Stones: We want to give the fans what they deserve

Smash the Euros then come back to the Blues and show the world that we have world class talent at this club and we are ready to kick on.

Unfortunately, we keep coming back to the set up and style we play; as most posters say, this is down to one man.

I feel so frustrated that supporters here and comments on leaving the match are about the same... but the top people do nothing. Moving the chairs as she sinks will not help this club and I for one am sick and tired reading how underperforming we are yet nothing changes – and worse, nothing looks like it will change.

In my many years watching and following EFC, three centre backs have stood out in my favourite list of players and John Stones is one of them. I know he probably won't be here next season but I for one will be sad to see him in another club's shirt.

At the end of the day, all this stuff which gets spouted and quoted is with full diplomacy, the club obviously will only be positive and we, the fans, are purely speculating – trying to read between the lines whatever. We don't really know what is going on in our players' minds as far as Martinez is concerned but the talking on the pitch is quite depressing most of the time.

Whatever Martinez believes, the players themselves have to believe, and have to continue to believe while they go through the learning curve, even if things are proving challenging. We have all had to knuckle down at some time and get on through thick and thin to emerge (hopefully) successful. The key to emerging successful is having the belief.

If our players truly do believe in the 'big plan' then we could be on the point of breaking through.

The question I continue to ask myself is: Do I believe that the players have that belief in the plan? The way they talk (Rom excepted – because, for all his talents, his plan is "me, myself, I"), you'd think they did but the way they perform tells me otherwise.

I am firmly in the 'Martinez Out' camp right now but would love, dearly love, to see the turnaround, hold my hands up, and say I was wrong. That's the optimist in me, I guess... but everything that is going on right now is such a bag of mixed messages that I am becoming brain-numb over it.

But this is Everton, I suppose, and I just have to keep believing.

I suppose once you move to one of their preferred teams the criticism will stop. The same goes for Ross, Everton (English) players just aren't deemed good enough for international or European football by the media.

He needs to learn the basics of defending and stop showboating. A season with John Terry may have cured him of some of this, but we have not got a John Terry at the club. Jags is too nice, Martinez hasn't a clue about defense.

The players have lost confidence in Martinez, like most of the fans. The club are brilliant at PR etc... and telling us about our history. Let's stick another flag up to Dixie or Alan Ball. However, when I walk past Stanley Park and see our neighbours building a new stand, having a competent manager in Klopp, and generally getting their act together then I have a reality check.

Martinez is not capable of keeping Stonesy's feet on the ground as he is a dreamer and bullshitter himself. Due to his bad management, tactics and Premier League record, he has to talk about the next 12 games etc...because he cannot talk about his last 12 games.

In order to keep our best players, we need an experienced competent manager who doesn't 'Over-promise and under-deliver'.

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum....

I hope you get a better press in your next club, John.

I also hope we can get the maximum amount possible for him and Lukaku – £120m? It's the least we deserve.

He is still on the same contract as he was before Chelsea made all those bids for him, why haven't Everton offered him a newer and longer deal?

In a few recent posts, I have tried to open the debate on why the media are anti-Everton. The response has not been good. I have been accused of being paranoid; perhaps I am, but I genuinely sense something behind the scenes.

Is it a reverse of the pro-Liverpool coin? I wonder....

At a more paranoid, conspiracy-theory level, I am fascinated why the media have kept relatively quiet about the performance of Roberto this (and last) season, and contrary to how active they were in putting pressure on Liverpool to get rid of Rodgers? I suspect they are quietly waiting (and wanting?) to see Everton in the Championship, out of sight and out of mind.

It could be that, if Roberto is with us next season, then that could happen and they get their wish...

Now add to that the vast majority of pundits and ex-pros who write for the rags or who are constantly on the box and radio eg Thommo, Owen, Souness, Carra, Aldridge, Barnes, McAteer, Mellor, Redknapp ad infinitum..... All ex-Liverpool with an agenda. Plus the likes of Jason Cundy, Tony Cascarino (Chelsea), Henry, Dixon, Nichols (Arsenal)............

I won't go on as the list is too long but these are some of the people who set the narrative as they want to protect their teams and maintain the status quo. Everton are looked on as outsiders and not a glamorous alternative to our neighbours.

It's also a lot to do with marketing. The media darlings push market shares, sell merchandise, increase cash flows etc... If you were Rupert Murdoch or Richard Scudamore, wouldn't you want the likes of Liverpool, the Manchester and London clubs to maintain their dominance?

It's not a conspiracy theory, it's just a FAKHT!!

Lukaku, on the other hand, is still very much in the shop window.

As far as the dodgy passes that Stones made are concerned, he was playing for England, do you not think Hodgson would have told John how he wanted him to play?

It's not a case of keeping his feet on the ground, if a top club waves a contract under your nose worth 3 or 4 times what your currently paid and promises you much more exposure, you'd be hard pressed to say no.

It's a relatively short career; money has to be the main consideration.

It's not exactly impartial... but it stands to reason that the most popular clubs have the most popular players who eventually become the most popular pundits.

What does not stand to reason is the amount of ex-Liverpool pundits compared to everyone else. I mean, it's fucking laughable. Whether they are playing or not, you can bet your bottom dollar that on any game on any network there will be at least one ex-Liverpool player as part of the panel.

I fully support that initiative

Phil Sammon - Evertonian,18" penis, shameless liar.

What I don't accept is the (presumably neutral) BBC who are more pro-Liverpool than any of the other channels or daily rags combined. Now why is that? Especially as its 25 years + since they won the Championship and half their supporters are Scandinavian... (and don't ask me why that is either!).

I have to say Carra, Owen and McManaman tend to be more neutral as they were Blues as kids and happened to play for the Reds. They probably have mates who are Blues too.

The likes of Thommo and Murphy are totally in the red camp. They all tend to think that Martinez needs more time (I wonder why?).

I personally wanted Rogers to be given more time for the same reasons. Unfortunately, these pundits and reporters will never ask any of the questions we would pose to the Manager as they do not want to upset the apple cart and offend the club.

We seem to be a club that just collectively, the Chelsea Cup game aside, have a total malaise around us. Comparing a relatively average Liverpool team to us, they still seem capable of conjuring up more unexpected results and there seems to be more tempo and passion to their play even when they are limited.

I watch us and I just look at several players and I ask myself "What do you do or you do?"

We keep hearing of this great talent but in terms of having a say in big games, have they done it regularly? No, they haven't.

There's only Lukaku who has turned big games in our favour this season, none of the others have lived up to it.

Do I think an Everton player is going to step up and be a hero in this next huge month? Probably not; if there was one, it would be Lukaku but, after his recently poorly timed comments, you do worry where his head is going to be at.

And to add insult to injury, he also said that Jags should have been stronger when the Dutch lad flattened him in the back, which led to their winner. Anti-Everton or what? They have a job to do, I appreciate that... but for god's sake, why make it bleeding obvious he doesn't like Everton, as do a lot of pundits? In my opinion,Stones will get back to his best and shut that dickhead up.