Anthony Stokes (F free agent b.1988)

**Razors left peg** · 08/03/2009, 12:43 PM

Hes only 20 so if he has got his attitude right he can still become the player we all hoped he would be

**Razors left peg** · 21/08/2009, 9:01 AM

Just signed for Hibs in Scotland under same manager he did so well with at Falkirk.Hopefully he can re ignite his career

**ifk101** · 21/08/2009, 9:21 AM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Just signed for Hibs in Scotland under same manager he did so well with at Falkirk.Hopefully he can re ignite his career

Good move for him. He needs to be playing football and it's reasonable to assume he'll be first choice at Hibs.

**eirebhoy** · 21/08/2009, 10:56 AM

At least he'll be playing as the main striker for Hughes.

**Manblue** · 21/08/2009, 11:21 AM

The only ppl who could possibly still rate this guy are himself and his father in his rubbish articles about how he should be playing

**eirebhoy** · 21/08/2009, 11:24 AM

I said a few times it's a pity he's technically superior to a lot of the players he played with because managers then tended to try and get him in the game more. When played deep, on the wing or as a 2nd striker I've rarely been impressed. He's constantly losing possession. When played as the main striker who's role is to beat the offside and score goals he has always impressed me.

**Crosby87** · 21/08/2009, 11:32 AM

I dont think he will ever be heard from again, destined to play the string out with Joe Lampara in Norways 3rd division........If this happens with James McCarthy I will be annoyed.
I have had many a drunken night here talking with Irish Carpenters and Plumbers in Local 1 who took great pains to convince me that the bedrocks of the 2014 team that was to challenge in Brazil were the coy Shane Supple in net, the tricky Tony Stokes and incomprable Liam Miller as an unstoppable tandem boistered by the sure to be healthy Terry Dixon as the new Irish Rover, all over the field. Now look. We are going to have to get Keane Given, and Duff anti ageing pills and they can be expensive.

**Razors left peg** · 21/08/2009, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I said a few times it's a pity he's technically superior to a lot of the players he played with because managers then tended to try and get him in the game more. When played deep, on the wing or as a 2nd striker I've rarely been impressed. He's constantly losing possession. When played as the main striker who's role is to beat the offside and score goals he has always impressed me.

I totally agree with that.When he was at Falkirk he was allowed to play as an out and out striker and he looked outstanding but since then he has been played as a midfielder,winger and just behind the front man.He is still a kid so if he starts banging in the goals again up there and gets his confidence back he still has a great chance.Wouldnt write him off just yet.

**republicofwhite** · 21/08/2009, 12:22 PM

Apart from needing to play on his own up front(which I totally agree with, he has the talent, he clearly cant play anywhere else, needs a fresh start and to knuckle down) hopefully this brings him down to earth a bit and makes him more mature. Thats clearly what he needs to do. He's the proverbial spoilt brat, who is just money mad and incredibly immature. Just after Stokes joined Sunderland, a mate of mine was up outside Club 92(Don't ask me why) talking to the girl Stokes was scoring at the time, and Stokes came up saying he had to go to the banklink. She's said "Its grand, I have some money if you want, just get me back later". His retort?
"Eh, do you have a loan of 6 Grand? Don't think so"

**dr_peepee** · 21/08/2009, 1:16 PM

Jayzus... I don't think ATMs give out that kind of poke do they?? Thought it was capped at 750...

Anyhoo... I remember Strachan Questioning his ambition as a player when he rejected Celtic for a decision between a relegation battle with Charlton or Championship football with Sunderland... Seems he wasn't far wrong.

I don't think he's looked in "Good nick" physically for a while... Hope he turns it around but it smacks of another Sean Thornton to me!!

**Manblue** · 21/08/2009, 1:53 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

I totally agree with that.When he was at Falkirk he was allowed to play as an out and out striker and he looked outstanding but since then he has been played as a midfielder,winger and just behind the front man.He is still a kid so if he starts banging in the goals again up there and gets his confidence back he still has a great chance.Wouldnt write him off just yet.

Thats his level alright i suppose,

**youngirish** · 21/08/2009, 2:25 PM

Originally Posted by dr_peepee

Jayzus... I don't think ATMs give out that kind of poke do they?? Thought it was capped at 750...

Anyhoo... I remember Strachan Questioning his ambition as a player when he rejected Celtic for a decision between a relegation battle with Charlton or Championship football with Sunderland... Seems he wasn't far wrong.

I don't think he's looked in "Good nick" physically for a while... Hope he turns it around but it smacks of another Sean Thornton to me!!

The Thornton comparison is very apt here except worryingly Thornton at least proved he had the ability to do well in the Premiership and subsequently in the Championship while Stokes has been found lacking in both.

He'll probably do well up in Scotland though so who knows a few years down the line he could step up a level again but I don't now ever see him being the top striker we all hoped for a few years ago.

**Razors left peg** · 21/08/2009, 2:51 PM

Originally Posted by Manblue

Thats his level alright i suppose,

It was a hell of alot of goals to get for an 18 year old in the SPL

**irishfan86** · 21/08/2009, 7:16 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

It was a hell of alot of goals to get for an 18 year old in the SPL

ManBlue played at U-18s when he was 12, and with the U-11s when he was 4, leave him alone.

He says so in this video (3 min point on):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXJKkOaJW18

**tetsujin1979** · 22/08/2009, 12:29 PM

Stokes starts up front for Hibs away at Falkirk today. It's on ESPN if anyone wants to check out how he's playing

**eirebhoy** · 22/08/2009, 12:46 PM

It doesn't take a scout to see his goalscoring instincts already. Beat the offside line twice so far to receive long balls but just missed both chances. He's had 5 or 6 shots so far. Once he gets a goal he'll be on a run no doubt. Hughes seems to be the only manager that knows him well and that even includes Wenger who wanted him to play on the wing.

**Eirambler** · 22/08/2009, 8:15 PM

Decent debut from Stokes today. As a hibs fan I'm delighted to see so many Irish players turning up at the club all of a sudden, but Stokes is the only one with any real international hopes at senior level.

Looked tidy, but lacking a little match sharpness. Hopefully playing in an attack minded team with a manager that has gotten the best out of him in the past can revive his career.

**kennedmc** · 23/08/2009, 6:39 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

It doesn't take a scout to see his goalscoring instincts already. Beat the offside line twice so far to receive long balls but just missed both chances. He's had 5 or 6 shots so far. Once he gets a goal he'll be on a run no doubt. Hughes seems to be the only manager that knows him well and that even includes Wenger who wanted him to play on the wing.

Wenger was interviewed by an Irish journalist in either the Sunday times or Sunday Indo around 4 years ago and was asked about Stokes. He said he is a player of very good technique but he sees him as a Paul scholes type midfielder hence why he wanted to play him there. Other managers also have played him as a wide midfielder

I think its only Stokes himself (and the greatJohn Hughes!) who fancies himself as a striker. I don't rate him upfront as an out and out striker - to me he doesn't have enough pace and isn't a good enough finisher.

Just finished reading Carraghers book and he played upfront until he was 16 and then moved back. If he hadn't of listened to the advice of people who know the game far better than he does, he'd probably be playing up front as a non league striker now.

It seems odd to me that Stokes is happy to ignore (a massive piece) of advice from a manager who is seen as a great in the modern game.

**Stuttgart88** · 23/08/2009, 10:10 PM

It's only one game I know, but I watched Sunderlanmd's first game of last season - a late win over Spurs I think - and Stokes looked lost upfront. He failed to read any through balls or flick ons and was completely disconnected from his strike partner (Jones?). You can have all the athleticism and talent in the world but if you haven't the footballing intelligence for your position then it's a big mountain to climb. That game put serious doubts in my mind about Stokes' ability as an outright forward (not to mention really careless missed passes against England U21s in Cork). Good player, yes. Good brain? Not so sure.

**tetsujin1979** · 30/08/2009, 11:37 AM

Stokes starting up front against Celtic. Irish spine in the Hibs team, Stack in goals, Cregg in centre midfield, Stokes up front.
McGeady on the left for Celtic, Flood and O'Dea on the bench