Stones saga: Martinez proves when a club say a player is not for sale, they can really mean it

What say you now Alan "arrogant big-mouth" Shearer?

How well did you manage Newcastle United FC! Did you lead them to the promised land of the Championship?

Add Phil Thompson to that list too, for his comments on Stones.

But what has really wound me up is the churlish, mealy-mouthed, illogical tripe trotted out as if it's insight by that RS clown Lawrenson. I assume he would argue that when the RS hung on to Suarez, they ticked every box: they got a great season out of him; and they got a lot more than 㿔m when he went.

I assume he feels that Stones isn't Martin Skrtel, doesn't play for the RS, and therefore cannot possibly be worth more than a bog-standard fee. He is either too stupid, or too graceless, even to reflect on the possibility that Chelsea have been trying all summer to get Stones on the cheap; that with the new TV deal and Stones progress to automatic England choice his fee in 12 months could be 㿭m+ never mind 㿙m; and that, in the meantime, since Stones is about the best there is, we want him in our team helping to win matches in the PL.

Brains of a tomato, he implies that Everton are too stupid to have acted in their own best second-class interests. Well, we'll see won't we?

I know there are some articles talking about how our stance, as well as, West Brom's is maybe the beginning of a change in attitude. But I worry that somehow even with massive amounts of money coming in next few seasons; the Sky 4, 5 or whatever the hell they are, will find a new angle that will still give them all the leverage and power over those of us chasing them. I don't know what it will be - I have some ideas. I just worry that fans will think, "Alright! All this money will level the playing field!", but I worry that the more things change, the more they will stay the same. I would love to be wring though.

When you think of all our players reported to be going: McCarthy, Mirallas, Stones, Barkley, Garbutt Coleman... But they still remain players at Everton.

Shocked... yes!! Delighted... yes!! Wary... very!!

More importantly, though, we did keep hold of him and I am so happy we did. As others have said, the player is instrumental to our success and to sell would have sent out a terrible message for the rest of the squad in terms of our ambitions for the future.

As others have also stated, a fee for a full-fledged England international in an even richer market where top class centre-halves are fairly rare across the world, will definitely be enhanced in 12 months time.

Something is changing within the Premier League and the advantage that the top 4 have always had is starting to slowly close.

The issue to my mind is not the initial he's not for sale; it is the fact that we need to ensure he actually stays for the minimum of the duration of his contract.

Not only that we must give him and the rest of the young guys the expectation that we will improve the squad to give them all the opportunity to fulfil their ambitions. Keeping Stones for just an extra season in order to get an extra few quid should not be what this is all about.

I am quite sure he will go in January anyway. Hopefully we will get at least £40M for ourselves by then.

Even "TalkShite" and their numerous bookmaking "sponsors" are offering shorter and shorter odds for "The Special One" to depart before the end of the next summer "Transfer Window". Despite him (once again) professing that he wants to see out his managerial career with Chelsea.

He wanted Sir Alex's job. He did not get offered it.

I have said repeatedly that he won't be hanging around. He never has.

His countdown clock started ticking the very day he returned to his repulsive adorable Chelsea. Let's watch him tear himself to pieces.

Something is changing within the Premier League and the advantage that the top 4 have always had is starting to slowly close.

Are you referring to a less-than perfect start to the season by some of the monied elite? Or the smaller differential created by larger TV payouts?

While I would rejoice more than anyone at their impending demise, I think it's merely business as usual. Remember, in the words of the TW cliche, "It's a marathon, not a sprint." Four games in, we've barely rounded the first corner.

The Express yesterday apparently ran an article that said we'd accept £34m, based on us getting someone else in, then when Chelsea offered that we knocked it back, causing further fume from Mourihno.

Today Radio 5 are running the sports headlines with "Stones called up for England". Why? What's so significant about that?

Good job I gave up giving a shit about the "world's greatest league" a long time ago. But how lucky for Man City and Chelsea that Financial Fair Play seems to have died a death. Still, the Premier League has their own rules, so will punish these mega-wealthy clubs with.. a fine.