If he manages to survive 2 years in Iran without causing ructions or getting stoned/ a limb chopped off/ doing a legger for fear of getting any of the aforementioned etc I'll be utterly dumbfounded!Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
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If he manages to survive 2 years in Iran without causing ructions or getting stoned/ a limb chopped off/ doing a legger for fear of getting any of the aforementioned etc I'll be utterly dumbfounded!Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
If he gets through his contract without causing Iran to re-start their nuclear program, I will count that as a winQuote:
Originally Posted by colonelwest
I give it 15 minutes after he realises what his agent meant when he said Iran is a dry country...
As a non-Muslim he is allowed to drink but he’ll probably have to make it himself. Could actually be the beginning of a career after football....
He wouldn’t start a war would he ?
He may well get stoned ok :)Quote:
Originally Posted by colonelwest
Leaves Tractor Sazi; reported to FIFA as a result.
https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.dail...s-13689711.amp
Was doing well in fairness; almost a goal a game
"We even offered to allow his mother, father and sister to come and live in Tabriz, but he said he could not focus on playing for us. We tried to help him as a friend"
In fairness John Stokes could do worse then set up a players lounge in tabriz. No competition to threaten and no hope of the Queen ever visiting.
Now pitched up in the Turkish second division.
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...-38319448.html
Apparently Bolton Wanderers were interested, but their ongoing take-over issues prevented a deal.
https://www.boltonwanderers.news/col...worrying-sign/
Reportedly heading back to Scotland to join Livingston FC. Livingston marginally better than Iran I suppose.
The first page of this thread from 16 years ago makes for fairly depressing reading looking back at it now, the hopes for Stokes back then were very similar to what we're saying about some of our young players coming through at the moment.
It would be no bad thing for any young player to read this thread ! !Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
Agree to an extent but the players we are excited about now are playing regularly in the top two leagues of English football, Stokes had a 6 month period on fire at Falkirk; the two are polar opposites.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
Livingston announced two signings earlier, but not Stokes: https://livingstonfc.co.uk/lars-loko...oin-the-lions/
One of them - Lokotsch - is a striker, so maybe he isn't going to sign for them?
I agree. I have a post in the first couple of pages mentioning the likes of Stokes, Andy Keogh, Billy Clarke, Shane Long and Richie Sadlier who all had shown promise at a very young age. Only Long forged what amounted to be a decent career out of all those mentioned and he never could be described as a top striker.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
Somebody else mentioned a 17 year old Terry Dixon at Tottenham (remember him). Unfortunate that none of these guys for a variety of reasons never made it to the top. We could really have done with a decent striker to partner Keane.
I was and an still surprised quinn and keane didn't do more damage upfront
Stokes has now signed for Livingston, according to 'The Scotsman' (22 August)
Signs a one year deal at the Spaghettihad. Surely his last chance as a professional footballer.
it is a shame he didnt play for Eire as much as he should when he was younger.
One thing that i strongly criticize from the previous managers is the lack of chances they gave to the young players. I think Trap and in some degrees MON and Roy didnt wanna try youngsters, and is something the "big nations" are doing atm. Wes Hoolahan is an example.
Are you seriously saying Stokes was a missed opportunity for Ireland when we had Keane, Walters and Long?
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Originally Posted by Eirambler
Quote:
Originally Posted by livehead1
Wasn't it enough to have Quinn, Morrison, Doyle, Long and Walters to partner him during his time. On the general point, I agree with Livehead that there is reason to believe that this crop of strikers holds more promise than Stokes, Keogh, Clarke and Sadlier:Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
- Keogh was 23 when he made his Premier League Debut, only played 14 times in the EPL scoring one goal - he only reached double figures in the Championship once - he was still good enough to earn 30 caps
- While Sadlier was talented and his career would clearly have been more successful if he didn't have to retire aged 24, up to then he had only played in the second and third tiers
- Billy Clarke never played in the Premier League and only scored four times in The Championship
By comparison, of the new crop:
- Aaron Connolly turned 20 in January, has played 24 times in the EPL, scoring 3 goals already
- Michael Obafemi turned 20 in July, has 28 EPL appearances and 4 goals to his name
- Adam Idah already has 12 appearances and he only turned 19 in February and, while he has yet to score in the EPL, in his only appearance against Championship opposition, he grabbed a hat-trick
- Troy Parrott is a year younger than Idah, already has a couple of EPL appearances under his belt, and will likely get a full season of Championship football this season.
In fact, while not wanting to disrespect Keogh, Clarke and Sadlier, who are all fine footballers, our next tier of striking talent (Cassidy, Scully, Kayode and Afolabi) look about as promising as them currently - not to mention a few more showing strong potential at academy level (Odubeko, Oko-Flex, Cannon and Varian)