The scoresheet remained blank but this gripping match produced much to encourage both teams, as well as interesting performances from two of England’s leading young talents. Roberto Martínez said that by helping to extend Harry Kane’s goalless streak, John Stones showed Everton fans that he is one of their own.
Martínez was adamant that Chelsea would be wasting their time if they made another bid for Stones before the transfer window closes on Tuesday. “We have real clarity: for us it is closed,” Martínez said, adding that the way Stones played at White Hart Lane, and the fact that he walked over to salute the away fans at the end of the match despite being abused earlier in the week by a handful of Everton supporters angered by his decision to submit a transfer request, proved his loyalty to the Goodison Park club.
“He knows the fans will be with him and will understand what’s happened,” said Martínez. “The way he has always been performing, always been a top professional, never letting the team down or the football club down, he is a true Evertonian.”
The Stones saga, to which Everton insist there will be no late twist, has strengthened supporters’ faith in their club just a couple of weeks after some particularly irate Evertonians hired a plane to carry a banner decrying a perceived lack of ambition. There was melodious pride at White Hart Lane as the travelling fans chanted “Money can’t buy you Stones!”
“The fans appreciated [Everton’s stance],” said Martínez. “We may not have a Champions League budget, but we’re a very big club.” Chelsea are believed to have grudgingly accepted that Stones will not be playing for them in their next Premier League match – which, as it happens, is at Goodison Park – and turned their attention to other targets.
Stones impressed at White Hart Lane even if Spurs, producing their best performance of the season so far, infiltrated the visiting defence several times. If not for a number of excellent saves by Tim Howard and some errant finishing, Spurs would have had their first win of the campaign.
Amid the fusillade from Tottenham, and plenty of rancour in a tetchy contest, Stones largely retained the poise that has helped make him so sought-after, only losing his cool when berating Dele Alli for a perceived dive. “It’s been a difficult few weeks for John but it’s testament to the character and person he is at such a young age that he’s just got on with it,” said Phil Jagielka of his young defensive partner. “You look at the five games we’ve played so far this season, he’s probably been one of our best players in most of them. He’s a fantastic lad with great character and it does show that he cares a lot about this club.”
Martínez said he has never doubted the youngster’s ability to handle pressure on the pitch – saying “he could play in front of 100,000 people, in a World Cup final” – and said he has also been pleased by how quickly Stones has learned about coping with off-field pressures. “Probably the only place he has found a little bit of freedom has been when he is out on the pitch playing football,” said Martínez.
“You get confused with all that goes on. You are a footballer, we are not doing courses that deal with all the pressure the transfer window brings. I had other situations where I had players who couldn’t cope and couldn’t play. I had windows where I had to leave a players out completely. With John it’s very easy because he’s a pristine professional. Obviously he’s been put under massive, massive pressure. The transfer request was something he didn’t mean to do.”
Stones’ former England under-21 team-mate, Kane, is under pressure for a different reason, as he missed several scoring opportunities, including a one-on-one with Howard in the first half, and has yet to find the net in this campaign. But the player’s all-round display was again positive. And, with Christian Eriksen soon to return from injury and the new signings Clinton N’Jié and Son Heung-min available shortly, Kane will likely enjoy even better support.
The Spurs manager, Mauricio Pochettino, said he has no doubt Kane will start scoring again soon. Having just struggled to subdue him, Jagielka agrees: “I’ve seen first-hand and when we’ve been away with England, what a fantastic player he is. And what a nice guy he is as well which makes a big difference. So he’ll deal with the slowish start he’s had to the season, it will make him a better player and I’m sure he will be banging in goals for a few years to come.”
Man of the match Tim Howard (Everton)
