Anthony Stokes (F free agent b.1988)

[liamoo11]

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22220470 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22220470)

Celtic are to offer Anthony Stokes a new contract, with the Irish striker nearing the end of his current terms.
Manager Neil Lennon revealed the news but did not go into any details on the length of the proposed deal.
Stokes, who joined the club from Scottish Premier League rivals Hibernian in August 2010, missed five months of the season through injury.
The 24-year-old headed in the winning goal in Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final against Dundee United.
He came off the bench at Hampden to settle a 4-3 thriller in extra time.
It was a fifth goal of the season for the Republic of Ireland international, who found the net on 40 occasions during the previous two campaigns with Celtic.
Capped four times, Stokes has not been selected for his country since he withdrew from the 2011 Nations Cup, citing tiredness.

might be better for him to move on a free if the chance came to the likes of hull or forest when they get promoted in this years playoffs

[Crosby87]

He was only capped 4 times? Gosh it seems like it was more. I mean think about it 91 pages for a guy capped 4 more times than Dr. Peepee.

[Stuttgart88]

I think he should stay put. He needs stability rather than another false start and I expect Hooper will be sold which'll give him more time.

[Olé Olé]

I think he should stay put. He needs stability rather than another false start and I expect Hooper will be sold which'll give him more time.

The possibility of a link-up with Kevin Doyle at Celtic too. If only their talents could be combined into one player.

[nigel-harps1954]

He'd be better off moving to England if he harbours serious hopes of getting back into the Ireland team. Playing in the SPL will do him no favours.

[tricky_colour]

He'd be better off moving to England if he harbours serious hopes of getting back into the Ireland team. Playing in the SPL will do him no favours.


If Stoke don't sign Stokes they deserve to be relegated.

[peadar1987]

If Stoke don't sign Stokes they deserve to be relegated.

Stoke saw how Steven Ireland's Ireland career worked out!

[tricky_colour]

Yes but he wasn't called Steven Stoke!

[Crosby87]

This is going to give him a stroke.

[OwlsFan]

He was only capped 4 times?

He got that many!

[Fixer82]

Awarded Man of the Match in Scottish Cup Final by the Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/may/26/hibernian-celtic-scottish-cup-final

[ArdeeBhoy]

Played well yesterday, surprisingly enough.

[CraftyToePoke]

Rejected Celtics extension offer

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22774959

[gastric]

Rejected Celtics extension offer

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22774959

Will be interesting to see what happens, I think he will stay at Celtic. Couldn't believe it when I read that he is only 24. it seems an age since he was at Sunderland!

[gastric]

Mentioned this in 'Irish Abroad', now confirmed as Stokes. Not good if true.


http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/news/4962406/Stokes-in-nightclub-brawl-with-Elvis-Gardai-investigate-fight-over-spilt-drink.html

[ArdeeBhoy]

The fact it's in that rag almost makes you feel sorry for Stokes.

[DeLorean]

Great start to the season for Stokes. Suppose he must be a guaranteed starter after Hooper's exit. His pass here just after the seven minute mark is top class, reminded me a bit of Gilardino's pass for Del Piero in the 2006 WC semi final.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZvcUTpUq_U

[Fixer82]

Man that opening goal is a cracker

[Crosby87]

Call him up Trap!

[Charlie Darwin]

I guess this is what was being Decided in Dublin this weekend: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/12/anthony-stokes-arrested-celtic-ireland?CMP=twt_gu

[IsMiseSean]

The article gives the impression he was part of the squad for the Faroes game

[Sullivinho]

Called up by Trap
But he walked out
Because he was too fatigued, baby.

[tetsujin1979]

got the assist on the winner tonight for Celtic, after missing a sitter earlier
only Irish player in the Champions League this season, unless Paul George gets promoted to the first team

[DannyInvincible]

got the assist on the winner tonight for Celtic, after missing a sitter earlier
only Irish player in the Champions League this season, unless Paul George gets promoted to the first team

Don't forget Thomas Delaney (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Delaney)! :p

[Charlie Darwin]

Call him up Trap!

[geysir]

Deffo!
That was more than an assist for the tie breaker goal tonight.

[mark12345]

Deffo!
That was more than an assist for the tie breaker goal tonight.

He should be in the squad for Sweden / Austria. Ok he screwed up two summers ago, but if Trap is going cap in hand to Gibson then why not Stokes? He would be an asset to the squad and no matter what way you look at it, he waltzed past three Russians tonight to provide the winner on a plate for Celtic.

[Charlie Darwin]

He should be in the squad for Sweden / Austria. Ok he screwed up two summers ago, but if Trap is going cap in hand to Gibson then why not Stokes? He would be an asset to the squad and no matter what way you look at it, he waltzed past three Russians tonight to provide the winner on a plate for Celtic.
Why should he be in the squad? He has been injured for the past few weeks, and most of the past year. He waltzed past three Kazakhs, not Russians. And he did it a week after the squad was announced. Trap isn't psychic - he doesn't know an injured player is going to do something brilliant in a week's time.

[Stuttgart88]

Trap is going cap in hand to Gibson Is he? Have I missed something?

On merit Stokes is certainly close to the squad as he's as good a player as Sammon, Madden or Keogh. But he has dirtied his bib with Trap and maybe Trap's judgment is to be respected in this regard. He doesn't strike me as the type of bloke who'd bring a good vibe to the squad. Too much of a Me Fein-er (unlike his dad...).

(I haven't seen much of Madden so that bit was a bit of a guess).

[bennocelt]

Call him up Trap!


Do you think he even bothered to watch the game on the tele?:)

[paul_oshea]

Is he? Have I missed something?



We landed on the moon.

[Stuttgart88]

Thanks for that. It was a serious question though. Has Trap contacted Gibson? I wasn't aware, but I've been away.

[DannyInvincible]

Gibson has been ignoring Trap's texts for the past year, although Trap has made it clear that the door is still open for him if he wishes to return to the fold: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/333219/Darron-Gibson-ignores-Ireland-manager-Giovanni-Trapattoni-s-texts


Gibson, 25, quit the international scene after the Euros debacle, when Trap left him out for all three of Ireland’s defeats in Poland.

Since then, the Italian has been begging for the Everton star to return – but has now embarrassingly admitted that Gibson has ignored his calls. Trap said: “It is very difficult to know what Darron’s position is when he does not answer our text messages.

“We have also tried to contact him through his club. But look, it is no problem. Other players have come in and we’re doing well with these players. I haven’t given up on him. Still I wait patiently for a player like Darron Gibson. The door is open.”

[geysir]

Trap has said that he contacted Gibson a few times by sms but he didn't receive a reply. Trap is a manager scorned.
Good to see Stokes looking lively,
he would/could be an option on the margins for us, a better footballer than Sammon though.

[nigel-harps1954]

I don't agree that Stokes should be anywhere near an Irish squad. A move to a Championship or lower Premier side is all that'll get him back in the squad.

Champions League football isn't an argument either when he'll only likely get 5 or 6 games all season in it.
He's playing in a one horse league, which outside of Celtic, don't care what anyone says, is not of better quality than League of Ireland.

As CD says above, he waltzed past 3 or 4 Kazakhs. St Pat's did the very same thing only two years ago. It took an 85th minute winner to beat them.

Stokes wasn't good enough to make it in England, he is only in the Celtic team this year by default.

[Yard of Pace]

Stokes' form is absolutely marvelous news. Brady said after the game that he pursued him as a 13-year old, he was the best Irish talent at that age, he lost his way, he didn't look after himself properly but that he saw him for Celtic early this season and said "you're fitter than I've ever seen you, you realize this is your time, you seem to have a renewed focus" - or something along those lines. He spoke with real affection. Stokes has serious class about him. If he keeps up his fitness and focus he will be in every Ireland squad for the next number of years to come, because he's light years ahead of the likes of Sammon and Madden and Keogh in terms of having skill and a footballing brain. He's exactly what Ireland needs when Robbie finally goes, though I'd relish seeing the two of them playing together right now.

[Yard of Pace]

I don't agree that Stokes should be anywhere near an Irish squad. A move to a Championship or lower Premier side is all that'll get him back in the squad.

Champions League football isn't an argument either when he'll only likely get 5 or 6 games all season in it.
He's playing in a one horse league, which outside of Celtic, don't care what anyone says, is not of better quality than League of Ireland.

As CD says above, he waltzed past 3 or 4 Kazakhs. St Pat's did the very same thing only two years ago. It took an 85th minute winner to beat them.

Stokes wasn't good enough to make it in England, he is only in the Celtic team this year by default.

Only 5 of the Karagandy team were around when Pats played them. Also, Ireland's senior team needed a peno and an injury time goal to beat many of the same players less than a year ago.

[nigel-harps1954]

Ireland senior team had a lot to brag about against Kazakhstan that day alright..

[Yard of Pace]

Ireland senior team had a lot to brag about against Kazakhstan that day alright..

No, they didn't. But those Kazahks are no mugs. And Karagandy were aided by having a Colombian and some other nationalities in the team last night. A lot of people don't like Stokes, and I was disgusted with him in the last few years for seeming happy to waste his talent but he's got his head down and if that goal last night had been created by Joe Mason against bleedin Kidderminster or someone, you'd have the majority on here in raptures about it.

[geysir]

Getting by the 4 defenders was half the work, the cut-back to Forrest could not have been more perfect.
He struggled with injuries last season and Hooper took most of the plaudits.
In the season before, he went toe for toe with Hooper for most of the season.
I doubt if a recent history of playing for Celtic will hold back Wanyama or Hooper in the EPL this season.

[geysir]

Stokes' form is absolutely marvelous news. Brady said after the game that he pursued him as a 13-year old, he was the best Irish talent at that age, he lost his way, he didn't look after himself properly but that he saw him for Celtic early this season and said "you're fitter than I've ever seen you, you realize this is your time, you seem to have a renewed focus" - or something along those lines. He spoke with real affection. Stokes has serious class about him. If he keeps up his fitness and focus he will be in every Ireland squad for the next number of years to come, because he's light years ahead of the likes of Sammon and Madden and Keogh in terms of having skill and a footballing brain. He's exactly what Ireland needs when Robbie finally goes, though I'd relish seeing the two of them playing together right now.

I think Brady also said that if you analyse Stokes' play closely, you'd probably say he lacks a yard of pace.

[Yard of Pace]

I think Brady also said that if you analyse Stokes' play closely, you'd probably say he lacks a yard of pace.

Ah, good remembering! He said that he lacks that yard of pace to be a truly top player. His other qualities certainly make up for it at the moment anyway, imo. Not that I think he should be in for Sweden and Austria. He messed up and he needs to make amends more than just having a good start to a season.

[DannyInvincible]

Stokes' form is absolutely marvelous news. Brady said after the game that he pursued him as a 13-year old, he was the best Irish talent at that age, he lost his way, he didn't look after himself properly but that he saw him for Celtic early this season and said "you're fitter than I've ever seen you, you realize this is your time, you seem to have a renewed focus" - or something along those lines. He spoke with real affection. Stokes has serious class about him. If he keeps up his fitness and focus he will be in every Ireland squad for the next number of years to come, because he's light years ahead of the likes of Sammon and Madden and Keogh in terms of having skill and a footballing brain. He's exactly what Ireland needs when Robbie finally goes, though I'd relish seeing the two of them playing together right now.

We had a Glaswegian girl in training us for a week at work last summer and, after she became aware of my Irish origins and interest in football, she revealed to me that she often went out drinking in Glasgow with an Irish international footballer. She alleged that the drinking "abilities" of the player in question were more impressive than his footballing skills. Transpired she was referring to Stokes. For the good of his career and international prospects, you'd like to think he's put the heavy drinking days behind him.

[mark12345]

Is he? Have I missed something?

You don't think so?

Was he not at Everton a few weeks ago and afterwards said something like: "We wait for him" in his broken English. And in the months previous he made comments which indicate he is keeping the door open for Gibson.

[mark12345]

My point is he should have been in the squad before now, like months back - before the present squad was ever picked. And then it would have been just a matter of course (form permitting) that he kept his place. Yes he screwed up by not joining up with the team two years ago and he was correctly dealt with by Trap at the time. But other players have been given a reprieve then why not him? When you think that McShane can find a place in there and never even kicks a ball for us, it's such a waste not to have a potent force like Stokes.

And I know Stokes was playing against a Kazakh team last night, but if you want to labour the point then .................

[DannyInvincible]

My point is he should have been in the squad before now, like months back - before the present squad was ever picked. And then it would have been just a matter of course (form permitting) that he kept his place. Yes he screwed up by not joining up with the team two years ago and he was correctly dealt with by Trap at the time. But other players have been given a reprieve then why not him?

I'm not convinced Trap holds grudges, even against those whose commitment might be in doubt. He's happy to have the door left open for Gibson and Stephen Ireland, for example. Who are you referring to specifically when you say that others have been offered a reprieve? Has he explicitly banished anyone from his selections on the basis of their bahaviour? I know there was talk of an apology being required from someone when there occurred an identity mix-up between Marc Wilson and, I would presume, Andy Reid around the Carling Nations Cup game against Scotland (wasn't it?), but I think Trap primarily ignores players based on their perceived lack of utility or ability to perform a functional role in his system.


When you think that McShane can find a place in there and never even kicks a ball for us, it's such a waste not to have a potent force like Stokes.

Stokes is a forward. McShane is a versatile defender, in Trap's eyes at least. Trap consistently selects a set number of defenders, midfielders and forwards time and time again.

[Stuttgart88]

You don't think so?

Was he not at Everton a few weeks ago and afterwards said something like: "We wait for him" in his broken English. And in the months previous he made comments which indicate he is keeping the door open for Gibson.Paul O'Shea put me right a few posts earlier. As I said, I was away, and oddly enough Trap's vist to Everton wasn't the talk of the town in Ystad :) I don't recall the other comments which is exactly why I asked.

[mark12345]

I'm not convinced Trap holds grudges, even against those whose commitment might be in doubt. He's happy to have the door left open for Gibson and Stephen Ireland, for example. Who are you referring to specifically when you say that others have been offered a reprieve? Has he explicitly banished anyone from his selections on the basis of their bahaviour? I know there was talk of an apology being required from someone when there occurred an identity mix-up between Marc Wilson and, I would presume, Andy Reid around the Carling Nations Cup game against Scotland (wasn't it?), but I think Trap primarily ignores players based on their perceived lack of utility or ability to perform a functional role in his system.



Stokes is a forward. McShane is a versatile defender, in Trap's eyes at least. Trap consistently selects a set number of defenders, midfielders and forwards time and time again.


I don't know if he holds grudges either. I was referring to Wilson and Gibson (and Ireland) as you correctly allude to. But it still doesn't change anything when you think of Stokes (and what he has to offer) not being on the bench while the "versatile defender" you refer to sits there like a wax dummy. Bottom line is if we need to find a goal from somewhere (and God knows they are few and far between these days) Stokes is a far better option than McShane, and quite a few others in the squad.

But Trap obviously doesn't think that way?

[Charlie Darwin]

My point is he should have been in the squad before now, like months back - before the present squad was ever picked. And then it would have been just a matter of course (form permitting) that he kept his place. Yes he screwed up by not joining up with the team two years ago and he was correctly dealt with by Trap at the time. But other players have been given a reprieve then why not him? When you think that McShane can find a place in there and never even kicks a ball for us, it's such a waste not to have a potent force like Stokes.

And I know Stokes was playing against a Kazakh team last night, but if you want to labour the point then .................
He's been injured for almost a year.

[DannyInvincible]

Bottom line is if we need to find a goal from somewhere (and God knows they are few and far between these days) Stokes is a far better option than McShane, and quite a few others in the squad.

That's self-evident. However, as I alluded to, McShane isn't in the squad to help us find a goal from somewhere; he's there to fulfill Trap's defender quota and to provide us with central and right-sided defensive cover. As far as players who'll help Trap find a goal from somewhere are concerned, there are at least six of them (Long, Keane, Walters, Cox, Sammon and Madden) and perhaps more (Doyle and Keogh?) favoured to Stokes by Trap at present. Stokes will have to push his way into Trap's favoured five (or rely on an injury to a Trap favourite) to have a chance of making the final cut. Trap won't be swapping defenders with strikers.