John Stones transfer saga

[markDee]

So it was alright when Everton players talked about Lukaku coming to Everton in the gap between when his loan period ended and his eventual transfer?

Others earlier in the thread defended that situation by stating the fact that he wanted to leave Chelsea and join Everton

He was out of favour at Chelsea, and the players talking was nowhere near the same. Stop talking [Poor language removed]

 

[witchdoc187]

I'm pretty sure most of the players we have signed have come from a poorer club and an offer of more wages.

 

[Hibbertinho]

The real 'rat' at Everton is that horrible fan who filmed that <expletive> swearing at Stones last night, then posted the video on social media, making it look like all the fans at Barnsley were on Stones back.

They weren't at all, practically everyone there cheered him. His first few touches of the ball were heavily cheered.

He was also applauded off at full time, and Stones himself made a point of applauding back - something Lescott absolutely and famously never did.

It annoys me how people are trying to portray this and tar everyone with the same brush. 99% of EFC fans weren't on Stones back last night at all.

I had to watch it in a pub with no audio... were people getting on Naismith's back - just going off his celebration?

Yeah I understand these people all have a right to get on his back 'cos they go to away games and stuff... but they then relinquish their right not to be ridiculed for being a total scrote if they decide to float to the surface on social media with a video/ that snidey photo with Naismith and McGeady.

 

[Ged Simpson]

Is this really a Chelsea v Everton thing or is it the bigger picture of people who don't see the game beyond cash having too much influence and power. I have never seen a media campaign like the one with Stones and however things have happened in the past this time it screams that they don't care any more. Fans are not even people they think they have to answer to now.

Bang on

 

[oldblue]

I'm pretty sure most of the players we have signed have come from a poorer club and an offer of more wages.

people keep repeating this but no-one is stating that as the issue from what I can see. Make an offer to the club, see what they say, all fine. Conduct a media campaign and constantly talk about the player when a club has said no, not fine. It goes on and other clubs do it, but this has been by far the worst I have seen and things will get a lot worse if we don't stand up to it. If we had been doing it to Barnsley I would be saying the same thing.

 

[anton66]

So someone on a fixed term contract in employment is told by his employer he can't leave for what the employee considers a better option. Isn't that akin to slavery?

The issue isn't that Stones can't leave its to do with compensation for his registration to play football

So Stones breaks his leg we pay his wages for the next two years for not playing. Get a grip, it works both ways.

 

[Stutheblue]

It won't be. Stones has another year left with us, two at the most. Chelsea's willingness to part with 40 million will be like a beacon to a lot of other big clubs. Let's not kid ourselves, we can make him stay because there's a few years left on his contract, he won't be signing any new ones.

Well he's got another 4 seasons with us (including this one) at best. Like you I'd be surprised if he sees those 4 seasons out. However, should he remain with us at 2/9/15 I think its a very good statement from RM and indeed our club. In my mind he was gone and I was gutted. So, my mindset has changed to the extent that if he goes next summer or the one after I'm more 'accepting' of it, if it happens. Plus, surely if we sell him next summer we can still get a good price, and at an earlier stage in the transfer window which allows us to plan better. And, preferably somebody other than Chelsea are the recipients. I'm at the point where I'm really cheesed off with football (as a business) at the moment. Particularly, the position that we're in (which seems like an eternity). RM's comments have sparked a dying ember. If we hold firm, part of my faith is restored.

 

[Ged Simpson]

See, I find the faux outrage at a fan yelling at Stones quite amusing.

Fact of the matter is this - that is a guy who probably follows Everton everywhere, who has seen said player try to screw our entire season over with days left of a transfer window for personal greed.

He can shout whatever he wants as far as I'm concerned. Sure I find it distasteful and wouldn't have personally done it, but I can fully understand why he did.

Stones made his choice to abandon ship - some fans will react accordingly. Crocodile tears don't change a thing. John Stones has zero sympathy from me.

I can understand all sorts of [Poor language removed] behaviour. Nearly all has a reason. But that does not excuse it. Oh he may well travel everywhere and it may make him skint or bitter but that does not justify shouting that and a 21 year old.

 

[deipnosophist]

The media have become the Wormtongue of the footballing parvenus' Saruman. That is what this present 'saga' allegorises. And as Gandalf imposingly observed : "at last we come to it, the great battle of our times".

 

[Khalekan]

I have to say Khal, normally you're on the ball, but I think you have it wrong here. We're comparitively richer and more comfortable than millions, if not billions, of people around the world, but I still worry about weird crap every day. The idea that someone who ascends into a certain wage bracket should suddenly shed all worldly concerns and become a functional robot is quite mad.

No worries, Prev.

It would be a boring world if even two fine fellows like your good self and me were always singing off the same hymn sheet

 

[Khalekan]

This is called whataboutism

"whataboutery" is the correct term.

Coined by the late, great Irish broadcaster David Dunseith

 

[thebluenosebolt]

So it was alright when Everton players talked about Lukaku coming to Everton in the gap between when his loan period ended and his eventual transfer?

Others earlier in the thread defended that situation by stating the fact that he wanted to leave Chelsea and join Everton

It was made very clear from the off that Lukaku wasnt in Jose's plans, No tapping up by the media was needed from our side. We wanted the player, He wanted to come and Chelsea had basically put the player up for sale....It's a very different situation.

......Also we're Everton and ......and.... . * sticks tongue out !!!!

 

[Tubey]

If you handed your notice in to move to a another firm for more money at the busiest time of year and your boss followed you home shouting abuse at you, that would be ok?

Giving someone abuse for putting his own interests above that of his employer is stupid, naive and hypocritical unless you can hand on heart say you would do the same.

It's not the same scenario though is it - football is a unique job. Comparing it to what I'd do at a 'firm' is a redundant point, given I don't have 35,000 people cheering me on at my job every weekend.

 

[Khalekan]

Martinez vows to keep him...from the Echo.

Phil Kirkbride watches as Blues boss delivers a statement of intent that will cheer supporters

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Roberto Martinez was on the offensive when John Stones was brought up in the post-match press conference at Barnsley
In a small, cluttered side room at the home of Barnsley, Roberto Martinez delivered one of the most important speeches in the recent history of Everton.

Oakwell's humble media room, just set back from the main stand, was the unlikely venue for the Blues manager to offer an address about the Goodison future of John Stones .

Everton's 5-3 win over Barnsley in the League Cup, albeit a thrilling contest, was a sideshow and as Martinez sat down at the table he was fully aware of what would be asked.

Armed with the answers, he left nobody in any doubt.

“We will reject it in the morning,” he said of Stones' transfer request.

The message, sometimes lost in translation with Martinez, was crystal clear: Stones is going nowhere.

• Everton FC will reject John Stones transfer request, says Roberto Martinez
• Barnsley 3-5 Everton FC verdict: Deulofeu shows he can do it on a cold night in Yorkshire
• Barnsley 3-5 Everton FC analysis: John Stones is human, few fringe benefits to League Cup and Deulofeu must start at Spurs
• Barnsley 3-5 Everton FC player ratings: Deulofeu and Barkley shine, Jagielka and Stones do not

Chelsea are expected to return with a fourth bid for the 21-year-old but the Catalan, not with anger but certainly the look of a man who is sick to his back teeth and plenty to get off his chest, told the Premier League champions, the authorities and Stones' advisors exactly what he thought.

And not for the first time this summer, he spoke for Everton.

Martinez did so with passion but with a calm authority he told the packed room that the club are not going to change their mind.

Stones is an Everton player today, he will be an Everton tomorrow and Martinez says he will be an Everton player on September 2.

Not quite a rallying cry, but what Martinez offered was a clear statement to Everton supporters that this club will not roll over for anyone.

In his own way, the Catalan was banging the Everton drum. He was also showing he means business.

“The situation with John is very clear,” he said.

John Stones had a difficult evening


“We care about him, we will protect him and give him everything we can to allow him to enjoy his football. During this tough period, we are going to be there for him.

“We have great ambition, great desire and great plans for John.

“We've got to a point now, in life and in football, where money can't buy everything. That's going to be a very strong statement from Everton; we want to be a winning side, and clearly John is a big part of the future.”

Stones endured a tough evening.

Jeered by his own fans, taunted by his old but sent out to help Everton progress into the next round of the Capital One Cup, his performance faltered.

Martinez insisted not but conceded the young defender was under “massive pressure” and rounded on the authorities for allowing the transfer window to overlap into the new season.



VIEW GALLERY

The people in Stones' ear were also singled out by the Catalan who was at pains to stress Everton would continue to support and care for the player.

“We care about him, we will protect him and give him everything we can to allow him to enjoy his football,” he added.

“During this tough period, we are going to be there for him.

“We have great ambition, great desire and great plans for John.”

And by saying what he did, and directing his disappointment at ours, moving the debate away from Stones, Martinez will be helping to foster an almost siege mentality.

The supporters, worried about what Martinez might say, will have loved this.

Surely there is no way Stones is going anywhere now.

Well said, Bobby.

 

[RFUS]

I think John is in a *ahem* big moment. If he stays then how he handles it will say everything. Personally, I fully expect him to be back to his best and enjoying life at Everton again within a few weeks.

Everything I've seen about Stones as a pro and as a person made me find it very hard to believe he'd handed in the transfer request. But he's 21, and if he's been poorly advised or the pressure has gotten to him, then I think he needs some time and forgiveness from blues. People make mistakes and he's entitled to do so on the pitch and off of it without having thousands of people twice or thrice his age abusing him.

If he hasn't been manipulated and consciously just wants the move now, regardless of how it impacts the club, then I think it's fair to say us being peeved would be understandable. But nothing about the Stones we've seen for two years falls in line with that attitude. This is the lad that came top recently in terms of players in the whole of English football who do the most for charity. All accounts of him from people within the club are in unison in that he's a genuine, down to earth lad.