Everton fan In Peace

Glad he chose Everton over Wigan. Better prospects for him and better quality players / management to learn from.

The main disapointment is if no add on, or more important sell on fee, was put into this deal. I honestly believe this lad will go for 10 million plus by the age of 25. Moyes is highly tipped to end up at Old Trafford once AF retires, and can see him at a club like that.

 

You've got a great prospect in Stones and I am positive that in years to come he'll prove to be one of the better signings the club has made under Moyes. Stones is actually a centre back, but has played full back (and in the last few matches wing back) for the first team. He is really comfortable on the ball and his timing is excellent. He sometimes loses the ball when going forward, but his recovery is very good, so he usually wins the ball back quite quickly. He should flourish at a club like Everton and under a manager like Moyes.

Interestingly enough, did you know that Moyes agreed to become the Barnsley manager a couple of years before he went to you guys? Preston were in the play offs though and he wanted to see them through those games before coming to us, but Barnsley were keen to make a quick appointment. We therefore appointed Dave Bassett instead, as he was available. If only we'd waited...

Good luck for the rest of the season. Like most neutrals I had been hoping for a few years that you could have a decent start to the season for a change to go with your customary late surge and this season it seems that you have done just that. Fingers crossed you can finish in the top four, as most Reds fans would love to see Stones in the Champions League. I do suspect though that if Stones continues to improve you'll be lucky to keep him for the full five years without remaining in the top four, as teams even further up the food chain will be keeping an eye on his development.

 

Has he ever actually played centre half for Barnsley or England youth? Or is it just an assumption he can play there as he's 6ft2? Seamus Coleman's developed a lot this season, so I can see more chance Stones coming thru at CB towards end of next season as Distin comes to an end. Back four of Coleman, Stones, Jagielka and Baines could be tasty

 

Not sure if he did for our Academy.

Our gaffer reckons centre half is where he'll end up as he develops physically.

 

Never knew that about Moyes. Heard Southampton turned him down for Stewet Wignall...not what's worse, him or Bertie Bassett? We're just grateful fate turned out as it did with Moyes!
Cheers for all comments and Everton and Stones. Much appreciated

 

I think some of your lads were expecting a big European player to come in, so John looks a bit of a minor signing. It's on a par with Phil Jones going to Man U, he's not there to fill a gap in the short term and will be introduced gradually. He's certainly got the talent, he will just need time to acclimatise to the higher quality - he has never faced a RVP or that swine Suarez. We were hoping for a big cup draw to see how he would shape up. I'm looking forward to seeing him face Gareth Bale for the first time!

He came across well in his interview, the first time he interviewed for us he was a nervous wreck with a camera pointed at him. He's still a bairn and will need looking a little bit now he's flown the Oakwell nest. He has sold us out a bit too readily and left the club he loves in the middle of a relegation battle, but who's to say any one of us wouldn't do the same?

 

Yes, Stones has been centre back throughout the youth teams apparently.

 

He stepped into that position recently away at Millwall. An injury and the not so good form of another defender enforced a first half re-shuffle. He had a more experienced player watching his back and guiding him through, but he coped admirably and we won the game. Moyes might think he is buying a right back, but more likely knows he is getting a very useful and versatile right sided defender through Evertons links with our academy. He is fast and dangerous up the wing, but I have never seen him beat anyone on the outside, he looks to play it inside or get a cross in early.

 

Thanks for the three million. It will pay for a new scoreboard, better drainage for the east stand lower puddles whenever their is a tiny bit of rain and to make sure the TVs in the concourse are always switched on.

 

Very promising young defender. Been playing at full back for us, however veteran defender Bobby Hassell, who's been mentoring him says he's predominantly a centre half, and will be an established premier league centre half in years to come, he's only 18 so he'll probably get a little more physical presence in years to come.

He's very much a confidence player, and he's been brimming with it all season, since he scored on the opening day, in the cup away at Rochdale. He makes a mug of strikers almost twice his age with his exceptional ball control and eagerness to get forward. Once he gets in a position to cross however, he always seems to stop and look for a short pass,probably one area of his game where he's lacking.

He's an excellent stopper, and his sliding tackle is very reminiscent of the defenders I grew up watching in the 90's. On Tuesday at Oakwell, he displayed the best piece of ball control i've ever seen on a player; with the ball going away from him, out of play, Stonesy managed to stop it from going out of play, bring it down, turn on it and tee himself up perfectly for the cross all in one touch.

He's probably not quite ready to be facing the premiership on a regular basis just yet. But he's certainly going to be a top premier league defender in years to come. He's an absolute steal at £3million.

All the best for the season, Everton are a club i've always looked out for, and I hope you can cement your place in the top 4. All the best for the rest of the season, unless we come across you in the cup

 

Always nice to put one over on the "champions of europe"

 

Re: You're quick to flee the nest

What's that mate? :smile:

 

Re: You're quick to flee the nest

Ah, I thought Keith had commented on Stones departure, thickoid I am!