Often Partisan

Blues Linked With Anthony Stokes

Reports in Scotland have linked Blues with Celtic striker Anthony Stokes. The former Arsenal man scored twice in the Scottish Cup Final for loan club Hibernian and is out of contract at Parkhead.

The Scotsman reports that Stokes may be moved on due to new Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers wishing to trim the squad down significantly. Although Blues are mentioned in the article there are no direct quotes nor is there anything else within the article to suggest Blues are actually interested. Celtic have a one-year option on Stokes which they could choose to exercise purely to ensure a fee is paid for the 27-year-old frontman.

Stokes’ record in Scotland is good but in England it’s pretty poor; in 61 league appearances in England he’s scored just four times. He’s also had disciplinary problems throughout his career, being barred from a nightclub in Sunderland as it was believed to affect his training and being disciplined by Celtic on more than one occasion for various infractions.

While I can believe Blues would be looking for a striker I’m not sure Stokes fits the type that Rowett would look for; the Blues boss has in the past made mention of how the personality of a player is a big deal and I would think that Stokes’ past issues would count against him; likewise if Celtic did pick up his option then the price for Stokes could well be out of our price range also.

I think as June is approaching we’ll see more from Blues on the transfer front with management staff returning from holiday and the build up to pre-season beginning.

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53 Responses to “Blues Linked With Anthony Stokes”

  • Tony E says:

    Just what we don’t need, a non scoring striker with disciplinary issues. No thank you.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    Once upon a time, when he was at Arsenal, Stokes showed a lot of promise, that’s why Sunderland paid £2m for him as a 19 year old. But now? Well you only have to look at Reece Brown to see how Rowett feels about players who don’t toe the line. I’d be surprised if we were remotely interested for that reason alone.

  • mark says:

    imo i don’t think GR can handle players of his nature…best left alone really

  • Gary R says:

    I just hope GR gets most of his players in by the time they jet off for Marbella, if not they might as well stay at Wast Hills. The trip is about team bonding and fitness, but if there’s no new squad members going what’s the point? I just really hope GR doesn’t start the season with the current squad and hope to sign the players on Deadline Day, as that would mean the season is already 3 weeks old. Needs to be sorted in the next 2-3 weeks.

  • kirkus says:

    One goal every 15 games then in England mmmmm

  • williammorgan says:

    If needs must , sometimes a different environment a different person …..probably paper talk…..kro

  • KC says:

    Just wonder where the money is coming from in the short term?
    How much have we drawn from the original TT loan set against the ground? Was this just to support the day to day running of the club including players wages ? Did we use a big proportion of the Gray money for the in-season signings that unfortunately did not make the required difference to give us a push forward or maintain our position at that time ? Are we relying on just savings from players wages that have been released and a bonus from a possible Redman sale to fund new signings ? Do TT need to put more money in just to keep us going in the short term ?
    Must admit I get confused with the maths of money that has already been spent from loans from someone who has not yet taken us over and possibly plans to sell us on ! But I suupose it’s not difficult to get confused supporting the Blues. KRO

  • Richard Granfield says:

    Anthony Stokes is a player of undoubted ability, but suffers from upsetting managers…..Ronnie Deila and Giovanni Trappatoni spring to mind.
    He celebrates his 28th birthday soon so may be maturing, but I’m not holding my breath.

  • ChrisG says:

    We seem to be linked with 3 players a day!!!, I don’t know where all the money’s supposed to come from to finance these deals. Of all the players that have been named there’s only Tesche worth considering, the others are either too old, too troubled or just not good enough. I think the time to take notice is when they’re stood in the Kop holding a blues scarf

  • Dave Mann says:

    As always Chris , rumours, paper talk and gossip is always a way for fans to keep the interest going during the summer months … For me it’s getting Toral back on loan if possible and maybe Shotton if we can’t get a better centre half before we even think about anyone else coming in but that’s my opinion .. It’s early days and the season in the championship only finished yesterday ( well done Brucey) so as the slogan goes ” keep calm and support the Blues” …and when they are standing in St. Andrews with a Blues scarf and a contact then and only then will I believe they are our player . KRO

    • mark says:

      under barry fry we would have filled the kop with players lol

    • bhamcityjulian says:

      On the evidence to date Rowett would not allow to co-exist on the pitch which would be a pity.

    • bhamcityjulian says:

      On the evidence to date Rowett would not allow Fab and Toral to co-exist on the pitch which would be a pity.

    • ChrisG says:

      Spot on Dave, I was wondering the other day where the future lies for Torel, as good as he was for us i’m not sure he’s ready for the prem yet, although with better players around him like they have at the Arse he could absolutely florish. It’s amazing what a different player Shotton was when moved to CB & like you say it would be good to get him back too.

  • mark says:

    hahahaha sorry cannot stop laughing vilers best highlight of their season was beating us in a cup game…..can’t wait for us BOOOOOOOOm them…..obviously they couldn’t find anything else to talk about their great time in premiership.. i can.beaten/ whipped and served cold lol

  • StaffsBlue says:

    I think that’s the best way of dealing with all these rumours. The proof of a signing is a picture of a player waving the scarf on the Kop.

    Like Gary R, I do hope that we might have two or three new players in by the time we go away for pre-season training. The later they come in, the longer it will take any new players to settle… and the further into the window we get, the less quality is likely to be left.

  • mark says:

    Daniel without losing track of time is Carson court date due…….

  • Tony says:

    What a total non event

  • Agent McLeish says:

    I remember some fans moaning prior to us signing the likes is Savage, Bowyer, Ferguson etc. They turned out OK.

  • Big Al says:

    Saw stokes play last week in the cup final. He was awesome. No huge protests from me if he signs.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    I have no quibble with problem players. It didn’t stop the likes of Bowyer, Pennant, King, Morrison etc doing well for us. I’ve seen Stokes have plenty of good games and his reputation doesn’t bother me. But I’m not the manager.. and I’m not sure Rowett would put up with a troublesome influence in the dressing room. He puts a lot of store on a tight dressing room.

  • Dave Mann says:

    I was thinking the same thing Al , he played well and looked dangerous but the negativity of some fans is understandable though for me he’s averaged 1 goal in 2 and a bit games over the last 7 seasons so Ime not so sure .. I’ve got admit that I wouldn’t be to dissapointed if we did get him but hey what the hell .. Maybe it could work !! KRO

  • Mitchell says:

    For those about to watch Barnsley v Millwall-keep tabs on Mawson and Winnal. Mawson the most likely for GR.

  • Dave Mann says:

    Mitchell , please stop speculating , it really is annoying , sorry mate but it must be said !! KRO

    • Mitchell says:

      Blimey Dave -do we really have to have your approval on what we comment on this OP site? Not like you to be offended by speculation. Football fans throughout the leagues speculate and debate,it is what we do. Headmaster zone is not you Dave.

  • Dave Mann says:

    No it isent mate but lets just get on with it and stop the rediculous rumours we do by complicating issues that done exist .. Let reality and not opinion take over yes !!!

  • Dave Mann says:

    Lovely jubbly .KRO

  • williammorgan says:

    I think the worst thing about these rumours are that they are coming from top rated sources, and then a big fat 0 instead of crosse s KRO

  • bhamcityjulian says:

    Appropo nothing really. I came across a picture in Wikipedia:

    Clun Castle at Chester General station, about to take the southbound “Zulu” special to Birmingham Snow Hill, 4 March 1967

    We were playing Blackburn away. Is this train journey the origin for BCFC Zulus’s or is it the Boer War?

  • zulu1690 says:

    Main problem with this bloke is he isn’t very good :(

  • williammorgan says:

    It is no good tormenting ourselves , raising our own hopes because we want things to be true , we have to remain focused , GR is probably twisting some players arm up his back now , either that or he is on a Kefalonia beach choking on a beer, in reading our comments , either way we must keep a grip , and stop threatening to blow his balls up with an hot air balloon burner ……KRO

    • StaffsBlue says:

      If it were me, I’d want to get all my business done early, then I could hit the beach and relax fully with my family, safe in the knowledge that my squad was in place ready for pre-season. But I suppose different managers do it differently.

  • Dave Mann says:

    Easier said than done mate , in a ideal world yes that would be the case but with transfers nowadays it’s not so easy to get over the line especially when your limited on budget and wages .. Let’s get the process done properly and see where we are come the start of the season . KRO

  • zulu1690 says:

    Just to add that the bloke was always going to give everything he had and more in a cup final v rangers. He’ll probably never play a better game than that ever again

  • Dodger says:

    I watched the Scott’s cup final and it was suprisingly a really good game and Stokes was the best forward on the pitch by some way.
    I certainly think he is better than what we have at the moment and at 27 just hitting his peak if the wages are not out of our reach I would be well pleased to get him down the blues.

  • Dave Mann says:

    Ime tending to agree mate , got this feeling that he could be a signing that could supprise even the biggest critics and do the buisiness but even I can’t explain why to be honest . KRO

  • williammorgan says:

    I’m afraid we will have to have 2 people going round with the hat as this waiting is a drag …

  • dino tiltoni says:

    Hmm, another Scottish striker coming to Blues? Yippee! Let’s hope he’s better than O’Connor and Johnstone.


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