Anthony Stokes (F free agent b.1988) [Archive] - Page 5

FootballsKing

04/11/2006, 3:59 PM

This is pretty amazing stuff, 8 goals in 3 games for a man who plays in an average team at best. Its not as if he's playing for Real Madrid, tapping in Beckhams assists. In my opinion this guy needs to get capped for the national side, because i dont recall ireland having the resources that allow us to ignore the top scorer in the SPL. What harm in throwing him on in the last half hour against San Marino when we are already 3-0 up?

DeNiro

04/11/2006, 4:06 PM

He'll get a B call up I reckon. Brady will not let such an Arsenal prospect be bandied around like a fool. A few months ago it was Dixon and we haven't seen him since. What would he gain against San Marino anyway? 90 minutes at B level would be better!

shakermaker1982

04/11/2006, 4:19 PM

gotta give the lad a chance IMO.

Peadar

04/11/2006, 4:20 PM

Not knowledgable on Scottish football but a quick glance at the league table suggests that Dunfirmline are muck and Falkirk have only half the points of Celtic, after 13 games. I've seen him for Arsenal and he's got ability but he has a lot to learn yet.

Is he on a season long loan? Or is it under review at Christmas?

He's on a 5 month loan deal, which started in September.

geysir

04/11/2006, 5:22 PM

Just shows what confidence can do. His first few games were quiet & no goals scored. Three so far today.

I can't help feeling that both Jack and even Mick were well able to give a young player great confidence when making an early debut for Ireland. Even Kerr to an extent.

Don't believe Staunton can get near to instilling the same level of confidence in a young player.
Based on our 3 games so far I think there is more evidence than not, to suggest that Stan sets up the new caps very nicely.
McShane, Kelly and Douglas looked to me to be very well prepared for the task. Exactly just what the squad needed, the first 11 will have to earn their place.

dr_peepee

04/11/2006, 5:54 PM

Just shows what confidence can do. His first few games were quiet & no goals scored. Three so far today.

I can't help feeling that both Jack and even Mick were well able to give a young player great confidence when making an early debut for Ireland. Even Kerr to an extent.

Don't believe Staunton can get near to instilling the same level of confidence in a young player.

Can't say for sure but I think even though he didn't score in the first couple of games he hit the bar a couple of times and was involved in the goals scored in some way. Says more for the lad that it didn't get him down. Excellent to see. Still think we should leave him in the underage set up for now.

Paddy Garcia

04/11/2006, 6:33 PM

Based on our 3 games so far I think there is more evidence than not, to suggest that Stan sets up the new caps very nicely.
McShane, Kelly and Douglas looked to me to be very well prepared for the task. Exactly just what the squad needed, the first 11 will have to earn their place.

I'm sorry if you think Stan has prepared players well for the task ahead, you have watched recent games which are different to the ones I have seen.

Although I was really talking about blooding very young players, like the Robbie Keane debut when he was about 17 or 18.

Anyway Douglas is about 25, hardly can be considered young, and Kelly is about 23, the same I would suggest. McShane I agree did very well on his debut - I'm not sure how confident Staunton can be about claiming credit as he was forced to field him due to injuries and suspensions. Kelly also had a nightmare against Chile.

Note you omit to mention O'Brien. Also more importantly Stephen Ireland. Two players who meet the criteria!

Not really interested in morale victories any more - had enough of them, Roy Keane would have viewed the Czech result as a huge disappointment, and I would agree with him. Won't be too difficult for any half decent player to earn their place in Stan's team - goalkeeper excepted.

Paddy Garcia

04/11/2006, 6:34 PM

Excellent to see. Still think we should leave him in the underage set up for now.

Agree, though if he continues to score at his rate, and we continue to miss the target we may need to reconsider.

ruben_sosa

04/11/2006, 7:37 PM

play him for Ireland now, we've already ****ed up our chances for Euro 2008, so what's to lose?

eirebhoy

04/11/2006, 8:22 PM

Celtic v Falkirk is on Setanta next Tuesday. It's a CIS cup tie so Celtic will field a weakened team but hopefully Stokes starts. Players would rarely get more than a couple of chances at Celtic Park so it'll be a big test for him.

ifk101

05/11/2006, 9:16 AM

eirebhoy

05/11/2006, 9:59 AM

I don't think Stokes has shown any more potential than what Billy Clarke at Ipswich and Shane Long at Reading have done, both of whom are playing at a higher level than what Stokes is currently playing at.
He's top scorer in the league by 2 goals already... Forget about "showing any more potential". Stokes has been one of the best players in the league this season. Long hasn't, Clarke hasn't.

Stokes didn't join Falkirk until after their first 5 league games of the season. The fact that he is already top scorer is absolutely incredible.

ifk101

05/11/2006, 10:24 AM

He's top scorer in the league by 2 goals already... Forget about "showing any more potential". Stokes has been one of the best players in the league this season. Long hasn't, Clarke hasn't.

Stokes didn't join Falkirk until after their first 5 league games of the season. The fact that he is already top scorer is absolutely incredible.

Scoring two successive hat-tricks is impressive - granted. However they were against the two worst teams in a (very) poor league. He's also playing in a position where we have plenty of options so it better if his focus is on getting a place in the Arsenal team than being confused and mis-managed by the coaching guru that is Stan. His time will come - it's just not now.

wws

05/11/2006, 11:09 AM

just seen the goals
two things struck me

he doesnt look like he'd make it arsenal
the level of defending hes facing is worse than irish first division

very poor

ruben_sosa

05/11/2006, 11:18 AM

Scoring two successive hat-tricks is impressive - granted. However they were against the two worst teams in a (very) poor league. He's also playing in a position where we have plenty of options so it better if his focus is on getting a place in the Arsenal team than being confused and mis-managed by the coaching guru that is Stan. His time will come - it's just not now.

best-league-in-the-world-is-the-premiership legend Robbie Keane couldn't score against one of the worst teams in the world on Oct 7th, he has no goals in the competition so far, and you say we have plenty of options up front :rolleyes: Robbie Keane couldn't score in the SPL the way he's playing at the moment, Anthony Stokes has been banging in the goals for Arsenal reserves too, i'm sure he'd be able to score against world class international teams like San Marino, Cyprus or Wales. When will people drop this cliche that international football is a step up from the quality of club football?

eirebhoy

05/11/2006, 11:28 AM

just seen the goals
two things struck me

he doesnt look like he'd make it arsenal
the level of defending hes facing is worse than irish first division

very poor
haha. :D I'm not laughing at the second point as maybe you're right but how in the name of God could you come up with that first point based on 3 clinical finishes? :D

btw - Celtic v Hearts highlights was on before the Falkirk match. imo Celtic's defence looked worse than Dunfermline's. Did they look worse than an Irish first division defence? Celtic only managed to beat Dunfermline 1-0 at home this season. Fair play to Stokes for grabbing a hattrick.

Peadar

05/11/2006, 11:36 AM

Taking all other factors out of the equation and looking only at his finishing, even I was impressed. Identical for all 3 goals yesterday, one touch with his right to control, one touch with his weaker left to finish. Fastest goal in the league, to date, this season.

I'll make an effort to watch the game on Tuesday.

wws

05/11/2006, 11:44 AM

my point was i cant see him making it at arsenal - he will make it elsewhere but not arsenal - hasnt got killer pace

geysir

05/11/2006, 12:33 PM

I'm sorry if you think Stan has prepared players well for the task ahead, you have watched recent games which are different to the ones I have seen..
Well Paddy, I did say specifically the NEW caps.

Although I was really talking about blooding very young players, like the Robbie Keane debut when he was about 17 or 18.
Anyway Douglas is about 25, hardly can be considered young, and Kelly is about 23, the same I would suggest. McShane I agree did very well on his debut - I'm not sure how confident Staunton can be about claiming credit as he was forced to field him due to injuries and suspensions. Kelly also had a nightmare against Chile.
Note you omit to mention O'Brien. Also more importantly Stephen Ireland. Two players who meet the criteria!
We were also desperate for options up front when Mick played Keane. It could also be said that Duff was more than ready for a starting place for 2 years.
Int. managers are generally conservative, it's the nature of int. team selections with a few games scattered over the year.
McShane credits Stan for his defensive tactics in that game.
It's clear that Stan is willing to draft in new players.

It doesn't look to me that it's a situation whereby Stan is not good for young players, the question is Stan's ability to be decisive that players like O'Brien needs more time.

.

tetsujin1979

05/11/2006, 1:08 PM

Out of curiosity, who was the last player to score successive hat tricks in the SPL? I don't think Larsson ever managed it, but Marco Negri might have done it at Rangers

eirebhoy

05/11/2006, 5:24 PM

Out of curiosity, who was the last player to score successive hat tricks in the SPL? I don't think Larsson ever managed it, but Marco Negri might have done it at Rangers
I don't know but I'd say anyone that has scored 2 consecutive SPL hattricks would be good enough for our squad. :) The fact that Stokes is doing it at 18 shouldn't be overlooked just because of the standard of the league. If Stokes proves himself as a top player in the SPL than he's proven himself to me. Very rarely would a top SPL player fail at international level.

Karlos

05/11/2006, 5:36 PM

Anthony Stokes has been banging in the goals for Arsenal reserves too, i'm sure he'd be able to score against world class international teams like San Marino, Cyprus or Wales.

Just to clarify, he actually wasn't banging in the goals in the reserve league south last year. He infact only got 3 goals in 22 appearances for the reserves although he did play a number of games as a winger in which he performed well on occassion. Despite his recent goal scoring feats I never got the felling of a natural finisher when I saw him play for Arsenal reserves over the last few years. He's more of an all round solid attacking player than an out and out stiker for me.

As far as Arsenal goes he's still a long way to go although I've always maintained that he's a full development year to work with over the other lads at Arsenal due to his early rise through the ranks. When you see the strike rates of Arturo Lupoli (17 goals in 15 reserve games) and Niclas Bendtner (18 goals in 24 games) for the reserves last year and their current good form in the Chmapionship, it's difficult to see where Stokes will get a chance upfront at Arsenal.

Imo, his best option of breaking through at Arsenal was to develop further as a winger. I imagine it's likely he'll have to move on should he decide he wants to play as a striker only. Saying all that, I'm delighted to see the lad doing well and hope the good form continues for him. There's nothing I'd love to see more than him making a name for himself at the Arsenal. :)

eirebhoy

05/11/2006, 7:14 PM

Just to clarify, he actually wasn't banging in the goals in the reserve league south last year. He infact only got 3 goals in 22 appearances for the reserves although he did play a number of games as a winger in which he performed well on occassion. Despite his recent goal scoring feats I never got the felling of a natural finisher when I saw him play for Arsenal reserves over the last few years. He's more of an all round solid attacking player than an out and out stiker for me.
I think it's more to do with the positions he was playing at Arsenal. The year before last he was prolific from what I can remember. Bendtner wasn't even around then was he? At Falkirk he's basically playing as a centre forward with other players supporting.

colster

05/11/2006, 7:44 PM

I saw his goals on Setanta today and they were pretty clinical. For all 3 he controlled it instantly with the right foot and lashed them in with the left. Apparently he is right footed. He made them look easy but they only looked that way due to his first touch.
He also had a couple of other chances. He takes up some great positions and the ball seems to be drawn to him. He looks a stong lad as well.

Karlos

05/11/2006, 9:28 PM

I think it's more to do with the positions he was playing at Arsenal. The year before last he was prolific from what I can remember. Bendtner wasn't even around then was he? At Falkirk he's basically playing as a centre forward with other players supporting.

The year previous he was 8 goals from 20 appearances, mostly playing as Striker from what I recall. Not bad but again far off his striking rivals. Lupoli got 19 goals in 22 appearances that year and for me remains the only real out and out striker/finisher I've seen at Arsenal in recent years. Bendtner arrived towards the end of this season I believe and got 4 goals from 10 games (only 4 starts). In the same year Jeremie Aliadieere managed 8 in 5 games with the reserves.

I think labelling Stokes strike rate as prolific at Arsenal is slightly overstating it and I'd be a tad worried about us over hyping the kid too soon as we have a habit of in this country. For me I think it's still far too early to be talking about international squad call ups let alone displacing our other experienced strikers. 9 goals in 4 games is a great start to his loan spell (and perhaps finally a step to earning the title 'prolific') but I believe carrying this form into U21 level should be the next step for Anthony. If his performance levels continue then it would certainly be something to look at in a new year friendly imo.

Fergie's Son

05/11/2006, 11:40 PM

Excellent post Karlos. I entirely agree.

CollegeTillIDie

06/11/2006, 6:48 AM

The fact remains he is the only goalscorer eligible to play for Ireland , scoring consistently, cross-channel. He is the man in form.

eirebhoy

06/11/2006, 8:49 AM

The year previous he was 8 goals from 20 appearances, mostly playing as Striker from what I recall.
Maybe I was wrong about him being prolific that season but he only started 14 of those 20 games from a little search of posts. For some reason he always seemed to be scoring to me which is why I mentioned it.

Stuttgart88

06/11/2006, 8:54 AM

My recollection is that he was prolific at underage level, but not at reserve level.

I agree with Dr. Peepee, let him work his way up the system & keep a close eye on him. His form his very encouraging but that's all we can say for now.

As an aside, if an 18 year-old was having the same run of form in the eL, even the First Division, I'd have the same feeling of excitement.

youngirish

06/11/2006, 8:59 AM

The fact remains he is the only goalscorer eligible to play for Ireland , scoring consistently, cross-channel. He is the man in form.

Billy Clarke is scoring consistently and getting rave reviews in a far more competitive league so not true. He's injured at the moment though.

Peadar

06/11/2006, 10:30 AM

Don't forget Shane Longs hattrick against the Arsenal Reserves. It's just a pity that Long, Stokes and Clarke would have play under Givens at U21 level. :(

FootballsKing

06/11/2006, 12:25 PM

According to todays Mirror, Stokes will be named in the full irish squad. When is it announced?

Stuttgart88

06/11/2006, 12:30 PM

High praise from the Scottish Herald:

http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/73707.html

Paddy Garcia

06/11/2006, 12:30 PM

Apparently Celtic are interested in signing him. I'd be surprised if they were the only ones.

geysir

06/11/2006, 12:43 PM

Don't forget Shane Longs hattrick against the Arsenal Reserves. It's just a pity that Long, Stokes and Clarke would have play under Givens at U21 level. :(
Why is it regarded as such a negative to spend some time in the u21's with Givens as coach?

John83

06/11/2006, 12:46 PM

Why is it regarded as such a negative to spend some time in the u21's with Givens as coach?
Givens is held in, er, rather poor regard around these parts.

drinkfeckarse

06/11/2006, 1:17 PM

With good reason.

Peadar

06/11/2006, 1:24 PM

Why is it regarded as such a negative to spend some time in the u21's with Givens as coach?

When a man has such an incredibly bad results record, is accountable to no one and tells LoI players that they should move abroad, he doesn't deserve any respect.

Stuttgart88

06/11/2006, 1:46 PM

From the Daily Record:

DUNFERMLINE 0 FALKIRK 3
By Anthony Haggerty

GREG SHIELDS last night claimed he would have banjoed Falkirk hat-trick hero Anthony Stokes for playing keepie-uppie.

Stokes did a bit of showboating on his way to blasting in his second treble in successive weeks to become the first player to achieve the feat since the SPL's inception.

The 18-year-old on-loan Arsenal kid showed all the finishing prowess of fellow Gunner Thierry Henry, smashing in all of his goals with his weaker left foot as the Bairns routed their managerless derby rivals Dunfermline.

Stokes' glory show took his goals total to nine in four games to become the country's top marksman, although a training-ground challenge from boss John Hughes might have deprived him of the honour.

Pars skipper Shields, though, must have wished the tackle had put the teenager out of action for a spell.

Stokes' cockiness in the second half had the Falkirk fans in raptures as he kept the ball up 10 times in front of them, with mesmerised Pars defender Aaron Labonte watching.

drinkfeckarse

06/11/2006, 1:57 PM

On a side note, there seems to be abit of confusion with regards to the back to back hat-trick record. A couple of tabloids say that Henrik Larsson achieved the same feat in 2001 and Duncan Shearer of Aberdeen also did it although this was before the SPL inception.

Eirebhoy, Stuttgart....??

Stuttgart88

06/11/2006, 2:09 PM

Jaysus, don't look at me! I remember Larsson not being able to stop scoring at one stage, including 4 in one game at Fir Park. But back-to-back hat tricks? No idea!

eirebhoy

06/11/2006, 2:24 PM

Just checked Soccerbase and Larsson got 2 consecutive hattricks in '99 but one was in the cup:

http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=255595
http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=255792

tetsujin1979

06/11/2006, 2:27 PM

A couple of tabloids say that Henrik Larsson achieved the same feat in 2001 and Duncan Shearer of Aberdeen also did it although this was before the SPL inception.
Yep, he did see here: http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=11617
If you change the season to 2000/2001, he scored 4 against Kilmarnock on 2-1-2001: http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=299059
Iin the next SPL game on the 4-2-2001 he knocked in 3 against Hearts: http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=300276
There's a Scottish Cup game against Stranraer wedged in between though, so Stokes is not the first to score a hat trick in SPL games. Still if you're going to come second, it may as well be behind King Henrik!

Unfortunately soccerbase only really goes back to 1992, and after 1995 things start to get a little rough. It's possible Shearer did manage it, but it's not on soccerbase.

eirebhoy

06/11/2006, 2:32 PM

Here's an 8 pager on Stokes:
http://www.onefinfalkirk.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=11709&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=40

btw - I tried to record the Setanta highlights on Sunday morning but my DVD recorder wasn't recording when I thought it was. It was basically 15 minutes just talking about Stokes.

eirebhoy

06/11/2006, 3:24 PM

I found his goals on Soccerpulse:

1-0 (http://www.networkdisk.co.uk/696452)
2-0 (http://www.networkdisk.co.uk/196335)
3-0 (http://www.networkdisk.co.uk/914107)

His first touch couldn't be better. Places the ball exactly where he wants it.

Celtic set to bid for Stokes (http://www.eurosport.com/football/scottish-premier-league/2006-2007/sport_sto1002465.shtml)