understand contact has been made between the clubs over a transfer but no deal has been agreed.

Phil Davies
11 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:27:22
Maybe I am reading to much into it, but all summer it’s been a strong and firm No; now, there seems to be some slight uncertainty as to whether a request has been put in and, with a sudden increase in our transfer activity, I’m expecting it more now than I was last week.
Kevin Elliott
12 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:27:25
I tend to agree with you Phil.

He would be well aware had Stones handed in a transfer request, he’s just dodging the question. I sincerely hope that we’re both wrong, but if not then I don't think we should sell him for less than £40 million.

God... How I hate the thought of him joining those scumbags.

Brian Williams
13 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:31:34
There was no uncertainty: he simply said "I’m not aware of that"... could he not have been being a little bit sarcastic. He was reported to have been somewhat irritated.

Stop being so dramatic!

Oh, and you ARE reading too much into it.

Get a grip.

John Jones
14 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:33:14
If you would like to email the person that wrote this bollocks about John Stones, you can email her here: izzy.horsefield@express.co.uk

This is her Linkedin Profile .

I have just asked her where she got her information from.

John Jones
15 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:35:27
Riddle me this people. How Can Izzy Horsfield go from working at Superdrug for 4 years to having inside knowledge of what a football player is going to do?
Mark Cooper
16 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:36:12
The RedShite media/newspapers are getting desperate for this move to happen after all their speculation over the summer that it would. If it does go ahead this window, there is nothing we can do about it as fans so no point fretting over it.

I agree that eventually it will, money talks whoever you are, but another year under his belt here will be of more use to his development than going to Chelsea, anyway Mourinho has lost it this summer and shown himself to be classless in everything he has done.

Matt Jones
17 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:39:10
I’ve just watched the press conference back and this is what is said.

Reporter: "A transfer request though would be quite a significant development, are you not aware of that?"

Martinez: "Not at all. no."

I don’t even think he said "I’m not aware" at all.

Paul Dempsey
18 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:44:58
I tend to agree with the sentiments expressed in several posts above. I think there is ’potentially’ a move about to happen. However, that is entirely dependent upon the truth of the ’transfer request’...

It all smacks of an attempt to engineer a move courtesy of the agent/Chelsea rather than the ’actual’ agitation of the player, hence the wording RB used in answering the question. It’s very easy to plant stories that you want to if the media are happy to oblige. This seeding of stories has happened since the golden age of Hollywood in the 1930s and is used as a matter of course by agents/players nowadays. The club may still be able to keep Stones out of their clutches but it would require them saying No to any transfer request.

I would really rather we kept the player as he isn’t going to decrease in value, quite the opposite is likely to happen. If and when the transfer does occur, I would hope that the money is spent well. We probably still owe them money for Lukaku and Barnsley are entitled to a percentage so what exactly would we have left to spend from £40 Million?

As for asking the league to investigate Chelsea’s overt and despicable tapping up, well unfortunately it doesn’t matter a jot unless the sanction is a whopping points deduction or expulsion from the CL... neither of which is EVER going to happen. The worst they could expect is a fine in the thousands rather than the millions.

Looking forward to Sunday...COYB

John Raftery
19 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:47:39
It was in The Sun, that bastion of truth and integrity.
Mark Tanton
20 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:49:57
Hmmmmmm, the words "I am not aware" have been used by politicians for generations to avoid a straight answer. Classic triangulation and a little concerning really. A shift in emphasis, from the resolute 'no' answer last week. Might be something in it?
Paul Dempsey
21 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:50:37
John Jones (#11 & #12);

The best posts of the week!

I think you’ve unearthed a brilliant counter revolutionary way in which we can hold these plant pots to account... Simply e-mail them and leave a disparaging and ridiculing post underneath them every time they make something up, avoiding foul language etc, and hold them up to public ridicule.

Ian Bonnette
22 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:51:39
Haha read her summary on LinkedIn: "I’m an ambitious and articulate young journalist....."

Really!!!, you mean you just make shit up to get ahead like every other fucker in the industry love.....

Gotta be in the know as John Terry’s wife used to buy blusher off her at the counter of Superdrug every few weeks...

James Elworthy
23 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:54:19
Martinez talks in riddles at times himself. He should say categorically that The Sun newspaper, reviled as it is for its lies, has now dreamt up another one saying John Stones has handed in a transfer request. He has not done so whatsoever and is playing on Sunday.

I see the Echo has a picture of Mori on a flight to England; I presume to come here. Surely the club must be confident to be able to get a work permit for him as I am sure he does not qualify with his lack of international experience. I have not seen mentioned anywhere he has a European passport either. Based on Liverpool and Tottenham’s experience on trying to sign a Ukranian I expect Yarmilenko’s deal to go right down to the wire, as the Ukranians drive a hard bargain.

The only other signing I expect is Aaron Lennon, again at the last minute when Tottenham will be desperate to get shut of him and will reduce their ridiculous fee.

I think nothing will happen with regards Charlie Austin with the rejuvenated Kone now appearing to be back in favour. How long that will last I don’t know. If Austin does not go in this window and does not sign a new contract, he will be available for a knockdown fee in January, so I would expect QPR to lower the price at the last minute also. By that time Kone will've played in two further matches; if he does not perform in those game, then we may make our move.

Paul Smith
24 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:55:29
Yeah, the rhetoric has changed: "I am not aware?" Could it be???

I prefer the "He is not for sale" stance.

Denis Richardson
25 Posted 21/08/2015 at 10:59:03
Not being pessimistic but realistic: Stones is as good as gone, the club are simply holding out for a larger payout and using him for a couple of games as we have no-one else (yet).

Once the £35M barrier is reached, the lawyers will draft the contracts quicker than you can say "Stamford Bridge".

I just hope we have at least two CBs in the pipeline at the moment. I read that apparently we’re trying to get Dante from Bayern -- I’ll believe that when I see it. Why would he leave Bayern to come to us?

Timothy Blanshard
26 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:02:03
I wish Chelsea would just fuck off once and for all, I fucking hate that club and all their fans, complete shower of bastards. I’m in Cornwall at the moment and I’ve seen plenty of Chelski shirts; the moment you get talking to them it becomes very clear they know absolutely fuck all about football, they belong in the old Second Division with that prick of a chairman Ken Bates.
Kunal Desai
27 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:04:03
If Stones leaves, then Sunday's game must be his farewell appearance. We cannot afford to leave this situation lingering on any further as it doesn't give us much time to bring in adequate replacements.
Nick Waters
28 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:04:43
RM simply answered the question put to him, and as succinctly as possible, rather than weaken his stance of last week.

'Are you aware of a transfer request.......?'

'No, not at all'

Andrew Ellams
29 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:09:44
If Stones does go to Chelsea, they are of course the next visitors to Goodison after Sunday.
John Jones
30 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:12:53
I am not worried at all. I think Martinez was treating them with the utter contempt the deserve.

Jim Bennings
31 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:13:44
It’s a simple process. All we need to do is tell Chelsea and Mourinho it’s £50 million or NOTHING!!! If they don’t want to pay it then it’s that simple, they don’t sign him and the issue is over.

£50 million is not a lot when your talking about a 21-year-old future captain of the national team.How much did Chelsea get for Shaggy Luiz??

Flippin Mangala, who was all over the show in Manchester City’s defence last season cost them £32 million and Lovren, who Liverpool paid £20 million for, they ended up dropping him last term. £50 million or he stays.

Oh, and the media in this country are a bunch of contradicting idiots. They are the first ones who start complaining that all the young English talent is wasted at the top four clubs yet they are hypocritical, they are the ones who bang the drum for these young lads to rush to the so-called promised land of the likes of Chelsea.

Dickheads, the entire lot of them!

Chris Gould
32 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:15:28
You can watch the full press conference on YouTube. RM makes it clear that he is there to talk about the match and not any individuals. It was clear that he is getting tired of the same line of questioning.

He said that he is involved with all transfer dealings from start to finish and that Bill would NOT interfere and tell him to accept a specific offer. Basically he said that the buck stops with him. Now considering he has stated that Stones is not for sale and that he is thinking in terms of years not weeks... he’ll look very foolish if he does a complete 180 and sells him.

He refused to discuss any individual incomings or outgoings. He was very consistent on this and I don’t think we should be making inferences.

He said that with all the many names that he had read we have been linked with, he would need to build a new changing room if they all came through. That was a clever little dig at the ridiculous transfer media speculation.

James Byrne
33 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:18:31
Does anyone know if there is a contract clause / sale value in Stones’s contract that Chelski could trigger?
Kevin Tully
34 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:19:16
I will be absolutely fucking amazed if we sign two decent defenders plus Yarmolenko AND keep hold of Stones.

I will go as far to say that everyone at Everton FC will have had an excellent transfer window and offer them them all my congratulations on their excellent transfer strategy.

£30m spent plus keeping hold of Stones will show some intent to the current squad.

Jay Woods
35 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:27:49
Chris Gould, I take your points, but for me his language has not been definitive enough. "Not aware" is diplomatic-speak, whereas "Stones made no such request" is emphatic and to the point.

Ergo... At the very minimum, the club is open to the possibility of selling Stones in the coming days and I suspect they hope the Yarmolenko transfer (if they can pull it off) will soothe the pain of it all.

Paul Smith
36 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:31:10
In the conference, Martinez doesn’t say "I’m not aware of a transfer request being put in" -- that was the question asked of him and he replied, "No, not at all."

The club's stance has not changed by the look of it and this move will only go ahead if Stones agitates for it.

Jay Woods
37 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:33:56
Paul Smith - it's at around 2:33 - and he answers the question: "are you aware of a transfer request" with the reply "no, not at all". Which means "I am not aware of such a request".

What we want him to say is "No such request has been made and we will not be selling the player".

Keith Harrison
38 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:35:04
Kev, can we hire a plane with a "Great Window, Roberto" if all that comes off.

Or better still mate, a huge "Fuck Off Mourinho, Chelscum can’t afford John Stones" when they roll into town. I’ll donate to that, pal.

Eugene Ruane
39 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:38:28
I'm trying to figure out if Stones could put in a transfer request to someone other than RM without RM knowing.

JS: "Gi'us one 'o them big long 'ot dogs flower and a cup o' t'Bovril... and 'ere's me transfer 't'request"

Goodison tea-bar girl: "Hot Dog £19....Bovril £8...MAUREEN 'OW MUCH ARE TRANSFER REQUESTS!?"

Jim Bennings
40 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:38:40
Stones won’t rock the boat, if he was going to do that then it would have happened by now,. He may, in the privacy of his manager's office, have spoken of being interested in the move should Chelsea offer an astronomical fee; perhaps this is why Martinez is loathe to come out and say he’s not for sale at any price.

I think as Liverpool saw with Sterling and Suarez, every player has a price; it’s just about making sure you get the very best deal you can in today’s insane market.

It's clear that Funes Mori is here at present as back up to Jagielka and Stones and you feel if Stones were to leave then we would very likely still go out and attempt to bring in a defender, maybe a Virgil Van Djik or Johnny Evans to go straight into the side. At the moment, with not being used to the Premier League, Mori probably won’t be a regular but nevertheless he’s a signing in a position that needs strengthening and at 24 he’s got time on his side to acclimatize.

Chris Gould
41 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:45:36
Jay, I really don’t think we should be making such inferences. RM came out and said that he isn’t for sale just recently. I think he’s just exasperated with it now and doing all he can not to lose his cool. He made it clear that he was there to talk about the game, everything else was dealt with appropriately and with a little contempt. Why should he definitively respond to something that is clearly calculated and not true.

Personally, for what little it’s worth, I believe he is fucking fuming inside with the way Chelsea are destabilising Stones, and over his dead body will he sell to them. I’m choosing to believe that, and if true, RM will catapult himself to a personal hero of mine. A big fuck you Mourinho and fuck you Chelsea. We then go onto have the greatest season since the 80s...

I’m backing RM to deliver. I see the eye of the tiger in him.

Tony Abrahams
42 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:49:26
It's the first time I've heard anything off Martinez for a long time that was short and to the point,

Maybe the manager is learning? Or has Lyndon shortened the interview right down?

I would expect Stones to play on Sunday, but wouldn't be surprised if it's his last game for Everton. I hope I'm wrong though, because this is one player I don't want Everton to lose.

Sam Barrett
43 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:53:57
This is as massive a turning point in our history as Kevin Brocks pass back to Inchy. The only way Martinez can let him go is if Stones hands in a request. Even then we need AT LEAST £50m but I would hold out for more.

BK, do we roll over to these rats or do we make a stance? If you sell him you are just accepting mediocrity for another 5 years. Grow a pair of bollocks and do everything you can to keep him!

John Jones
44 Posted 21/08/2015 at 11:55:00
Just watching the press conference and Martinez is asked if he is aware of any transfer request his Response is, "No, not at all."

It is funny how words can be twisted. For me, Martinez was very blunt: "NO, at not all."

The press are like a twisted ex-bunny boiler girlfriend that will do anything to try and get a raise out of you.

Phil Walling
45 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:00:04
What a surprise if it ends with a transfer request. Almost as though the plot for the sale of Lescott has been re-written. BK must be running out of original material although he could have called this 'Roll away the Stones' and put it to music!
Anto Meehan
46 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:04:42
Looks to me that Stones has been sold already and both clubs have agreed to keep it quiet until Everton get a few transfers over the line, thus keeping their price down.

We’re linked with 3 centre backs at the moment:
Dante - Bayern
Andrea Ranocchia - Inter
Ramiro Funes Mori - River Plate

Dave Paul
47 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:05:51
I think it’s just a matter of time now before he’s gone. I don’t think Stones would ask for transfer request but it wouldn’t surprise me if EFC have told him to do this... after all they have stated all along he’s not for sale and they know we would go proper loopy if he’s sold.

If they can get £40M+ (which he isn’t worth really as probably half of that value is based on potential but in today’s market -- Sterling £49M+; Berahinho £28M -- he's probably worth £55M as better than both in his position) then maybe we should sell as we could use the money to make us a better team.... Koulibaly from Napoli is a good strong beast of a player, Yarmolenko, maybe Celtic's Van Dijk, Mori looks like he’s coming in and then a forward.

I don’t know... ideally I want him to stay and be the core of Martinez's team of future young stars but I think Sunday at Goodson will be his last game. As long as they get £40M+ and all the money is used on squad maybe, maybe it might work out better.

Thomas Surgenor
48 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:05:52
Just to add my two cents to the interpretation of what was said;

In reference to the quotes: "Bill would not interfere" and "I’m not aware".

This could be Martinez playing an absolute blinder against Bill. In no way could Bill Kenwright come out and accept a bid now without Martinez media approval or our currently under fire Chairman will have lost one of his biggest allies in broad daylight. Martinez has firmly put the pressure on Bill to respect his wishes to keep John Stones.

Peter Morris
49 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:06:39
I’ve said in earlier posts and I'll say again, I think the outcome rests and whether John Stones blinks and asks for a move. If he does, the goose is cooked IMO.

I’m also in the school that interprets RM’s comment on the negative side, so I suspect JS and his agent are making their move. I hope I’m wrong, but worry I’m not. RM’s comment was not an unequivocal denial and I’m afraid in these circumstances, that is all that would have sufficed. That, and JS coming out publicly and saying he is staying put. He hasn’t.

The press campaign continues apace -- that little rat, Sam Wallace of the Indie, who a couple of years back conducted a concerted campaign to get Bainesy to his beloved Manure, is quoted today of Chelsea "there is a will to make further signings beyond that of John Stones of Everton". Next, he’ll accuse EFC of holding the lad’s career back.

He is the archetypal journo who believes the purpose of the bulk or Premier League clubs is to develop players and provide shooting practice for Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool and I despise the scumbag and everything he stands for.

Douglas McClenaghan
50 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:07:05
Martinez was obviously being sarcastic: 'I'm not aware' making it clear that if a request is made it will be made to him first, not given via the media.
Tony Abrahams
51 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:09:05
It's a little bit different at the minute Phil, with dignified silence from the kid himself. I couldn't blame Lescott for going, nor would I blame Stones.

The big difference is we had the kecks off City, but Stones is worth every penny, whatever the fee is, if he goes.

I hope history doesn't repeat itself, if he does go, and the money is spent more wisely this time around.

Barry Sherlock
52 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:14:18
Chris Gould (#34), really funny! I like that.
I see the eye of the tiger in him too!!

I just don’t think he has the final say over this transfer. I think JS will obviously be asking to be kept informed over any offers that come in for him. And his agent will be pushing for that too.

IF and it’s a big IF JS asks for a transfer, then that is like Chelsea offering another £5mil. It could be as much as that in a loyalty bonus due to JS if he hadn’t asked for the transfer.

I believe the reason JS is not already at Chelsea is due to the bonus due to JS AND the sell-on fee that we would owe Barnsley. So in essence EFC would only get say £20mil of a £30mil transfer fee. That is deemed not enough by BK. In fairness I agree.

It’s simple to me; EVERY player has their price. Once the price is met, then it’s thank you and good night. Stones’s value? I’d probably say £40mil. We end up paying out £6mil to Barnsley and "hopefully" no bonus to the player: so £34mil for EFC.

Gavin McGarvey
53 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:16:42
Why would Stones put in a transfer request? As I understand it, by doing so he would lose a percentage of what you would imagine would be a not inconsiderable transfer fee.

Also, this move doesn’t make sense for him. At Everton, his is one of the first names on the team sheet. At Chelsea, there would be questions about that. As others have said, wait a year and he can pick his club.

Fingers crossed for Yarmolenko. COYB.

John Jones
54 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:16:58
What everyone on here is missing is this story was made up a young girl that worked at Superdrug for 4 years whilst getting her degree. She has been a reporter for 1 year and then, all of a sudden she has contacts throughout the game? I really don’t think so.

More likely her editor has asked her to write something about this and she is the fall guy, her career is still young and she has no reputation to put on the line.

Stuart O'Malley
55 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:21:45
"No, not at all"... totally straight forward answer if you ask me. How RM can make it any more clear is beyond me.

Journo’s asking loaded questions, and Roberto answers definitively "NO, NOT AT ALL."

What do people want him to say?

Mike Green
56 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:23:46
Why not come out with a straight forward "No, he hasn’t", even whether he has or not? Simplest thing in the world. And if he hasn’t, ban The Sun from the press box. Easy.

Jay Woods
57 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:26:01
Stuart O’Malley: We want him to say the player is not for sale, rather than affirming that he is unaware of a transfer request. Huge difference, semantically speaking.

That said, I am mindful that English is not his native language and I’m guessing grammatical nuances are not necessarily his forte.

But, being a worrier and an Evertonian who will never accept our decline from our 1980s zenith, I want strong, unambiguous affirmations. (And a new, better board.)

John Hammond
58 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:26:04
On Sky he was asked whether he was aware and he said "not at all, no". The same for any hesitation playing him against City. Sounds like newspaper bullshit to me. Let’s hope so... it's getting boring now.
Tony J Williams
59 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:27:11
F'sake......

No, not at all.

As Eugene said, who else is he going to put a transfer request to, if not his manager?

Some on here need to stop attacking those windmills.

Tony J Williams
60 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:34:06
Jay, he already has said he's not for sale.

Why should he have to reiterate this point at every press conference?

Mike Gwyer
61 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:45:46

Thomas Surgenor #34.

Sweet post mate, but even being on his sickbed, BK, being the sly slippery twat that he is will still be able to shit all over RM without so much as blinking an eye. One thing that is forever certain at Everton Football Club; there is the truth, the whole truth and then the shit that spouts out of BK’s mouth.

For me, I take great satisfaction that Everton FC can continuously produce young players that most EPL teams have to open their big fat back pockets to include in their teams. Regarding John Stones, well let’s just rely on The Sun to keep us informed.....


Nitesh Kanchan
62 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:49:25
What is more worrying than RM comments is Chelsea bidding, which is not going to stop after so many failed bids. Can’t we lodge a complaint against them to stop it or is Bill asking for more behind the scenes fooling us all?

Worrying 10 days ahead...

Gary Mortimer
63 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:50:58
Jay Woods (#59). So when the journos ask RM, is he aware of any transfer request, you want him to say "He is not for sale". If he did that, then everyone would say "He didn’t deny it, therefore he must be going".

Also, Denis Richardson #18 - Once the £35m barrier is reached the lawyers will draft the contracts quicker than you can say "Stamford Bridge". In my opinion, this is no better than Izzy Horsefield’s "he’s about to slap a transfer request in" story. Where is your basis for your statement? Have you got an inside track to the Board?

Fraser Auld
64 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:53:57
Get a grip on here.

First of all he’s asked about John Stones's latest position. "I think the latest situation is going to be exactly the same as before" ... ie, he is not for sale. Why should he keep having the same conversation over and over again, if there is nothing to add from his point of view? He, rightly in my view, then says the focus is a massive game at the weekend, frankly, it is.

Not content with that response (ie, nothing to add to my answer at previous press conferences), the journo then substitutes a hypothetical scenario in order to try and prompt a headline worthy answer from Bobby: "A transfer request would be quite a significant development though, you’re not aware of one?" Answer a definitive and to the point "No, not at all".

Whether Stones stays or goes is anyone’s guess but don’t see his answers here as being indicative of how the saga is going to pan out one way or another.

Drew O'Neall
65 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:54:15
Be fair.

Martinez is at a press conference, presumably a transfer request is a formal written document for legal reasons, unless it's landed on his mic table while he's been sitting there RM can hardly state with absolute impunity at the time of asking that John Stones hasn't handed in a transfer request.. It could be waiting with his assistant after the presser or with BK back at the ranch.

John Keating
66 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:56:13
I hope it doesn’t happen but, IF Stones asks for a transfer, surely we could just refuse him to speak to Chelsea.

We could just hope another club comes in and do a deal with them.
Fuck Mourinho and his scum Club.

Gary Mortimer
68 Posted 21/08/2015 at 12:58:51
Drew, do you not think BK might have been in touch with RM to warn him that a transfer request had been received? Or do you think he would keep it from him, so when it was revealed the whole club would look like idiots?

I don’t think BK would want any negative publicity when he is under as much scrutiny as he’s ever been. If he hangs RM out to dry then he’ll look a fool.

John Daley
70 Posted 21/08/2015 at 13:24:12
Still ten days of this to go. Wonder what they're going to come up with next?

Stones Saga Nears Boiling Point

The Sun can today reveal that John Stones put Roberto Martinez's pet goldfish in a pan of water and threatened to turn the hob on unless granted permission to talk to Chelsea.

Eye witness reports indicate Jose Mourinho (who was disguised as a window cleaner in order to watch events unfurl) went totally radge after a trained negotiator was brought in to secure the safe release of the captured Carrassius Auratus without his say so, and threw his soapy squeegee down the street in a fit of rage (possibly causing a passing motorist to swerve and clip an unfortunate cyclist).

When later asked, if it was a straight choice between setting John Stones free or setting his goldfish free; which would he rather release from captivity, Martinez replied he "wasn't aware" of having ever owned a goldfish. 

Superdrug sources and ToffeeWeb contributors are believed to view this statement as highly suspicious, due to the fact that parallels could be drawn between Martinez's non-plussed answer and Obi Wan Kenobi's claim of not being able to recall ever owning a droid before, despite knocking about with Artoo fucking Deetoo throughout three piss poor prequels.

The cashier at Boots on the other hand just said she thought it was all a load of old bollocks and quickly returned to blowing bubbles with her chuddy and looking bored off her tits.

Pete Edwards
71 Posted 21/08/2015 at 13:28:19
I think Martinez is doing very well not to go off on one at one of these idiot "reporters" asking the same questions over and over again when the answer is the same. Stones won’t go now or in January and I think if we get back in to Europe next season he won’t go then either.

Any player young or old would be mad to go to Chelsea anyway, look at Cuardrado brought in to replace Schurle (who never got a sniff either), world beater before they signed him; now look at him.

Remy another (although he possibly chased the dollar) never plays, even a OAP, Drogba played before him. Azcuilawatshisname lauded as one of the best left backs last season by a few so they go and buy another -- one of them wont play! Pedro...... not sure the guy will get a game half the time but bought him anyway.

All the young players out on loan, probably most won't be seen or heard of again. And Maureen, well there’s not a lot than can be said about him and his personality that hasn’t already, he’s a bully, nothing more nothing less.

Anyway, a bit of a rant that probably doesn’t make much sense but basically Stones would be mental to go anywhere near the place.

Gordon Crawford
72 Posted 21/08/2015 at 13:49:22
No matter what we don’t have to sell him to Chelsea. If he wants to leave – and that’s a big "IF" – then we can say to other clubs that "he is available for £50 million."

But these poisonous snakes in the media won’t give up until they make something happen.

John Crook
73 Posted 21/08/2015 at 13:53:23
The saga and the speculation is guaranteed to continue for the next 7 days. Stones is professional and committed enough not to rock the boat and demand a move 2 nights before the Man City game.

Next week will obviously be crucial. I would imagine if Stones is not in the squad for the following Saturday’s match at Spurs, then he has decided to go.

In my opinion, Everton haven done what we as fans wanted them to do. Refuse to sell even at the vastly over inflated price of £35 million. John Stones has 7 days next week to decide if he wants to be part of this upcoming, very high potential Everton team, or demand a move, face the wrath of the fans and take the media’s much mooted John Terry apprentice scheme at Chelsea.

How ironic the 1st game following the close of the window is home against Chelsea. My heart is saying he bags a last minute (for us) header into the Street End as Goodison erupts and Mourihno frowns but my head says he will be sat on the Chelsea bench and receive’s the expected chorus of boos every time the Sky cameras point towards the the Chelsea bench.

John Jones
74 Posted 21/08/2015 at 14:01:53
John Daley #59

Brilliant

Gordon Crawford
75 Posted 21/08/2015 at 14:20:22
Only time will tell what happens with John Stones. I for one think he will stay. :-)
Kevin Elliott
76 Posted 21/08/2015 at 14:28:21
John Daley @59
You should write comedy scripts.
Brilliant.
Colin Metcalfe
78 Posted 21/08/2015 at 14:36:01
I have stopped worrying about Stones now; there is no way he will put in a transfer request as he is very happy at the club and stated several times in the past.

Stay calm, fellas; Stones will be with us for another season. I can just see Lukaku putting his arm around him saying, "Whatever you do, don’t join that shower!!"

Harold Matthews
79 Posted 21/08/2015 at 14:42:42
I'm with my old mate Mike Gwyer #53 on this one. He has a great understanding of BK.
Eric Holland
80 Posted 21/08/2015 at 14:45:03
John Daley
Always look forward to reading your posts You make me Laugh and hit the nail on the head.
Dave Pritchard
83 Posted 21/08/2015 at 14:54:28
Mike 54, we can't claim Stones as one of our home grown though.
Tim Greeley
84 Posted 21/08/2015 at 15:02:49
Roberto should hire Eugene Ruane and John Daley as his press conference interpreters. And I say that in the full knowledge that Roberto speaks fluent English.

Max Murphy
85 Posted 21/08/2015 at 15:04:40
Fat bloke in the pub told me John Stones is staying at Everton. So it must be true.
Philip Bunting
86 Posted 21/08/2015 at 15:05:35
As John Stones recently signed a contract to play for Everton for the next number of years, the club is obviously in the driving seat. If John did hand in a transfer request big 'if', and I don’t believe he did – is he not in breach of the very contract he agreed?

That being the case, and with the Euros coming up, regardless of what his value is, I would say he’s in breach of contract, put him on gardening leave with the reserves for the season, dock him pay for breaching his contract, take Chelsea’s tapping up to the lawyers to deal with and claim compensation for damages, then sell in the summer to anyone but Chelsea.

In future, clubs attempting dirty media tricks via agents and papers will think twice before messing with the Toffees.

Anthony Washington
87 Posted 21/08/2015 at 15:22:42
Everything CG predicted a few weeks ago about what lengths the tabloids will go to, to try and influence the John Stones transfer has come true.

A week and half of this rubbish still to come.

James Marshall
88 Posted 21/08/2015 at 15:23:04
A few weeks ago Stones said he was very happy at Everton. When you watch him play you can tell he enjoys playing for us, and is well liked by his team-mates. I also get the feeling that as a group they’re all good mates – Stones is only 21, why would he want to uproot his life/career just because Chelsea have come knocking?

His advisors know full well that there will still be plenty of clubs interested in him over the next few years, and in fact give him a few more years with us and he could be worth even more money.

Martinez has said a week ago that Stones isn’t for sale. He also said that was the end of it.

Today he stated that Stones hasn’t said anything to him about a transfer request.

Naismith has come out and said he doesn’t think Stones will leave.

I don’t see what anyone at Everton could do to make it any clearer to us, the fans, as well as Chelsea that Stones isn’t for sale, and doesn’t need or want to leave. We hold every card.

The only reason there is any sort of so called ’saga’ at all is because of the media whipping up a frenzy, and many Evertonians seem to have fallen for it over the comments of their own club.

If he leaves, Martinez is going to look an absolute fool. Everton as a club are going to look like a tin-pot outfit happy to bend over and have their trousers pulled down by the big boys. Kenwright is going to face the wrath of a fanbase already at odds with him on numerous levels, and Stones will end up universally despised by Evertonians forever.

I don’t see any good reason why the player would leave at this point, other than the media hyping it up and saying it could still happen. It all sounds like a load of bollocks if you ask me, and Martinez is clearly as sick to death of hearing about it as we are.

The press conference today was to talk about the Man City game, and although he would have known to expect a question about Stones, I think he said the right thing – short and to the point. Again, end of story. Nothing to see here.

Ray Robinson
89 Posted 21/08/2015 at 15:23:48
If John Stones really is contemplating a move to Chelsea, he should consider this: if he didn’t make it at Chelsea either due to failure to reach his potential or somehow managing to ruffle the ego of his arrogant boss, he is effectively condemning himself to a lengthy spell in the stiffs or a subsequent move abroad. For, make no bones about it, Mourinho would not sell him onto a rival in this country.

I’d consider what happened to de Bruyne, Salah, Cuadrado, Mata, Schurrle, van Aanholt and Luiz (amongst others) before I went to that classless outfit.

I’d also consider what happened to other young players at Man City (Rodwell, Sinclair) who wasted their talents in pursuit of glory at "bigger" clubs.

"Be careful what you ask for" would be my advice if he really is thinking of forcing the issue.

Frank Crewe
90 Posted 21/08/2015 at 15:26:58
Just imagine if someone took a fancy to your house and wanted to buy it. They make an offer but you say "I don’t want to sell my house." So they take no notice of this and continue to make bigger and bigger offers for your house.

Eventually they give up this method and contact your neighbours. They get them to bend your ear saying how much happier you would be if you sold your house. That doesn’t work either so they start putting stories in the local press that you have decided to sell your house after all. Now if this happened in real life, it would be classed as harassment and you would have legal redress.

Everton have the same rights. Get the lawyers on it. Anymore harassment of the club or the player will result in suing for damages. There has to be an end to this.

Chelsea have blatantly ignored our wishes and have tried to financially muscle us into selling a player we clearly do not wish to sell. This kind of thing has to stop. As things stand all the aces are in the rich club's hand. They can go on upping the bid and using the media to pressure the poorer club and that’s not fair. The rules against "tapping up" are patently useless and stronger measures are very much needed.

All this nonsense would end if they brought in a simple rule change. You can’t make an offer for a player without first establishing that the other club wishes to sell the player. If you ask if a player is for sale and they say No, that is the end of it. You can’t just start bidding regardless. It just unsettles the player and annoys the club and their fans. If you continue to bid, the club should be fined in line with the wealth of the club.

Common courtesy has to be brought back into the transfer market. It has simply become a free for all rat race. Contracts are not worth the paper they are printed on and the rich minority are deliberately hindering the progress of the poorer clubs by buying up their best young players.

Ian Cowhig
91 Posted 21/08/2015 at 15:29:07
We don’t need reporter speculation. We have enough on here. ’No, not at all’ has a dozen different meanings according to people on this thread.

Also, please name a recent player that has been sold when the manager had not agreed to it, or the player has not instigated it with a transfer request. And please don’t say Ferguson.

Hugh Jenkins
92 Posted 21/08/2015 at 15:30:15
John (11) - great idea - have just e-mailed asking the same question.
Jay Harris
93 Posted 21/08/2015 at 15:37:16
This is a big moment in Everton’s history.

Keep John Stones, get a couple of decent signings and fuck Chelsea and it will galvanise Evertonians and hopefully lead to an upward spiral in EFC fortunes.

Sell John Stones and it will not only send out the wrong signals that the dirty money clubs can do whatever they want but it will divide Evertonians and ruin the goodwill that could be had.

I have to say that although I am RM’s biggest critic tactically he has conducted himself with class through all of this.

I would have imagined Moyesy threatening to give Mourhino a "Glasgow kiss".

Brian Cleveland
94 Posted 21/08/2015 at 15:45:57
Come on guys? Who is going to take anyone with a name like "Izzy" seriously? I didn't even know whether it was male or female without reading further...

Izzy going? Izzy 'ellers like!

Gavin Johnson
95 Posted 21/08/2015 at 15:46:38
"I would have imagined Moysey threatening to give Mourinho a Glasgow kiss".

Are you sure Jay? have you not forgotten how in awe Moyesy was with managers of clubs supposedly bigger than us. What was the quote that went along the lines of... "I’d never stand in the way of a player if Sir Alex was on the blower and asked to buy one of my players."

Stephen Scofield
96 Posted 21/08/2015 at 15:50:54
Is it just me who thinks the only reason Mirallas and McCarthy signed new deals was because Martinez said to them he's going to build the squad around them (and assuming Coleman and Stones too). So, by selling Stones, if I was Mirallas, I'd see that as broken promises and want out too.

Speculation I know, but the new Mirallas contract shocked me (in a good way).

Brin Williams
97 Posted 21/08/2015 at 15:53:47
IF, and I mean IF he goes, it will be for an undisclosed fee.

BUT I think he’ll still be with us for the whole season.

Thomas Surgenor
98 Posted 21/08/2015 at 15:57:33
Stephen #85 - as much as I'd love that to be true; I think Mirallas and McCarthy signed their deals for their pay rises.
Denis Richardson
99 Posted 21/08/2015 at 16:18:20
Ray (#78), on the flip side. If you were a talented young pro and got the offer to join the champions, would you say no because you’re scared of not making it or yes because you believe in your abilities and are confident you could make it?

If you believed in yourself I’d be inclined to think you’d go with the latter (nevermind the £3M signing-on fee, treble wages and the likelihood of winning a medal or two at the end of this season). Playing alongside the likes of Hazard, Costa and Frabregas who, whatever you may think of them, are head and shoulders above the talent we have.

Two sides to every coin, just saying.

Robin Cannon
100 Posted 21/08/2015 at 16:22:08
Obviously the pressure is going to continue to grow up until September 1. And especially if Chelsea's slightly stuttering start to the season continues.

I don't see anything wrong with RM's language. He can't come out directly and say "there's no transfer request"; because for all he knows John Stones might have handed one in to the board ten minutes before the press conference. Then he just gets made to look out of the loop if that came out.

I don't want him to go, and I don't think he'll go this window. But I also don't think there's really any player out there, especially outside of the billionaire clubs, who is "not for sale at ANY price".

Fraser Auld
101 Posted 21/08/2015 at 16:23:26
John Daley #65... Ha! — that’s one of the best posts I’ve seen on here!
Raymond Fox
102 Posted 21/08/2015 at 16:25:54
I think the newspaper reporting in general is pathetic. The Stones saga, though, is why the money clubs are up there and we're down below, so to speak. Barkley will be next if he plays like he did against Southampton in the next few games!

These clubs can offer Stones and Barkley probably £2.5M per season more than we can afford and there’s a big temptation obviously to grab the money now.

There’s a downside to signing for a Chelsea et al and that’s been stated in the thread many times already, but we’ll be lucky to keep Stones longer than one more season... and that’s depressing.

Chris Gould
104 Posted 21/08/2015 at 16:33:54
Interestingly, LVG has come out and said that the papers have been spouting rubbish about their transfer business all summer. He doesn't mince his words. I wish these journos were held accountable to their bullshit. Basically: an insider, sources close, widely accepted, has been reported...all means made up bullshit.
Jim Hardin
107 Posted 21/08/2015 at 16:55:45
Not an RM fan but come on people what else was he supposed to say to the question as asked? He was not aware of one and that is what he said with no need to elaborate further as that would only be twisted too.
Kristian Boyce
108 Posted 21/08/2015 at 17:03:22
Link

Another good bit of ’How great is Bill’ propaganda, that includes some great deceptive figure concerning transfer monies spent. Obviously forgetting to add in the Felliani money from the previous transfer window. Not surprising when I posted a reply to point out that fact, my reply got rejected by the moderators.

The PR machine is pulling in some major favours these last few days.

John Hughes
109 Posted 21/08/2015 at 17:03:25
If Everton do capitulate and sell to Chelski and John Stones has not asked for transfer then the buying club should pay Barnsley the 10 % ie, £45m to us £4.5m to the Tykes, or else no deal and wait till a BIG club Barcelona or Real Madrid come. COYB
Tom R Owen
111 Posted 21/08/2015 at 17:08:56
Two points in my opinion:

1) It is very easy to see why newspaper circulations are in decline, printing complete garbage.

2) Every day the unpleasant little Portuguese opens his mouth, more people realise what a complete twat he is.

Trevor Powell
112 Posted 21/08/2015 at 17:12:56
I think we should sell now for £50 million on condition he remains at EFC on loan for next season!
Joe O'Brien
115 Posted 21/08/2015 at 17:22:55
I don’t think he’s gone at all. There was nothing wrong with RM answer, I think he’s just sick of all the rubbish that’s been put out there.

Clearly the media have an agenda, they want him obviously to go to that lot. A few on this site got it spot on when they said the obvious journalists are in the big clubs' back pockets and fueling bullshit stories to get everyone in a frenzy.

I mean how can they come up with ’Stones has handed in a transfer request’ with no proof? They’re clutching at straws. I think they know their campaign hasn’t unsettled John as much as they thought it would.

RM's response was perfect. I’m surprised he hasn’t gone off on shouting FFS everything the media had said and printed had been made up bullshit. All of it. I’m getting so sick of it, tbh.

Paul Kossoff
116 Posted 21/08/2015 at 17:31:11
I’m sure that £30M is not enough for Stones as, in the near future, Chelsea would get double that figure for him.

£40M and write off the rest of Rom’s fee – that would be enough.

Chris Gould
118 Posted 21/08/2015 at 18:01:37
Trevor, having him on loan for the season would make it even harder to let him go. We would just be developing him further for those London jizzbags. He wouldn’t even be allowed to play against them!!

It would be horrendous. He has to stay. This has become so much more than money. I really believe this to be a defining moment. Are we moving forward? Or are we accepting our place as a second tier club?

Paul Tran
119 Posted 21/08/2015 at 18:03:42
Martinez has played this as well as he can. He knows that, although I'm sure he wants Stones to stay, if he wants to leave, he'll leave. He also knows that our board likes to talk ambition, then sell it.

The romantic in me wants Stones to stay, to captain the team to win trophies. The realist in me thinks that the pull of playing with a better manager, better players, winning trophies and a fatter contract will win the day.

I hope I'm wrong. If I'm right, it will not be the end of the world. We'll have money to invest and enhance a good side.

One week ago, I was on here reading about how crap we are, how Martinez was garbage, how we were going nowhere, or down. Now, if Stones goes, it will be the end of our great young team. Really?

Ball, Lineker, Steven, Stevens, Rooney. All left because our board wanted the money and/or the players moved to something we couldn't offer.

It's nothing new, folks. If it happens, take a deep breath and move on, cos if we won't, other clubs will.

Ernie Baywood
120 Posted 21/08/2015 at 18:04:48
RM's answer is fine. "No. Not at all" couldn’t really be more definitive or consistent with past responses.

I’m almost impressed that the media managed to ask such a question, knowing that they could manipulate how any response could be presented. Though I might be giving them more credit than they deserve.

I’m a glutton for punishment when it comes to Everton but my blue optimism is starting to bubble. If we get through this window having kept Stones, and brought in Deulofeu, Cleverley, Yarmolenko, Funes, and maybe one more then I think we’d all have to call that a successful window. You would have got massive odds on that kind of outcome in June... odds are tumbling now. Come on Everton, give us some cause for optimism!

Darryl Ritchie
121 Posted 21/08/2015 at 18:12:51
Journo receives a phone call;

Caller: I’ve got a hot tip for ya!

Journo: Who is this?

Caller: That’s not important, but listen. I’ve got a friend, who’s cousin has a friend, who knows the assistant to the assistant groundskeeper at Finch Farm, and he says that this fella thinks he overheard the the kit man say that John Stones might put in a transfer request.

Journo: Wow! Thank you very much!

The headline next day "John Stones to request transfer?"

Colin Glassar
122 Posted 21/08/2015 at 18:17:30
Ditto Lewis. Some people are so gullible and paranoiac on here believing there are hidden meanings behind everything the manager says. How many times does he have to say no to convince people?

Maybe a read about the KGB's First Directorate could be helpful. They were responsible for spreading lies, rumours and misinformation against their enemies during the cold war. Using local journalists in their pay (sound familiar?) they targeted ignorant, gullible people to attain their ends.

Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovitch, has close ties to the Kremlin and in particular former KGB agent, Vladimir Putin so I'm sure he knows a thing or two about the Black Arts and coercion. He will also know how to manipulate (and buy) certain people in the media. This "rumour" about JS handing in a transfer request is a typical ploy to weaken an opponent and their weak kneed fans.

Martinez is big into sports psychology and I think he's handled this brilliantly, so far. I'm sure he knows what Mourinho and his owner are up to. I'm sure he's exasperated, as we all our, with this circus but there's only a few days to go before it ends. Even ssn are now echoing the 'transfer request' so the heat will be increased over the next few days, it's just a case of holding our nerve and carrying on with our own plans.

Fuck Chelsea and fuck Mourinho!!

Tony Draper
123 Posted 21/08/2015 at 18:44:21
This thread contains some of the most pointless, tedious, pedantic, nitpickery so far regarding Everton and the transfer market.

For heavens sake take a good look at yourselves. Amateur psychologists and readers of body-language. Double guessing each other and offering piercing insight into the merest nuances. Mystic Megs.

Then you see fit to criticise a bunch of crap journalists (and you’re right they really are crap) for their fairy stories, before turning up here to do exactly the same thing with your own wild eyed conjectures.

Brent Stephens
124 Posted 21/08/2015 at 18:51:19
Colin #110 "Martinez is big into sports psychology and I think he's handled this brilliantly, so far."

Fair comment, Colin. Could you imagine the way Wenger or Fergie would take the bait and explode?

Colin Glassar
125 Posted 21/08/2015 at 18:56:52
Brent, he must be on the verge of decking one of these hacks. Did you see LVG explode today?

Mourinho, like a big girl, threatens to walk out when he doesn’t like the questions. Fergie just banned the twats (now I understand his hatred towards the English press), Wenger would just feign deafness and blindness etc....

Martinez is too much of a gent to tell them to piss off but he knows there’s only a few more days of this to go.

Brent Stephens
126 Posted 21/08/2015 at 18:59:15
Colin, I didn't see LVG but I can imagine.
Ian Cowhig
128 Posted 21/08/2015 at 19:13:12
Tony (#111)
Bang on.
Brent Stephens
129 Posted 21/08/2015 at 19:14:42
To keep the hacks busy perhaps we could start a few rumours on TW, using fictitious players, hoping the hacks would recycle them (the rumours, not the players). I'm sure Eugene or John Daley could come up with a few belters in terms of fictitious names. More interesting than the stuff the hacks put out.
Colin Glassar
130 Posted 21/08/2015 at 19:19:10
Or just go on Wikipedia and change the likes of Messi and Neuer to Everton players. They probably use Wikipedia as one of their sources anyway.
Oliver Molloy
131 Posted 21/08/2015 at 19:27:27
Martinez knows nothing, but Barry Horne thinks Stones will move if not this window then the next or the next! He would be in the know you would think.

If he moves it had better be for BIG BIG money Bill. This is the Baines saga all over again, I hope we keep John Stones... but, if not, step up, Mason Holgate.

Ian Cowhig
132 Posted 21/08/2015 at 19:47:43
Yes, the Baines saga over again. Seem to remember then ’he is gone; just a matter of time and fee’. Baines is now close to 70 appearances for Manure.

Oh no. Sorry, he signed a new five-year contract, and is still with EFC. And why. Because RM said he was not for sale.

He said Stones is not for sale. But because he did not follow this with at any price. Then that is not good enough. Should RM say over his dead body? Or would we the be looking for a BK hitman?

Brian Hill
133 Posted 21/08/2015 at 19:53:12
This from the Arrogant One’s press conference today:

"Our job is not to get a player another club wants."

Gareth Ashman
134 Posted 21/08/2015 at 19:55:16
Along with all others, I hope the boy stays. Despite him signing a new contract, I’d be sitting him down again and putting another new contract under his nose with additional incentives for him to stay. Players have all the power nowadays.

More wages, bonuses for European qualification, England appearances etc. Plus a £40m buy out clause with incremental %’s direct to him for each year he stays eg. 5% lump sum if we sell him after 1 year, 7.5% year after etc. Let’s all pray to the Everton Gods!

Callum McNab
136 Posted 21/08/2015 at 20:35:45
Even if he does hand in a request, the answer should be No!

If we let him go after signing a five-year contract, you can bet your life Lukaku will be straight behind, and who could blame him?

Eric Holland
137 Posted 21/08/2015 at 20:42:07
Keith #37 Great idea "Fuck off, Maureen. Stones is ours!" flying around before match,

I will also put in for that one!!

Graeme Hough
138 Posted 21/08/2015 at 21:28:30
Why don't we call Mourinho's and the press's bluff and carry on saying he is not for sale, but if they offer Gary Cahill plus £25m we would be happy to think about it (but still say no). In other words get on the front foot, stop being bullied and turn the tables.
Oliver Molloy
139 Posted 21/08/2015 at 21:56:30
Ian, did Baines want to leave? I seem to remember Stubbs said he did somewhere.

I think that Moyes really pissed Martinez off when he went on like Hughes did with Lescott and Mourinho is now doing the same with Stones which I hope backfires on his ass.

Good result on Sunday and who knows!

Peter Jamieson
140 Posted 21/08/2015 at 22:09:49
Anyone that thinks stones will be an Everton player in 3 weeks time is delusional.

That said, I'd say 45 million, if you want him that badly.

Charles Cook
141 Posted 21/08/2015 at 22:22:16
I think he will be, Peter. In 12 months time, I’ll be saying something very different... but now, that’s where I stand. The club know his peak sell-on value isn’t now and he knows he doesn’t need to move now.

Funnily enough, none of the guys I know personally think he’ll go during this window either – for similar reasons to those above. Poor me – I’m daft – with a bunch of daft mates it seems .

Ian Cowhig
142 Posted 21/08/2015 at 22:23:41
Evening Oliver
We all hope.

I wasn’t trying to be a smart arse, just looking for a bit of perspective. I am not an RM fan, nor a BK fan. But, other than Ferguson, I cannot find a player that was sold that the manager didn’t want sold, or had requested a transfer in recent times. So I am willing to take things in this context.

RM has said not for sale. He hasn’t said not for sale at that price. Just not for sale. This maybe naivety in the extreme. But as it stands it fits with the club's transfer dealings over recent years.

Steve Barr
144 Posted 21/08/2015 at 22:55:43
Wouldn't it be great if we signed our three targets.. Funes Mori, Leandro Rodriguez and Yarmolenko.... and kept Stones?

Only joking, crucifixion!

Oliver Molloy
145 Posted 21/08/2015 at 23:08:57
You may be right, Ian, but if Man Utd had bid what Everton were looking for regards Baines, he most likely would have been sold.

From what I read between the lines looking back at the Baines saga, he did want to move, but never pushed it out if respect to the club. Man Utd only offered £15 or 16 million and Bill wanted £20M odd.

Google "Leighton Baines: Why I stayed at Everton" in the Telegraph, he tells his side of things. Interesting read if you haven’t done so already.

Ernie Baywood
149 Posted 21/08/2015 at 23:42:47
One thing that does make me laugh is reports that one of the attractions for Stones would be to live in London.

That may be a draw for a foreigner but, personally, you couldn't pay me enough to live in that shithole.

Oliver Molloy
150 Posted 21/08/2015 at 23:50:48
So that's why they pay footballers so much money in London - it's a shithole....very good Ernie lol.
Peter Bell
151 Posted 21/08/2015 at 00:03:34
Oliver thinks that Martinez knows nothing, despite being the manager, yet thinks some over-rated co-commenter called Barry Horne knows everything about the Stones saga... this forum just gets better.

By the way, scoring a worldy against Wimbledon won't change my opinion: Barry Horne was shite.

Colin Glassar
152 Posted 22/08/2015 at 00:11:47
Expect Maureen to have a go at Stonesy on September 2nd like he did with Rooney. Remember? He basically called him (Rooney) a coward for not handing in a transfer request. The little man is full of spite towards the playthings he can't have.
Sean McCarthy
153 Posted 22/08/2015 at 00:46:44
Stones's dad is his Agent so let's hope he gives him some sound fatherly advice and tells him he's best served staying put. Hopefully he won't be a Paul Stretford wheeler dealer type or that gobshite who looks after Sterling's "interests"!!!
Karl Jones
154 Posted 22/08/2015 at 06:14:08
Despicable tricks from Chelsea and their media allies... If Everton are really serious about not selling him, they should complain to the PL and release it to the media as an open letter.

What disgusted me was Andy Gray's comments... He’s twice come out now rebuking us for not selling. Southall’s the only man who speaks from the fans' perspective.

How different from the Sterling affair, when all of their allies and ex-players to a man spouted outrage at the thought a player could actually want to better himself by leaving Liverpool.

Tony Draper
155 Posted 22/08/2015 at 07:12:58
Here’s a prize example of a made up story regarding John Stones, from Andy Hunter in yesterdays "The Guardian".

"Everton’s Roberto Martinez: it’s too late for John Stones to request transfer".

Except, Mr Hunter, Everton’s Roberto Marti­nez did not say "It’s too late for John Stones to request transfer". He has never said that and in fact you don’t even show how you came to that conclusion in your own article.

The misqoute that you do use was in response to the "When did you last beat your wife?" style loaded question to Mr Martinez and you get that wrong.

In the pre match press conference available here on 2:25, a reporter asks "A transfer request, would be quite a significant development. You’re not aware of one?"

RM "No." (Shakes head).

"And if there was one, does that change the situation as far as John Stones is concerned ?"

RM (Shaking his head, even before the journalist completes the loaded question) "Again, it’s not an area that we need to concentrate on."

(RM then goes on to focus upon the purpose of the pre-match conference, namely the forthcoming home fixture against Man City.)

This particular work of fiction was by Andy Hunter and appeared in Friday's online edition of The Guardian.

Ian Cowhig
156 Posted 22/08/2015 at 07:35:16
Morning, Oliver.

Thanks for the link to the Baines interview. Sat on a beach in Turkey, and definitely more interesting than the book I was reading.

Andy Walker
157 Posted 22/08/2015 at 08:00:46
Is John Stones ambitious?
Has he a history of moving clubs?
Would he want a 3 fold pay rise (minimum)?
Would he want to play in the Champions League?
Would he want to play in a team competing to win he EPL?
Would he want to play for Mourinho?

This is what it comes down to. The scenario of him requesting a transfer request was not exactly hard to predict. It gives Martinez the get out clause he needs in order to do a 180 on his 'he's not for sale' statement.

We should have done a deal weeks back and then taken our time to find suitable replacements without the metaphorical gun to our head of the deadline day approaching fast. We never seem to learn do we?

Ian Cowhig
158 Posted 22/08/2015 at 08:23:21
Andy,

What should we have taken the deal at? £20M, £25M or £30M. The last two being bids that have not even been confirmed by Chelsea. The threads have said not less than mop head to PSG. Chelsea will not offer that unfortunately till the last minute. If at all.

My view is that Stones stays unless he requests a transfer. If he does then hopefully someone other than Chelsea will come in to the arena.
But if not then keep Chelsea dangling. Then bang another £6M on at the last minute like they did to us with Lukaku. With a take it or leave it.

James Hill
161 Posted 22/08/2015 at 10:25:45
Think about it: McCarthy wants leave, signs a new contract; Mirallas gone; signs a new contract; Lukaku wants to leave; still here. Stones silence, not a sound from his agent. This is driving the media to jump off the bridge. Rom's interview after the Southampton game tells us more about this team than any of the bog rolls we call news papers.

Stones does not want to play for the moron at Chelsea. Unlike Sterling, he has intelligence outside of just football and has strong supporters around him. He might move in a year or so if Everton do not make progress but he is to clever to move now. Give the lad some credit!

Andy Walker
162 Posted 22/08/2015 at 10:29:38
Agree, we need to keep him if he doesn't want to go. I just cant believe Everton wouldnt if he wants to leave or not. Martinez must have asked him if he wants to stay or go surely?

So I presume he does want to go and we are going through a typical negotiation and media exercise before he leaves.

As for what to sell him for the price should increase for each day's delay, as the closer we are to deadline if he's sold the bigger hole we are in. Take £35m today, £40m middle next week, £50m deadline day.

Danny Halsall
163 Posted 22/08/2015 at 14:59:22
Have you heard Phil Thompson going on about the Stones on Soccer Saturday. What a clueless dickhead!
Colin Glassar
164 Posted 22/08/2015 at 15:10:13
Jesus Andy, are you just trying to be controversial or what?
Oliver Molloy
166 Posted 22/08/2015 at 21:53:42
Peter @ 132,

Martinez, in his press conference said he knew nothing of Stones asking for a transfer – correct?

Horne said he thinks Stones will move if not this window the next or the next – correct?

I was playing Devil's Advocate, of course, but I agree with Horne by the way... and yes, I would think he would be more in the know than you or I.

Jackie Barry
167 Posted 22/08/2015 at 22:08:08
Barry Horne does my head in, not a very good player who played in not a very good team.
Jackie Barry
168 Posted 22/08/2015 at 22:10:00
And precisely how would Horne know more than the manager?
Oliver Molloy
169 Posted 22/08/2015 at 22:13:30
Who said Horne knows more than the manager Jackie ?
Jackie Barry
170 Posted 22/08/2015 at 22:22:36
Well Martinez has pretty much said he won’t be sold; I would rather listen to him than some commentator that talks rubbish most of the time anyway.
Oliver Molloy
171 Posted 22/08/2015 at 22:28:41
Okay, I thought you were saying I said it, but no matter anyone's opinion of Horne or any other commentators, they can say stuff that managers cannot sometimes.

We will see what happens in the next week or so... let’s hope the manager is right.

Jackie Barry
172 Posted 22/08/2015 at 23:51:09
If, and it’s a big 'if', Stones requests a move at this point, my respect for him will go down a lot. He will have put us in an extremely difficult position. It’s all right saying he is being respectful in his silence, but if he is working a move behind the scenes then his disrespect to Everton FC is disgraceful. I doubt this is the case though.
Gavin Johnson
173 Posted 22/08/2015 at 00:10:16
I don't think there's any truth in it myself, just more shit stirring from Chelsea hacks.

Martinez was clear when asked the question about a transfer request on Friday when he effectively said it would make no difference as it's too late in the day.

The only way I can see him leaving is if United come in with a silly offer and offer Jonny Evans as a direct replacement in the deal. Hasn't Evans been making noises in the press he wants to sign for us?!

That said, I read that United value Jonny Evans at £12m, so that could be a stumbling block because that would mean that John Stones value is around £50m. United would be expected to give us around £36m cash, so they'd have to value Jonny Evans like any other sane person at around £4-6m as he'd effectively just be a sweetener in any deal.

Btw, I hope that scenario doesn't play out. It's just the only one I can see happening for some reason.

Oliver Molloy
174 Posted 23/08/2015 at 00:17:55
I don't think John Stones will care a lot what you think Jackie.
I'm becoming more pessimistic as each day goes by.
I have just read recent comments from our captain and reading between the lines it appears that young Stones may have asked for a move.
Why else would Jags say the club has been firm with John - he doesn't say what about but we can get the picture.
Colin Glassar
175 Posted 23/08/2015 at 00:20:09
One more week to go and all this rubbish will be a thing of the past. Steve Bates? What a joke he is.
Colin Glassar
176 Posted 23/08/2015 at 00:22:18
How do read between the lines Oliver? Did you find a secret code? I hope you had your tinfoil helmet on.
Jackie Barry
177 Posted 23/08/2015 at 00:29:50
It means they have been firm with John in rejecting the bids, that's what he is talking about.
Andy Crooks
178 Posted 23/08/2015 at 00:32:46
Why would John Stones be agitating for a move at this late stage? I firmly believe he will go only if the board decide to cash in. With planes flying about suspect they wont.
Colin Glassar
179 Posted 23/08/2015 at 00:38:12
Plus, Martinez has total control over transfers, Andy. Only the weak minded continue to believe the rubbish printed in the rags.
Colin Gee
180 Posted 23/08/2015 at 00:39:16
Just watched MotD and at the end they preview tomorrow's shite on the back pages, they lead with the Daily Express which says Stones to hand in Transfer Request to plead with with Everton to allow him his ’dream’ move.

The next paper featured something else, but in the top left hand corner there was "Stones: I won’t hand in a transfer request"....

Strangely they never mentioned that...

If John Stones is still an Everton player on the 2nd September, it will only take the 2nd Division Rent Boys of West London to concede a goal and the press will be back on it:

"Terry/ Cahill shocker sees Chelsea plan £60 M bid for Everton's John Stones in January window."

Oliver Molloy
181 Posted 23/08/2015 at 00:44:29
Are you trying to be smart Colin?
Gavin Johnson
182 Posted 23/08/2015 at 00:46:21
Colin,

So it wasn’t just me who spotted that on the 2nd paper... It wasn’t my imagination then.

Paul Kossoff
183 Posted 23/08/2015 at 02:30:09
Ian 137, sat on a beach in Turkey, really?
Colin Glassar
184 Posted 23/08/2015 at 07:58:39
No Oliver. I’m sorry if I offended you but it’s about time we put this one to bed. Unless Martinez has a gargantuan change of heart, Stones ain’t going nowhere and this has been bleeding obvious for weeks now.

Two days before the press conference in Singapore, Everton received Chelsea’s first offer. As I wrote at the time, Stonesy’s appearance at that conference, saying he was happy and he loved it at EFC, wasn’t fortuitous; it was planned between player and club. Since then, JS has maintained a dignified silence and the club have stood firm, and shall remain so, rejecting any further offers.

I also said, at the time, that Mourinho’s media lackeys won’t give up until they can present their man with his wish to get Stones. Bates, Lewis, Richardson, Cross etc... are mercenaries who will go on until the bitter end and Sky will also keep the waters turbulent as TDD gets closer (have to keep those viewers interested).

So if anyone wants to keep on reading between the lines, find hidden meanings in the words of Jags or the boss, discover symbols of dark intent in Mo Besic’s tats or simply believe in the words of some fucking fat moron like John Richardson (Daily Express) then feel free. The truth is out there, we are not alone.

James Marshall
185 Posted 23/08/2015 at 08:06:19
I don't usually read this crap from hacks, and this piece doesn't say anything we don't already know, but at least he's on the right side of the fence for a change: Link
Colin Glassar
186 Posted 23/08/2015 at 08:16:46
Nice one James, you are now entering the twilight zone. I see Maureen has gone back to his original target - Varane. I hope Madrid take him, and his owner, to the cleaners.
James Marshall
187 Posted 23/08/2015 at 08:18:14
Well said Colin, @162. Absolutely spot on in my opinion as well - I've only briefly and occasionally wavered on this one, and have been a staunch supporter on the way Everton are handling this media storm.

There is no John Stones saga - it's a media fuelled fantasy and barely anything more than that. Yes Chelsea want to buy him, but it's not as though they're spending the entire time tapping Everton on the shoulder, saying "go on, go on, sell us John Stones, go on".

Do you think Everton, Martinez, the board, Stones, and the other players spend their days in the same frenzy we're all whipped up into? No, of course they don't. They're busy getting on with preparations for tonight's game (today for you lot). I don't for one minute expect John Stones to be charging about making plans to sell his house, buy a new one, pack up his entire life and move to London - do you? Really? I don't see that happening for one second - at least not at this point in his career.

Give him a few more years at Everton in a team of up & coming, quality young players and we could see a team that really makes it's mark - possibly even winning something. RM has taken a lot of shit in the last year, and has handled this debacle brilliantly if you ask me. As has the club and the player. Not a dickie-bird from him or his agent and more power to them.

To the people asking for Stones to come out and say he's not leaving - why should he? He's doing the right thing in keeping quiet, and so are Everton. They have no reason to go bleating to the media about any of it, thus walking right into their grubby little hands to write even more shit about it all. Keep shtum, and let the clock tick past the witching hour, while Mourinho sits there seething at plucky little Everton hanging onto their bright young stars while his old crocks (albeit Champions) all start to wilt, while Roman pokes him with a big stick asking where the young English defenders are......oh they're probably out on loan aren't they! Arseholes.

James Marshall
188 Posted 23/08/2015 at 08:23:37
I see they just signed another striker and loaned him out to Vitesse as well. They sicken me. Why is there no limit on loaning players out like there is for loaning them in? Or is there?
Colin Glassar
189 Posted 23/08/2015 at 08:58:45
They are a law unto themselves James. Blatter, Platini and Scudamore only respect one thing and that is money. If you have it you can get away with anything.
Expect another onslaught now on Sunday Supplement. Stones will be one of the main topics and, 100 reasons why he should join Chelsea.
Tony Abrahams
190 Posted 23/08/2015 at 09:24:28
James, couldn't agree more. Everton loaned three players and had a good season, yet took loads of stick in the media. I'm sure the only thing they never said about it, was that it was illegal.

Chelsea, on the other hand, can have a full squad on loan, and they say nothing. Hypocrisy of the highest order, but after the way they have carried on over John Stones, I think we can all see why.

Sterling got slaughtered off the press, but he didn't even put in a transfer request. Stones, on the other hand has shown nothing but class, so these classless bastards are all waiting for him to do the honourable thing!

Steve Carse
191 Posted 23/08/2015 at 09:30:18
James (166), I agree the Chelsea ’model’ stinks, but I suppose you can’t stop a commercial entity from making money. And Chelsea do make a lot of money from it. They buy players who they have little intention of ever playing, they loan them out to add value, they then sell them on at a higher price than what they bought them for.

Lukaku was a classic example of how it pays off for them. Bought for £16m, loaned out to two clubs who used their own resources to make him a better player -- and the beneficiaries are Chelsea to the tune of a net £12m gain upon his sale. Haven’t they got over 20 players out on loan now?

Jim Lloyd
192 Posted 23/08/2015 at 09:39:55
James, probably me but couldn’t get the link to work. If it’s Andy Dunn of the Mirror that you’re talking about, I agree. He’s written an article which is toatlly at odds with the usual crap. Calls us a big club that will send a signal that we no longer want to be if we sell Stonsey.

Our Manager has said Stonesy is not for sale. I can’t see how it can be any clearer to one and all, that the lad is not going anywhere. Now if our Board, sell him against Roberto’s public statement, then everyone will know what the Board is like.

Dead right Tony, was it Samuel in the Mail who said "Great season Everton. Pity you did it with £50 million worth of loans." Prick! He then tried to cover the slime he’d written by saying he liked the club blah blah, just making a statement against the loan system. Prick.

Chris Wilson
193 Posted 23/08/2015 at 09:41:29
Yup. I remember when Scudamore announced to the universe that it was bad for the EPL brand to have a struggling Manchester United. This was during the dying minutes of Moyes’s reign. And despite the poor pathetic season Man Utd was having (boo hoo), the EPL was still about to reap the benefits of the most profitable television deal in its history – Cardiff City made more money getting relegated that season than Man Utd did winning the title the previous year!

If there was any doubt where his loyalty was; it’s all with his stars of the show that bring in the viewers and bring in the cash. Which is unfortunately the reason why I am surrounded by a bunch of Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd, and Liverpool fans at my job here in San Francisco, CA, USA.

Chris Green
194 Posted 23/08/2015 at 09:43:26
"He is a very good player...Everton should try to do a deal where they loan him back, that’s the ideal situation. (But) It shows they are weakening in their stance because they are looking at players who could come in now."

Phil Thompson, go do one. You tit. We lost two centre backs and need replacements. Mori isn’t a replacement for stones but for Alcaraz and Distin. Know more about the club before your sky biased selling tactics for the big four ruin your appeal.

If Stones wants to go, stick him on the bench for every game till January, so he gets used to the feeling, then flog him in January when we have time to get a replacement. Selling now is ridiculous as we won’t get a decent replacement.

Ian Cowhig
195 Posted 23/08/2015 at 10:09:35
Paul (#161)
Yes. Too hot for my white Anglo Saxon complexion.
The free T’Internet from hotel is great. And ToffeeWeb was definitely more interesting than my book.
Seamus McCrudden
196 Posted 23/08/2015 at 10:16:10
Here it comes Colin, Sunday Supplement on Stones leaving...
Seamus McCrudden
197 Posted 23/08/2015 at 10:20:34
What is this positive Everton sensible spin on SSN? Stones should stay at Everton? Holy moly?
Colin Glassar
198 Posted 23/08/2015 at 10:20:44
Great comments, at last, on SS regarding Stones. The general consensus being he should, and will, stay at Everton.
Brian Hill
199 Posted 23/08/2015 at 10:23:25
Colin, did you watch Sunday Supplement? Sensible words from Patrick Barclay and Matt Dickinson, obviously the idiot from the Sun, Sean Custis, has no doubt that Stones will leave. Dickinson made the very clear statement that Chelsea only want Stones so that nobody else can have him.
Colin Glassar
200 Posted 23/08/2015 at 10:27:34
The Custiss brothers are idiots Brian. But like you said, Dickinson and Barkley were spot on saying Everton shouldn't sell Stonesy. Neil Ashton wrote a great piece last week about why JS won't move for the foreseeable future.

There are still a few journos with credibility, not many mind.

Dave Pritchard
201 Posted 23/08/2015 at 10:30:07
Why do people care what journalists say? If one of them says Stones is staying some people think that journalist is great. If one of them says he is going/should go some think that journalist is an idiot. I am not saying that they have no influence but the way to reduce their influence is to not buy their papers and not react to what they say.
James Marshall
202 Posted 23/08/2015 at 10:48:34
Jim - this link: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/andy-dunn-column-Everton-still-6302912

Possibly the same one you allude to.

James Marshall
203 Posted 23/08/2015 at 11:02:02
Fair play to Keown as well with his comments here: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/chelsea-arsenal-legend-martin-keown-advises-Everton-defender-john-stones-reject-blues-move-1516608

It's nice to see some old pros with sensible views on this, unlike tossers such as Merson and that big nosed twat from Mordor.

Colin Glassar
204 Posted 23/08/2015 at 11:22:13
Because they are there to report the news not shape it Dave. Nowadays, they not only want to force transfers but pick teams and tactics and woe betide the manager who doesn't accept their advice. This is all well and good if it's done in good faith but too many of them have an agenda and are in service to certain clubs.

A few years ago not buying their papers was enough but in this age of social media they certainly can, and do, have a perverse influence over the game and players.

Mike Keating
205 Posted 23/08/2015 at 11:39:33
I agree, Colin
The Express and Star are the chief culprits especially with regard to Chelsea’s pursuit of Stones. That gormless twat Richardson is at it again today claiming to know what John Stones is thinking;

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/600168/Exclusive-John-Stones-Everton-chairman-Bill-Kenwright-dream-move-Chelsea.

Peter Bell
206 Posted 23/08/2015 at 12:04:46
Patrick Barclay is the only decent level minded columnist.

I was surprised by Andy Dunn's article, he is a staunch RS supporter.

As for Martin Samuel, that big fat fuck with the 1970s haircut, I use his columns for bog roll, then they will be covered in more shit!

Andrew Ellams
207 Posted 23/08/2015 at 12:27:57
The majority consensus amongst ex pros seems to be that Stones should stay at Everton. The only ones differing from that opinion seem to be the Chelsea loving gutter press and certain Chelsea players who I still believe should be brought to account for their public comments about a player contracted to another club.
John Jones
208 Posted 23/08/2015 at 13:02:17
Surprisingly after spending that night with my favorite Russian friends. I left the apartment at 8:30pm arrived home at 10:30-ish this morning. went to holy communion at 9:00am at Svaty Havel.

Then think Right the game is on at 5pm going to stay up and Man up. my missus is a wreck BTW.

However again I see the Sun and Express reporting John Stones is going to Beg for his dream move to Chelsea. John Richardson at his best.

so are his best Exclusives:

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/567011/John-Carver-Newcastle-Job-Next-Season

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/558233/Andy-Gray-Looking-Investors-Aston-Villa-Tim-Sherwood


http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/554029/Swansea-Bafetimbi-Gomis-Crystal-Palace-9m-Move


http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/550066/No-Britons-up-for-vacant-Newcastle-job

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/488433/EXCLUSIVE-Liverpool-close-to-deal-for-Swansea-striker-Wilfried-Bony

You could not make this shit up.............Oh wait you can if you are John Richardson.


Colin Glassar
209 Posted 23/08/2015 at 13:11:03
You missed the Ronaldo and Bale to Man Utd last season, JJ. Richardson is considered to be a bit of a joke amongst his colleagues and isn’t taken very seriously. I wonder if JS begged on his knees or standing up?
Ged Simpson
210 Posted 23/08/2015 at 13:22:13
If you think John Richardson is a gobshite and rubbish journo (see 184), his email is john.richardson@express.co.uk

Sure he'd love some feedback!

Tony Abrahams
211 Posted 23/08/2015 at 13:23:15
It wasn't just him Jim, they were all at it. How can a club be allowed to sign so many players, loan them all out and nobody bats an eyelid? But if a club take 3 players on loan and have a good season, they are flouting the rules?

I remember when people used to root for the underdog, but alls they talk about now is money, and not upsetting the bigboys!

Colin Glassar
212 Posted 23/08/2015 at 13:25:29
Richardson was the most banned journo (along with Brian Woolnough) from OT under Fergie. Fergie absolutely hated him and Richardson has confirmed this on many an occasion.
Jim Lloyd
213 Posted 23/08/2015 at 13:35:09
That's the one! Eventually learnt to copy and paste. Good article! and I also liked your literary description of those two pea brains from Sky.
David Greenwood
214 Posted 23/08/2015 at 13:40:22
I'm convinced Stones will stay. I think he's a sensible lad. Why would he would to join the Chavs for a relegation battle this season anyway?
Paul Smith
215 Posted 23/08/2015 at 19:10:44
SOS just posted on Twitter a clip of him asking John Woods at today’s game about Stones?

His reply "I won’t sell him, Bill won’t sell him’. Make of it what you will but if he doesn’t wanna go it looks like they won’t push him.

Callum McNab
216 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:32:12
Well it seems the lad has put in his transfer request. Might be a coincidence that we are about to sign a centre half. The club need to Reject it and show his agent and Stones what he has just signed,but we all know that the Board will be over the Moon as it now gives them the get out of Jail card.
If they let this happen then the rest will follow,and who can blame them.
Jay Harris
217 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:36:36
Being reported on SS that JS has handed a transfer request
Jay Harris
218 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:36:36
Being reported on SS that JS has handed a transfer request
Andrew Ellams
219 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:37:07
Sky Sports understand John Stones has put in a transfer request today. Didn't Sky Sports understand this last week too courtesy of The Sun?
Mark Riding
220 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:37:34
Stones gone. Martinez next.
Matthew Williams
221 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:50:29
Why would Martinez be next, its not his fault Stones has put in a request.
Paul Jones
223 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:53:25
Traffic grinds to a halt in Fleet Street as road is flooded with strange milky white liquid. Police are looking into it.
Patrick Murphy
224 Posted 25/08/2015 at 16:54:39
If Roberto doesn't want to sell him and the board do, then there is a possibility of a rift developing, however, Stones putting in a transfer request, if proven to be correct, lets everybody off the hook and Everton FC continue their sell to buy policy for yet another season.
James Morgan
225 Posted 25/08/2015 at 17:08:55
Get Ranocchia, Yarmolenko, Lennon and a striker and all will be well.
Phil Bellis
226 Posted 25/08/2015 at 17:12:14
A spokesperson for Phil Bellis understands that the request was made post-City game on Sunday and also believes it was allegedly rejected as the player apparantly opted recently for the security of a reported to be 5 year deal
New balls, anyone?
Clear the annual loan or will there, no doubt, be a massive, early settlement fine?
Football's fecked
Definitely play him tomorrow?
Gavin Johnson
227 Posted 25/08/2015 at 17:14:38
If Stones has put a request in as widely reported I think we should let him go, if Chelsea want to pay 40m. Buy Van Dijk for 10m and Austin for 15m.

As long as the incoming No. 10 isn't paid for out of this money I think we'll do okay out of the deal.

Phil Bellis
228 Posted 25/08/2015 at 17:16:59
So Gavin, you think we'll exit the window "stronger"?

This is Everton

John Hughes
229 Posted 25/08/2015 at 17:18:22
If Stones has asked for a transfer it means he does not want to play for us, sell him to highest bidder and / or play him in the under 21's
James Marshall
231 Posted 25/08/2015 at 17:19:26
As the kids from Grange Hill once said - Just say no!
Trevor Peers
232 Posted 25/08/2015 at 17:27:31
Nobody keeps unhappy players, so Stones will go. Question is will we spend the money where it's needed. It's an opportunity to improve the team.
Creative players are needed, but Roberto does have a problem identifying them and I don't trust him to invest any money received wisely.
Why is he gambling on 2 South Americans ? Plus we have a glut of midfielders that never play it's ridiculous.
Phil Bellis
233 Posted 25/08/2015 at 17:31:28
Trevor, Suarez didn't do too bad on his sulky season
Don't hope for much change out of any "windfall"

I repeat, this is Everton


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