John Stones

[mosssideblue]

I think whichever way this deal gets done, if it gets done, it'll be a triumph for the club. Stones under Pep will develop into the best British defender of his generation. Even on the Txiki-O-Meter if he sends Bony the other way and stops the rag media from writing headlines about the 50 million pound man then it's a double triumph!

Why do people keep assuming this is a foregone conclusion. It is likely he will improve, to what level we don't know. There is also a probability he might not.

 

[mosssideblue]

Hi mate, not Txiki's biggest fan normally (but will save that for another thread!;) but clearly no one wants Bony and his 100k a week salary. Our summer buying now means we have an over-load over attacking players that can also play in Bony's position. The way things are going, it could come down to Bony or Sane(or Nolito) being left out of the CL squad for example. Would you want to include Bony over those guys in Europe? The problem we've made for ourselves in handing high wages not just to starting 11 but also to squad players, which makes them very difficult to sell when they dont work out...As mentioned earlier in thread...We'd kill 4 birds with one Stones(bad joke in there!;) Reduce wage bill, release CL place, sign top target of the summer AND save face in the press as we hadnt caved in and given the 50mil cash Everton were asking for.....win, win, win for me!;) Saying all that, this might be just the The Sun turning a simple shopping trip round Liverpool into a big story!;)

How do we reduce the wage bill?

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Re your second point. I know Txiki is good, but getting stones to work for nothing is raising it to a new level.

lol! You right mate....but it would clear the books for Stones by selling a player that could potentially be 3th or 4th off the bench, if Pep plans to use Nolito, Sane and Jesus in that position during the season...

 

[Centurions]

You do know that you're all arguing over a 'reported' deal in the bloody Sun don't you?

 

[mosssideblue]

lol! You right mate....but it would clear the books for Stones by selling a player that could potentially be 3th or 4th off the bench, if Pep plans to use Nolito, Sane and Jesus in that position during the season...

A few are getting rather giddy at the moment on this story. We have no idea whether this Sun story is credible or whether Bony is or is not part of Peps plans going forward.

 

[BillyShears]

Why do people keep assuming this is a foregone conclusion. It is likely he will improve, to what level we don't know. There is also a probability he might not.

There is also the probability he might become the greatest footballing defender England has ever produced. Time will tell. I'm comfortable with the level to which I rate him though.

 

[Rammy Blue]

I think whichever way this deal gets done, if it gets done, it'll be a triumph for the club. Stones under Pep will develop into the best British defender of his generation. Even on the Txiki-O-Meter if he sends Bony the other way and stops the rag media from writing headlines about the 50 million pound man then it's a double triumph!

Exactly. Player out that we don't want, player in that we need. What's not to like?

 

[mosssideblue]

There is also the probability he might become the greatest footballing defender England has ever produced. Time will tell. I'm comfortable with the level to which I rate him though.

That's fine and I hope you are correct. Just makes me laugh that so many seem to think such things are guaranteed

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

Take it this will be our last signing should we hopefully sign him

 

[Phil1]

Hi mate, not Txiki's biggest fan normally (but will save that for another thread!;) but clearly no one wants Bony and his 100k a week salary. Our summer buying now means we have an over-load over attacking players that can also play in Bony's position. The way things are going, it could come down to Bony or Sane(or Nolito) being left out of the CL squad for example. Would you want to include Bony over those guys in Europe? The problem we've made for ourselves in handing high wages not just to starting 11 but also to squad players, which makes them very difficult to sell when they dont work out...As mentioned earlier in thread...We'd kill 4 birds with one Stones(bad joke in there!;) Reduce wage bill, release CL place, sign top target of the summer AND save face in the press as we hadnt caved in and given the 50mil cash Everton were asking for.....win, win, win for me!;) Saying all that, this might be just the The Sun turning a simple shopping trip round Liverpool into a big story!;)

I am a fan of his. I think overall he's been great for the club and I understand the intricacies of football contracts that makes his job harder than some realise.
What I don't like is Everton being allowed to strong arm us in this deal. If they wanted Bony as a Lukaku replacement, who they bizarrely rate as a £75m striker, then they should be willing to pay a fair price.

 

[mosssideblue]

Exactly. Player out that we don't want, player in that we need. What's not to like?

Have the club confirmed Wilf is a player they no longer want?

 

[Neville Kneville]

That's fine and I hope you are correct. Just makes me laugh that so many seem to think such things are guaranteed

Well it's always worked out in the past.

 

[BillyShears]

That's fine and I hope you are correct. Just makes me laugh that so many seem to think such things are guaranteed

I'm not sure anyone thinks anything is guaranteed. But with Pep as manager it's as likely as it could possibly ever be baring in mind his track record with players like Stones.

Personally don't think it's at all OTT to suggest that under Pep Stones will develop into one of the greatest defenders of his generation. But then I rate the lad very highly.

 

[mosssideblue]

Well it's always worked out in the past.

Of course it has, how silly of me

 

[Rammy Blue]

Have the club confirmed Wilf is a player they no longer want?

Stop trolling fella.

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

How do we reduce the wage bill?

If you look at the fact that Stones is a target and his salary will be added to the squad whether we sell Bony or not...then removing Bony's wage bill releases a 100k a week commitment?

We dont need to buy a replacement for Bony as we have players already on the squad to play that position.

Stones 120k a week + Bony 100k a week = 220k week

Stones 120k a week - Bony 100k a week = 120k week

save 100k a week!;)

 

[Phil1]

You do know that you're all arguing over a 'reported' deal in the bloody Sun don't you?

That's what normally happens on football fora is it not? I'm not sure there's much arguing anyway.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

I very much doubt that Everton do value Stones at £50m. If he played for another club, would Everton be looking at signing him for £50m?

Similarly to Pogba and Juve, Stone's price is inflated because, amongst other things, they want to keep him. Bony's is deflated because we very much appear to be desperate to get him off our books.

It's not 'fair' but that's the market and this is the position we've put ourselves in over the last few seasons.

 

[hgblue]

You do know that you're all arguing over a 'reported' deal in the bloody Sun don't you?

I wasn't arguing about the deal as such, I was saying I don't believe these reports. Just doesn't make sense to play hardball over the fee, then agree to a deal which values Stones at the price we've been unwilling to pay, and Bony at a price which is clearly under his value in today's market. I'm calling bullshit.

 

[Marvin]

I think whichever way this deal gets done, if it gets done, it'll be a triumph for the club. Stones under Pep will develop into the best British defender of his generation. Even on the Txiki-O-Meter if he sends Bony the other way and stops the rag media from writing headlines about the 50 million pound man then it's a double triumph!

I'd do the deal, because I don't see Bony ever working out at City even though I think he's a good player, but a triumph isn't selling a player for less than you bought him for in a hugely inflated market where a player like Lukaku is subject to £60m bids.

The report might be entirely speculation.