Anthony Stokes (F free agent b.1988)

**eirebhoy** · 23/08/2007, 9:01 PM

He said in his interview with Mento's fanzine last year that he'd still love to play for Celtic. His da didn't like the Celtic offer at the time. I still really think it's a pity he didn't join Celtic as he'd most likely be the star striker atm and progressing as a player.

**eirebhoy** · 23/08/2007, 9:05 PM

Givens:

“I’m sure everybody is aware is what happened with Anthony Stokes and the recent friendly.

“I’ve had a conversation with Roy Keane this morning on the telephone in which he apologised for the club’s part in it but he was under the impression that Anthony was going to report to us with a slight groin problem so that our medical people could assess the situation so that’s all cleared up between Roy Keane and myself.

“But obviously I was very disappointed with Anthony’s lack of communication and certainly because he didn’t turn up and deprived another lad of getting into the squad.

“If he had phoned me after the (Sunderland) game on Saturday to tell me he had a groin problem that could have very quickly been sorted out.

“So, in view of the fact that Roy was expecting him to turn up for us and he didn’t, he hasn’t made this squad.”

Who do we believe? I'd have to believe Keane in this case.

**Paddy Garcia** · 23/08/2007, 9:54 PM

I don't think Keane would be arsed to lie.

**geysir** · 23/08/2007, 10:22 PM

We don't have to believe either of them.

But what is evident is that all the u21's are under clear instructions to contact Givens personally should there be some problem.
Givens needs to know when to be discreet.

**onceahoop** · 23/08/2007, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

so did stokes family. But there is one glaring difference. I hope I dont need to point it out

Stokes family were moved over by Arsenal and put in charge of a guest house to look after young Arsenal players (or so I'm told). This was because under UEFA rules Stokes, because of his age, had to be living with his family while he was registered with Arsenal. BTW a schoolboy coach at Shelbourne told me that when he was there Stokes was a little tow rag. He certainly seems to have a bit of an attitude. Shame, because he obviously has talent.

**livehead1** · 23/08/2007, 10:49 PM

i believe Keane, as simple as that

**paul_oshea** · 24/08/2007, 10:20 AM

This was because under UEFA rules Stokes, because of his age, had to be living with his family while he was registered with Arsenal. BTW a schoolboy coach at Shelbourne told me that when he was there Stokes was a little tow rag. He certainly seems to have a bit of an attitude. Shame, because he obviously has talent.

it was the same with taht tracey fella as well and another lad as well that i cant think of from kerry i think? (kelly? ), though i think he( tracey) was living with his sister as she was playing for the arsenal ladies.

geysir, spot on again.

Givens needs to learn when to keep schtump. what does he think he gains by informing the public everytime like this?! Having said that it helps us formulate our opinions on stokes

I think it could be a case of father living through son here, by all accounts. BUt how exactly do you fire your dad? and mores the point how does a young fella know whats to do?

**tetsujin1979** · 24/08/2007, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

it was the same with taht tracey fella as well and another lad as well that i cant think of from kerry i think? (kelly? ), though i think he( tracey) was living with his sister as she was playing for the arsenal ladies.

That's Shane Tracey from Limerick, his sister Yvonne plays for the Arsenal ladies, and Ireland.
He was released in the summer, think I heard he was with Galway.

**paul_oshea** · 24/08/2007, 11:21 AM

ya i know who shane tracey is, its the kelly fella im not sure about.

**geysir** · 24/08/2007, 12:07 PM

If anyone felt they had to believe Keane over Givens or vice versa.
The IT covers it a bit more thoroughly with the Keane quotes

"It's a mix-up in communication," said the Sunderland manager yesterday. "I've spoken to Don and he is fine about it, it won't happen again. He (Stokes) had a problem with his groin and I thought he would go over there, report in and see the medical staff. He thought he hadn't to do that and didn't get in touch with anyone."

Keane, however, was subsequently quoted in the Sunderland Echo as providing the paper with a fractionally different take on events. "Anthony was expecting us to get in touch with the under-21s to explain the situation," he is reported as saying.
"We were expecting Anthony to let them know anyway."

**michaelguineys** · 24/08/2007, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

ya i know who shane tracey is, its the kelly fella im not sure about.

That's Sean Kelly, he is playin for us now

**zenokelly** · 26/08/2007, 12:56 PM

In the Indo today:

Stokes to boycott Givens

Anthony Stokes is unlikely to play for the Irish U-21s again while Don Givens is in charge, the Sunday Independent has learned.

Stokes' failed to report for the U-21s before they flew out to Germany last week and was subsequently left out of a squad for the U-21 European Championship qualifier in Cork next month. While the FAI insist that Stokes remains in Givens' plans and must fight for his place, sources close to the player have indicated he is unlikely to play for Givens again.

Stokes' failure to show up last week angered Givens, even if Roy Keane clarified the situation later in the week.

"I've had a conversation with Roy Keane on the telephone and he apologised for the club's part in it but he was under the impression that Anthony was going to report to us with a slight groin problem so that our medical people could assess the situation," Givens said on Friday.

"Obviously I was very disappointed with Anthony's lack of communication. If he had phoned me after the Sunderland game on Saturday to tell me he had a groin problem that could have very quickly been sorted out."

The bad feeling between Stokes and Givens is alleged to have begun during an U-21 tournament in Madeira last year when Givens felt the player was displaying a bad attitude. It is understood Stokes believes he is acquiring an unfair media reputation after a couple of high-profile incidents that have been blown out of proportion.

And despite being substituted at half-time in the game against Wigan, it is not believed Stokes was one of the players Keane had in mind when he said after that 3-0 defeat that "there was a fine line between stupidity and loyalty."

Despite rumours, it is unlikely Stokes will go out on loan before the transfer window closes this week.

Boycotting the U21's is not going to improve his media reputation anyway.

**bellavistaman** · 26/08/2007, 1:02 PM

No id keep kerr as far away as possible dont like him at all. Treated stephen ireland like ****. Would love to see EL/ex EL manager put in charge, would bhe great to see FAI show they regard the EL hihly, maybe fenlon? I like him, Dolan, very good with youths, and spotting them.

**tricky_colour** · 26/08/2007, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by zenokelly

In the Indo today:

Boycotting the U21's is not going to improve his media reputation anyway.

Don't worry, I am sure he will grow out of it

**macdermesser** · 27/08/2007, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by bellavistaman

No id keep kerr as far away as possible dont like him at all. Treated stephen ireland like ****. Would love to see EL/ex EL manager put in charge, would bhe great to see FAI show they regard the EL hihly, maybe fenlon? I like him, Dolan, very good with youths, and spotting them.

eh???

**John83** · 27/08/2007, 1:13 PM

Originally Posted by macdermesser

eh???

I've heard a number of former youth internationals talk about Kerr who had nothing nice to say about him at all.

**bellavistaman** · 27/08/2007, 5:10 PM

Originally Posted by macdermesser

eh???

What woulld you like to me to answer, or is it a eh at my ****e typing

**Billsthoughts** · 27/08/2007, 5:56 PM

Originally Posted by John83

I've heard a number of former youth internationals talk about Kerr who had nothing nice to say about him at all.

he did win a couple of unprecedented trophies tho?

**geysir** · 27/08/2007, 6:11 PM

The key word is "former".

**NeilMcD** · 27/08/2007, 6:28 PM

Lads Kerrs record and underage is top class. So what a few did not like him. I am sure there are a few who did not like Ferguson or did not like Clough of Shankly or Capello. You cant go life with everybody liking you. Kerr was top class with the underage set up here.