Anthony Stokes (F free agent b.1988)

**passinginterest** · 27/11/2006, 12:09 PM

Arsenal are crying out for a natural goal scorer to play alongside Henry. I wouldn't rule out a return too soon. As far as I can make out Wenger rates him highly and there's a real chance he'll get a run at Arsenal.

**endabob1** · 27/11/2006, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by passinginterest

Arsenal are crying out for a natural goal scorer to play alongside Henry. I wouldn't rule out a return too soon. As far as I can make out Wenger rates him highly and there's a real chance he'll get a run at Arsenal.

But he's not French

**tetsujin1979** · 27/11/2006, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by endabob1

But he's not French

Neither are Van Persie or Adebayor

**Peadar** · 27/11/2006, 1:03 PM

Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

Well I met the Arsenal chairman the other week and he didn't even know who Stokes was.

If an offer of �2.5m came in from Celtic, you can be sure he'd know who he was then...

**FootballsKing** · 27/11/2006, 1:10 PM

Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

Well I met the Arsenal chairman the other week and he didn't even know who Stokes was.

this shocks me. also i read in some irish paper the other day that wenger had never seen stokes play which shocked me so much that i decided not to believe it. Surely wenger has the final say in wheather players go out on loan or not and bases this decision on their performances for the reserves etc. if it were true i would lose a lot of respect for Wenger. If not him then who is the talented scout who actually has the final say in initially signing these genius youngsters, fabregas, bendtner, stokes, lupoli, eboue, gilbert etc? had wenger even seen Walcott play?

**cheifo** · 27/11/2006, 3:09 PM

It was Wenger who decided that it would be of benefit to Stokes to play him on the wing for a while.He has commented on him several times.I presume
Stokes is suspended for nexts weeks game against Rangers?
BTW Tuff Paddy where did you meet Peter Hill Wood(chairman?)...cmon dont be coy spill the beans I,m sure it was'nt in some Soho club

**dodgycanadian** · 27/11/2006, 3:11 PM

With the amount of strikers waiting their turn at arsenal im not even surprised he didnt know who stokes was. Surely with Van Persie, Adebayor, Lupoli, Bendtner, Aliadi�re (who wenger still rates highly regardless of injuries), and dont forget about Carlos Vela (won the U17 worlds with mexico and received player of the tournament), it looks like Stokes is in a log jam and should move to a lower end of the table premiership team at the end of the season or even by January.

**Fergie's Son** · 27/11/2006, 3:28 PM

I'd like to see him extend his loan period with Falkirk until the end of the season. I think it would be good for him to bang in 20+ goals before he decides to move on.

**passinginterest** · 27/11/2006, 3:39 PM

I think the common factor with most of the strikers on that list is that they've nearly all been given some first team opportunities. If Stokes goes back to Arsenal in January bang in form I still feel he might get a chance.

**Fergie's Son** · 27/11/2006, 8:20 PM

Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

I met him on the day they officially opened the stadium. He was alright, though I was genuinely surprised at him not knowing anything about Stokes. Maybe we're just a bit obsessed and he isn't, I don't know.

Surprising. Perhaps Stokes just hasn't made it as far as we think.

**republicofwhite** · 28/11/2006, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by passinginterest

I think the common factor with most of the strikers on that list is that they've nearly all been given some first team opportunities. If Stokes goes back to Arsenal in January bang in form I still feel he might get a chance.

Not a chance... There is just no way he'll be given a shot at the first team. Unfortunately thats just the way it is at Arsenal. Its an embarrassment of riches with all the talented youth that they have there and they just dont seem to appreciate it! Wqay too much of a logjam with strikers. I'd still love to see him go to someone like Villa, become a regular and bang in a goal or two agaisnt Arsenal themselves. That would be the only way they'd sit up and take notice!

**mr.brightside** · 28/11/2006, 11:34 AM

They must know whos stokes is....was he not in the arsenal squad when berkamp had his testimonial???? and he got on for 10mins in a carling cup game last year!!!!!..... was talking to him the day after the B international game and he said he will move on in the summer but could be back at arsenal after christmas if his loan deal isnt extended.....

**eirebhoy** · 28/11/2006, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

Well I'd be worried if my boss didn't know who I was!

I'm sure the chairman of Tesco can't name all his staff.

**Dublin12** · 28/11/2006, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I'm sure the chairman of Tesco can't name all his staff.

Im sure he could if he was paying them big money

**mr.brightside** · 28/11/2006, 12:25 PM

im sure jose mourinho hasnt a clue who conor clifford......

or most of you's on this forum

**bmozza** · 28/11/2006, 12:59 PM

Chairmen notoriously no absolutley nothing about football anyway, unless of course you own Hearts!
9 times out of 10 it's just another business to them...however much they try to gloss over that fact by insisting they're a ''real fan''.

**eirebhoy** · 28/11/2006, 1:02 PM

Originally Posted by mr.brightside

or most of you's on this forum

I found out about him on Football Manager.

http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=41499

**republicofwhite** · 28/11/2006, 2:48 PM

Originally Posted by mr.brightside

They must know whos stokes is....was he not in the arsenal squad when berkamp had his testimonial???? and he got on for 10mins in a carling cup game last year!!!!!..... was talking to him the day after the B international game and he said he will move on in the summer but could be back at arsenal after christmas if his loan deal isnt extended.....

The loan should, and probably will be extended. Its in everybody's best interests... If things keep going as they are hopefully he'll finish as top scorer in the SPL and move onto a qulaity Premiership team in the summer... He actually came on in the 89th minute in that Carling Cup game...Unfortunately! As an aside, Conor Clifford is supposed to be ridiculously talented.