Anthony Stokes (F free agent b.1988)

**Razors left peg** · 17/10/2010, 12:01 PM

watchin Celtic against Dundee united at the moment. Very frustrated to see Stokes being played out on the wing again. Especially since Samaras is being played up front. Really dont understand how managers dont see that Stokes has always played his best football when played as an out and out striker

**tetsujin1979** · 17/10/2010, 12:05 PM

two magnificent passes from Stokes in midfield already, one leading to the opening goal, the other should have been a second from Samaras.

**Razors left peg** · 17/10/2010, 12:09 PM

he is playing well, but like many good players he could go up to Scotland and stand out in alot of positions. But he has been messed around alot in his career already playing different positions, especially at Sunderland. But when he has been played up top he has been most effective

**geysir** · 17/10/2010, 1:58 PM

Only saw the 2nd half against DU, but Stokes played very well I thought. He isn't being messed around with Celtic, at least not the way I saw it. Hooper is the striker, looking to feed off Stokes, Samaras and Maloney. Slight emphasis on all out attack.

**seanfhear** · 17/10/2010, 4:57 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Only saw the 2nd half against DU, but Stokes played very well I thought. He isn't being messed around with Celtic, at least not the way I saw it. Hooper is the striker, looking to feed off Stokes, Samaras and Maloney. Slight emphasis on all out attack.

Is that whats called a nuance (whatever that means)

**geysir** · 17/10/2010, 9:01 PM

Understatement, perhaps?

The future looks very bright for young Stokes. I have only seen him play for Celtic. He has been used out on the left - out on the right - up front. I can say that he has been an irrepressible force each time. The lad does not do self pity. He has so many elements to his game. He could be compared to Fortune, in style of play and role at Celtic, but Stokes is so much better that him - no question. If Fortune is a form line by which we can make a judgement, then Stokes would be firing on all cylinders for West Brom in the EPL.
I think Celtic are playing Rangers next, will be his biggest test I suppose. At the moment, I will restrain my predictions to that he has the potential to be one of our best ever players and just get him in the squad asap.

**Charlie Darwin** · 17/10/2010, 9:49 PM

Fortune has one thing Stokes doesn't - superior strength and athleticism. That's actually two things.

Like you said, Rangers will be the real (and probably only) test of his abilities against top defenders. Every other week he's up against slow, cumbersome Scotsmen who can easily be overcome with a neat touch or a turn of pace, but he'll need a complete game to perform consistently against Rangers. That's what separated the best Celtic strikers of recent years like Larsson and Bellamy from players who'd found their level like Samaras and Jan Venegoor of Hesselink.

**ifk101** · 18/10/2010, 7:07 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Like you said, Rangers will be the real (and probably only) test of his abilities against top defenders. Every other week he's up against slow, cumbersome Scotsmen who can easily be overcome with a neat touch or a turn of pace, but he'll need a complete game to perform consistently against Rangers. That's what separated the best Celtic strikers of recent years like Larsson and Bellamy from players who'd found their level like Samaras and Jan Venegoor of Hesselink.

In terms of technical ability, finishing, creativity and footballing intelligence it's pretty clear Stokes stands out from the crowd that is the Scottish game. I've seen enough of Stokes to know he is capable of playing at a higher level than that offered by Celtic. The only question marks lie over his ambition and determination to become the consistent "top" player you allude to.

**Charlie Darwin** · 18/10/2010, 4:03 PM

I dunno, Samaras used to be a technically good player (and still is when he plays for Greece, bizarrely), but is legs seem to be made of spaghetti when he plays for Celtic. Maybe it's the altitude.

**The Fly** · 18/10/2010, 6:11 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I dunno, Samaras used to be a technically good player (and still is when he plays for Greece, bizarrely), but is legs seem to be made of spaghetti when he plays for Celtic. Maybe it's the altitude.

...or the attitude.

**geysir** · 24/10/2010, 1:21 PM

Stokes never really made an impact the Glasgow derby (i.e.after the first minute). Some tidy work bringing the ball to his left foot, creating a shooting chance but not delivering.

**Razors left peg** · 24/10/2010, 1:44 PM

played on the wing again. It really is a pet hate of mine that he keeps being played there

**Royal rover** · 24/10/2010, 5:55 PM

Was at the game today - yes he played as a winger which doesn't suit him at all - when will Lennon learn - Samaras was on the left wing - Stokesy didn't look a bit confident - overall very average performance, he's much better than that

**Sullivinho** · 24/10/2010, 6:09 PM

Samaras and Stokes as wingers?

Jesus wept..

**geysir** · 24/10/2010, 6:19 PM

Samaras was actually not bad, except he was a 'bit' of a ball hanger

Unfortunately it was Stokes' poorest performance for Celtic.

**dr_peepee** · 24/10/2010, 7:18 PM

Stokes as a Winger is as Baffling to me as McShane as a fullback... Yet managers persist!!

**Junior** · 24/10/2010, 8:12 PM

Poor today. The booking he received in the first minute was pretty much the only meaningful contribution he made in the game. It was a poor challenge and showed that any advice of keeping the head in this fixture was quickly forgotten.

Admittedly he was played out of position and I would have liked to seen him played up top alongside Hooper but Samaras was selected ahead of him for that position and anyway once Maloney went off injured we reverted to a 4-5-1 with Samaras dropping to the left flank. Bizarre really for a home fixture.

**Poor Student** · 24/10/2010, 8:33 PM

Stokes was poor today. Should have been sent off for a reckless takle on Papac, could have broken his ankle. All he did today was drift infield and shoot wildly from distance with his left peg. There's an awful element of greed to his game. I know they say it's a healthy instinct for a striker but I think his decisions are way too far self centred.

**Stuttgart88** · 25/10/2010, 5:35 PM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

Stokes was poor today. Should have been sent off for a reckless takle on Papac, could have broken his ankle. All he did today was drift infield and shoot wildly from distance with his left peg. There's an awful element of greed to his game. I know they say it's a healthy instinct for a striker but I think his decisions are way too far self centred.

That's what Marco Tardelli thinks too.

**SkStu** · 26/10/2010, 5:08 PM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

Stokes was poor today. Should have been sent off for a reckless takle on Papac, could have broken his ankle. All he did today was drift infield and shoot wildly from distance with his left peg. There's an awful element of greed to his game. I know they say it's a healthy instinct for a striker but I think his decisions are way too far self centred.

agreed - too self centred to be an effective winger. But enough to be a good goal scoring striker.