Alan Stubbs tells it like it is

[mooks]

'Title not going to Anfield' - Alan Stubbs

 

Oct 15 2007

 

by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo

 

 

ALAN STUBBS claims Rafa Benitez is still no closer to ending Liverpool’s 17-year title famine.

 

Stubbs l is counting down the days until the derby at Goodison Park on Saturday and given Everton could draw level on points with their neighbours this weekend, Stubbs is suitably motivated and would love nothing than to help get the three points.

 

Still bristling from Benitez’s comments after February’s meeting at Anfield when he referred to Everton as being a “small club”, Stubbs hopes those words come back to haunt Liverpool’s manager, who he feels will miss out on the Premier League title once again.

 

“Of course the derby means as much to Liverpool as it does to Everton,” said Stubbs. “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, £40-50m, you would expect to be closer than they have been.

 

 

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“That’s what Liverpool fans would say if you asked them. We beat them 3-0 – and you don’t get a result like that by luck.”

 

Stubbs, Everton’s man-of-the-match in February’s Derby, is quick to point out that he respects the job Benitez has done since he took over from Gerard Houllier in 2004 but still does not think Liverpool have enough ammunition to be crowned champions.

 

“I do think Manchester United will win it and Arsenal will be the serious challengers this year,” he said. “United are already right up there without having hit top form yet. Arsenal used to rely on Thierry Henry too much.

 

“Without him the onus is on the young players and they have been inspired by that. The thing about Liverpool 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.

 

“He keeps saying he will pick players who are looking good in training. I think sometimes you get training-ground players who don't do it in a game. And sometimes you get players who aren't good in training but are much better in a match situation.

 

“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.

 

“I hope he picks the wrong team against us although for me, in Steven Gerrard they have the best midfielder in the world.”

 

Link

 

So now we know Knox Harrington's true identity ...

[johngibo YPC]

its none of his business who is going to win the league

one b******ed t***

[Hightown Phil]

So, Stubbsy, did you enjoy your time at Sunderland, when you couldn't hold down a place in the worst Premier League team ever?

[Eiler99]

He obviously lurks on here a lot.

[McBain]

Agree with some of what he says. Not the bit about Gerrard though

[Sion]

The d****ead has opened a bar in Birkdale, drove past it the other day, full of w***ers.

 

What's funny about him, is that he thinks people care about what he has to say and nobody gives a flying f*** (bar the blueschite fans obviously, it's like he's catering to their needs with that s***e)

[G Richards]

The small club thing was fair comment for two reasons:

 

1. If you defend at all costs you are showing yourself to be a small club with modest ambitions

2. It was a decent retort for all this 'people's club' nonsense

[Guest efcrmagic]

He's right though, every year Liverpool do it, build themselves up, well the fans "this year, it's our year, we've bought so and so and him and this" and you never do, "We'll push them all the way this year", 6 points off already.

 

You'll finish higher than us but every single year it's the same old, you won't win it any time soon, fact.

[CarraLegend]

  efcrmagic said:

He's right though, every year Liverpool do it, build themselves up, well the fans "this year, it's our year, we've bought so and so and him and this" and you never do, "We'll push them all the way this year", 6 points off already.

 

You'll finish higher than us but every single year it's the same old, you won't win it any time soon, fact.

 

And yet we're still the most successful club in this Country, domestically or in Europe, not bad eh?

 

Meanwhile you can't even fill your own ground.

[Sion]

  efcrmagic said:

He's right though, every year Liverpool do it, build themselves up, well the fans "this year, it's our year, we've bought so and so and him and this" and you never do, "We'll push them all the way this year", 6 points off already.

 

You'll finish higher than us but every single year it's the same old, you won't win it any time soon, fact.

 

Big clubs build themselves up though, that's what they do - because they expect to win things. Whereas the greatest thing the smaller club could hope for is finishing above their neighbours.

[johngibo YPC]

  efcrmagic said:

He's right though, every year Liverpool do it, build themselves up, well the fans "this year, it's our year, we've bought so and so and him and this" and you never do, "We'll push them all the way this year", 6 points off already.

 

You'll finish higher than us but every single year it's the same old, you won't win it any time soon, fact.

 

whats wrong with a bit of pre season optimism??

Every set of fans are the same, and if your not then your missing out on alot of what football is about. There's always next year.

 

Do you expect Carragher to come out and say where he thinks Everton will finish? Or what clubs he expects to finish above them in the UEFA places? No, cos when you are at a big club you have more important things to think about than were your neighbours will finish.

So f*** off Stubbs you no mark never won nothing c***

[floyd]

  efcrmagic said:

You'll finish higher than us but every single year it's the same old, you won't win it any time soon, fact.

Is that a fact, or an opinion?

[Guest efcrmagic]

I love the way "carralegend" bites at my every remark.

 

It's both, I can't see you winning it within the next 5 years.

 

As for Stubbs, he can say what he wants, free world, I notice how you all got on the defensive, bit like your team......hahahahahahahahaha.

 

Anyway, up the blues!!

 

BITE!!!

[Rimbeux]

  johngibo YPC said:

whats wrong with a bit of pre season optimism??

Every set of fans are the same, and if your not then your missing out on alot of what football is about. There's always next year.

 

Do you expect Carragher to come out and say where he thinks Everton will finish? Or what clubs he expects to finish above them in the UEFA places? No, cos when you are at a big club you have more important things to think about than were your neighbours will finish.

So f*** off Stubbs you no mark never won nothing c***

 

 

That's the crux really, imagine the calls of disrespect from the blues if Carra came out with the equivilent shout

[CarraLegend]

  efcrmagic said:

I love the way "carralegend" bites at my every remark.

 

It's both, I can't see you winning it within the next 5 years.

 

As for Stubbs, he can say what he wants, free world, I notice how you all got on the defensive, bit like your team......hahahahahahahahaha.

 

Anyway, up the blues!!

 

BITE!!!

 

You're a bit of a t*** aren't you?

 

And yes you can class it as a bite.

[johngibo YPC]

  efcrmagic said:

As for Stubbs, he can say what he wants, free world,

 

he can say what he wants but it shows

- that you are a small club

- that he is unaware that its best not to rile a team just before you play them

[Guest efcrmagic]

If he gets asked, in derby week, what he thinks Liverpool chances are of winning the league what do you expect him to say?

 

"Yeah, they'll piss it", he's being honest and infact, the first part of the article in reference to "not being bothered about beating your local rivals" was in reference to something in Peter Crouchs book about "them being more bothered", he gets asked a question, he answers it, simple as.

[meepins]

  efcrmagic said:

You'll finish higher than us but every single year it's the same old, you won't win it any time soon, fact.

* Good excuse to use this, always gives me a chuckle

 

Edited October 15, 2007 by lfc-dub

[hideNseek]

Stubbs is right though, I mean when did we last win anything big like the European cup? as for support, well lets be honest we've only get anywhere near 10 mill supporters or more, that's hardly big if you compare it to the people's club.

[Joxer]

Pin it to the dressingroom wall time

[John am Rhein]

  efcrmagic said:

He's right though, every year Liverpool do it, build themselves up, well the fans "this year, it's our year, we've bought so and so and him and this" and you never do, "We'll push them all the way this year", 6 points off already.

 

You'll finish higher than us but every single year it's the same old, you won't win it any time soon, fact.

 

Some truth in what you're saying actually. All too often fans seem to overlook the fact that no matter what Liverpool do or how much we spend, our chances of winning the title are always going to be to some extent dependent on what rival clubs do.

[McBain]

  lfc-dub said:

* Good excuse to use this, always gives me a chuckle

 

 

Haha!!

[Guest Linton]

  CarraLegend said:

And yet we're still the most successful club in this Country, domestically or in Europe, not bad eh?

 

Meanwhile you can't even fill your own ground.

 

 

Is right. But but he still got a point. We can win it this year but I very much doubt it.

[Knoxy]

Who cares what players from small clubs think?

[mooks]

  Linton said:

Is right. But but he still got a point. We can win it this year but I very much doubt it.

Maybe the point is lost on me but if all he had said is that he doesn't think we're going to win the league this year I wouldn't have bothered posting it.

 

It's everything else he said I considered offensive. Especially the one about Gerrard being our best midfielder