EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED WITH NAISMITH, STOKES AND CUMMINGS
If the game thrives on characters, it’s in safe hands with this trio SAYS ALAN STUBBS
IT is not exactly the kind of situation they prepare aspiring bosses for on the scottish FA courses down at Largs. in a Hampden semi-final in 2016, Alan stubbs and his Hibs team were locked in a quest for the Holy Grail, trying to win the old trophy for the first time since 1902.
Awarded a first-half penalty, the Easter Road boss watched in horror as his star striker Jason Cummings dinked a pathetic ‘Panenka’ effort harmlessly over the bar.
The explanation from Cummings was that his ‘new barnet’ had reminded him of Andrea Pirlo and he just had to try to emulate the italian great’s famous penalty against England at Euro 2012.
For stubbs, whose side went on to end the 114-year curse by winning the cup that season, that was just life working with the enigmatic Cummings.
The former Hibs boss does insist the 22-year-old is not always quite as zany as he makes out. But after Cummings was unveiled this week as a loan Ranger, he wouldn’t rule out a similar penalty scenario occurring should he get the chance in an Old Firm clash.
‘Can i imagine Jason Cummings dinking a penalty kick in an Old Firm derby? it wouldn’t surprise me — but i hope he doesn’t,’ said a smiling stubbs.
‘You can’t change a player. You can work with him, but that kind of thing is just in Jason’s make-up.
‘All i said to him back then was there is a time and a place for everything — and that was not the time or the place. But it wouldn’t surprise me if he did it again!
‘He did score the winning penalty in the shootout against Dundee United that day and that tells you a lot about Jason’s character.
‘He’s definitely a colourful personality and he needed managing, but not as badly as people make out.
‘He was a really good personality in the dressing room and the players loved him. He can be daft on occasion, but, in the two years i was at Hibs, i saw him maturing.
‘it can’t always be a laugh and, sometimes, i think that stuff was a front. When you get deep down with Jason, he’s probably not as exuberant as he portrays.
‘But Rangers is a fantastic move for him. Playing in front of 50,000 at ibrox is not going to faze him.
‘it’s whether he can produce his form and goalscoring attributes at that level the way he did at Hibs.’
Cummings moved to Nottingham Forest for £1million last summer, but wasted little time in leaving the City Ground after the sacking of Mark Warburton and the arrival of Aitor Karanka.
‘i’m surprised he’s not stuck it out more down in England because going down there seemed to be a big motivation for him,’ continued stubbs.
‘i know he needs to play games, but i’m surprised he’s not staying around to impress the new manager. Ask any player, if they are doing well, they want to be down in England playing for one of the big teams.
‘Jason’s been there six months and he’s scored four in 16 games, so i’m surprised he’s leaving.
‘But i don’t know about any lack of ambition. Jason is an ambitious guy and you have to admit that Rangers are a huge club.
‘i have actually been quite impressed with the signings Rangers have been making recently. They’ve been very good. i just hope Jason does well.’ if managing Cummings at Easter Road was tricky, handling his strike partner Anthony stokes was no easier.
Reports that the 29-yearold had been disciplined by Neil Lennon — along with Danny swanson and Martin Boyle — for breaking a curfew during a training camp in the Algarve last week brought a sense of deja vu for stubbs. ‘i had something similar (with stokes) when we were away at one point,’ he revealed.
‘it was virtually me going into the place and dragging him out. i dragged him out and i went in instead. i kept that quiet at the time, didn’t i? But we’ve all been there.
‘it’s stokesy. it’s unfortunate. i’m sure Lenny won’t be happy with it, but, as far as i am aware, it’s been dealt with and we move on.
‘But it comes with part of the package. i knew what i was getting with stokes. Lenny knew what he was getting because he’d managed him before at Celtic. As managers, we hope that we can change people.
‘We may smooth a few rough edges off, but, in terms of turning them into a diamond, that’s very rarely going to happen.
‘stokesy keeps producing on the park because he’s got that much ability and quality.
‘He can put differences and issues in his private life behind him and move on. it takes a strong character to do that. Match day seemed to be his release.’
in that cup-winning season under stubbs, Hibs came back from 2-0 down at Tynecastle to draw 2-2 and have now not lost in nine derbies.
Drawn in the cup for the third consecutive January, stubbs believes that his old Everton colleague steven Naismith will give Hearts a huge shot in the arm if his signing gets over the line.
‘steven could be very good for them,’ he said. ‘i’m a bit surprised. Not because it’s Hearts, but i thought there would be clubs in the English Championship after him, although maybe steven wants to get back to scotland.
‘i worked with him at Everton and he’s got great attributes. He’s a great lad, very down to earth and humble, and his work-rate for the team is very, very good.
‘He knows where the goal is and he doesn’t pick up a lot of injuries. He’s also great in the air and a pest to play against. He will rattle you, rile you, get on your nerves.
‘Wherever he goes, he will take to it no bother at all. They will have got themselves a very good player if that goes through.’
Alan Stubbs was speaking at a William Hill media event. William Hill is the proud sponsor of the Scottish Cup.
Jason dinking a penalty in an Old Firm game? It would not surprise me