opened this thread half expecting to read he has retired. couldn't cut it in the SPL for whatever reason. we can safely forget about him in terms of the national side.
He scored twice for Hibs in that epic Cup Final win over Rangers so he has earned himself a place in the annals of that club. He has not featured in any of Neil Lennon's match day squads this year having reportedly been dropped for disciplinary reasons and subsequently requesting time off (according to RTE).
Last edited by OwlsFan; 31/01/2018 at 3:37 PM.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
opened this thread half expecting to read he has retired. couldn't cut it in the SPL for whatever reason. we can safely forget about him in terms of the national side.
He certainly has had a lot of coverage for non football stuff .
Never good for a sports person .
Συμφωνία με τον Άντονι Στόουκς
http://www.fcapollon.gr/news/ola-ta-...spx%3fpage%3d0
Google Translate gives this from the page -
Apollo Smyrna FC announces agreement with footballer Antony Stoke. Born on July 25, 1988, the Irish striker has fought in Hibernian, Blackburn, Celtic, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, Sunderland, Falkirk and Arsenal. It is international with the Irish National Team.
Seems a bit harsh. It was just that one time in Buck Whaley's, I thought...
Hello, hello? What's going on? What's all this shouting, we'll have no trouble here!
- E Tattsyrup.
Sun, sea and ouzo - that's going to work out just dandy.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
He had plenty to make it as an international footballer but his attitude was wrong. Too much success, too soon it seems. Probably believed his own hype.
Everyone is entitled to a second chance but he's screwed up off the field numerous times.
If I was a manager I wouldn't touch him with a bargepole
Folding my way into the big money!!!
Agree with the first and last bits, but the part in bold is a little bit harsh. He did cut it in the SPL with both Hibs and Celtic; hit 20 goals four times in five years, as well as 16 in 18 with Falkirk.
Apollon Smyrni is some drop though. I don't think there's too much depth in Greece outside the top few, and Smyrni are just above the relegation zone, having been promoted last season. Average crowd less than 1000. Will presumably be hoping for a productive few months and a big transfer in the summer, but if it doesn't happen, he could well return to Ireland.
It's not exactly a big fat Greek transfer but i'd take spring time in Athens over Dundalk.
What a Plonker ! Can you imagine who ever ( agent or ) gets a player like this these chances and he just continues to fook up .
Who would be foolish enough to give him another chance if this ends they way its looking likely .
Himself and Darron Gibson. Saw them in an Ireland under 19 match when I was a kid. They were a different level to all. Thankfully I didn't rely on then for inspiration. Two of the greatest wastes of talent Irish football will ever see. I hope they're proud.
There is also the types that use the drink or what ever for not being good enough...
The, sure....I would have been great if only the drink did not get hold of me.........good cover if you were not good enough .
Admittedly , they can be under pressure to make the grade but some of these things can be used as a cover .
With Gibson anyway, not sure you can use the not good enough reasoning. He just made very bad choices, combined with some bad injuries.
I think it's not so much about using the excuse of drink as cover for not being good enough, more that, in the modern game, not letting drink (or other vices) take hold of you is part and parcel of actually being good enough - and that's what makes players like Stokes so infuriating - we know he likely had the ability to be a really top player-an EPL and international team fixture, but that he settled for being part of a Celtic team that coasted to victories in a mostly Rangers-less SPL and failed to rise to greater challenges. Whereas on the other hand you have Jon Walters, whose early career seemed to mark him out as no more than a solid Championship journeyman, but through focus, determination and desire, took the chance offered to him by Stoke and racked up over 200 Premier League appearances and 43 goals along with 51 international caps and 14 international goals, all in the second half of his career. And Stokes still could make an impact, considering he should still be in the peak of his career at the age of 29, especially when you consider that Walters got 10 of his international goals after turning 30. But no... he's gone AWOL from another club.
Iran? 2 years? Anthony Stokes? If he sees that contract out I would be utterly dumbfounded.
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