By the way I truly detest Martinez and I hope he fails miserably this season. Whiny c**t.

In my head he's still wearing an air stewardess uniform, it helps.

Davey...first off let me say I do enjoy your posts but I do have a difference of opinion in this case....you may be right in your assessment but the incompetence demonstrated by both Spuds and Bindippers in buying the players they did after letting go their best players in incomprehensible.  The first question is perhaps, Why did those players want to leave Spurs and Liverpool?  The lure of a bigger club and a bigger wage packet no doubt played a part plus the opportunity to play in the CL and be on the world stage; and I am sure the $$$ signs for the Chairman of the selling club also went some way of letting the players go.  

 

 

 

In seriousness CFC, yours is a good and though-provoking post and it is hard to disagree. Although the Premier League money has now reached obscene amounts and I was hoping that might help “close the gap”, the reality is that unless you are one of the elite, you are going to struggle to make Champions League football, never mind compete to try and win it.

I don’t like the way football is heading, transfer prices and wages wise – just as I don’t like property prices(especially in London and Surrey). It’s unbelievable how the figures just keep getting inflated by the greedy. I know it’s supply & demand but surely the bubble has to burst at some point?

 

I really do sympathise with clubs like Everton – in fact any supporter of a team outside of the top 4 or 5. There but for the grace of God and all that. If Roman hadn’t chosen us, we would be the ones moaning about having our best players and coach poached by a bigger and richer club. Something radical needs to happen as FFP clearly didn’t work out. FIFA / EUFA need to act and enforce some kind of ceiling on both wages and transfer fees. Easier said than done I know, but football will be in dangr of getting boring if it is the same sides winning everything season after season.

I'd rather throw 50m at Hummels or Boateng and see if that will get accepted.

There's a sense on here that Everton have no right to hold onto Stones or resist Chelsea's attempts to sign him, but the fact is that he is our player, we bought him from Barnsley and he signed a 5 year contract not too long ago.

No there isn't, why make things like this up? No has said you have no right to hold on to him, same as no one at everton probably thought Barnsley had any right to hold on to him when he was offered a chance to go to a bigger club. Stop whining.

I'd rather throw 50m at Hummels or Boateng and see if that will get accepted.

Hummels probably would but think United are long term admirers of him so it would be hard to get him.

Boateng I can't see, is he still first choice?

In seriousness CFC, yours is a good and though-provoking post and it is hard to disagree. Although the Premier League money has now reached obscene amounts and I was hoping that might help “close the gap”, the reality is that unless you are one of the elite, you are going to struggle to make Champions League football, never mind compete to try and win it.

I don’t like the way football is heading, transfer prices and wages wise – just as I don’t like property prices(especially in London and Surrey). It’s unbelievable how the figures just keep getting inflated by the greedy. I know it’s supply & demand but surely the bubble has to burst at some point?

 

I really do sympathise with clubs like Everton – in fact any supporter of a team outside of the top 4 or 5. There but for the grace of God and all that. If Roman hadn’t chosen us, we would be the ones moaning about having our best players and coach poached by a bigger and richer club. Something radical needs to happen as FFP clearly didn’t work out. FIFA / EUFA need to act and enforce some kind of ceiling on both wages and transfer fees. Easier said than done I know, but football will be in dangr of getting boring if it is the same sides winning everything season after season.

 

Spot on. Don't get me wrong I've loved what's happened at Chelsea over the past 10/11 years but my desire to go to games has completely plummited mainly due to the expense involved. Also, winning the league last season felt nowhere near like it did 10 years ago, or even under Carlo. I expected us to win it and that was that. Not sure if I'm odd for feeling that way or not, but the Premier League has become pretty boring to be honest.

Hummels probably would but think United are long term admirers of him so it would be hard to get him.

Boateng I can't see, is he still first choice?

Not sure.

I know that Bayern are extremely stocked in central defence.

Benatia, Boateng, Badstuber, Dante as well as Martinez and Alaba having also played there.

Nice to know that someone does.

 

Well...OK...now and then..

why are we so scared of playing our academy players? Liverpool just put an 18yr old from Charlton in their first team and he's doing extremely well. If Gomez or stones were at Chelsea they'd probably be playing at Vitesse right now, and loftus cheek is rotting on the bench despite Matic clearly needing a partner. We have one of the best youth academies in the country yet here we are about to spend almost 40million on another youth player.

We knew this would happen when Mourinho got back. We hoped our youth would be given a chance, but its looking less and less likely. I mean if RLC cant even get a sniff in midfield for us with the current performances we are getting then hes not going to get a chance any time soon

Garay would be a good option for a couple of seasons, he won't be overly expensive, I rate him highly and we can always go for Stones next season. Everton know they won't be able to keep hold of him forever but will probably just want to keep hold of him this season.

Well...OK...now and then..

 

He's only playing with you mate.

 

He has posters of me on his bedroom wall.

Badstuber

 

Now there's a man who has vanished off the face of the earth. Has he played a game in the last three seasons?

Everton news conference

Barnsley v Everton (Wed, 19:45 BST)

Posted at 12:30

Here's what he had to say about the latter (warning: it isn't much). "Once more this is always the same question about John Stones and always same answer," Martinez said.

John Stones

Getty Images

"The only things that matter now are the games and to prepare for them, starting with Barnsley. There is nothing to announce and nothing to discuss. I know it is your job to ask the questions but it is my job to answer like this."

Asked if things would change if Stones puts in a transfer request - as several media outlets are reporting he is poised to - Martinez responded: "There is nothing to comment on that".

What's not said is often as interesting, sometimes more so, than what is said.

Everton news conference

Barnsley v Everton (Wed, 19:45 BST)

Posted at 12:30

Here's what he had to say about the latter (warning: it isn't much). "Once more this is always the same question about John Stones and always same answer," Martinez said.

John Stones

Getty Images

"The only things that matter now are the games and to prepare for them, starting with Barnsley. There is nothing to announce and nothing to discuss. I know it is your job to ask the questions but it is my job to answer like this."

Asked if things would change if Stones puts in a transfer request - as several media outlets are reporting he is poised to - Martinez responded: "There is nothing to comment on that".

See Everton fans, I will say it in plain English for you.  If John Stones absolutely WILL NOT BE SOLD should he hand in a TR, then Martinez answer should be "no, nothing will change".

 

Those 4 words kill the whole TR story dead, or any "what if...?"  scenarios

No there isn't, why make things like this up? No has said you have no right to hold on to him, same as no one at everton probably thought Barnsley had any right to hold on to him when he was offered a chance to go to a bigger club. Stop whining.

I'm not making anything up, if you can be bothered go back through this thread you will read plenty of comments accusing Everton of being stubborn and of holding Chelsea to ransom, I am simply making the point that wanting to hang onto your best players doesn't necessarily equate to being either, just maybe we want to have a go at building a half decent team. I'll ignore your invitation to top whining though, but thanks for the advice. 

The Times are reporting that Stones is weighing up whether to put in a transfer request. Even if he does, I don't think it would make any difference. Unfortunately I'm starting to think that Everton will actually hold out.

The Times are reporting that Stones is weighing up whether to put in a transfer request. Even if he does, I don't think it would make any difference. Unfortunately I'm starting to think that Everton will actually hold out.

 

hasn't he been "weighing it up" for about 2-3 days now? f**king diverer. 

I disagree with your sentiment.

 

If Everton (or Tottenham or Liverpool for that matter) had kept their best players over the years, rather than sold them, they'd be far more competitive today, that's a fact.

 

I totally understand why Everton fans would rather keep Stones than take the cash.

 

For me they've explained it well, Stones is far more useful to them than the money.

 

Well I'm glad one person understands.

 

Listen if selling your best players is such a wonderful tactic then I'm sure we will soon find out because the rest of the league sells their best players. So in no time Southampton should be up there battling it out for the league title. (I'd happily put some cash on the line that we finish above sell to buy Southampton this season if any of you disagree).

 

Fact is we already KNOW it doesn't work. Teams have been selling their best players to the top 4 for over a decade now and the top 4 last season was the same 4 teams you'd expect. It hasn't worked out for anyone yet. When Liverpool and Spurs broke the top 4 they did it when they had their elite players. When they sold them they fell down the table because, yes, you can sign some CL players but they are going be the likes of Balotelli.

 

Will trying to keep players work? Who the hell knows. Probably not TBH. But despite that it still seems like a better idea than trying to do the same thing everyone else does that hasn't worked for anyone yet.

 

You want Stones? Fine. But don't try to convince me we'll be better as a result. If that were true you'd spend the 50m on the players we would buy instead of Stones.

 

Fact of the matter is we had bids for Baines. Rejected. Jags. Rejected. Mirallas. Rejected. McCarthy. Rejected. Coleman. Rejected. None of them turned into sagas like this one (maybe the Baines one although not as big) but there were bids and interest from top sides for those players which we rejected. We've finished above either Liverpool or Spurs every year for three years until last year's nightmare season. Those teams have WAY larger budgets than us yet for three years we finished above one of them and we did that by not being forced to sell anyone. Martinez was happy to sell Fellaini for that price (you think you ripped us off for Lukaku? Please ... 28m for Fellaini who didn't fit our system when he had a lower release clause) but he hasn't sold anyone he didn't want to sell ... yet. He probably will sure but we've competed in no small part by holding onto our good players. Bird in the hand. So much can go wrong when you sell a proven commodity and roll the dice on a new signing.

Edited August 25, 201510 yr by njligernj

Boateng is on the best CD's in the world, same as Hummels, they both world cup winners. If the price will rise around the 45-50m, we surely have to go after one of them. Everton go a little crazy with the price, they simply don't want to sell him.

I'm not making anything up, if you can be bothered go back through this thread you will read plenty of comments accusing Everton of being stubborn and of holding Chelsea to ransom, I am simply making the point that wanting to hang onto your best players doesn't necessarily equate to being either, just maybe we want to have a go at building a half decent team. I'll ignore your invitation to top whining though, but thanks for the advice. 

It should be easy for you to go find me some quotes of people saying you have no right to hold on to him.

I submitted a graphic to the Guardian for next week's John Stones themed gallery competition...

 

 

 

 

I'm Joining Chelsea...... AND THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.......CAUSE JOHN STONES SAYS SO

It should be easy for you to go find me some quotes of people saying you have no right to hold on to him.

Oh dear, semantics aren't your thing are they? My original comment was there is a 'sense' that Everton have no right to hold onto him, I wasn't claiming it as a direct quote, nor was it intended as such. That's the problem when you argue with idiots, they drag you down to their level and then win on experience.  

 

I submitted a graphic to the Guardian for next week's John Stones themed gallery competition...

 

 

 

John Stones.jpg

 

I'm Joining Chelsea...... AND THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.......CAUSE JOHN STONES SAYS SO

 

Shame David Moyes isn't the manager still, he would have been a better Roddy Piper.

In seriousness CFC, yours is a good and though-provoking post and it is hard to disagree. Although the Premier League money has now reached obscene amounts and I was hoping that might help “close the gap”, the reality is that unless you are one of the elite, you are going to struggle to make Champions League football, never mind compete to try and win it.

I don’t like the way football is heading, transfer prices and wages wise – just as I don’t like property prices(especially in London and Surrey). It’s unbelievable how the figures just keep getting inflated by the greedy. I know it’s supply & demand but surely the bubble has to burst at some point?

 

I really do sympathise with clubs like Everton – in fact any supporter of a team outside of the top 4 or 5. There but for the grace of God and all that. If Roman hadn’t chosen us, we would be the ones moaning about having our best players and coach poached by a bigger and richer club. Something radical needs to happen as FFP clearly didn’t work out. FIFA / EUFA need to act and enforce some kind of ceiling on both wages and transfer fees. Easier said than done I know, but football will be in dangr of getting boring if it is the same sides winning everything season after season.

 

Nibs...I like many others have seen the game and professional sports change over the many years since I was a kid in the 60's.  I remember being selected as a ball boy for Reading against Man City....way way back, my aunt used to house a few Reading players and their wages if I recall were an obscene 32 quid a week....that wouldn't buy you a cuppa tea these days....today we are talking about 20 year old earning an obscene 200,000 per week....think about that for a moment...200,000 per week!!! Yes the world of sports has changed with massive sponsorship deals, especially kit deals.  If I recall all you could get back in the day was an Umbro shirt, no matter who you supported and if you were lucky a pair of 'rubstud' boots rather than your old man nailing a few leather studs to your 'toe punters'.   I think Nike and Adidas took sponsorship to another level and for them and others to sponsor you, you had to be 'winners' and players had to become household names, not just locally but globally...Everton were not on that list. 

 

The EPL have done a terrific marketing job with the Premier League and the money has come pouring in...everyone wants to jump on the band wagon...Yes as a club we were extremely fortunate that we had a young Russian Billionaire who loved football and saw an opportunity, but what he did was he changed the face of football, not only in this country but around the world.   We were buying players that no one could, those business people with money saw the same opportunity to buy clubs, but they weren't stupid either....well perhaps some like Tony Fernandez and the couple of Yanks who bought Liverpool ..but generally the team had to have some history and massive support behind it and with an opportunity to attract sponsors; or how else from a business standpoint would you earn any revenue....anyway mid-table teams like Everton were left on the outside looking in, perhaps City were also like us very fortunate.  Why City were chosen over anyone else who knows?   I am sure if someone came in tomorrow and wanted to buy Everton for the right price, the Board / Owners would sell in an instant.....everything has a price and everything is for sale.

 

Stones does have a price....ignore the bullsh*t coming out of Everton....if someone offered Everton 100 mill he would be gone whether you think he is worth it or not, despite Martinez ranting, so therefore he has a price; if not this year then next and if it's not us that get him (if we are still interested) then it will be one of the other top clubs...unless Everton are bought by a member of the Billionaires playboy club, or a large consortium.  They and others in a similar position will never ever win the Premier League; Everton have no financial power to buy top world class players, and I don't mean the has been's, or players who are on the fringes of international teams, they can't afford the obscene wages and as I said previously, the days of the 100 mill player(s) is just around the corner and only those with massive sponsorship deals and those winning trophies will be in among those involved in the bidding wars.   FFP is dead and buried...why...pressure from the big powerful clubs in the respective European Leagues dictate everything and please don't let that pratt Platini tell you otherwise....it's a business of backroom deals and shady corridors and with those owners now having a stake in the game the stakes have been raised yet again....however like anything the bubble could all burst tomorrow, although I don't see that coming anytime soon.   What I can see is a European League of the elite.   The Champions League is the pinnacle of club football and everyone in Europe want's to try and get in but only the powerful will be invited to the dance leaving the domestic leagues full of mediocrity with the likes of the Everton's, Tottenham's and Southampton's of the world fighting it out.    This is of course is how I see the world of football and where I think its heading unless someone puts the brakes on.  Will salary caps work...doubtful, shared revenue....maybe, but that only helps the smaller clubs survive and to keeps a certain number of teams within the league..you only have to look at sports in North America...where are the Yankees every year?  The Miami Heat or Spurs?  About the only sport that is perhaps unpredictable is the NHL, with the Toronto Maple Laughs being probably one of the richest franchises in the league haven't won the Stanley Cup since 67   .....anyway apologies for being so long winded....if we get Stones great but it will depend on what the price is and whether or not we want to pay it, it's not what Martinez  says 'that he is not for sale'