When you're told you're going to miss out, initially, that first hour after the manager's named the team, you're really disappointed. You can't imagine anything worse. But you can't show that. You've got to go out there and support the lads.
You do hear a lot about 'player power,' but I'm one of those who believes the manager is there to take control, to be in charge.
At school, I was always a central midfielder from a young age. Then, when I joined Villa at 16, the pre-season didn't go too well, so they looked at me as a centre-half.
Steven Gerrard - at his peak, he was outstanding both attacking and defensively.
I've been in the Premier League for 10 years, more, and the money I've been paid is phenomenal compared to your average, everyday working man.
I had my time in the England shirt and won a lot of caps.
In 2012, we had just won the league with City, and I was really high on confidence going into the Euros when I picked up an injury, which meant I couldn't go.
As a younger player, I never really thought about where I should be on the field. It was just about doing a job.
I have played a lot of games, had a good international career, and picked up a lot of caps, but it is not going to be complete without winning trophies, so that is my main goal.
I feel very lucky that I'm left-footed because the number of us around is very small.
I played a lot of games for Villa, and one of my regrets is not winning a trophy there - that still hurts, and that's why the big games are important.
The easy part, for me, is always playing my football.
When I started my career, we were running around water parks and ridiculous things like that. You used to drive in dreading pre-season back then, but now you know it's going to be pretty tough, but it's going to be probably what you need. It's going to be good for you instead of just slogging away.
Everton fans don't just come to watch the football. They are there for Everton, the club. They really believe in the history of the club.
Most people would snap your arm off to do what I've done, but for me to be able to say my career was successful, I need to have some trophies and some medals in my cabinet when I finish.
The way you adapt and play against different teams and different styles is going to be important.
Everton Football Club is more important than the individual.
It was Martin O'Neill who said, 'You're a central midfielder.' He put faith into players. He was very clever at getting into players' heads, leaving little remarks to make me believe more. The players at Villa all moved up another level under him.
Sometimes you're just not in the manager's thoughts.
I have always said that management is not something I fancied, but it's suddenly, naturally started to enter my head.
