bjd

What a completley avoidable and unnecessary mess. Somethng the club doesnt need right now. Mourinho has to the carry the can for this one, again.

I like them

Agreed. It's CM that's going to sting us this season, I'm sure of it.

Wait and see.

Surely this is a PR stunt 'leaked' by the club

He'll be gone by May.

Tragic

Agreed all G4 In particular I think someone needs to be held accountable for the utter shambolic pre season training schedule we had and that we are still paying the price for. The transfer situation has been bizarre, the opposite of our smooth and ruthless dealings last Summer. I actually think we will be ok and will pick up - there is a lot of talent in the squad and it just needs to be managed a bit better. The worry is of course central midfield though. Great to see RLC out there on Sat, even if it was by default. Food for though for Mourinho hopefully. This new guy? It's all a bit silly. Clearly Stones was the target and they had no plan b (and not for the first time). I'm actually glad they haven't panicked and thrown £40m at someone else and are going to bide their time. At lease this new guy cost f*ck all. He will have an expectation level of zero however.

Europe will be ours.

The Everton fans genuinely think he 'London media' have tried to engineer this transfer and that they are reay biased towards Chelsea. Really. But the these are the same fans who wrote to the BBC to complain about Alan Shearer having the temerity to suggest Stones should sign for Chelsa. I actually saw posts on that terrifying forum of theirs comparing complaint letters. Imagine taking football that seriously.

Did people honestly wake up this morning thinking this was going to happen??!

Whilst underwhelming, I actually think this is a very sensible signing. Clearly the clubs first choice was Stones. Having not got that man I'm glad the club haven't gone into panic mode and thrown the big money at another expensive alternative. It's pretty clear they thought Stones was in the bag and had no second choice lined up.They have decided to bide their time, not rush into anything else and go for a cheaper stop gap and this fella fits the bill, he will almost certainly not be a long term player for us. Jose wanted another defender and he's got one, an experienced player too. Yes we would all like to see a youngster like Kalas in the squad but id actually prefer these players playing matches, something they won't be doing if they were included in our squad, apart from the odd domestic cup game or European dead rubber which I'm pretty sure barring an injury crisis are the only times we will see this new guy.

But that's hypothetical. Right now he did what he could, he clearly wanted to play for us but unfortunately Everton wanted to hold onto their best prospect. Can't fault either party bar some bizarre comments from Martinez. I maintain, calling Stones unambitous and in particular weak is well harsh.

The club have played a blinder here

Can't disagree with a word. However my initial reply was simply to say it was a little harsh for you to have a pop at Stones, calling him a 'weakling'! There really isn't a lot more he could've done to join us apart from going on strike and I fully respect the fact he didn't go down that route.

Can't help but feel sorry for him. Another loan too, just sell him and put him out of his misery. Never a world beater but a decent squad player , thought he did just fine in 2012-13. Would certainly have offered more than Salah and Cuadrado did last season.

Harsh on Stones that. He knows where he wants to play but unfortunately the economics of it just aren't there right now. His day will come. He didn't act like Sterling because he has decency and respect, and we can't argue with that.

Agree with everything you've said. I've found the conduct of majority of Everton fans really disappointing, as I've always really respected the club and fanbase. During this whole saga some of the paranoid delusion mixed up with sanctimonious self righteousness had been shocking, and as I said I just find it disappointing. Having said that my last few visits to 'the people's club' I have noticed the atmosphere turn slightly. Everton are indeed a famous old big club but their days of fighting it out at the top table are long over. I mean, if bitter and paranoid middle aged men screaming handball every 30 seconds is your type of thing then Goodison on a Saturday afternoon is the place for you. Anyway, credit to that club for holding firm. Especially after the transfer request. Quite where they think it leaves Stones is anyone's guess. Be interesting to see how we play it when the inevitable happens with Hazard and I think some of our fans will do well to remember this saga. Oh and I think you've got your years wrong! It was 98 we saved them from relegation, sending down Bolton. 94 we saved Ipswich.

Wouldnt surprise me if there is another twist or 2 to come yet in this window however if I was a betting man Id bet on him being a united player this time next year now

Allied to the fact Martinez has said what he's been saying all along. Hmm

What has changed, exactly ?

Cmon, hes what - 20? The pressure he is under is intense. From being abused by your own fans and then a few hours later being hassled by some at a service station of all places , I'm not surprised he broke.

This is only just beginning.

Exactly. He'll have the freedom of Oakwell tonight. Those Barnsley players will have been told to not go anywhere near him!

So have any Everton fans come out and said 'we hold all the cards' yet? (They really don't)