15. Alan Ross Farley Stubbs - 07/08

It Was an Honour

In his two spells at Goodison Stubbsey played 193 appearances, but the nature of the man made him move on to relegation fodder Derby County just so he could carry on playing. Stubbsey though will not be playing on Sunday against his beloved Blues due to a calf injury, but he still believes while it is mathematically possible the players will not give up the fight for fourth place.

He goes onto say what an honour and a privilege is was to play and Captain his beloved Blues in his two spells at Goodison.

Stubbsey says: "It’s a big game on Sunday, particularly after the disappointment of losing at Anfield last week. Everyone will be looking for them to get back on track right away. There is no doubt there has been a bit of a blip and injuries have played a part but I know there is no way the lads in that dressing room, or the manager, will let the season fizzle out or down tools. It just won’t happen.

It was a big ask for Everton to finish fourth this season but, until it is a mathematical impossibility, the players will keep going, I’m sure of that.They have come too far this season to throw it away. They have made huge strides.

There are far more important things to worry about than me going out to wave to the crowd. I was given a fantastic welcome every time I pulled on a Blue shirt and that’s all that matters. I grew up dreaming as a boy what it would be like to play for Everton and I was fortunate enough to realise that as a man. I had an unbelievable time playing for Everton, seven absolutely fabulous years but the time came to move on. I did not want to be there just for the sake of it, picking up my money. Other players might do that but I’m not one of them. But it was great to see Joe, Joleon and Jags develop. Their form meant it was going to be difficult for me to get back in the team and all credit to them. Maybe me being in the background helped in some way." (04/04/08)

We'll Raise Our Game For Chelsea

Skipper for the day in the FA Cup defeat against Oldham, Stubbsy will ralley the players for the Carling Cup Semi Final this week.

Stubbsy says: “We won’t have a problem raising ourselves. If we do, then we really have problems. It’s a great game for us to go in and it speaks for itself. It was a major disappointment for the club, for us as players and it’s difficult to take any positives from it. There are no excuses. I’m not going to stand here and make them because there aren’t any to make. We had the majority of the play but never created real clear chances. We have let in a really disappointing goal but to be fair, you have got to give Oldham a lot of credit, they have hung on.

But the team that we had out on that pitch should – and no disrespect is meant – have comfortably beaten Oldham. There were five or six changes but those lads who have come in want to be playing regularly in the team. You come in to do the job that the manager expects you to do and if you don’t, there can’t be any complaints. We let them drag us into a cup tie. We didn’t put our foot on the ball and we didn’t show the class we should have done. When you don’t do that and you let teams hurry you into making bad passes and poor decisions, then you are going to have problems. But I’m not going to say we are out just because of what we never did. They forced us into making those decisions and all credit to them.

We have got to get our act together for Chelsea now. I felt like I came through the game okay and I am looking forward to the next one. I’m hoping that Tuesday can lift my spirits and lift the club up.” (07/01/08)

Move On

Stubbsey believes that if the Blues can take their performance from Saturday's Derby defeat into Thursday's UEFA Cup tie against Larissa, we won't go far wrong. Forget and Saturday and move on is Stubbsey's cry, I second the motion.

Stubbsey says: "We won't go far wrong if we play like that on Thursday. That is what we have got to look towards now. It's a big game and it's what we all worked hard for last season - we go again, it's as simple as that." (23/10/07)

Poor Excuse For a Ref

Two sending's off, two penalties against, two nailed on penalty claims dismissed, and an assault by troma boy that gets a yellow instead of a red, that's right it just another Merseyside Derby where Everton get every major decision and the shite get nothing. Stubbsey is asking the question that the players have to explain themselves when they play awful, so why not the refs who get paid handsomely for their ninety minutes a week.

Stubbsey says: "That was a two-footed lunge. If a player leaves the ground with both feet, that's a red card, and he gets a yellow. In the laws of the game if a player goes in with two feet and makes a lunge, and that is what it was, it's a red. If Phil (Neville) hadn't been so honest he could have been rolling around and trying to get him sent off. It's a two-footed tackle and that's a red card offence.

We saw the replays. That's disappointing. We were 1-0 at half-time and on top, we had control of the game. The penalty changed everything, it gave them impetus and we were a man down. It was always going to be difficult after that with them having more of the ball and pressure. But Tim (Howard) didn't have any saves to make. We were under the cosh and wanted to see it out for a draw, I am as disappointed as I have been all season.

I suppose I sensed a red card. But the replays show he had the yellow and put it back in his pocket. It was a big call. If the referee looks at the decision again he will see the penalty appeal was right. Their lad had his arms all around Joleon, what was he supposed to do?

Benitez (Fat Spanish Waiter) has gone on TV saying he was diving, but just look at it, that's a stone-wall penalty.The referee was close, but that means nothing. He was close to a lot of things and didn't give them. We are disappointed because we have lost. But there was zero feedback from the referee, I think they should have to come out after a game and explain themselves. We have to explain ourselves if we make bad decisions or mistakes, why not referees?" (21/10/07)

Small Club My Arse

Veteran defender Alan Stubbs has opened the war of words as Derby Week is now upon us. Centre half Stubbsey has a pop at Benitez after his small clubs comments of last season, reminding him of our 3-0 win at Goodison. Kirkby born Alan also reminds the goatee bearded one, that after spending £50m big ones, they should be a lot nearer to winning the title than they currently are. Stubbsey, I could not have put it better myself, well played son.

Stubbsey says: "Of course the derby means as much to Liverpool as it does to Everton. If it doesn't, they have a big old problem. If you're not really that bothered about winning against your local rivals, maybe you should be looking at yourself. We don't see ourselves as a small club, not at all. If they feel they are that much bigger than us, they should have been getting better results. Like winning the league.

When you spend that much money, £40-50 million, you would expect to be closer than they have been. That's what Liverpool (the shite) fans would say if you asked them. We beat them 3-0 - and you don't get a result like that by luck. The thing about Liverpool (the shite) is that I don't know if he (Benitez) has found his best team. I don't know if he has found the balance he's looking for. Benitez has done a good job since he arrived but a lot of Liverpool fans are getting disgruntled. They want to be challenging but have seen them getting draws at home to teams they think they should be beating because he has been resting players." (14/10/07)

Sterling Stuff

Stubbsy put in a sterling performance against Boro to help give Everton another clean sheet. He knew we needed a boost leading into the UEFA tie later this week.

Stubbsy says: We knew it was the start of a big week today. There's been a bit of a lull lately, our performances have not been to the standard we wanted and we've not been picking enough points up. But we dug in today and fully deserved the three points." (01/10/07)

Raising The Bar

Alan Stubbs believes it is a sign of Everton's continuing improvement when the players are disappointed after not achieving maximum points from their first three matches. After back to back victories against Wigan and Spurs, Stubbsey and the lads are looking on Saturdays defeat to Reading as a blip, and one which they hope to put right against Blackburn on Saturday.

Stubbsey says: "It’s still a decent start to the season and it shows how for we have come that we were looking for nine points from out first three games against Wigan, Spurs and Reading. We have raised the bar on our own standards. We have added a few new players which helps the strength of the squad and we can take it from there.

We have got six points out of nine, and if you had offered us that an hour before the start of the season, we would have snatched your hand off. This result is a blip but we are playing well enough to go into our next game and be confident of getting another result.

We will look at Saturday’s game, and whatever we did wrong we will look to put right. It is disappointing that we have not kept a clean sheet so far this season. We could have kept out one or two of the goals that we have conceded, whether it’s early-season sloppiness or simply us not concentrating, I don’t know. We attack as a team and defend as a team, so we have to look at the goals we have conceded and put them right. But I don’t think it’s a problem." (20/08/07)

Those Were The Days

Alan Stubbs like all Evertonians enjoyed the success of the mid 1980's, and he is hoping that the current squad can emulate the boys of twenty odd years ago, especially on the European front. Stubbsey believes the clubs profile will raise as a result of a good European run, and he for one is up for the challenge.

Stubbsey says: "We need to go as far as we can in Europe because it's going to be good for the club more than anything. It really boosts the profile being in Europe and shows everyone Everton are at the stage where we are competing with the big boys again. We did it in the 1980s and it's time to rekindle that.

The thing about Europe is it's a different challenge for us. You're testing yourself against clubs that, after the Champions League, are the next best in Europe. So there are going to be some really, really good teams in it and it's going to be difficult just to get to the knock-out stages." (09/07/07)

Lets Win A Trophy

Stubbsey is hopeful that after securing a European place for the second season in three attempts, Everton can move forward and with a little luck win a trophy.

Alan says: "If we were to do that with the squad we have got, it would be a fantastic achievement and one that would be fully deserved because of how good a bunch of lads we have got here. Whether we can do that is another thing. You need a bit of luck, you need a good squad, you need quality and I feel as if we have got that. The luck we can't do anything about. They do say you make your own luck and if that's the case then I don't see a reason why we can't win some silverware."

Alan Stubbs Last Season              Everton Squad 2007/2008