Anthony Stokes

Almost equalised against Man Utd just now but Romero saved after he latched on to a rebound, and after a series of ricochets and flaps by the keeper Stokes put the ball into the empty net but was a long way offside by then. Lenihan started and has played quite well, a bit suspect for the winning goal when himself and his fellow defenders were caught with a long Pogba pass over the top. They were very open for the first goal too but would need to see it again before apportioning blame. Overall though, considering the gulf in class between the two teams, Blackburn were very compact and defended well. United win 2-1.

Came off the bench on Friday. Not in the squad yesterday.

Personal turmoil continues as personal photos and videos were hacked from his girlfriend's phone.

Kids these days.

Those photos and videos are online. If anyone posts a link to them here, I'll suspend them for a week.

Middle of last year Stokes & his girlfriend came to a fundraiser in my local GAA club and could not have been nicer or more generous. He was pleasant and posed for pics almost all night and she was a delight, they don't deserve this kind of guff.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Those photos and videos are online. If anyone posts a link to them here, I'll suspend them for a week.

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I cosign that.

That Keith Treacy picture still gives me nightmares.

Interesting editorial about Stokes.

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/footba...igma-1-4444936

Very enjoyable piece. It would seem like a good time for him to return to Hibs.

Stokes was apparently released by Blackburn earlier this summer with Hibs hoping to sign him for a third spell - given his successful history there, might be his best option: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40765026

Stokes has agreed to return to Hibs according to Sky sources - https://twitter.com/ScotlandSky/stat...22245213630464

Signed a two year contract with Hibs today

Talking to Hibs TV - speaks very well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OcVVN2uKNM

Off to a good start, with a brace against Ayr United in The Scottish League Cup: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40829944

Highlights here (Stokes goals at 0:05 and 1:30). Lovely assist for the second goal too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv5Y7z_3ARo

Himself and Lennon have a funny old relationship. Lennon appears to really get the best out of Stokes.

From a national team perspective, it will be hard to justify Stokes coming back into the fold. What does he have to do? Get more goals than Adam Rooney up there would be a start but Rooney has quite the record. Stokes all round play is obviously much superior.

I think it's Stokes relationship with Keane from their time at Sunderland that's keeping him out of the national side more than anything else. I've mentioned it before here, but if you read Keane's second book, he wasn't impressed worth the striker's attitude, and valued Murphy much higher as a player, despite not being as skillful

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

I think it's Stokes relationship with Keane from their time at Sunderland that's keeping him out of the national side more than anything else. I've mentioned it before here, but if you read Keane's second book, he wasn't impressed worth the striker's attitude, and valued Murphy much higher as a player, despite not being as skillful

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and the fact that he has never really impressed for us when given a run.

I think the fact that he has barely played in a year can't be overlooked either, and has not really performed at a decent level in even longer.

Even if he does well at Hibs, it's hard to see any real difference between him and someone like Adam Rooney who does well in the SPL too.

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Originally Posted by Philly

I think the fact that he has barely played in a year can't be overlooked either, and has not really performed at a decent level in even longer.

Even if he does well at Hibs, it's hard to see any real difference between him and someone like Adam Rooney who does well in the SPL too.

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That's basically a re-hashing of my original point. He appears to be starting brightly. He might sustain it as he has done so at that level before.

Forgot the Keane point made by Tets but I think the fact that he has nothing at club level since they took over the Irish team might be the main issue.

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Originally Posted by jbyrne

and the fact that he has never really impressed for us when given a run.

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I don't recall any of his performances for us except away to Germany (Noel King era) when he played well I thought, probably was at his peak as a player then.

Contract at Hibs cancelled by mutual consent. Linked with a move to Charlton before the transfer window closes