Alan Stubbs sides with Ronald Koeman over Everton failings

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Everton have won just one of their last 11 matches.

Former Everton defender Alan Stubbs is siding with Ronald Koeman over his old club’s failings this season.

The Toffees began brightly under new boss Koeman, but have won just one of their last 10 Premier League fixtures, dropping from second position to ninth.

And it looks like things may get worse for Everton before they get better, with back-to-back games against top three sides Arsenal and Liverpool this week and a trip to reigning champions Leicester City to follow on Boxing Day.

Some sections of the Toffees’ fan base are already calling for the Dutchman’s head, with recent comments about a lack of physicality in his side bringing fresh criticism from frustrated Blues.

Stubbs, however, has told Talksport that it’s the players – not Koeman – who need to start taking responsibility.

“It looks like he knows some of the players are not good enough, it doesn’t look like there’s a connection there,” the 45-year-old told Tuesday’s Jim White Show. “I don’t think January can come quick enough for him and I think that may be transferring to some of the players and it is a worry as an Everton fan.

“He’s saying there’s no point looking to January were talking about now and he’s right. The players have to look at themselves.

“Some of his comments were very good. You can have as many meetings as you want but at the end of the day it’s down to the 11 or 16 (18) players that are in that squad on a matchday. Once they cross white line they have to remember who they’re playing for and what it means to play for that jersey.”

The former Hibernian and Rotherham United boss added: “As a manager, it is a lonely place. When players are making individual mistakes, that’s not the manager’s fault, that’s down to the players to take responsibility and I think that’s what he’s talking about.

“Responsibility, concentration, raising their levels of performance on a matchday. He’s looking for a response and at unfortunately right now he doesn’t seem to be getting it.”

Stubbs, who was born and raised in Kirkby, enjoyed two playing spells with his boyhood club and was part of the last Everton side to finish in the Premier League’s top four.

The former centre-back returned to Goodison Park as a coach and was interviewed for the manager’s job before the appointment of Koeman’s predecessor, Roberto Martinez.