John Stones

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Of course we are a bigger club at the moment. The kind of money Everton will be able to spend can change that in a short time if their owners are wise.

For me, it is the whole project of our owners that has made us a Big Club even if at times we have spent their money on some iffy players.

If it wasn't for this vision, yea, I might wonder how quickly a lot of money and a little success might change things. The money in the Premiership means the end of four or five clubs dominating. But money and success only buys stature if done wisely. Our owners are doing that.

A lot of good sense here. What makes us a big club is not simply the money that's been thrown at us – in fact, money hasn't been “thrown” at us. It's been spent wisely, in the main (the Robinho thing was a bit different, it was an initial statement of intent, no more) and above all, the reality that all the planning at this club since the takeover has been not just about getting silverware in the short term (mission accomplished already now) but building up a structure for the long term that will make sure that we're here or hereabouts (i.e. top four) for the foreseeable future.
Part of that is my deep hope that Pep will extend his contract beyond the three years. If we could get five or so years out of him, I think he could put us out of sight, because then he could be overseeing not just the first team but the kids coming through.
By the way, I haven't sat down and done the paperwork, and I'm not going to, but my sense is that even in the late sixties and seventies we were getting generally bigger crowds than Everton. Don't know what the figures are for pre-1939 and the fifties, but I'd be curious about that. I'm not dissing them (I've got no beef with Everton whatsoever, personally, they're a fine old club in my book, and anyway they're the sworn enemies of a club I've come to dislike fairly heartily) but we have always been, potentially, a big club. Silvain Distin looked round the stadium and said as much to someone I know when he was here. It was just obvious to anyone with eyes to see…

 

[Marvin]

Ah, I don't come here very often so I don't know who's wumming and who's serious. It's quite nice here though, almost everyone is respectful.

I was serious about Lukaku and Bony. Bony's move to City hasn't worked out. It's been a disaster but it would not be a surprise if he turned it around. After he signed for City he wen straight to the ACON,then he got injured, then he had malaria. And he hasn't handled being a sub for Aguero well. He's a quality player though short on confidence and an upgrade on Lukaku.

Lukaku gets a quota of goals against weaker opponents but put him up against a strong quick centre back and he struggles. He also struggles to retain possession in quality teams where ball retention is premium.

 

[Hungarian blue]

I was serious about Lukaku and Bony. Bony's move to City hasn't worked out. It's been a disaster but it would not be a surprise if he turned it around. After he signed for City he wen straight to the ACON,then he got injured, then he had malaria. And he hasn't handled being a sub for Aguero well. He's a quality player though short on confidence and an upgrade on Lukaku.

Lukaku gets a quota of goals against weaker opponents but put him up against a strong quick centre back and he struggles. He also struggles to retain possession in quality teams where ball retention is premium.

I'm actually with you on this one, or at least I can understand your point. I don't think there is a need for justifying Bony's bad form here, but to suggest he's better (or at least no worse) than Lukaku is hardly wumming or ridiculous. Koeman utilized Pelle in a great way and I think, build-up play wise Bony is more like him than Lukaku, and has greater quality in this respect. Though it's not like there are big differences between their ability/class, so it would seem bit weird that a currently mid-placed team like Everton would pay shitloads of money on two players when only one of them is considered as a starter.

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Will be interesting to see what happens with this one....dont Everton start back at training today?

 

[Neville Kneville]

I was serious about Lukaku and Bony. Bony's move to City hasn't worked out. It's been a disaster but it would not be a surprise if he turned it around. After he signed for City he wen straight to the ACON,then he got injured, then he had malaria. And he hasn't handled being a sub for Aguero well. He's a quality player though short on confidence and an upgrade on Lukaku.

Lukaku gets a quota of goals against weaker opponents but put him up against a strong quick centre back and he struggles. He also struggles to retain possession in quality teams where ball retention is premium.

The ridiculous assassination on Bony on here doesn't change the fact that he was a nightmare to play against when at Swansea & caused us all manner of problems.

He was unfortunate to get off to a bad start here for various reasons & is also unfortunate that he has Aguero as competition & was working for a fucking idiot manager who appeared to have signed him without having any kind of plan as to how he would use him.

His lack of mobility may rule him out as a Guardiola player, as with Ibrahimovic, but if he goes to Everton & they rehabilitate him, I would expect him to score at least as many as Lukaku & to tear Stones a new arsehole when they play us. A formidable front two.

 

[IWasHere]

Of course he is better than Lukaku. I shake my head when I see folks here mention getting Lukaku. Bony Mach II I say.

Jesus christ

 

[RandomJ]

Really hope this gets done in the next few days before we fly off to pre-season.

 

[Lomas has a lob on]

Really hope this gets done in the next few days before we fly off to pre-season.

Hope so too, or at least some indication that it is very close.

 

[MarsLlama]

I'll be checking the Everton social media back on and off today to see if he's in training. So far they haven't posted anything about training so who knows.

 

[kupest]

I'll be checking the Everton social media back on and off today to see if he's in training. So far they haven't posted anything about training so who knows.

I doubt he is going to be at training. Don't think any of the English players have come back for their clubs.