Anthony Stokes (F free agent b.1988)

**tricky_colour** · 09/01/2007, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

I think we've just seen why Arsen Whinger felt he didn't need Stokes: his babies have just beaten Liverpool's semi-babies 3-6 at Anfield in the Carling Cup quarter final. Some awful defending but enjoyable game it has to be said and Arsenal able to break quickly. He is on record as saying Stokes just wasn't fast enough for a forward of his.

At one stage Liverpool looked like pulling it back, anyhow Arsenals fast forwards have not got them anywhere in the Prem for a while. You could also say Arsenal conceeded 3 (4 at one point). Agreed he would have trouble geting a game at Arsenal though.

**citizenerased** · 09/01/2007, 10:38 PM

Weird game alright when is the last time liverpool conceded at least 5 at home

**eirebhoy** · 09/01/2007, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

Stoke's chances of getting into the Premiership must be pretty slim, yes Sunderland may make the play offs but thats a bit of a lottery at best a 50/50 chance. Automatic promotion would require a phenomenal run. Charlton with a get out clause, should they drop, would have been a good choice. Maybe he has a get out clause if Sunderland fail to get promoted?
Eitherway I think he is a good buy at �2 million, what he might gain in value outweighs any value he might lose IMO.

I can't see them failing to get a playoff tbh. Since Keane took over they've been on par with, say, Preston. They've now brought in Stokes and Carlos Edwards. I think they're certs for a playoff place tbh and have a chance of automatic promotion. Derby have to travel to Sunderland and Sunderland should be expected to win that. If they do they've 7 points to make up. Far from impossible.

**Superhoops** · 09/01/2007, 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by citizenerased

Weird game alright when is the last time liverpool conceded at least 5 at home

Liverpool 0-6 Sunderland - 19 April, 1930

**dodgycanadian** · 10/01/2007, 2:46 AM

Stan is a ****in ******, once again he contradicts himself. He came out and said today that he would welcome Anthony Stokes to the team and looks like he will be handing him a call up for the next few games. I thought a few months ago it was "stokes took steps backward at arsenal last season and he is young and inexperienced"

**theworm2345** · 10/01/2007, 4:16 AM

Originally Posted by pete

Have to worry about Keanes jusgement when he spent 2m on Connolly but hes probably bought as a Championship player & like many of the others would be disguarded should Sunderland get promoted. Then again Paul Jewell spent 3m on Connolly & almost never played him.

Connolly had a hamstring problem almost all of last season. Sunderland are 3 points off the playoffs thanks to Connolly's recent surge of goals, thank you very much

P.S. He is also joint top scorer with Elliott and Murphy. The thing about Connolly is he makes his own goals, unlike most other strikers, he hasnt had one tap in or penalty this season. The point is, recall him

P.P.S Hold the next page for rebuttals to this post

(and I was holding my tongue so well too)

**Fergie's Son** · 10/01/2007, 4:22 AM

I'd recall Connolly as well.

Still, Doyle & Keane are not quite going to be unseated any time soon.

**Superhoops** · 10/01/2007, 7:04 AM

Originally Posted by dodgycanadian

Stan is a ****in ******, once again he contradicts himself. He came out and said today that he would welcome Anthony Stokes to the team and looks like he will be handing him a call up for the next few games. I thought a few months ago it was "stokes took steps backward at arsenal last season and he is young and inexperienced"

When Staunton made that comment a few months ago, he was probably right. Stokes was going nowhere and at Arsenal was being overtaken by some of their other younger players.

However, things have changed dramatically for him since he was loaned out to Falkirk and he has taken several giant steps forward. We still do not know if he is the genuine article. Scoring goals against the weaker teams in the SPL is one thing. If he can continue scoring at the business end of the Championship,then he will be even further forward.

**shakermaker1982** · 10/01/2007, 8:11 AM

I think he should call up Stokes and Long for San Marino. Give them a run out with 30 minutes to go if we are cruising.

**galwayhoop** · 10/01/2007, 9:39 AM

Originally Posted by galwayhoop

... or does the fact liverpool are chasing a hamilton acidemical player show us their standing in world football?

on last nights evidence it looks like it just may!!!!

**tetsujin1979** · 10/01/2007, 9:51 AM

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

I think he should call up Stokes and Long for San Marino. Give them a run out with 30 minutes to go if we are cruising.

I'd agree on Stokes, but (going back to a point Stuttgart88 made elsewhere), I think extra members of the squad (say numbers 16-23) should be included on form. They're unlikely to unseat the regular players, but Stan and Bobby can still take a look at them in training and decide if they are worth a place in the matchday 16.
Long, on recent form, would not get into those 16-23 numbers, but Darren O'Dea (for example) would.

**youngirish** · 10/01/2007, 10:40 AM

Why recall Connolly? He was never any use for Ireland even when his club form was better than it is now. Also we don't need him anymore we've far more talented up and coming young strikers deserving of a place.

**galwayhoop** · 10/01/2007, 1:41 PM

yeah connolly has had his chances - we'd be better off with a young lad in the squad.

we could safely exclude morrison and connolly at this stage IMO , both have had ample opportunities to prove themselves - if a game wasn't going their way you wouldn't be shouting for their inclusion and they are unlikely to start so better off with new faces methinks

**livehead1** · 10/01/2007, 2:16 PM

Originally Posted by galwayhoop

yeah connolly has had his chances - we'd be better off with a young lad in the squad.

we could safely exclude morrison and connolly at this stage IMO , both have had ample opportunities to prove themselves - if a game wasn't going their way you wouldn't be shouting for their inclusion and they are unlikely to start so better off with new faces methinks

Morrisson has been a fantastic servant to Ireland and I for one believe he has been one of our better performers over the past two years.

**galwayhoop** · 10/01/2007, 2:35 PM

Originally Posted by livehead1

Morrisson has been a fantastic servant to Ireland and I for one believe he has been one of our better performers over the past two years.

i don't really think he is up to it but you're entitled to your opinion. i don't even hear of him at club level anymore (is he still at palace??), seems to have gone off the radar big style. he has reached what is supposidly his peak (age / experience wise) at this stage and i feel not shown enough ability to perform at either internaional / premiership level. if i was picking a squad i wouldn't have him in it. alan lee would be before him on current form and then why not have a young lad like stokes in there as the 4th striker (assuming keane and doyle definately start)

**tetsujin1979** · 10/01/2007, 2:51 PM

Originally Posted by galwayhoop

i don't even hear of him at club level anymore (is he still at palace??)

He's their top scorer this season, despite being (reportedly) out of favor with the manager

**galwayhoop** · 10/01/2007, 3:07 PM

honestly have heard little or nothing of him except a couple of mnths ago when he spoke of his admiration for keane in an apparant 'come and get me'. btw how many goals / games

**tetsujin1979** · 10/01/2007, 3:51 PM

Originally Posted by galwayhoop

honestly have heard little or nothing of him except a couple of mnths ago when he spoke of his admiration for keane in an apparant 'come and get me'. btw how many goals / games

According to this - http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=646 - it's 6 goals in 17 appearances, 8 as a sub. Which amounts to about 1 goal every 3 appearances.

When you consider that the next highest is James Scowcroft with 4 goals in 17 appearances, including 3 as a sub, it's actually not that bad.

Although it probably says more about Palace at the moment than Clinton

**irishfan86** · 10/01/2007, 5:41 PM

I'm not going to be too critical of Clinton, the goals he scored during our last WCQ campaign were the most important. Scoring away against Israel sticks out for me as a huge goal- to be honest he's been more consistent in competitive games than Keane for me.

There's no question Keane is the better player, but Morrison really stepped it up in the big games for us with some key goals.

He has to be behind Stokes in the pecking order at this point though, and the Sunderland crew of Connolly, Murphy, Elliot are probably on a similar level in addition to Alan Lee make up the fringe of our strikers.

Morrison's a borderline squad member for me at this point.

**theworm2345** · 11/01/2007, 1:06 AM

Originally Posted by galwayhoop

yeah connolly has had his chances - we'd be better off with a young lad in the squad.

we could safely exclude morrison and connolly at this stage IMO , both have had ample opportunities to prove themselves - if a game wasn't going their way you wouldn't be shouting for their inclusion and they are unlikely to start so better off with new faces methinks

Are you kidding I was shouting for Connolly when he was hurt. And is everyone saying that because they had their chance they should done? How about who ever is playing best should get in regardless of their past. If Stokes plays up front with Connolly up until San Marino and Connolly scores 3 and Stokes scores 0 and loses his starting role, should Stokes get called up over Connolly just because he hasn't had a chance yet? (The problem is, that is Stan's thinking) I like Stokes fine (That could change soon

) but I think he would have had a better chance if he stayed with Falkirk and kept banging in the goals up there. Morrison also has been playing decently