John Stones transfer saga

[LinekersLegs]

I'm convinced LL, I wish you worked for EFC

Wish I was that eloquent mate, it was Daniel Taylor from the Guardian, who iirc is an Evertonian himself.

 

[The Equaliser]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/aug/01/john-stones-everton-chelsea-right-price
...
However, it isn’t difficult to understand why José Mourinho wants to make him his next acquisition and, if anything, it is just surprising Chelsea have not gone higher with their opening attempts to break Everton’s resolve. The first bid of £20m was little more than a tease. The second one, £26m, was comparatively high but in today’s market another piece of positioning.
Neither bid was ever going to be accepted and, though it isn’t always easy working out how clubs value players these days, let’s think back to the conversation Moyes had with Wayne Rooney when he started as manager at Manchester United a couple of years ago and Chelsea were trying to sign the striker. Moyes felt Rooney had slipped into the comfort zone and asked him whether he thought he was still a top player. Rooney replied that he did. Then Moyes came back with the killer line: “Then why have Chelsea offered only £25m for you?”

Stones is undoubtedly a grade-A player in the making, a potential England international for the next 10 years, and if Luke Shaw was worth £30m a year ago and Raheem Sterling is now valued at £49m, Everton are fully entitled to think Chelsea have come in pretty low. Chelsea sold David Luiz for £50m last summerand, whatever that says about Paris Saint-Germain, it still influences the market. If Mourinho believes Stones is qualified to graduate as John Terry’s successor, he cannot possibly think Everton are going to accept less than they banked for Marouane Fellaini two years ago.

What we have now is a staring contest between the two clubs. The assumption is that Everton will blink once Chelsea – and so far it has all been a strategy on the part of the London club – get to a more realistic figure of £35m and it is a surprise, perhaps, that the two Manchester clubs have not tried to intervene given what they could gain and, just as importantly, what they stand to lose.

United, in particular, have been looking for a centre-half for longer than they would probably care to remember. Ideally, that would be a more experienced player who could immediately slot in as the lynchpin of their defence, but they were led down Sergio Ramos’s garden path earlier in the summer. The gate was slammed shut and Ramos, with utter predictability, now has a new contract from Real Madrid. As for City, they appear to be pinning their hopes on Eliaquim Mangala having a far more productive second season in English football and Vincent Kompany no longer being troubled by the recurring injury issues that have undermined his performances and damaged his status as one of the league’s more authoritative players. Neither, however, can be guaranteed. Kompany turns 30 this season and Martín Demichelis will be 35 in December. There has been a dearth of outstanding centre-backs on the market for the past few years and Stones – young, English, exceptionally talented – would be a formidable opponent. Mourinho has an appreciation of defence that Martínez does not possess and the improvement in Stones could be considerable.

All of that is assuming Stones’s current employer will eventually agree to sell him. Everton are a proud club and will not want to bend for anybody if it makes them look weak. They did, lest it be forgotten, repel United’s advances for Leighton Baines two summers ago and, in one sense, it would be nice to think that when a club say their player is not for sale at any price – as, say, Liverpool did for Sterling – they mean it, rather than it simply being part of the bargaining process. Martínez’s whole ethos has been to build a team around his best young players. They could make a fortune selling Stones but, in another sense, they would be poorer for it.

Unfortunately for them, the clubs at the top always come knocking when there is someone worthy of their attention and it isn’t always easy turning them away at the door. That is just the football business, just like it was for Barnsley lower down the food chain, and that presumably is why Chelsea seem sure they will get their man. There are not many occasions in the modern era when the super-rich don’t get their own way.

Good summing up of the situation that. Basically put up or shut up Jose. And if you are going to put up do it NOW. His price should be going up £5m per week between now and the window closing due to the increasing difficulty and cost of replacing him.

 

[blue4eva77]

Still reckon one of mccarthy, stones or mirallas will be sold before the deadline.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Not sure when Mourinho is meant to have made the below comments, he said nothing in his press conference.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/jose-mourinho-hints-chelsea-could-9773771
Jose Mourinho has hinted Chelsea may be about to give up in their pursuit of Evertondefender John Stones. But the Blues are still expecting the Premier League champions to return with a third bid for the highly-rated 21-year-old.Stones has been pinpointed by Chelsea boss Mourinho as the long-term replacement for long-serving centre-back John Terry.

Everton, though, have no appetite to sell, and have already rejected bids worth £20million and £26m for the England international. And that appears to have discouraged Mourinho, who said: “The market sometimes has no rules. “We, as Chelsea, we make our own rules.

“To make our own rules is to evaluate the players, and to know the players’ value, and to know when we have to stop and turn to another side, and think in another option.” Reports have previously indicated Chelsea were willing to go in excess of £30m in their attempt to lure Stones into leaving Goodison. However, Mourinho’s comments would suggest the Londoners are growing frustrated at Everton’s steadfast refusal to entertain parting with the defender.

Edit here they are
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/aug/01/jose-mourinho-chelsea-title-defence-back-four
With the left-back Filipe Luís having been sold back to Atlético Madrid after one glum year at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have five senior players to cover four defensive positions, giving the rearguard a threadbare look. The four regulars who helped the team concede fewer goals than anyone in the Premier League last season are still in place but Kurt Zouma, impressively as he played during 17 starts in defence and midfield, cannot reasonably be asked to provide by himself back-up for Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry, Gary Cahill and César Azpilicueta.

“We cannot go to the Premier League with five defenders – that’s our weakness,” Mourinho says. “At this moment we have five: four to play and one on the bench. In this moment it’s not a priority but in three days, if we lose one, it becomes a priority. Five is not enough. That’s obvious.” Mourinho wants the club to buy another left-back and another centre-back before the transfer window closes. “We have this time to organise that area where the quality is good but the numbers are not enough,” he says.

Augsburg value Rahman at around £17m but Chelsea hope to negotiate the fee for the 21-year-old Ghanaian downwards. Everton, meanwhile, would be well advised to brace themselves for another offer for Stones, for whom Chelsea have already had bids of £20m and £26m turned down. Other clubs are also interested in Stones, including both Manchester sides, and Mourinho says Chelsea will not pay more for a player than they believe he is worth and are ready to switch targets if demands become excessive.

“I have people in mind but I know that the market sometimes has no rules,” says the Portuguese. “We, as Chelsea, we make our own rules. To make our own rules is to evaluate the players and to know the player’s value, and to know when we have to stop and turn to another side, and thinking of another option.”

Making the two purchases Mourinho wants would bring Chelsea closer to fulfilling the manager’s desire to have a pair of top players for every outfield position. He says a player will be promoted from the club’s under-21 squad to serve as the eighth defender in the senior squad, mentioning Ola Aina as one possibility. The 18-year-old England youth international impressed on the club’s pre-season tour.

 

[mythbuster]

Not sure when Mourinho is meant to have made the below comments, he said nothing in his press conference.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/jose-mourinho-hints-chelsea-could-9773771
Jose Mourinho has hinted Chelsea may be about to give up in their pursuit of Evertondefender John Stones. But the Blues are still expecting the Premier League champions to return with a third bid for the highly-rated 21-year-old.Stones has been pinpointed by Chelsea boss Mourinho as the long-term replacement for long-serving centre-back John Terry.

Everton, though, have no appetite to sell, and have already rejected bids worth £20million and £26m for the England international. And that appears to have discouraged Mourinho, who said: “The market sometimes has no rules. “We, as Chelsea, we make our own rules.

“To make our own rules is to evaluate the players, and to know the players’ value, and to know when we have to stop and turn to another side, and think in another option.” Reports have previously indicated Chelsea were willing to go in excess of £30m in their attempt to lure Stones into leaving Goodison. However, Mourinho’s comments would suggest the Londoners are growing frustrated at Everton’s steadfast refusal to entertain parting with the defender.

Edit here they are
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/aug/01/jose-mourinho-chelsea-title-defence-back-four
With the left-back Filipe Luís having been sold back to Atlético Madrid after one glum year at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have five senior players to cover four defensive positions, giving the rearguard a threadbare look. The four regulars who helped the team concede fewer goals than anyone in the Premier League last season are still in place but Kurt Zouma, impressively as he played during 17 starts in defence and midfield, cannot reasonably be asked to provide by himself back-up for Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry, Gary Cahill and César Azpilicueta.

“We cannot go to the Premier League with five defenders – that’s our weakness,” Mourinho says. “At this moment we have five: four to play and one on the bench. In this moment it’s not a priority but in three days, if we lose one, it becomes a priority. Five is not enough. That’s obvious.” Mourinho wants the club to buy another left-back and another centre-back before the transfer window closes. “We have this time to organise that area where the quality is good but the numbers are not enough,” he says.

Augsburg value Rahman at around £17m but Chelsea hope to negotiate the fee for the 21-year-old Ghanaian downwards. Everton, meanwhile, would be well advised to brace themselves for another offer for Stones, for whom Chelsea have already had bids of £20m and £26m turned down. Other clubs are also interested in Stones, including both Manchester sides, and Mourinho says Chelsea will not pay more for a player than they believe he is worth and are ready to switch targets if demands become excessive.

“I have people in mind but I know that the market sometimes has no rules,” says the Portuguese. “We, as Chelsea, we make our own rules. To make our own rules is to evaluate the players and to know the player’s value, and to know when we have to stop and turn to another side, and thinking of another option.”

Making the two purchases Mourinho wants would bring Chelsea closer to fulfilling the manager’s desire to have a pair of top players for every outfield position. He says a player will be promoted from the club’s under-21 squad to serve as the eighth defender in the senior squad, mentioning Ola Aina as one possibility. The 18-year-old England youth international impressed on the club’s pre-season tour.

He's said it the same way the London-centric media have heard it for the last few weeks.... Off the record. No way are the press gonna rebel against that. He's got his little puppets in his pocket, and they won't print (quote) anything he tells them, if he's not approving it.

 

[LinekersLegs]

He's said it the same way the London-centric media have heard it for the last few weeks.... Off the record. No way are the press gonna rebel against that. He's got his little puppets in his pocket, and they won't print (quote) anything he tells them, if he's not approving it.

Tbf most managers have a two part press conference before competitive games, one for the TV that is released at the time and then another for the print media which is embargoed until ~10pm the day before the match. Presume this is just his comments from the latter part of the press conference.

Still think we'll get another bid myself but perhaps a bit more private than the previous two.

 

[Khalekan]

I think this all comes down to Stones himself.

There is no way we are selling him this summer unless he wants to move.

The season is now less than a week away and as we already need a third, experienced, centre back we are not going to let John go and leave ourselves down to one PL hardened centre back in the squad.

But if he us agitating for a move behind the scenes then I can see little point in keeping him here.

Which would be a shame.

 

[LinekersLegs]

I think this all comes down to Stones himself.

There is no way we are selling him this summer unless he wants to move.

The season is now less than a week away and as we already need a third, experienced, centre back we are not going to let John go and leave ourselves down to one PL hardened centre back in the squad.

But if he us agitating for a move behind the scenes then I can see little point in keeping him here.

Which would be a shame.

Naismith coming out and talking about Everton being a great club for him was a good sign on that front - get the impression he is the player that John is closest to in the squad.

 

[deipnosophist]

He's said it the same way the London-centric media have heard it for the last few weeks.... Off the record. No way are the press gonna rebel against that. He's got his little puppets in his pocket, and they won't print (quote) anything he tells them, if he's not approving it.

The 'press', the 4th estate, are little more than bought-and-paid-for shills these days. They have, in the main, dreadfully failed their mandate, their raison d'etre. The concentration of media into the hands of media 'oligarchs' is to blame. They are nothing more than mouthpieces of the vested interest mega-rich.If one really wants to know what's going on in the world of politics, geopolitics and finance/business (including that pertaining to sport), I suggest the main stream media is not the place you're going to find edification.

 

[mythbuster]

Tbf most managers have a two part press conference before competitive games, one for the TV that is released at the time and then another for the print media which is embargoed until ~10pm the day before the match. Presume this is just his comments from the latter part of the press conference.

Still think we'll get another bid myself but perhaps a bit more private than the previous two.

It's not embargoed, it just takes the mongs hours to write something, and then publish it.

Make no mistake mate, Jose tells them things that are strictly 'off the record' - especially that tit who has been following them around the US like a lost puppy.

 

[mythbuster]

The 'press', the 4th estate, are little more than bought-and-paid-for shills these days. They have, in the main, dreadfully failed their mandate, their raison d'etre. The concentration of media into the hands of media 'oligarchs' is to blame. They are nothing more than mouthpieces of the vested interest mega-rich.If one really wants to know what's going on in the world of politics, geopolitics and finance/business (including that pertaining to sport), I suggest the main stream media is not the place you're going to find edification.

Haha, indeed mate. Rather ironically, The Telegraph have ran this little piece of hypocrisy in the last day or 3

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...atens-an-objective-and-independent-press.html

 

[LinekersLegs]

It's not embargoed, it just takes the mongs hours to write something, and then publish it.

Make no mistake mate, Jose tells them things which are strictly 'off the record' - especially that tit who has been following them around the US like a lost puppy.

Been out of the UK a while but isn't "mongs" an unpleasant and derogatory word used to refer to Down's sufferers? Or is there a less emotionally charged meaning of the word I'm not aware of?

As for the delay/embargo I believe it is due to making sure that the printed press has something different to quote to their (admittedly shrinking) market, they usually release the same online once they have physically printed it.

There is no doubt that Jose says things off the record, all mangers do including our own, but both the Guardian and Telegraph have used actual quotes and the same language so believe this is from the offiical press briefing.

 

[mythbuster]

Been out of the UK a while but isn't "mongs" an unpleasant and derogatory word used to refer to Down's sufferers? Or is there a less emotionally charged meaning of the word I'm not aware of?

As for the delay/embargo I believe it is due to making sure that the printed press has something different to quote to their (admittedly shrinking) market, they usually release the same online once they have physically printed it.

There is no doubt that Jose says things off the record, all mangers do including our own, but both the Guardian and Telegraph have used actual quotes and the same language so believe this is from the offiical press briefing.

Yes, the less emotionally charged meaning is "hack journalists" - you could equally define a legion of of other bog-standard intelligent people with the same word. Don't be getting all politically correct with me LL

If there's quotes that are yet unpublished, then could you please link me to them please????

 

[LinekersLegs]

Yes, the less emotionally charged meaning is "hack journalists" - you could equally define a legion of of other bog-standard intelligent people with the same word. Don't be getting all politically correct with me LL

If there's quotes that are yet unpublished, then could you please link me to them please????

This has nothing to do with being politically correct - I have relatives with developmental issues so personally find it an offensive and unpleasant term to use especially when there are far more suitable phrases you can use like the "hack journalists" you suggested.

 

[helpimonfire]

Is it back on yet?