Anthony Stokes

[paddywhack]

looks like young stokes is proving all the doubters wrong AGAIN cant be too many irish 19 year olds playing in the premiership and scoring important goals well done stokes keep it up and prove to all the idiots like your man FEARBEAG ( how come this site is full of ****ing rednecks) they should stick to bringing in the **** from the fields and leave the football to the dubs. unless you are playing the game where they throw stones down a boreen and then dance at the crossroads.

[eekers]

alt of the year

[Fergie's Son]

There should be some sort of waiting period before new members can start a thread.

He scored on a rebound, good for him. Doesn't mean he has turned the corner.

[soccerc]

Paddywhack is a close relation of Stokes.

That should explain his shyte

[theworm2345]

That makes 3 goals since he moved to England (about 335 days) for Stokes

Defenders like William Gallas (3, but was hurt for the beginning stretch of time), Carlos Bocanegra (3...a goddamn dirty American soccer player (all of whom I hate), but a footballer in the EPL nonetheless), Jody Craddock (who has 4, though in the CCC) have as many if not more than him. He was used in a striking role a bit at the beginning of his career at Sunderland, but they had better options up front than him last year so they moved him to the wing where he did OK.

Tell me, how does a 1 yard out sidevolley prove everyone wrong? Currently he has as many EPL goals this year as his ex-teammate Stern John, who was sold after 3 or 4 weeks and as many in his career as current teammates who can't get a game Daryl Murphy (who hasn't been up to it this year when given the chance) and David Connolly (who hasn't been given a chance). I hope to see him play up front more for Sunderland (Chopra really shouldn't be at this point), though he really should get loaned to the CCC where he can (hopefully) score and get his confidence up.

[Noelys Guitar]

looks like young stokes is proving all the doubters wrong AGAIN cant be too many irish 19 year olds playing in the premiership and scoring important goals well done stokes keep it up and prove to all the idiots like your man FEARBEAG ( how come this site is full of ****ing rednecks) they should stick to bringing in the **** from the fields and leave the football to the dubs. unless you are playing the game where they throw stones down a boreen and then dance at the crossroads.

You give us Dubs a good name. Thank you for your insightful assesment on the Stokes situation. Are you a Stokes fan or an Ireland fan?

[soccerc]

Are you a Stokes fan or an Ireland fan?

no, he's the man from U.N.C.L.E :D

[FarBeag]

Firing off insults again I see. Seem’s to be common practice for you on here with your preoccupation to get personal... It’s a bit sad really. I am not going to rise to the bait this time mate.

Oh and what’s his name Stokes.Yeah he is a wonderful player. Great tap in; don’t think he will score a better goal ever. First of the season in the premiership too, amazing. How did Arsenal let this diamond go?:D

[kingeric]

paddywhack u are a g0bsh1te. but nice piece of fishing all the same- some idiots did take the bait.

good finish by stokes today, done well to get into the position in the first place and great reactions to tap it in. looks like it meant a lot to him too.

would like to see him get a run up front now to see for once if he does hae what it takes to make it.

people have been correct in thier assesment of him this season-
(Largely $h1te), however, he has been played out of position. i doubt andrew cole/ kenywe jones (or any other striker for that matter) would have done much better playing on the wing.

get him in the box as an out an out striker..give him a run of 9/10 games and then make a judgement.

[HolylandsMan]

Let's all hope he goes on a run now and starts banging them in regularly for club and country.

Exactly Tuff. He has promise, certainly not the finished article at 19 but let's hope he can develop into a decent striker.

[paddywhack]

That makes 3 goals since he moved to England (about 335 days) for Stokes

Defenders like William Gallas (3, but was hurt for the beginning stretch of time), Carlos Bocanegra (3...a goddamn dirty American soccer player (all of whom I hate), but a footballer in the EPL nonetheless), Jody Craddock (who has 4, though in the CCC) have as many if not more than him. He was used in a striking role a bit at the beginning of his career at Sunderland, but they had better options up front than him last year so they moved him to the wing where he did OK.

Tell me, how does a 1 yard out sidevolley prove everyone wrong? Currently he has as many EPL goals this year as his ex-teammate Stern John, who was sold after 3 or 4 weeks and as many in his career as current teammates who can't get a game Daryl Murphy (who hasn't been up to it this year when given the chance) and David Connolly (who hasn't been given a chance). I hope to see him play up front more for Sunderland (Chopra really shouldn't be at this point), though he really should get loaned to the CCC where he can (hopefully) score and get his confidence up.

Think about what you are saying ? you are comparing the above players to a young kid whon at 18 years old did more in the spl than any other striker you can mention.
Why do we contuine look for faults in our young players .

[paddywhack]

Paddywhack is a close relation of Stokes.

That should explain his shyte

Not that it makes any difference I am not releated in any way to young Stokes just dont like to see our young players always knocked back by idiot irish fans and bigger idiot journialists this is what robbie keane was talking about on late late show. Why always look for faults in our young players

[soccerc]

Not that it makes any difference I am not releated in any way to young Stokes just dont like to see our young players always knocked back by idiot irish fans and bigger idiot journialists this is what robbie keane was talking about on late late show. Why always look for faults in our young players

:p Indeed :D

[paddywhack]

Howiya Anto's Da!!

If I was I would be the proudest man today.

[Supreme feet]

Let's all hope he goes on a run now and starts banging them in regularly for club and country.

I second that. This time last year, he was regarded as the saviour - one of the hottest properties in cross-channel football. His form recently has been patchy, and when Keane has put him up front, he's missed chances, but it's a big learning curve, and he's only 19/20 (?) and this goal today will do him no harm. Young lads need a confidence boost, and I hope he'll flourish from now on. I think he has the talent to be an important player for us, as long as he escapes the Keith O'Neill, Connolly, Reddy, Barrett malaise.

[Bungle]

Barrett has to be one of the most unlucky players of the decade. He was breaking through with Arsenal, only to have two career threatening injuries.

Good to see he's scored a few goals for Falkirk. I remember Brian Glanville saying he was the best young player of his age group by far in England when he was captaining Arsenal to the youth cup.

regarding Stokes;great to see him score. He is a very talented lad if he can remain focused on his game and not become an a-list celebrity down in tramco. i suppose it is easy to forget he is so young.

I do really think he needs a loan move to a decent championship club to boost his confidence. Sunderland will face a dog fight each week to stay up and that kind of pressure is not good for one so young who is lacking confidence.

[Stuttgart88]

Why always look for faults in our young players

If you a regular on here you'd realise that most are positive about him given the stage he's at at his career. Many, like me, have offered constructive criticism. For example in the recent U21 game against bulgaria he showed flashes of brilliance along with some really frustrating basic errors of judgment that even at that age - and among his underage peers - you'd expect him to have done better.

Are you opposed to constructive criticism or do you think we've all got to behave like sycophantic lemmings in offering adulation?

[Superhoops]

Barrett has to be one of the most unlucky players of the decade....... I remember Brian Glanville saying he was the best young player of his age group by far in England when he was captaining Arsenal to the youth cup.....
I always thought Barrett not coming through for us was a big loss. I am sure many remember his display in the Amsterdam Arena in June 2004 when he oozed class.

[eirebhoy]

Stokes relies heavily on through balls and his teammates reading his runs. Stick him up front, give him the service and he'll score goals. For some reason managers want to play him deep and get him involved in the play. He's a Filippo Inzaghi type player and I thought it was interesting that he chose the number 9 shirt at Sunderland. He doesn't even see himself as a number 10 but managers seem to want to play him as a support striker (or on the wing...).

[FarBeag]

I really hope he proves me wrong. I like nothing more than an Irishman taking the premiership by storm but I have seen nothing yet to prove that he is as good player as some make him out to be. Ok he is only 19 and I am probably premature in my assessment on his abilities. So Paddy whack there is no need to get so defensive when someone offers an opinion as that's all it is.

[eirebhoy]

I really hope he proves me wrong. I like nothing more than an Irishman taking the premiership by storm but I have seen nothing yet to prove that he is as good player as some make him out to be.
My opinion on him is almost 100% based on his time at Falkirk. He was obviously playing against poor defences but he just instinctively knew where to be. Stokes had Russell Latapy setting up his goals and at SPL level you couldn't really ask for better service. A fantastic reader of the game.

[kennedmc]

Stokes relies heavily on through balls and his teammates reading his runs. Stick him up front, give him the service and he'll score goals. For some reason managers want to play him deep and get him involved in the play. He's a Filippo Inzaghi type player and I thought it was interesting that he chose the number 9 shirt at Sunderland. He doesn't even see himself as a number 10 but managers seem to want to play him as a support striker (or on the wing...).

It's not up to Stokes to decide where he wants to play. I personally don't think Stokes is a good enough finisher or has enough pace to play right through the middle.

Wenger was interviewed a couple of years ago by an Irish paper (Indo or times can't remember which) and he said he sees Stokes as a Paul Scholes type midfield player - not a striker - he did comment on the fact he had excellent technique.

I lived in London near Barnet and I used to go and watch him play for the reserves. He played up front sometimes and did ok but both Lupoli and Bendtner looked far better playing as strikers.

Wenger and the other coaching staff tried to develop him into an attacking midfielder / wide midfielder. At the time in the reservers reports the reserve team manager (don' think it was Bould than) would regularly makes comments on Stokes about how well he was doing and the fact he was trying to learn a new position. (Some of it was clearly aimed at building up his confidence).

I get the impression that Stokes and his old fella think they know best and were determoned that he should continue up front regardless of what the coaches said.

I think it a great shame that Stokes choose to ignore one of the greatest coaches of this generation who could have developed him into a top class attacking midfield player.

Ultimately time will tell who was right or wrong..........

[Ireland4ever]

Not that it makes any difference I am not releated in any way to young Stokes just dont like to see our young players always knocked back by idiot irish fans and bigger idiot journialists this is what robbie keane was talking about on late late show. Why always look for faults in our young players

Its over the top praise like this which is the problem, just building him up for a fall. Let him get on with it and hopefully he will progress to be an irish great, but dont be putting this pressure on him.

[irishfan86]

Glad to see him get a goal.

As said here he's not the finished article yet, but at 19 to be a well-used substitute at a Premier League side is nothing to be ashamed of.

[theworm2345]

Not that it makes any difference I am not releated in any way to young Stokes just dont like to see our young players always knocked back by idiot irish fans and bigger idiot journialists this is what robbie keane was talking about on late late show. Why always look for faults in our young players

Don't worry about that comment, as soon as one shows support for a player who is not in people here's liking they assume you are related to him

[dr_peepee]

Stokes relies heavily on through balls and his teammates reading his runs. Stick him up front, give him the service and he'll score goals.

I agree with that... Will be interesting to see what happens when Richardson returns for Sunderland. I noticed in the couple of games at the start of the season the two of them are on a differen wavelength to th rest of the team in terms of Richardson picking out runs and passes.

[tetsujin1979]

While I'm delighted got his first Premiership goal, and equally happy that some people are easing off on the negativity about him, I'd be a whole lot happier if more people commented that Paul McShane was part of the defence that kept a clean sheet and started saying more of the "well, he's young, so he'll improve" type comments. Stokes will peak before McShane (strikers have the best period of their careers before defenders - insert puberty/maturity joke here) but McShane has taken way more flak.

[Calcio Jack]

looks like young stokes is proving all the doubters wrong AGAIN cant be too many irish 19 year olds playing in the premiership and scoring important goals well done stokes keep it up and prove to all the idiots like your man FEARBEAG ( how come this site is full of ****ing rednecks) they should stick to bringing in the **** from the fields and leave the football to the dubs. unless you are playing the game where they throw stones down a boreen and then dance at the crossroads.

Guess his manager has to be one of the doubters as he is quoted in today's Irish Indo saying something like "... Stokes in five years time will be either playing at the highest level or non league football..." hopefully he'll find that Keane can provide the correct mentoring and help Stokes buckle down and not flit away his undoubted talent...still as Keanne also said "... I can't keep an eye on players 24 hours a day..." time will tell but maybe the lad will figure out what's best for himself the question is does he have the brains and/or the maturity to do that ?

[elroy]

I always thought Barrett not coming through for us was a big loss. I am sure many remember his display in the Amsterdam Arena in June 2004 when he oozed class.

Yes our even the Finland friendly away after the 2002WC, where we won three nil. Almost certain Barrett scored the third that day, how things were looking so positive for the future back then.......

[Dr. Ogba]

If Stokes wanted to be played as an out and out striker every week for his club then his first mistake was signing for Sunderland...I actually said at the time, when there (allegedly) was an offer from Charlton on the table that he would be far better advised to go to there where he more than likely would have gone straight into the first-team as a striker.

Instead he was lured by Sunderland's money and is now playing for a manager who is quickly developing a reputation for squad rotation and playing players out of position...There is (unfortunately) no way that Stokes will be given the opportunity to get a run in that team up front at the moment...

[OwlsFan]

Mods, here's another Stokes thread dating back to 2007 that can be merged with the biggie. Interesting reading the adulation by some (one - Paddywhack who disappeared after Farbeag asked to meet him at a game!) and the words of wisdom by the old heads which alas generally came to pass. Stokes may make a career for himself in Scotland or the Championship/Division One but I doubt if he has it to make it at the top level :(

[ArdeeBhoy]

Aye, what he said.

For the all-seeing Mods. To merge?