One More Year

It looks like Stubbsey will be ending his footballing days at Goodison after he signed a one year extension to his contract today. The 35yr old life long Blues fan is delighted to be part of Everton's European adventure next season, and after the Sunderland debacle a few seasons ago, Stubbsey has reiterated how easy this decision was for him.

Stubbsey says: "It was pretty straightforward to be honest. It is not as if I am 21 and it is going to get complicated, I am happy to be signing and proud I am still able to play at the top of the Premiership at 35. It is a nice moment for me. I dreamed of playing for Everton when I was a five-year old lad and now, hopefully, this is the club where I will end my career." (15/05/07)

The £1m Bad Decision

Everton should have had a free kick when Mikkel Arteta was blatently fouled, but the ref played on. Chelsea go down the other end and score. Alan points out that this decision cost us £1m.

Stubbsey says: "He made a really bad decision and unluckily for us they've turned round and gone and scored from it - from where the free-kick should have been. Big decisions like that could be the difference between finishing fifth and finishing seventh for us. Luckily Bolton have drawn so we were always going to finish sixth but if we'd lost that decision could have been worth £1million, which is an awful lot of money for us.

We've come here and put in a performance and not switched off once but I'm afraid that the three officials have switched off. Officials do have off-days but when we score own goals and make mistakes we get criticised for it so it should be the same for officials. They are paid to do a professional job and they should take the rap the same as players do. I understand that officials get decisions wrong but I thought that was a very, very straightforward one and the linesman was looking at it as well. It should take two people to make the right decision but they haven't and that's cost us." (14/05/07)

Everton, Europe and Me

Stubbsey believes that Everton's European ambitions will be determined this Summer with how much the clubs spends in the transfer market, and who Moyesy keeps and get shut off out of his current set up. One thing is for sure Moyesy will not be making the same mistake by allowing Stubbsey to leave again in the close season, and the Manager is keen to sit down soon with his out of contract veteran defender and tie him up for another season.

Stubbsey says: " We are going in the right direction and we need to keep going in that direction. But we need to bring in a few big players, then we can take it from there. We also have players who we need to tie down with new contracts, like Mikel Arteta, for example. That's why I think there are a lot of crucial decisions to be made this summer. There has to be investment. We are going into a European campaign and it would be impossible to accomodate that with the squad we have at the moment.

I'd like to be here, but it's entirely down to the manager. I haven't spoken to him yet and in a couple of weeks I will be a free agent.

Moyesy says: "We'll give Alan a chance to stay at the club if he wants to do so. We haven't offered him anything yet but we will speak to him in the coming weeks." (08/05/07)

Still Confident

Despite loosing at West Ham, Stubbsey is confident of getting the points needed to finish in a European spot, staring at fortress Goodison on Saturday.

Stubbsey says: "We have got two home games left and I think two wins will do it. Maybe even four points. It's at that stage of the season that teams are dropping points. Every home game we expect to win it. Whether it is against the top or against the bottom. We had a few chances to get back into the game at West Ham and that makes it more disappointing - but it is a great game for us now." (25/04/07)

European Push

Winning against Arsenal has kept Everton in 6th place and on course for a European place. The Everton veteran thought Everton were well worth the win.

Stubbsey says: “This win has put us right where we want to be at the minute. I thought overall, we deserved to edge it. They had a couple of half chances but when you are playing against a team of their quality, you expect that to happen.

But on the whole, we acquitted ourselves very well. We had a good blend. We passed the ball well but when we had to be physical, we were. Everyone knows that Arsenal want to play football and they don’t like getting into a battle. That’s part and parcel of football, though, and you don’t win Championships by playing total football. We deserved to win and hopefully it can give us the push we need.” (20/03/07)

Keep It Clean

Stubbsey believes Everton's new found meanness in front in defence is no coincidence to us just being out of the top six, with a game in hand. The Blues have conceded just three goals in the last seven Premiership games, and Stubbsey thinks we still have a lot to play for this season, and qualification for the UEFA Cup is most definitely on.

Stubbsey says: "It’s no coincidence that we’ve been keeping clean sheets and getting good results lately. It’s a platform to build on. All our best performances have been based on keeping clean sheets. If the defenders do their jobs then it gives us a platform.

We’re on the heels of the top six now. We’re four points away with a game in hand, so it’s there to be played for. We’ve still got a great chance of achieving something this season if we can keep our levels of performance then we can achieve what we set out to do at the start of the season." (08/02/07)

Star Man

Moyesy's decision to bring in Alan Stubbs for the derby and move Roger to left back proved the doubters wrong. Stubbsey was man of the match.

Moyesy says: "I thought we came here and defended really well. I had both Nuno Valente and Gary Naysmith available, but I thought it was a game where Alan Stubbs' experience might help. We have two centre-backs who have great futures in Joleon and Joseph, but I just felt that recently we've had a couple of games where we've needed Stubbsy.

He wanted to play, which was great. There will be times when we think he'll need a breather, but today the game was right for him. If you look around the country at the moment the best central defenders are probably the older ones, the more experienced ones, and he gives us that. We couldn't come here and have an open game, giving Liverpool the freedom of Anfield. We had to come here and make it hard for them." (05/02/07)

On His Way Back

Stubbsey has returned to training, and is in contention for this weekends FA Cup clash against Blackburn. Great news for Moyesy as with Hibbo missing for a big part of the season, and Nuno just returning to action, Moyesy may feel that Joey and Roger may be due a breather.

Basil says: "Alan seems fine and has trained for the last couple of days." (04/01/07)

Old School

David Moyes heaped praise on the two old boys at the back. You've all done very well.

Moyesy says:"Alan Stubbs was excellent against West Ham last weekend and played in the manner that you would expect him to. He filled an important role, and Davie Weir has been a bit unlucky with injuries this year but he does a lot of work behind the scenes and I have to say that he and Stubbsy have been terrific.

"I have really appreciated their efforts, they never let you down. They are senior professionals who you can always rely on."(08/12/06)

High As A Kite

Whether Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott, Malcolm McDonald, Alan Sunderland or Charlie Nicholas starts for the Arse on Wednesday, it matters not one jot to Alan Stubbs. Even after Saturdays reverse down at Fulham, the veteran centre half is still adamant that confidence is high in the Everton camp.

Stubbsey says: "They are probably going to make a lot of changes in their team. At the moment we don't care who we are playing because confidence is so high in the team.

We are taking the games one by one, whether it be Arsenal on Wednesday or Aston Villa the following weekend. We are still looking forward to every game and that is what made the (Fulham) result all the more disappointing - because we feel we have been playing well and getting good results recently." (06/11/06)

Thrilled To Bits

The Everton centre back couldn't single out a man of the match at Arsenal as he thought the whole team were outstanding.

Stubbsy says: "In the dressing room we were thrilled to bits. It is really difficult to single out any person because from where I was looking the team put an incredible shift in to get the result. We feel harshly done by for the goal. We didn't even think it was a foul." (29/10/06)

Freaky Injury

Stubbsy has been out longer than he thought with a foot injury, but hopes to start training early next week.

Stubbsy says: "I am hoping to be training next Monday or Tuesday. It has been a bit longer than we thought it was going to be. At first we thought it was going to be bone bruising, but we have had the scans and it has shown that I have strained my medial ligaments. It is quite an awkward injury. It is one of those where you can't rush it. It is getting better now, though. It was a total freaky injury from an innocuous challenge with Mikel and it went from there." (04/10/06)

European Aim

Dare I call him an Everton veteran, but Alan Stubbs is relishing the season ahead, and believes Everton with the new members added to the squad will have on eye on European Qualification at the end of it. Stubbsy who will be in a four way battle with Davey, Joey, and Roger for the two centre half positions is sure that the added competition for places is only good for the club. Lets hope so Alan.

Stubbsy says: "I am really looking forward to the season because there is a great squad here now. There is more competition for places which is important whereas in the past players have stayed in the team even if they are not performing well. Now we have some serious competition for places and it keeps everyone on their toes.

As a manager that is what you want and you need to know that you have players ready to grab their chance. That is good for Everton. We are approaching the season full of optimism despite last season's finishing position. We will be looking for a European place and I am sure the fans will be looking for us to be there or thereabouts. For a club of this size I think it is the only ambition. We have tasted bits of it in the past and maybe last year we were thrown in the deep end in the Champions league. But a club like Everton should be there and as long as we move in the right direction we will be happy. The fans don't want to see us up and down, they want stability and if we can do that we will be happy with that." (28/07/06)

Eye Eye

Stubbsy has celebrated signing his new contract by getting rid of his old contact lenses and getting laser treatment on his eyes. He had it last Monday and only missed a few days training. Rumour has it he'll now be able to pass the ball to his team mates. Now he can see them. (12/07/06)

Stubbsy Signs

Happy with Alan signing his 1 year contract, but Moyesy has warned him that there will be more competition for his place.

Moyesy says: "There will be competition next season and he knows that. But we did not want to let him go. We did not want him to go last season either but that is all water under the bridge now and we can look to the future. Stubbsy came back here after Christmas and he really helped steady the ship. In a way, he proved himself to be indispensable. I felt he made a significant contribution to helping us up the table.

He was always fit and available, he was always around for the games we played. He kept himself very fit and always did his best. He is an Evertonian and embodies the spirit of supporters on the pitch. I’m sure that he is someone who will have an influence next season. He wanted to stay and play apart and we wanted him to stay, too. We always hoped he would because he is an experienced player. We are pleased that he has signed and maybe he can stay around in the future. That is something that we can think about. But, nevertheless, we are still looking to bring someone else in." (25/05/06)

Alan Stubbs 2005/2006     Everton 1st Team Squad 2006/07