Anthony Stokes (F free agent b.1988)

**geysir** · 02/01/2007, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Got sent this article on a Celtic Mailing list, apparently it's from the times, but I can't find a link to the article online

It was right in front of you on Footie

The link to the ST article was already posted here (message 407).
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspap...4398_1,00.html

**republicofwhite** · 02/01/2007, 6:57 PM

Originally Posted by Fergie's Son

Wegner does not rate him which is a cause for concern given the fact that he is a very good judge of talent.

,

This is true, he's back at Arsenal, and considering he's been on fire, in exceptional form and scored a hat trick a matter of days ago, you think in the off chance he might just have got a place on the bench for tonight, as Arsenal have been firing blanks, they have about 4/5 strikers and attackers out injured and Bendter and Lupoli are still out on loan. But no, Henry recalled from exile and the absolutely hapless and hopeless Jeremie Aliaderie the only recognised striker on the bench. So yeah, Wenger probably just wants to make some money out of him at this stage. As regards Cregg, extremely determined, quite passionate...hence the lofty Keano comparisons. But the ability isn't quite apparent just yet...i.e. Falkirk fan getting very carried away.

**McGinty** · 02/01/2007, 8:52 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

I was over in Edinburgh for New Year's Eve and got talking to a Falkirk supporter. Much and all that he loves Stokes, he says that a young Irish player there called Cregg is "the new Roy Keane". Anyone know anything about him ?

he's another former arsenal lad, scored a peno yesterday aswell.

i played with him when i was younger, always was a quality player, i've been tracking him for years as has my dad who used to train him, and i really hope he does well for himself. gonna try and go over before the end of the season to see him play

its impossible to tell how he's gonna do in the future though, stokes bangs in a rake of goals and the whole of england takes notice, its a little harder for a central midfielder to make an impression

**Wolfie** · 02/01/2007, 9:20 PM

Originally Posted by McGinty

.........its impossible to tell how he's gonna do in the future though, stokes bangs in a rake of goals and the whole of england takes notice, its a little harder for a central midfielder to make an impression

True - early days. Still, given the paucity of midfielders, its great to see someone even showing some early potential.

**eirebhoy** · 03/01/2007, 9:59 AM

Here's Falkirk v Inverness highlights:
http://www.zshare.net/video/falkirk3inverness1-avi.html

Download link

Nice pass from Cregg for one of the goals.

**McGinty** · 03/01/2007, 11:48 AM

cheers eirebhoy, any chance of anyone putting up any more falkirk links, i'll relying on bogey youtube for my falkirk updates!

**Irish_Praha** · 03/01/2007, 2:54 PM

Does anyone know how long he has left on his contract with Aresnal?
They would be crazy to sell him now and get about a million for him, when he could be a star of the future and go on to be worth much more than that. He's only 18. Far to early to make a concrete decision on him. If I was them I'd loan him out to a EPL team for the rest of the season - on the condition that he gets at least 30 mins to ease him in for his first game and then starts the next 5 games. Then it's up to the loan team after that if they want to keep him in the starting 11. It's not going to do him anygood to get the odd 15 min subs appearance and waste his time like Giuseppe Rossi at Newcastle. That would be a step backwards from starting every week with Falkirk. I'd say teams like Aston Villa, Charlton, Watford, Sheff Utd and Man City would all give him a chance.

**galwayhoop** · 03/01/2007, 3:16 PM

Originally Posted by Irish_Praha

If I was them I'd loan him out to a EPL team for the rest of the season - on the condition that he gets at least 30 mins to ease him in for his first game and then starts the next 5 games. Then it's up to the loan team after that if they want to keep him in the starting 11. It's not going to do him anygood to get the odd 15 min subs appearance and waste his time like Giuseppe Rossi at Newcastle. That would be a step backwards from starting every week with Falkirk. I'd say teams like Aston Villa, Charlton, Watford, Sheff Utd and Man City would all give him a chance.

are you for real! what team in the EPL would agree to this in fairness - no matter how he plays he has got to start the first 5 games - get a grip! the only conditions you hear about loan deals is they aren't allowed to play against the team loaning out the player.

with relegation, european qualification, more money for finishing higher up the table ... etc you would never hear of this. i'm sure warnock would agree to it straight away (in your dreams) while he tries to keep SU in the league yet is forced to play some young lad for a third of their remaining games no matter how he performs!!

i think you may be playing too many Champ Manager games my son!

**eirebhoy** · 03/01/2007, 3:23 PM

Apparantly Wenger said in last nights programme that he'll be loaned out for the rest of the season. I don't know how true that is. With Darren Bent getting injured I wouldn't be suprised to see him go to Charlton.

**republicofwhite** · 03/01/2007, 4:16 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUJISZo4RBQ

Its Arsenal's top ten reserve goals from last season. Check it out, Stokes's goals are brilliant individual efforts, remember he was 17 at the time and he's also right footed, he stands out a mile on this footage. Cregg has a goal in there too.

**Billsthoughts** · 03/01/2007, 11:39 PM

Originally Posted by galwayhoop

are you for real! what team in the EPL would agree to this in fairness - no matter how he plays he has got to start the first 5 games - get a grip! the only conditions you hear about loan deals is they aren't allowed to play against the team loaning out the player.

!

Actually not true. Have it on good authority that the reason sunderland didnt take him on loan at the start of the season was that arsenal insisted he play every game. bet they are kicking themselves now!

**dodgycanadian** · 04/01/2007, 2:39 AM

Was talking to the Cherry Orchard u18s manager a few days ago when I was over in Dublin as he was actually my taxi driver. He was telling me how Stokes' dad is banned from the Cherry Orchard clubhouse and grounds as he is a bit of a rat. Also I was told that Stokes had a deal in principle with Man United but then his father went out calling clubs toting him around for a new deal which Arsenal came up with.

**bawn79** · 04/01/2007, 7:49 AM

I know a guy from Cherry Orchard as well and allegedly that is true. Allegedly he stole an entire underage team (U-13/U14) and took them all to Shelbourne so you could understand why they would be miffed about something like that.

**drummerboy** · 04/01/2007, 8:06 AM

I think the reason Stokes hasn't got more chances with Arsenal is probably because of the interferring influence of his father. He now works for the same agency that took Ashley Cole to Chelsea.

**tetsujin1979** · 04/01/2007, 8:54 AM

According to 2fm this morning Roy Keane is going to speak to Stokes in the next few days about him coming to Sunderland. I hear they're stuck for Irish strikers there alright.

Also, from today's Indo: http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stor...=12&si=1748851
Hughes accepts Stokes delay
Thursday January 4th 2007

FALKIRK manager John Hughes says he is willing to wait a couple of weeks in the hope that Anthony Stokes will be allowed to return to the Bairns, WRITES DANIEL McDONNELL.
Stokes is in London to discuss his future with Arsenal amid speculation that Celtic are willing to make a bid for him while Sunderland and Charlton prepare loan moves.
It means that a return to Falkirk is unlikely but Hughes won't be signing another striker to replace him until he knows his future plans for certain.
"We are sitting tight for the next couple of weeks and if nothing happens then maybe we will get him back," says Hughes. "I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place at the moment."

**passinginterest** · 04/01/2007, 9:37 AM

I heard this morning on NewsTalk that Sunderland, Charlton and Celtic all had 2million pound offers accepted by Arsenal. I'd like to see if he could do a job at Charlton I think.

**galwayhoop** · 04/01/2007, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

Actually not true. Have it on good authority that the reason sunderland didnt take him on loan at the start of the season was that arsenal insisted he play every game.

silly me i must have fallen asleep and missed sunderland's promotion to the EPL (aka english premier league)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Irish_Praha** · 04/01/2007, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by galwayhoop

silly me i must have fallen asleep and missed sunderland's promotion to the EPL (aka english premier league)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK maybe the loan team wouldn't agree to starting him for 5 games in a row but some sort of deal should be arranged where he is gaurenteed a minimum amount of play time using that as a starting point. You don't get if you don't ask

The idea would be to see how he copes in the EPL and if he is worth keeping. It would be a futile exercise if they loan him out and he only gets the odd 15 min sub appearance. With one of the Bents injured and Hasselbank being pursued by West Ham I think Charlton would agree to at least give him 3 starts in a row if they got him on loan. Barring injury and suspension of course.

**pete** · 04/01/2007, 11:39 AM

Stokes must be the most over-rated irish players since...well the last next best thing. Do other countries fall over themselves with optimism when some young kid scores a hattrick against Dunfirmline.

Stokes has no scored a league goal against any top half of the table side in the SPL. The best league goal scored was against Kilmarnock (7th place).