Anthony Stokes (F free agent b.1988)

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19/01/2007, 11:23 AM
gustavo

I do agree though to an extend as Stokes has only been playing for half a seasons worth of senior football
I would rank our strikers thusly

1. Keane
2. Doyle
3. Morrison
4. Elliott
5. Stokes
19/01/2007, 11:29 AM
Billsthoughts

I think Keane should be vying for a place against reid for the position behind the front man.(number 10 I think neilmcd called it) Nobody should be undroppable. I dont think he is a bad player by any stretch of the imagination but we cant rely on him to get us goals.
19/01/2007, 11:38 AM
cavan_fan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

I think Keane should be vying for a place against reid for the position behind the front man.(number 10 I think neilmcd called it) Nobody should be undroppable. I dont think he is a bad player by any stretch of the imagination but we cant rely on him to get us goals.

In theory this is a good idea but it either means playing 4-3-1-2 (and then where do you play Duff and who are your 3 Central Midfielders) or 4-4-1-1 which is not that different than what happens in reality, i.e. Keane drifts into Midfield all the time anyway. Works best if you have an out and out goalscorer whcih is why England had success with Beardsley-Lineker and Sheringham-Shearer. Maybe Doyle is the goalscorer, but I'd argue we havent had that sort of player in modern times, though Aldridge should have been.
19/01/2007, 11:43 AM
Billsthoughts

Im thinking Ireland v czech republic....
19/01/2007, 11:54 AM
youngirish

Quote:

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Yet you regard Elliott as our 3rd choice striker? I'm a fan of Elliott too but Stokes has shown a lot more than him already and is the player in form. Also, prolific SPL goalscorers are almost all proven players so chances are Stokes will prove himself too. I'm very excited about Stokes. A fantastic finisher with a great positional sense and it doesn't seem like confidence will affect him much which is important.

Don't forget Elliot banged in 16 goals in his first season for Sunderland even though he didn't start many games. This shows more ability IMO than banging in admittedly an impressive number of goals against some pretty poor opposition (on the whole). Elliot has also showed flashes of class in the Premiership and at International level though injury has curtailed his progress.

I wouldn't put Stokes ahead of Elliot or even possibly Morrison until he starts banging in goals regularly for Sunderland in the Championship. This is just my personal opinion. Saying that we've nothing to lose (and possibly also nothing to gain) by giving him some pitch time against San Marino.
19/01/2007, 12:09 PM
eirebhoy

Fair enough. He is a player to get excited about though which is all I'm saying. :) I just think you really underestimate the SPL. Elliott scored 16 goals in 31 starts in his first season. A decent rate and I was excited about him. He also started against Croatia in November of his first season. Stokes has scored 16 goals in 18 games in his first season. That's not a decent rate, that's an incredible rate for any player. Never mind an 18 year old.
19/01/2007, 1:30 PM
citizenerased

The quality of Stokes will prevail, as eirebhoy said earlier, he has an amazing positional sense, and has a real touch of class about him. Morrison should never play for Ireland again he is a disgrace, his attitude stinks, Elliot has struggled this season also....Your forgetting also that there is not a huge gulf in class between the SPL and the championship!!
19/01/2007, 1:45 PM
Paddy Garcia

Quote:

Originally Posted by citizenerased

The quality of Stokes will prevail, as eirebhoy said earlier, he has an amazing positional sense, and has a real touch of class about him. Morrison should never play for Ireland again he is a disgrace, his attitude stinks, Elliot has struggled this season also....Your forgetting also that there is not a huge gulf in class between the SPL and the championship!!

I hope Stokes will prevail. However to suggest that Morrison's attitude stinks is ridiculous. A player who gives 100% for Ireland every single time he turns out. This is an inane comment.
19/01/2007, 2:06 PM
citizenerased

100%!!! Are you having a laugh, the state of him against france and switzerland last year falling over everytime instead of trying to hold the ball up...this is a man that initially had to be coaxed into playing for ireland, as he thought hed get the call for England...if thats his 100%, he should be wooried.
19/01/2007, 2:09 PM
tetsujin1979

Quote:

Originally Posted by citizenerased

100%!!! Are you having a laugh, the state of him against france and switzerland last year falling over everytime instead of trying to hold the ball up...this is a man that initially had to be coaxed into playing for ireland, as he thought hed get the call for England...if thats his 100%, he should be wooried.

Whatever about how he declared for Ireland, he certainly works harder than anyone on the pitch anytime I've seen him play
19/01/2007, 2:13 PM
Paddy Garcia

You are mixing up ability with attitude. Not the same at all.
19/01/2007, 2:14 PM
citizenerased

I disagree with that totally, if anything he can be anonymous and fade into the back ground..
19/01/2007, 3:51 PM
galwayhoop

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngirish

I still think all this hype surrounding Stokes is way over the top. He hasn't scored a goal in a decent league yet

i think the general impression of the SPL here is mistaken.

granted it's not close to EPL but to say the championship is much higher standard is nonsence. fair enough you have brimingham, wolves, sunderland and the likes but you also have hull, barnsley, luton & southend - hardly world beaters. in the SPL you have celtic, hearts, rangers, hibs and aberdeen are doing ok recently.

the SPL is not equal to the premiership granted but overall i would put it above the championship. in fairness how many championship teams would progress to any stage in the champions league. bot celtic and rangers have reached the last 16 in the last 2 seasons.

if people are saying he hasn't scored goals in a high enough league to be considered for ireland but will accept he is quality if he scores regularly in the championship i think that is ridiculous!

are we saying that the burnley back 4 is of much more quality than those in the SPL? i don't think so lads.
19/01/2007, 3:58 PM
Fergie's Son

Quote:

Originally Posted by citizenerased

100%!!! Are you having a laugh, the state of him against france and switzerland last year falling over everytime instead of trying to hold the ball up...this is a man that initially had to be coaxed into playing for ireland, as he thought hed get the call for England...if thats his 100%, he should be wooried.

What game were you watching? In Paris, Morrisson was having a brilliant game until he was injured. Do you actually watch football?
19/01/2007, 4:04 PM
John83

For me, the big deal isn't the level Stokes has played at, but more how long he's done it. If he continues his good form, or finds it again next season, then I'll be happier. Football is littered with players who were awesome for six months before disappearing entirely.
19/01/2007, 4:14 PM
youngirish

Quote:

Originally Posted by galwayhoop

i think the general impression of the SPL here is mistaken.

granted it's not close to EPL but to say the championship is much higher standard is nonsence. fair enough you have brimingham, wolves, sunderland and the likes but you also have hull, barnsley, luton & southend - hardly world beaters. in the SPL you have celtic, hearts, rangers, hibs and aberdeen are doing ok recently.

If you think Hibs, Falkirk, Inverness, Motherwell, Aberdeen and the rest would survive in the Championship then I think you're mistaken. Only Celtic and Rangers would beat the majority of the teams in the Championship though Rangers would even struggle to do that this season. Hearts might survive but wouldn't set it alight. Look at the attendances and funding for clubs such as Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland, West Brom, Palace, Leeds, Southampton, Birmingham and even Hull. Look at the players that play in the Championship. Many up and coming Premiership talents on loan, foreign Internationals (for useful International teams not Latvian and Scottish players) and ex Premiership players. To state thet the SPL is a higher calibre of league than the Championship on the whole is nonsense and surely anyone who's watched both leagues and had a quick check on the players that play in both could only agree.

All SPL players with the possible exception of the Rangers and Celtic players would consider a move to a Championship club as a big step forward for them in their career.
19/01/2007, 5:09 PM
eirebhoy

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngirish

If you think Hibs, Falkirk, Inverness, Motherwell, Aberdeen and the rest would survive in the Championship then I think you're mistaken.

Survive? I think you're going a bit far with that statement. To put it into perspective, Celtic are trying to get Scott Brown and Kevin Thomson off Hibs and have been for months. Charlton had a bid of �3m for the 2 of them turned down, I think they want about �5m. Now consider that Hibs do not look any worse at all without either of those players and you'll see they have plenty of quality. Hibs have a midfield as good as most in the Championship. I don't think their defence is that great though.

I'm not going to claim the SPL is a better standard than the Championship because it's not. It's certainly not easier to score in the SPL though imo and that's what really matters when it comes to Stokes.
19/01/2007, 5:54 PM
The Legend

At the end of the day, despite whatever league someone is playing in, its easy to see those that have the potential to perfom at the highest level and those that can't. I think we all agree Stokes has the potential.
19/01/2007, 7:59 PM
dr_peepee

Say what you want about Morrisons abillity but he's most definately commited. Watch how he celebrated the goal against the czechs with Kilbane from the bench despite having been dropped... Plus he was one of the few Ireland players to turn up and watch their 'B' counterparts play. Actions that fly in the face of some of the dispersions cast against him

Regardless of how he declared or qualifies for us Clinton Morrison is as much an Ireland fan as he is a player. That's good enough for me.
19/01/2007, 11:09 PM
theworm2345

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr_peepee

Say what you want about Morrisons abillity but he's most definately commited. Watch how he celebrated the goal against the czechs with Kilbane from the bench despite having been dropped... Plus he was one of the few Ireland players to turn up and watch their 'B' counterparts play. Actions that fly in the face of some of the dispersions cast against him

Regardless of how he declared or qualifies for us Clinton Morrison is as much an Ireland fan as he is a player. That's good enough for me.

I agree, Morrison is always hustling. I get ****ed when people say they dont care. Connolly is one of them. Morrison could of played for Jamaica or Trinidad too, he chose Ireland. Connolly chose Ireland when he was 16 or something. Morrison could have kept trying to improve and go with England, but he chose Ireland.
19/01/2007, 11:14 PM
pete

Morrison has usually upped his game for Ireland but he has done very little in the last 2 years at International & club level. Basically Keane & Doyle are the first choice & big list of players need to stake claim for the 3rd & 4th places in the squad.
20/01/2007, 4:34 PM
FarBeag

Connolly scored again to-day for Sunderland. Stokes did not even make the bench for some reason hope ,he hasn�t fallen out with Roy all-ready
20/01/2007, 5:09 PM
eirebhoy

He had a groin injury apparantly. Pity he didn't play today as chances are he would have scored judging by the result.
10/02/2007, 3:50 PM
dodgycanadian

anyone see the goal stokes scored today?
10/02/2007, 5:05 PM
FootballsKing

20 yard unstoppable drive is what i heard
11/02/2007, 10:45 AM
Paddy Garcia

Excellent strike, it seems ages since we had anyone who could hit the ball with that kind of venom.
11/02/2007, 10:50 AM
Lionel Ritchie

Connolly took his goal very, very well too yesterday.
11/02/2007, 10:58 AM
Irish_Praha

eleven-a-side have a short review of the Sunderland goals
http://www.eleven-a-side.com/acrosst...p?newsid=26462
11/02/2007, 11:08 AM
SeaniesRedArmy

stokes scored with his first touch
11/02/2007, 11:17 AM
kingeric

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUqEf8kxjEc

great strike...impressive when he came on vs san marino on wed too, would like to have seen him on for at least a half hour though..
12/02/2007, 12:58 PM
as_i_say

would be a connolly fan myself but as report on sky he's a lad who has scored 106 goals and 95 of them in the championship-he's just been one of those lads that hasnt reproduced goal scoring form for his country even in his limited appearances.

doubt we'll see him again for ireland unless we have a spate of injuries-particularly the smaller lads-stokes/keane
12/02/2007, 1:12 PM
Irish_Praha

Quote:

Originally Posted by as_i_say

would be a connolly fan myself but as report on sky he's a lad who has scored 106 goals and 95 of them in the championship-he's just been one of those lads that hasnt reproduced goal scoring form for his country even in his limited appearances.

doubt we'll see him again for ireland unless we have a spate of injuries-particularly the smaller lads-stokes/keane

Stokes is 5ft11 so actually one of our taller strikers. I'm not sure if he's a decent header of the ball though.
12/02/2007, 2:37 PM
tetsujin1979

I actually thought Keogh could be a decent target man from the B game against Scotland
12/02/2007, 3:02 PM
Irish_Praha

Quote:

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

I actually thought Keogh could be a decent target man from the B game against Scotland

Didn't realise that he is 6ft until now. He has lots of assists for Billy Sharp's goals at S****horpe alright but for some reason I thought he was another nippy small lad. Must have been because the clip on youtube showed him mostly scoring with his feet. Maybe he can work on improving his heading abillity as he's only a young lad, same for Stokes.
http://www.soccerbase.com/players_de...playerid=39039
27/02/2007, 2:03 AM
Qwerty

Positive review of Stokes from a former pro: http://football.guardian.co.uk/comme...022101,00.html
27/02/2007, 9:21 AM
eirebhoy

Did anyone read his Star column yesterday? It'd be interesting to see what he had to say about not being in the weekends squad.
27/02/2007, 9:25 AM
Collyontour

Quote:

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Did anyone read his Star column yesterday? It'd be interesting to see what he had to say about not being in the weekends squad.

He said basically that he didn't talk about internal club matters but a lot said in the press wasn't true. He also said how great Roy Keane was
27/02/2007, 11:16 AM
geysir

Quote:

Originally Posted by Collyontour

He said basically that he didn't talk about internal club matters but a lot said in the press wasn't true. He also said how great Roy Keane was

An important starting point statement if any reconciliation was needed.
03/03/2007, 10:40 PM
kingeric

i think the fact he played 90mins today puts this latest attempt to shoot stokes down again to bed..
04/03/2007, 12:40 PM
eirebhoy

Looks like he played on the left wing again.

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