Been at Barnsley since he was 6 or 7 years old. All that training we've given him, all that support. Over a decade. All that effort to get him to play in our senior side. He starts just 22 games for us and at the first chance he wants to leave. I don't know what I'm supposed to think about that. It doesn't seem right to me. I'm sure that makes me a lovely person.
He's not just sacking us off for Reading or Hull or Cardiff though. 5 year deal at a top 6 (hopefully top 4) side. Can't remember any player in my lifetime getting the chance to go to a top club
I know, I agree. He was "living the dream" this time last week. 'Developing saleable assets' they call it. I'm sure Oakwell could be more profitable making something else, if that's all they care about.
I would have thought that after all we'd given him he could at least have stayed until the end of the season to try to help us stave off relegation. I can't imagine being trained by a company for over ten years and then leaving them only 6 months in to the job they trained me to do. Particularly when they are in trouble. It's not like my prospects would be harmed by staying. I could just as easily get a move in 5 months time when I've at least put something back in to the company that has trained me. Maybe it's me that's weird, but it just seems so wrong.
I understand his position, Jay. At the end of the day he could get injured in the next couple of months and miss his big chance. In any case, the club have accepted an offer for him - indicating that they are williing to let him go. Additionally, it wouldn't surprise me if we were encouraging him and saying we needed the money. Totally understand what you're saying but I don't see this as a player forcing a move or stomping his feet. Club have practically advertised him over the last week.
It is blatantly obvious the club wanted him to go. Well wanted the money anyway. When the club have accepted two offers, it says plenty. When one of the offers was from a club chasing champions league football, a club who also happen to be the most stable, sensibly run and admired pretty much universally - yes he was bound to turn them down. Behave. Five and a half year deal, presumably on plenty more than he was on here, and the chance to play under a truly world class manager and train every day with international footballers. I'm not disappointed as such, although we could have got more for him I think. Rather than disappointment I'm actually very proud that our club has produced such a talent and I wish the kid all the luck in the world. In three years time he could be an England regular on two hundred grand a week, he might not be, either way for me he couldn't have gone to a better football club at this point. I think he'll get game time this season, and I expect him to improve exponentially in the next year or two. If he ends up at old Trafford, eastlands or Stamford bridge after a big money signing, and becomes the regular England number 2 (or 5, still see him as a future centre back), what an endorsement that is for our youth setup and football club generally. I remember a few years back everyone moaning that the academy only seemed to produce full backs. I hope we can find another one of him.
what a great interview, what a fine young man. and he is well pleased to have joined Everton.. I got misty eyed watching that young man speak just then. I wisht we couldha had him for another season... we shouldha, really... but you gotta say he looks dead happy.... ah well....
Not getting the same grief that a few others did when they left for the Premier League and it's bright lights.... good ol BBS.
But how much did he want to move compared with how much others wanted him to move? He doesn't srike me as the sort to orchestrate a move, especially not to damage the club he loves and supports.
Can see both sides. Gutted to see him leave so soon after breaking through but also proud to see him at a top club. Everton may not win trophies but they are a well run club, have a top class manager and also seem to develop youth well. Stones appears very down to earth and when he makes his debut, or wins his first England cap Im sure he will remember where it all started for him.
That's OK then. I spend my money so that we can produce players for the benefit of other clubs. And then we wonder why we've only had one season in the top flight. Long-term lack of ambition reinforced.
Clubs in the lower reachings of the second division will doubtless have to sell their best assets if those assets deserve to be playing in the premier league. There's no point keeping them for an extra year or two and them going for nothing. I've not got an issue with spending my money for the club to sell its players 'for the benefit of other clubs'. That isn't lacking ambition, it's just how it is. I do, however, have a problem with us accepting insultingly low prices, and even where the price is ok, always being shafted on terms like payment up front and sell ons. We must be the easiest touch in football. That seems to be being improved upon. And to pick up on your point further, the club does not have enough people spending their money, as you put it, on a regular enough basis to harbour bigger long term ambitions, and has to balance the books. The long term ambition of the club appears to be to make sure that the club will still exist in ten years - if this approach was taken ten years ago we might be in a better state. Perhaps we should have more 'long term ambition', spend more chasing an unlikely goal and kill the club ala Portsmouth? Bradford city spent twice as long in the premier league as us, and after we did. 6 current league one teams have played in the premier league (if you count mk as Wimbledon). I'm sure all at the club would love another crack at the premier league. With how the finances of the game have evolved that is impossible for now, so championship is our ceiling I'd say. When financial rules come out we may have a better chance - but it'll still be pretty tough trying to get out of this division upwards when there's teams with gates of 25 or 30k week in week out and we don't break 10k more than half a dozen times a season.
