Anthony Stokes (F free agent b.1988)

**tetsujin1979** · 01/02/2011, 8:24 PM

missed a penalty in the first half VS Aberdeen, just rifled in Celtic's third before being substituted for Daryl Murphy

**geysir** · 01/02/2011, 8:53 PM

Assist from Stokes for the first goal to Hooper.
Favour returned by Hooper to Stokes for the third, a lovely left foot strike into the corner from close in.
Both goals worth a view.
Slog of a game though, on a poor pitch. Paddy McCourt was a breath of fresh air when he came on.
I suppose that means he must have packed in the fags.

**Stuttgart88** · 01/02/2011, 10:17 PM

I didn't see either, but what a breath of fersh air to regularly read about two forwards who seem to play well together as a pair. I reckon I'll have to be telling my little fella sometime "back in my day son, there used to be such a thing as a strike partnership" and he'll look at me like I'm a looney.

**Junior** · 01/02/2011, 10:32 PM

They are linking up really well together, both very young and really seem to be enjoying playing together. Stokes' assist for Hoopers goal was a perfectly weighted one-two. He played another lovely through ball to Commons, from very deep, late in the 2nd half but the chance was wasted. it was another example of the high levels of work rate he is putting in as geysir has mentioned elsewhere.

**Philly** · 02/02/2011, 7:57 AM

Nice finish alright. It's hard to judge the SPL really, but hopefully he will get a chance over the next few games with Ireland so we can gauge how good he is right now for ourselves.

**geysir** · 02/02/2011, 12:49 PM

Here's the assist from Stokes for the first goal, 'marginally' overshadowed by some beautiful controlled footwork from Hooper.

**Serb** · 02/02/2011, 12:57 PM

The goal looks more like shocking goal keeping than good finishing to me. It doesn't look like there's a whole lot of power in the left foot shot and it still beats the keeper at his near post. I'm more impressed with the assist. A nice delicate touch that's easier to get wrong than to get right. Himself and Hooper seem to have forged a good understanding, hopefully the goals keep coming.

**irishfan86** · 02/02/2011, 11:57 PM

In the keeper's defense Serb, he looks to be at full stretch, when the ball takes a hop and goes over him. Not world-class keeping but I think that slow motion replay makes the goalkeeper look poorer than he probably was.

**Junior** · 22/02/2011, 10:38 AM

After me stating that Stokes and Hooper were unquestionably the starting strike partnership, Lennon goes and drops him from the Rangers game at the weekend!! Seemed a bit harsh imo and I am not Samaras' biggest fan either but Lennon seems to like him and after a great show at Ibrox in January he obviously wants to give him a few more opportunities.

Stokes came on late in the game but didnt have chance to do much - though true to form he did get involved in an after match handbags session with Alan McGregor.

**geysir** · 22/02/2011, 11:16 AM

I wasn't surprised by Samaras' selection, ahead of Anthony. Samaras is the obvious horse for the course.
He understands the do or die nature of the fixture and embraces the mission wholeheartedly. Against Rangers he plays like a man possessed, he also has the skill and physique to be left up front as lone striker while Hooper dropped deep.
And he was not subbed, Anthony replaced Hooper when he came on late. Samaras clocked up some serious milage out there.

**Charlie Darwin** · 22/02/2011, 11:34 AM

I think Stokes was unlucky that it was Hooper rather than Samaras who scored the goals - Lennon seemed to leave him on long after his legs had gone in the hope of getting the hat trick. Should be no doubt about who the first choice pairing is now.

**Junior** · 22/02/2011, 1:02 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Should be no doubt about who the first choice pairing is now.

Im not so sure. Lennon rates Hooper and Stokes as a pairing too, in fact its been his favoured choice. Samaras played the loan striker at Ibrox and was excellent. You're right geysir he's proven to do well in this fixture but all (certainly most voices I heard) among the crowd in the approach to the stadium were surprised by the change. We all thought it would be a 4-4-2 and therefore that it would be Stokes/Hooper.

Anyway, tactically it worked great and proves that Lennon is not afraid to change things around be it formation or those within the formation - credit to him for that.

**tetsujin1979** · 27/02/2011, 1:35 PM

Substituted in the second half today, with Celtic 2-0 down, and went straight down the tunnel.
Was poor today, and his last act was to drive a free kick into a Motherwell wall, when Commons was surely a better option?

**geysir** · 27/02/2011, 1:46 PM

Stokes was poor in a poor team performance. On a brighter note, Darren Randolph was in goal for Motherwell and did very well.

**OwlsFan** · 01/03/2011, 4:48 PM

Is Stokes going to be another Riordan at Celtic?

**geysir** · 01/03/2011, 5:57 PM

Doomsaying comes natural to you Owls.
Just because Glenmalure Pk was sold, the Hoops made homeless, Sheffield Wed sunk to div 3 or thereabouts, one too many injury time concessions and ref's bunged up to the eyeballs - all doesn't meant there is not the occasional silver lining, that a discarded player might make it back against the odds.

**paul_oshea** · 01/03/2011, 8:49 PM

hehe great to have owls, too many glass half full guys on this site, that you need perspective from owlie

He has years on us too so he has reason!!

**TiocfaidhArmani** · 02/03/2011, 9:15 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

hehe great to have owls, too many glass half full guys on this site, that you need perspective from owlie

He has years on us too so he has reason!!

Who is owlie?

**paul_oshea** · 02/03/2011, 9:27 AM

Its a play on old and owlsfan.owlie no offence intended.

**OwlsFan** · 02/03/2011, 9:43 AM

Originally Posted by geysir

Doomsaying comes natural to you Owls.
Just because Glenmalure Pk was sold, the Hoops made homeless, Sheffield Wed sunk to div 3 or thereabouts, one too many injury time concessions and ref's bunged up to the eyeballs - all doesn't meant there is not the occasional silver lining, that a discarded player might make it back against the odds.

Experience as a general concept comprises knowledge of or skill in or observation of some thing or some event gained through involvement in or exposure to that thing or event.

Who as a "discarded player" has made it back against the odds as a matter of interest? Very few I am afraid. Perhaps he might score a hat trick against Rangers tonight or perhaps he might sit most of the game out on the bench. The odds are on the latter but experience tells me, the former could happen as well. I saw the game against Motherwell as he was hopeless but then so was most of the Celtic team, on a dodgy pitch it has to be said.

Basically, a few goals in Scotland does not equal call up to the national side despite the calls of the knee jerkers. It would be great if Stokes could make it. History says otherwise.

Now back to studying the Division One table and if Owls win their next three games, they are within 3 points of the play offs (but history says otherwise).