John Stones transfer saga

[Dithering Dougie]

It just seems that way. Lets be realistic here, every player is always for sale if a huge offer came in. Thats what I thought we'd hold out for. (Unlike Barkley who I felt we'd have been more willing to move on).

What gets me, is our usual lack of foresight. Look at how Spurs handled the Bale sale, under pressure from the biggest club in the world. We have gone into massive panic and I have no idea why.

Common sense would tell you it's best to wait a year. We can sign Evans on a free next summer early on, then we can look to move Stones on from a position of strength knowing we have adequate replacements if the worst comes to the worst.

You can see the way the media is looks to sell our players. They make out we are in huge financial difficulties, our squad is lacking and the only way we can get the 3-4 players we need is to sell our star players and replace them with 3-4 others. The sad thing is many Evertonians go along with this narrative. The worst part is our owners seem happy to encourage it.

We have a very strong squad. We have cover in every area. We are lacking a bit for a creative midfield player. If we have to go 1 more season with Osman/Peinaar it will not be perfect but we are not on the brink of relegation either. We are also short at centre half, so selling a centre half isn't going to ease this.

But yes I suspect Martinez didn't really want to sell Stones. I certainly don't think he wanted to be going into the season thinking of selling him.

Back here in reality John Stones is still and Everton player and we've rejected two bids and told them we don't want to sell.

It's like you're living in some parallel universe where John Stones is about to make his debut for Chelsea this weekend and not play at Goodison against Watford.

 

[catcherintherye]

As I asked Dave earlier where is the evidence that Stones is being sold ?

So you will agree with the following?

There is no firm evidence that Stones is going to Chelsea?

There is no evidence that Martinez has agreed that Stones can be sold above a certain price?

There is no evidence that the Board has agreed to sell Stones above a certain price?

To answer your questions mate;
1) There is certainly no firm evidence that he is going to Chelsea.
2) There is no evidence that Martinez is happy to have Stones sold, I think he's very keen to hold onto Stones for another season.
3) I think the continued evidence from a variety of sources that Everton would sell at price x, alongside Martinez's more cagey comments and body language is some evidence that the board would sell at a certain price.

It's a bit of a red herring though. Of course every board would have a price they would sell every player. I think what worries me is that we seem increasingly willing to offload Stones at a price which is a bit of a knockdown price considering how late into the window it is. That and the lack of foresight is what worries me. We could have quashed the rumours, but they have lingered and got stronger, and Martinez acknowledges they are affecting the player.

 

[moyes cardy]

As I asked Dave earlier where is the evidence that Stones is being sold ?

So you will agree with the following?

There is no firm evidence that Stones is going to Chelsea?

There is no evidence that Martinez has agreed that Stones can be sold above a certain price?

There is no evidence that the Board has agreed to sell Stones above a certain price?

@davek confirmed there is no evidence at this time.

That certain price is 34M. If they don't offer this he will stay, if it does we will accept, with Evans one of the two CB that are lined up.

 

[jinkyali]

When you say "we", I take it you mean on here, cos I think the club have played it perfectly.

Exactly.
If you look at the articles for example, they all stem from one man, Matt Law. Who gets Steve Brenner to do his donkey work. Who works with Chelsea. Who are leaking stories left right and centre. These stories get followed up on other places i.e. Mirror, Sun. They then earn money by someone clicking on that story.

Martinez has said hes an everton player full stop. Everton have said they have no intention of selling.
Struggling to see, on the face of it, what Everton are doing wrong here.

 

[The Equaliser]

That certain price is 34M. If they don't offer this he will stay, if it does we will accept, with Evans one of the two CB that are lined up.

That's how I read it.

 

[catcherintherye]

When you say "we", I take it you mean on here, cos I think the club have played it perfectly.

Yes I mean some of the fans, who seem obsessed with the idea we have to sign several players. If we signed nobody and kept the current squad, what would happen? We'd end up finishing about 10th. Disappointing but not the disaster that is being suggested.

 

[jinkyali]

To answer your questions mate;
1) There is certainly no firm evidence that he is going to Chelsea.
2) There is no evidence that Martinez is happy to have Stones sold, I think he's very keen to hold onto Stones for another season.
3) I think the continued evidence from a variety of sources that Everton would sell at price x, alongside Martinez's more cagey comments and body language is some evidence that the board would sell at a certain price.

It's a bit of a red herring though. Of course every board would have a price they would sell every player. I think what worries me is that we seem increasingly willing to offload Stones at a price which is a bit of a knockdown price considering how late into the window it is. That and the lack of foresight is what worries me. We could have quashed the rumours, but they have lingered and got stronger, and Martinez acknowledges they are affecting the player.

You say yourself there is no evidence he is going to Chelsea, yet then claim there is continued evidence that we would sell at the right price.

There isnt any evidence. You said it yourself.

 

[The Esk]

That certain price is 34M. If they don't offer this he will stay, if it does we will accept, with Evans one of the two CB that are lined up.

Where is the evidence?

 

[roydo]

Yes I mean some of the fans, who seem obsessed with the idea we have to sign several players. If we signed nobody and kept the current squad, what would happen? We'd end up finishing about 10th. Disappointing but not the disaster that is being suggested.

Welcome to the internet mate. 99.9% bobbins. And I would always check the other 0.1% as well.

 

[catcherintherye]

Back here in reality John Stones is still and Everton player and we've rejected two bids and told them we don't want to sell.

It's like you're living in some parallel universe where John Stones is about to make his debut for Chelsea this weekend and not play at Goodison against Watford.

Not really mate. He is an Everton player. Everton have stood strong but there has been a softening from what I can see over the last week or so. That worries me, as it's a pattern that has occurred before. The fact we have not gone and signed anyone makes me think we are waiting for Chelsea's bid and trying to sell him.

 

[roydo]

Not really mate. He is an Everton player. Everton have stood strong but there has been a softening from what I can see over the last week or so. That worries me, as it's a pattern that has occurred before. The fact we have not gone and signed anyone makes me think we are waiting for Chelsea's bid and trying to sell him.

Sounds like you are panicking there mate.

 

[catcherintherye]

You say yourself there is no evidence he is going to Chelsea, yet then claim there is continued evidence that we would sell at the right price.

There isnt any evidence. You said it yourself.

There is no firm evidence. We haven't accepted a bid or put him on the transfer list. Yet to say that there is absolutely nothing to the story would also be disingenuous.

 

[The Esk]

There is no firm evidence.

Thank you.

 

[davek]

Fair enough I just want to establish the voracity of the accepted wisdom that Stones is going, Martinez is aware, he's been shafted, there's no money, no-one will sign until we sell claims.

Will gladly apologise to you and anyone else if this is the case but my reading of the situation is somewhat different.

I think the club have to date, been exemplorary in their response to Chelsea's bid.

Re finance available for purchases that is dependent upon one thing - the amount of debt the club wish to carry through this next year. It's that simple.

There'll be no need for apologies when, imo, the inevitable happens: a transfer window that sees the sale of a player subsidising player acquisitions.

As for debt - well, we'll see I suppose. They might want to pay off some short term debt. If there was a stadium scheme up and running and green lighted then yeah, that'd make more sense as a strategy.

They're more likely taking cash in to featherbed themselves any losses from managerial change and poor commercial performances/poor gate receipts in the short term.

 

[moyes cardy]

Where is the evidence?

Never evidence just a trusted word from inside the club.