Martinez rejects notion that Stones has requested a move

ull credit to Stones for the way he has conducted himself thus far – a big difference from Sterling!!!

At the end of the day, would the club seriously turn down an offer of 㿊/㿔 million for one player? I'm not saying we should but, once the board see that sort of money, I think it's too tempting for them.

Funny that we seem to be more active ourselves in the market all of a sudden too – knowing we have money to spend?

If we do sell Stones, we need to have already got players in as otherwise prices go up. So that would mean Yarmolenko, Mori, Van Dijk, Lennon and a striker but not Austin for me.

I wouldn't begrudge Stones his move but honestly feel it's in his best interests to stay another year, play for England at the Euros and he will then have his pick of all the major clubs. It doesn't bother me what club he goes to as, when he's gone, that's it... but we must get the best price possible, whoever it's off.

You can't preach all summer about him not being for sale and then sell just because he wants to go. This used to be the way of it but Liverpool held on to Suarez in a similar situation.

He's been well paid to do a job so he should just do it.

When he signed his contract it was stated (as it always is) that "he has committed himself to the club for x years". Time go get literal.

Everton have agreed a 㾻m deal to sign forward Andriy Yarmolenko from Dynamo Kiev, according to Sky sources.

It is believed the Ukraine international, who scored in Dynamo's 5-2 win over Everton in the Europa League last season, has a buy-out clause in his contract.

Sky sources understand contact has been made between the clubs over a transfer but no deal has been agreed.

He would be well aware had Stones handed in a transfer request, he's just dodging the question. I sincerely hope that we're both wrong, but if not then I don't think we should sell him for less than £40 million.

God... How I hate the thought of him joining those scumbags.

Stop being so dramatic!

Oh, and you ARE reading too much into it.

Get a grip.

This is her Linkedin Profile .

I have just asked her where she got her information from.

I agree that eventually it will, money talks whoever you are, but another year under his belt here will be of more use to his development than going to Chelsea, anyway Mourinho has lost it this summer and shown himself to be classless in everything he has done.

Reporter: "A transfer request though would be quite a significant development, are you not aware of that?"

Martinez: "Not at all. no."

I don't even think he said "I'm not aware" at all.

It all smacks of an attempt to engineer a move courtesy of the agent/Chelsea rather than the ’actual’ agitation of the player, hence the wording RB used in answering the question. It’s very easy to plant stories that you want to if the media are happy to oblige. This seeding of stories has happened since the golden age of Hollywood in the 1930s and is used as a matter of course by agents/players nowadays. The club may still be able to keep Stones out of their clutches but it would require them saying No to any transfer request.

I would really rather we kept the player as he isn’t going to decrease in value, quite the opposite is likely to happen. If and when the transfer does occur, I would hope that the money is spent well. We probably still owe them money for Lukaku and Barnsley are entitled to a percentage so what exactly would we have left to spend from 㿔 Million?

As for asking the league to investigate Chelsea’s overt and despicable tapping up, well unfortunately it doesn’t matter a jot unless the sanction is a whopping points deduction or expulsion from the CL... neither of which is EVER going to happen. The worst they could expect is a fine in the thousands rather than the millions.

Looking forward to Sunday...COYB

The best posts of the week!

I think you've unearthed a brilliant counter revolutionary way in which we can hold these plant pots to account... Simply e-mail them and leave a disparaging and ridiculing post underneath them every time they make something up, avoiding foul language etc, and hold them up to public ridicule.

Really!!!, you mean you just make shit up to get ahead like every other fucker in the industry love.....

Gotta be in the know as John Terry's wife used to buy blusher off her at the counter of Superdrug every few weeks...

I see the Echo has a picture of Mori on a flight to England; I presume to come here. Surely the club must be confident to be able to get a work permit for him as I am sure he does not qualify with his lack of international experience. I have not seen mentioned anywhere he has a European passport either. Based on Liverpool and Tottenham's experience on trying to sign a Ukranian I expect Yarmilenko's deal to go right down to the wire, as the Ukranians drive a hard bargain.

The only other signing I expect is Aaron Lennon, again at the last minute when Tottenham will be desperate to get shut of him and will reduce their ridiculous fee.

I think nothing will happen with regards Charlie Austin with the rejuvenated Kone now appearing to be back in favour. How long that will last I don't know. If Austin does not go in this window and does not sign a new contract, he will be available for a knockdown fee in January, so I would expect QPR to lower the price at the last minute also. By that time Kone will've played in two further matches; if he does not perform in those game, then we may make our move.

I prefer the "He is not for sale" stance.

Once the £35M barrier is reached, the lawyers will draft the contracts quicker than you can say "Stamford Bridge".

I just hope we have at least two CBs in the pipeline at the moment. I read that apparently we're trying to get Dante from Bayern -- I'll believe that when I see it. Why would he leave Bayern to come to us?

'Are you aware of a transfer request.......?'

'No, not at all'

£50 million is not a lot when your talking about a 21-year-old future captain of the national team.How much did Chelsea get for Shaggy Luiz??

Flippin Mangala, who was all over the show in Manchester City's defence last season cost them £32 million and Lovren, who Liverpool paid £20 million for, they ended up dropping him last term. £50 million or he stays.

Oh, and the media in this country are a bunch of contradicting idiots. They are the first ones who start complaining that all the young English talent is wasted at the top four clubs yet they are hypocritical, they are the ones who bang the drum for these young lads to rush to the so-called promised land of the likes of Chelsea.

Dickheads, the entire lot of them!

He said that he is involved with all transfer dealings from start to finish and that Bill would NOT interfere and tell him to accept a specific offer. Basically he said that the buck stops with him. Now considering he has stated that Stones is not for sale and that he is thinking in terms of years not weeks... he'll look very foolish if he does a complete 180 and sells him.

He refused to discuss any individual incomings or outgoings. He was very consistent on this and I don't think we should be making inferences.

He said that with all the many names that he had read we have been linked with, he would need to build a new changing room if they all came through. That was a clever little dig at the ridiculous transfer media speculation.

I will go as far to say that everyone at Everton FC will have had an excellent transfer window and offer them them all my congratulations on their excellent transfer strategy.

㿊m spent plus keeping hold of Stones will show some intent to the current squad.

Ergo... At the very minimum, the club is open to the possibility of selling Stones in the coming days and I suspect they hope the Yarmolenko transfer (if they can pull it off) will soothe the pain of it all.

The club's stance has not changed by the look of it and this move will only go ahead if Stones agitates for it.

What we want him to say is "No such request has been made and we will not be selling the player".

Or better still mate, a huge "Fuck Off Mourinho, Chelscum can't afford John Stones" when they roll into town. I'll donate to that, pal.

JS: "Gi'us one 'o them big long 'ot dogs flower and a cup o' t'Bovril... and 'ere's me transfer 't'request"

Goodison tea-bar girl: "Hot Dog £19....Bovril £8...MAUREEN 'OW MUCH ARE TRANSFER REQUESTS!?"

I think as Liverpool saw with Sterling and Suarez, every player has a price; it's just about making sure you get the very best deal you can in today's insane market.

It's clear that Funes Mori is here at present as back up to Jagielka and Stones and you feel if Stones were to leave then we would very likely still go out and attempt to bring in a defender, maybe a Virgil Van Djik or Johnny Evans to go straight into the side. At the moment, with not being used to the Premier League, Mori probably won't be a regular but nevertheless he's a signing in a position that needs strengthening and at 24 he's got time on his side to acclimatize.

Personally, for what little it's worth, I believe he is fucking fuming inside with the way Chelsea are destabilising Stones, and over his dead body will he sell to them. I'm choosing to believe that, and if true, RM will catapult himself to a personal hero of mine. A big fuck you Mourinho and fuck you Chelsea. We then go onto have the greatest season since the 80s...

I'm backing RM to deliver. I see the eye of the tiger in him.

Maybe the manager is learning? Or has Lyndon shortened the interview right down?

I would expect Stones to play on Sunday, but wouldn't be surprised if it's his last game for Everton. I hope I'm wrong though, because this is one player I don't want Everton to lose.

BK, do we roll over to these rats or do we make a stance? If you sell him you are just accepting mediocrity for another 5 years. Grow a pair of bollocks and do everything you can to keep him!

It is funny how words can be twisted. For me, Martinez was very blunt: "NO, at not all."

The press are like a twisted ex-bunny boiler girlfriend that will do anything to try and get a raise out of you.

We're linked with 3 centre backs at the moment:
Dante - Bayern
Andrea Ranocchia - Inter
Ramiro Funes Mori - River Plate

If they can get 㿔M+ (which he isn’t worth really as probably half of that value is based on potential but in today’s market -- Sterling 㿝M+; Berahinho 㿈M -- he's probably worth 㿣M as better than both in his position) then maybe we should sell as we could use the money to make us a better team.... Koulibaly from Napoli is a good strong beast of a player, Yarmolenko, maybe Celtic's Van Dijk, Mori looks like he’s coming in and then a forward.

I don’t know... ideally I want him to stay and be the core of Martinez's team of future young stars but I think Sunday at Goodson will be his last game. As long as they get 㿔M+ and all the money is used on squad maybe, maybe it might work out better.

In reference to the quotes: "Bill would not interfere" and "I'm not aware".

This could be Martinez playing an absolute blinder against Bill. In no way could Bill Kenwright come out and accept a bid now without Martinez media approval or our currently under fire Chairman will have lost one of his biggest allies in broad daylight. Martinez has firmly put the pressure on Bill to respect his wishes to keep John Stones.

I'm also in the school that interprets RM's comment on the negative side, so I suspect JS and his agent are making their move. I hope I'm wrong, but worry I'm not. RM's comment was not an unequivocal denial and I'm afraid in these circumstances, that is all that would have sufficed. That, and JS coming out publicly and saying he is staying put. He hasn't.

The press campaign continues apace -- that little rat, Sam Wallace of the Indie, who a couple of years back conducted a concerted campaign to get Bainesy to his beloved Manure, is quoted today of Chelsea "there is a will to make further signings beyond that of John Stones of Everton". Next, he'll accuse EFC of holding the lad's career back.

He is the archetypal journo who believes the purpose of the bulk or Premier League clubs is to develop players and provide shooting practice for Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool and I despise the scumbag and everything he stands for.

The big difference is we had the kecks off City, but Stones is worth every penny, whatever the fee is, if he goes.

I hope history doesn't repeat itself, if he does go, and the money is spent more wisely this time around.

I just don’t think he has the final say over this transfer. I think JS will obviously be asking to be kept informed over any offers that come in for him. And his agent will be pushing for that too.

IF and it’s a big IF JS asks for a transfer, then that is like Chelsea offering another ٣mil. It could be as much as that in a loyalty bonus due to JS if he hadn’t asked for the transfer.

I believe the reason JS is not already at Chelsea is due to the bonus due to JS AND the sell-on fee that we would owe Barnsley. So in essence EFC would only get say 㿀mil of a 㿊mil transfer fee. That is deemed not enough by BK. In fairness I agree.

It’s simple to me; EVERY player has their price. Once the price is met, then it’s thank you and good night. Stones’s value? I’d probably say 㿔mil. We end up paying out ٤mil to Barnsley and "hopefully" no bonus to the player: so 㿎mil for EFC.

Also, this move doesn't make sense for him. At Everton, his is one of the first names on the team sheet. At Chelsea, there would be questions about that. As others have said, wait a year and he can pick his club.

Fingers crossed for Yarmolenko. COYB.

More likely her editor has asked her to write something about this and she is the fall guy, her career is still young and she has no reputation to put on the line.

Journo's asking loaded questions, and Roberto answers definitively "NO, NOT AT ALL."

What do people want him to say?

That said, I am mindful that English is not his native language and I'm guessing grammatical nuances are not necessarily his forte.

But, being a worrier and an Evertonian who will never accept our decline from our 1980s zenith, I want strong, unambiguous affirmations. (And a new, better board.)

No, not at all.

As Eugene said, who else is he going to put a transfer request to, if not his manager?

Some on here need to stop attacking those windmills.

Why should he have to reiterate this point at every press conference?

Sweet post mate, but even being on his sickbed, BK, being the sly slippery twat that he is will still be able to shit all over RM without so much as blinking an eye. One thing that is forever certain at Everton Football Club; there is the truth, the whole truth and then the shit that spouts out of BK's mouth.

For me, I take great satisfaction that Everton FC can continuously produce young players that most EPL teams have to open their big fat back pockets to include in their teams. Regarding John Stones, well let's just rely on The Sun to keep us informed.....

Worrying 10 days ahead...

Also, Denis Richardson #18 - Once the £35m barrier is reached the lawyers will draft the contracts quicker than you can say "Stamford Bridge". In my opinion, this is no better than Izzy Horsefield's "he's about to slap a transfer request in" story. Where is your basis for your statement? Have you got an inside track to the Board?

First of all he's asked about John Stones's latest position. "I think the latest situation is going to be exactly the same as before" ... ie, he is not for sale. Why should he keep having the same conversation over and over again, if there is nothing to add from his point of view? He, rightly in my view, then says the focus is a massive game at the weekend, frankly, it is.

Not content with that response (ie, nothing to add to my answer at previous press conferences), the journo then substitutes a hypothetical scenario in order to try and prompt a headline worthy answer from Bobby: "A transfer request would be quite a significant development though, you're not aware of one?" Answer a definitive and to the point "No, not at all".

Whether Stones stays or goes is anyone's guess but don't see his answers here as being indicative of how the saga is going to pan out one way or another.

Martinez is at a press conference, presumably a transfer request is a formal written document for legal reasons, unless it's landed on his mic table while he's been sitting there RM can hardly state with absolute impunity at the time of asking that John Stones hasn't handed in a transfer request.. It could be waiting with his assistant after the presser or with BK back at the ranch.

We could just hope another club comes in and do a deal with them.
Fuck Mourinho and his scum Club.

I don't think BK would want any negative publicity when he is under as much scrutiny as he's ever been. If he hangs RM out to dry then he'll look a fool.

Stones Saga Nears Boiling Point

The Sun can today reveal that John Stones put Roberto Martinez's pet goldfish in a pan of water and threatened to turn the hob on unless granted permission to talk to Chelsea.

Eye witness reports indicate Jose Mourinho (who was disguised as a window cleaner in order to watch events unfurl) went totally radge after a trained negotiator was brought in to secure the safe release of the captured Carrassius Auratus without his say so, and threw his soapy squeegee down the street in a fit of rage (possibly causing a passing motorist to swerve and clip an unfortunate cyclist).

When later asked, if it was a straight choice between setting John Stones free or setting his goldfish free; which would he rather release from captivity, Martinez replied he "wasn't aware" of having ever owned a goldfish. 

Superdrug sources and ToffeeWeb contributors are believed to view this statement as highly suspicious, due to the fact that parallels could be drawn between Martinez's non-plussed answer and Obi Wan Kenobi's claim of not being able to recall ever owning a droid before, despite knocking about with Artoo fucking Deetoo throughout three piss poor prequels.

The cashier at Boots on the other hand just said she thought it was all a load of old bollocks and quickly returned to blowing bubbles with her chuddy and looking bored off her tits.

Any player young or old would be mad to go to Chelsea anyway, look at Cuardrado brought in to replace Schurle (who never got a sniff either), world beater before they signed him; now look at him.

Remy another (although he possibly chased the dollar) never plays, even a OAP, Drogba played before him. Azcuilawatshisname lauded as one of the best left backs last season by a few so they go and buy another -- one of them wont play! Pedro...... not sure the guy will get a game half the time but bought him anyway.

All the young players out on loan, probably most won't be seen or heard of again. And Maureen, well there's not a lot than can be said about him and his personality that hasn't already, he's a bully, nothing more nothing less.

Anyway, a bit of a rant that probably doesn't make much sense but basically Stones would be mental to go anywhere near the place.

But these poisonous snakes in the media won’t give up until they make something happen.

Next week will obviously be crucial. I would imagine if Stones is not in the squad for the following Saturday's match at Spurs, then he has decided to go.

In my opinion, Everton haven done what we as fans wanted them to do. Refuse to sell even at the vastly over inflated price of 㿏 million. John Stones has 7 days next week to decide if he wants to be part of this upcoming, very high potential Everton team, or demand a move, face the wrath of the fans and take the media's much mooted John Terry apprentice scheme at Chelsea.

How ironic the 1st game following the close of the window is home against Chelsea. My heart is saying he bags a last minute (for us) header into the Street End as Goodison erupts and Mourihno frowns but my head says he will be sat on the Chelsea bench and receive's the expected chorus of boos every time the Sky cameras point towards the the Chelsea bench.

Brilliant

Stay calm, fellas; Stones will be with us for another season. I can just see Lukaku putting his arm around him saying, "Whatever you do, don't join that shower!!"

That being the case, and with the Euros coming up, regardless of what his value is, I would say he's in breach of contract, put him on gardening leave with the reserves for the season, dock him pay for breaching his contract, take Chelsea's tapping up to the lawyers to deal with and claim compensation for damages, then sell in the summer to anyone but Chelsea.

In future, clubs attempting dirty media tricks via agents and papers will think twice before messing with the Toffees.

A week and half of this rubbish still to come.

His advisors know full well that there will still be plenty of clubs interested in him over the next few years, and in fact give him a few more years with us and he could be worth even more money.

Martinez has said a week ago that Stones isn't for sale. He also said that was the end of it.

Today he stated that Stones hasn't said anything to him about a transfer request.

Naismith has come out and said he doesn't think Stones will leave.

I don't see what anyone at Everton could do to make it any clearer to us, the fans, as well as Chelsea that Stones isn't for sale, and doesn't need or want to leave. We hold every card.

The only reason there is any sort of so called 'saga' at all is because of the media whipping up a frenzy, and many Evertonians seem to have fallen for it over the comments of their own club.

If he leaves, Martinez is going to look an absolute fool. Everton as a club are going to look like a tin-pot outfit happy to bend over and have their trousers pulled down by the big boys. Kenwright is going to face the wrath of a fanbase already at odds with him on numerous levels, and Stones will end up universally despised by Evertonians forever.

I don't see any good reason why the player would leave at this point, other than the media hyping it up and saying it could still happen. It all sounds like a load of bollocks if you ask me, and Martinez is clearly as sick to death of hearing about it as we are.

The press conference today was to talk about the Man City game, and although he would have known to expect a question about Stones, I think he said the right thing – short and to the point. Again, end of story. Nothing to see here.

I'd consider what happened to de Bruyne, Salah, Cuadrado, Mata, Schurrle, van Aanholt and Luiz (amongst others) before I went to that classless outfit.

I'd also consider what happened to other young players at Man City (Rodwell, Sinclair) who wasted their talents in pursuit of glory at "bigger" clubs.

"Be careful what you ask for" would be my advice if he really is thinking of forcing the issue.

Eventually they give up this method and contact your neighbours. They get them to bend your ear saying how much happier you would be if you sold your house. That doesn't work either so they start putting stories in the local press that you have decided to sell your house after all. Now if this happened in real life, it would be classed as harassment and you would have legal redress.

Everton have the same rights. Get the lawyers on it. Anymore harassment of the club or the player will result in suing for damages. There has to be an end to this.

Chelsea have blatantly ignored our wishes and have tried to financially muscle us into selling a player we clearly do not wish to sell. This kind of thing has to stop. As things stand all the aces are in the rich club's hand. They can go on upping the bid and using the media to pressure the poorer club and that's not fair. The rules against "tapping up" are patently useless and stronger measures are very much needed.

All this nonsense would end if they brought in a simple rule change. You can't make an offer for a player without first establishing that the other club wishes to sell the player. If you ask if a player is for sale and they say No, that is the end of it. You can't just start bidding regardless. It just unsettles the player and annoys the club and their fans. If you continue to bid, the club should be fined in line with the wealth of the club.

Common courtesy has to be brought back into the transfer market. It has simply become a free for all rat race. Contracts are not worth the paper they are printed on and the rich minority are deliberately hindering the progress of the poorer clubs by buying up their best young players.

Also, please name a recent player that has been sold when the manager had not agreed to it, or the player has not instigated it with a transfer request. And please don't say Ferguson.

Keep John Stones, get a couple of decent signings and fuck Chelsea and it will galvanise Evertonians and hopefully lead to an upward spiral in EFC fortunes.

Sell John Stones and it will not only send out the wrong signals that the dirty money clubs can do whatever they want but it will divide Evertonians and ruin the goodwill that could be had.

I have to say that although I am RM's biggest critic tactically he has conducted himself with class through all of this.

I would have imagined Moyesy threatening to give Mourhino a "Glasgow kiss".

Izzy going? Izzy 'ellers like!

Are you sure Jay? have you not forgotten how in awe Moyesy was with managers of clubs supposedly bigger than us. What was the quote that went along the lines of... "I'd never stand in the way of a player if Sir Alex was on the blower and asked to buy one of my players."

Speculation I know, but the new Mirallas contract shocked me (in a good way).

BUT I think he'll still be with us for the whole season.

If you believed in yourself I'd be inclined to think you'd go with the latter (nevermind the £3M signing-on fee, treble wages and the likelihood of winning a medal or two at the end of this season). Playing alongside the likes of Hazard, Costa and Frabregas who, whatever you may think of them, are head and shoulders above the talent we have.

Two sides to every coin, just saying.

I don't see anything wrong with RM's language. He can't come out directly and say "there's no transfer request"; because for all he knows John Stones might have handed one in to the board ten minutes before the press conference. Then he just gets made to look out of the loop if that came out.

I don't want him to go, and I don't think he'll go this window. But I also don't think there's really any player out there, especially outside of the billionaire clubs, who is "not for sale at ANY price".

These clubs can offer Stones and Barkley probably £2.5M per season more than we can afford and there's a big temptation obviously to grab the money now.

There's a downside to signing for a Chelsea et al and that's been stated in the thread many times already, but we'll be lucky to keep Stones longer than one more season... and that's depressing.

Another good bit of 'How great is Bill' propaganda, that includes some great deceptive figure concerning transfer monies spent. Obviously forgetting to add in the Felliani money from the previous transfer window. Not surprising when I posted a reply to point out that fact, my reply got rejected by the moderators.

The PR machine is pulling in some major favours these last few days.

1) It is very easy to see why newspaper circulations are in decline, printing complete garbage.

2) Every day the unpleasant little Portuguese opens his mouth, more people realise what a complete twat he is.

Clearly the media have an agenda, they want him obviously to go to that lot. A few on this site got it spot on when they said the obvious journalists are in the big clubs' back pockets and fueling bullshit stories to get everyone in a frenzy.

I mean how can they come up with 'Stones has handed in a transfer request' with no proof? They're clutching at straws. I think they know their campaign hasn't unsettled John as much as they thought it would.

RM's response was perfect. I'm surprised he hasn't gone off on shouting FFS everything the media had said and printed had been made up bullshit. All of it. I'm getting so sick of it, tbh.

㿔M and write off the rest of Rom’s fee – that would be enough.

It would be horrendous. He has to stay. This has become so much more than money. I really believe this to be a defining moment. Are we moving forward? Or are we accepting our place as a second tier club?

The romantic in me wants Stones to stay, to captain the team to win trophies. The realist in me thinks that the pull of playing with a better manager, better players, winning trophies and a fatter contract will win the day.

I hope I'm wrong. If I'm right, it will not be the end of the world. We'll have money to invest and enhance a good side.

One week ago, I was on here reading about how crap we are, how Martinez was garbage, how we were going nowhere, or down. Now, if Stones goes, it will be the end of our great young team. Really?

Ball, Lineker, Steven, Stevens, Rooney. All left because our board wanted the money and/or the players moved to something we couldn't offer.

It's nothing new, folks. If it happens, take a deep breath and move on, cos if we won't, other clubs will.

I'm almost impressed that the media managed to ask such a question, knowing that they could manipulate how any response could be presented. Though I might be giving them more credit than they deserve.

I'm a glutton for punishment when it comes to Everton but my blue optimism is starting to bubble. If we get through this window having kept Stones, and brought in Deulofeu, Cleverley, Yarmolenko, Funes, and maybe one more then I think we'd all have to call that a successful window. You would have got massive odds on that kind of outcome in June... odds are tumbling now. Come on Everton, give us some cause for optimism!

Caller: I've got a hot tip for ya!

Journo: Who is this?

Caller: That's not important, but listen. I've got a friend, who's cousin has a friend, who knows the assistant to the assistant groundskeeper at Finch Farm, and he says that this fella thinks he overheard the the kit man say that John Stones might put in a transfer request.

Journo: Wow! Thank you very much!

The headline next day "John Stones to request transfer?"

Maybe a read about the KGB's First Directorate could be helpful. They were responsible for spreading lies, rumours and misinformation against their enemies during the cold war. Using local journalists in their pay (sound familiar?) they targeted ignorant, gullible people to attain their ends.

Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovitch, has close ties to the Kremlin and in particular former KGB agent, Vladimir Putin so I'm sure he knows a thing or two about the Black Arts and coercion. He will also know how to manipulate (and buy) certain people in the media. This "rumour" about JS handing in a transfer request is a typical ploy to weaken an opponent and their weak kneed fans.

Martinez is big into sports psychology and I think he's handled this brilliantly, so far. I'm sure he knows what Mourinho and his owner are up to. I'm sure he's exasperated, as we all our, with this circus but there's only a few days to go before it ends. Even ssn are now echoing the 'transfer request' so the heat will be increased over the next few days, it's just a case of holding our nerve and carrying on with our own plans.

Fuck Chelsea and fuck Mourinho!!

For heavens sake take a good look at yourselves. Amateur psychologists and readers of body-language. Double guessing each other and offering piercing insight into the merest nuances. Mystic Megs.

Then you see fit to criticise a bunch of crap journalists (and you're right they really are crap) for their fairy stories, before turning up here to do exactly the same thing with your own wild eyed conjectures.

Fair comment, Colin. Could you imagine the way Wenger or Fergie would take the bait and explode?

Mourinho, like a big girl, threatens to walk out when he doesn't like the questions. Fergie just banned the twats (now I understand his hatred towards the English press), Wenger would just feign deafness and blindness etc....

Martinez is too much of a gent to tell them to piss off but he knows there's only a few more days of this to go.

If he moves it had better be for BIG BIG money Bill. This is the Baines saga all over again, I hope we keep John Stones... but, if not, step up, Mason Holgate.

Oh no. Sorry, he signed a new five-year contract, and is still with EFC. And why. Because RM said he was not for sale.

He said Stones is not for sale. But because he did not follow this with at any price. Then that is not good enough. Should RM say over his dead body? Or would we the be looking for a BK hitman?

"Our job is not to get a player another club wants."

If we let him go after signing a five-year contract, you can bet your life Lukaku will be straight behind, and who could blame him?

I will also put in for that one!!

I think that Moyes really pissed Martinez off when he went on like Hughes did with Lescott and Mourinho is now doing the same with Stones which I hope backfires on his ass.

Good result on Sunday and who knows!

That said, I'd say 45 million, if you want him that badly.

Funnily enough, none of the guys I know personally think he'll go during this window either – for similar reasons to those above. Poor me – I'm daft – with a bunch of daft mates it seems .

I wasn't trying to be a smart arse, just looking for a bit of perspective. I am not an RM fan, nor a BK fan. But, other than Ferguson, I cannot find a player that was sold that the manager didn't want sold, or had requested a transfer in recent times. So I am willing to take things in this context.

RM has said not for sale. He hasn't said not for sale at that price. Just not for sale. This maybe naivety in the extreme. But as it stands it fits with the club's transfer dealings over recent years.

Only joking, crucifixion!

From what I read between the lines looking back at the Baines saga, he did want to move, but never pushed it out if respect to the club. Man Utd only offered 㾻 or 16 million and Bill wanted 㿀M odd.

Google "Leighton Baines: Why I stayed at Everton" in the Telegraph, he tells his side of things. Interesting read if you haven't done so already.

That may be a draw for a foreigner but, personally, you couldn't pay me enough to live in that shithole.

By the way, scoring a worldy against Wimbledon won't change my opinion: Barry Horne was shite.

What disgusted me was Andy Gray's comments... He's twice come out now rebuking us for not selling. Southall's the only man who speaks from the fans' perspective.

How different from the Sterling affair, when all of their allies and ex-players to a man spouted outrage at the thought a player could actually want to better himself by leaving Liverpool.

"Everton's Roberto Martinez: it's too late for John Stones to request transfer".

Except, Mr Hunter, Everton's Roberto Marti­nez did not say "It's too late for John Stones to request transfer". He has never said that and in fact you don't even show how you came to that conclusion in your own article.

The misqoute that you do use was in response to the "When did you last beat your wife?" style loaded question to Mr Martinez and you get that wrong.

In the pre match press conference available here on 2:25, a reporter asks "A transfer request, would be quite a significant development. You're not aware of one?"

RM "No." (Shakes head).

"And if there was one, does that change the situation as far as John Stones is concerned ?"

RM (Shaking his head, even before the journalist completes the loaded question) "Again, it's not an area that we need to concentrate on."

(RM then goes on to focus upon the purpose of the pre-match conference, namely the forthcoming home fixture against Man City.)

This particular work of fiction was by Andy Hunter and appeared in Friday's online edition of The Guardian.

Thanks for the link to the Baines interview. Sat on a beach in Turkey, and definitely more interesting than the book I was reading.

This is what it comes down to. The scenario of him requesting a transfer request was not exactly hard to predict. It gives Martinez the get out clause he needs in order to do a 180 on his 'he's not for sale' statement.

We should have done a deal weeks back and then taken our time to find suitable replacements without the metaphorical gun to our head of the deadline day approaching fast. We never seem to learn do we?

What should we have taken the deal at? 㿀M, 㿅M or 㿊M. The last two being bids that have not even been confirmed by Chelsea. The threads have said not less than mop head to PSG. Chelsea will not offer that unfortunately till the last minute. If at all.

My view is that Stones stays unless he requests a transfer. If he does then hopefully someone other than Chelsea will come in to the arena.
But if not then keep Chelsea dangling. Then bang another ٤M on at the last minute like they did to us with Lukaku. With a take it or leave it.

Stones does not want to play for the moron at Chelsea. Unlike Sterling, he has intelligence outside of just football and has strong supporters around him. He might move in a year or so if Everton do not make progress but he is to clever to move now. Give the lad some credit!

So I presume he does want to go and we are going through a typical negotiation and media exercise before he leaves.

As for what to sell him for the price should increase for each day's delay, as the closer we are to deadline if he's sold the bigger hole we are in. Take £35m today, £40m middle next week, £50m deadline day.

Martinez, in his press conference said he knew nothing of Stones asking for a transfer – correct?

Horne said he thinks Stones will move if not this window the next or the next – correct?

I was playing Devil's Advocate, of course, but I agree with Horne by the way... and yes, I would think he would be more in the know than you or I.

We will see what happens in the next week or so... let's hope the manager is right.

Martinez was clear when asked the question about a transfer request on Friday when he effectively said it would make no difference as it's too late in the day.

The only way I can see him leaving is if United come in with a silly offer and offer Jonny Evans as a direct replacement in the deal. Hasn't Evans been making noises in the press he wants to sign for us?!

That said, I read that United value Jonny Evans at 㾸m, so that could be a stumbling block because that would mean that John Stones value is around 㿞m. United would be expected to give us around 㿐m cash, so they'd have to value Jonny Evans like any other sane person at around ٢-6m as he'd effectively just be a sweetener in any deal.

Btw, I hope that scenario doesn't play out. It's just the only one I can see happening for some reason.

The next paper featured something else, but in the top left hand corner there was "Stones: I won't hand in a transfer request"....

Strangely they never mentioned that...

If John Stones is still an Everton player on the 2nd September, it will only take the 2nd Division Rent Boys of West London to concede a goal and the press will be back on it:

"Terry/ Cahill shocker sees Chelsea plan 㿨 M bid for Everton's John Stones in January window."

So it wasn't just me who spotted that on the 2nd paper... It wasn't my imagination then.

Two days before the press conference in Singapore, Everton received Chelsea's first offer. As I wrote at the time, Stonesy's appearance at that conference, saying he was happy and he loved it at EFC, wasn't fortuitous; it was planned between player and club. Since then, JS has maintained a dignified silence and the club have stood firm, and shall remain so, rejecting any further offers.

I also said, at the time, that Mourinho's media lackeys won't give up until they can present their man with his wish to get Stones. Bates, Lewis, Richardson, Cross etc... are mercenaries who will go on until the bitter end and Sky will also keep the waters turbulent as TDD gets closer (have to keep those viewers interested).

So if anyone wants to keep on reading between the lines, find hidden meanings in the words of Jags or the boss, discover symbols of dark intent in Mo Besic's tats or simply believe in the words of some fucking fat moron like John Richardson (Daily Express) then feel free. The truth is out there, we are not alone.

There is no John Stones saga - it's a media fuelled fantasy and barely anything more than that. Yes Chelsea want to buy him, but it's not as though they're spending the entire time tapping Everton on the shoulder, saying "go on, go on, sell us John Stones, go on".

Do you think Everton, Martinez, the board, Stones, and the other players spend their days in the same frenzy we're all whipped up into? No, of course they don't. They're busy getting on with preparations for tonight's game (today for you lot). I don't for one minute expect John Stones to be charging about making plans to sell his house, buy a new one, pack up his entire life and move to London - do you? Really? I don't see that happening for one second - at least not at this point in his career.

Give him a few more years at Everton in a team of up & coming, quality young players and we could see a team that really makes it's mark - possibly even winning something. RM has taken a lot of shit in the last year, and has handled this debacle brilliantly if you ask me. As has the club and the player. Not a dickie-bird from him or his agent and more power to them.

To the people asking for Stones to come out and say he's not leaving - why should he? He's doing the right thing in keeping quiet, and so are Everton. They have no reason to go bleating to the media about any of it, thus walking right into their grubby little hands to write even more shit about it all. Keep shtum, and let the clock tick past the witching hour, while Mourinho sits there seething at plucky little Everton hanging onto their bright young stars while his old crocks (albeit Champions) all start to wilt, while Roman pokes him with a big stick asking where the young English defenders are......oh they're probably out on loan aren't they! Arseholes.

Chelsea, on the other hand, can have a full squad on loan, and they say nothing. Hypocrisy of the highest order, but after the way they have carried on over John Stones, I think we can all see why.

Sterling got slaughtered off the press, but he didn't even put in a transfer request. Stones, on the other hand has shown nothing but class, so these classless bastards are all waiting for him to do the honourable thing!

Lukaku was a classic example of how it pays off for them. Bought for 㾼m, loaned out to two clubs who used their own resources to make him a better player -- and the beneficiaries are Chelsea to the tune of a net 㾸m gain upon his sale. Haven't they got over 20 players out on loan now?

Our Manager has said Stonesy is not for sale. I can't see how it can be any clearer to one and all, that the lad is not going anywhere. Now if our Board, sell him against Roberto's public statement, then everyone will know what the Board is like.

Dead right Tony, was it Samuel in the Mail who said "Great season Everton. Pity you did it with 㿞 million worth of loans." Prick! He then tried to cover the slime he'd written by saying he liked the club blah blah, just making a statement against the loan system. Prick.

If there was any doubt where his loyalty was; it's all with his stars of the show that bring in the viewers and bring in the cash. Which is unfortunately the reason why I am surrounded by a bunch of Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd, and Liverpool fans at my job here in San Francisco, CA, USA.

Phil Thompson, go do one. You tit. We lost two centre backs and need replacements. Mori isn't a replacement for stones but for Alcaraz and Distin. Know more about the club before your sky biased selling tactics for the big four ruin your appeal.

If Stones wants to go, stick him on the bench for every game till January, so he gets used to the feeling, then flog him in January when we have time to get a replacement. Selling now is ridiculous as we won't get a decent replacement.

There are still a few journos with credibility, not many mind.

Possibly the same one you allude to.

It's nice to see some old pros with sensible views on this, unlike tossers such as Merson and that big nosed twat from Mordor.

A few years ago not buying their papers was enough but in this age of social media they certainly can, and do, have a perverse influence over the game and players.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/600168/Exclusive-John-Stones-Everton-chairman-Bill-Kenwright-dream-move-Chelsea.

I was surprised by Andy Dunn's article, he is a staunch RS supporter.

As for Martin Samuel, that big fat fuck with the 1970s haircut, I use his columns for bog roll, then they will be covered in more shit!

Then think Right the game is on at 5pm going to stay up and Man up. my missus is a wreck BTW.

However again I see the Sun and Express reporting John Stones is going to Beg for his dream move to Chelsea. John Richardson at his best.

so are his best Exclusives:

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/567011/John-Carver-Newcastle-Job-Next-Season

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/558233/Andy-Gray-Looking-Investors-Aston-Villa-Tim-Sherwood

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/554029/Swansea-Bafetimbi-Gomis-Crystal-Palace-9m-Move

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/550066/No-Britons-up-for-vacant-Newcastle-job

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/488433/EXCLUSIVE-Liverpool-close-to-deal-for-Swansea-striker-Wilfried-Bony

You could not make this shit up.............Oh wait you can if you are John Richardson.

Sure he'd love some feedback!

I remember when people used to root for the underdog, but alls they talk about now is money, and not upsetting the bigboys!

His reply "I won't sell him, Bill won't sell him'. Make of it what you will but if he doesn't wanna go it looks like they won't push him.

As long as the incoming No. 10 isn't paid for out of this money I think we'll do okay out of the deal.

This is Everton

I repeat, this is Everton