I know this might be a premature reaction to some dubious media reports - BUT WHY OH WHY ARE WE LOOKING TO SELL STOKES!?!
Over the past month or so there have been a lot of reports of a potential sale, the main clubs involved have been Falkirk, Sunderland, Charlton and now Ipswich. Personally I take the view that there isn't smoke without fire and that the club must be - at very least - entertaining the idea.
Considering our limited striking options over the past fortnight (that has resulted in Jeremie Aliadiere not only warming the bench - but actually getting some part of a game!) isn't young talent like Stokes - who is currently still the top scorer in Scotland - the type of lad we should be looking to nuture and maybe even...hold on here...give a first-team chance!?!
Personally my heart sinks whenever I see Aliadiere's name on the teamsheet. He may have been a hot talent a few years back, but after some lengthy injury problems and several completely unsuccessful loan deals, he no longer has that same potential. One thing is certain, he no longer has the pace on the ball that he use to. From what I can gleam he was useless at Celtic, Wolves & West Ham - so why does Arsene think he can still do a job for us?
On tuesday, when we were looking to bring on some second half subs against 10-man Charlton, I would have much prefered to have Stokes taking part than Aliadiere. He may be young and no doubt a bit rough round the edges, but unless we give players like that competitive opportunities we will never know if they're the next Henry. Luis Boa Morte made over 35 appearances for the club and it all started when he was a simliar age to Stokes, but somehow I don't get the feeling that Stokes will have this chance.
Obviously my concerns are somewhat academic as Henry, VP & Ade will always be ahead of any young striker in the first team. But I'd like to see Stokes in the second string of strikers, ahead of Aliadiere & even the beast (assuming he's playing upfront - and let's face it he's rubbish as a midfield battler!)
What would be nice is my rant to be totally blown out the water on tuesday night in the Carling Cup and for Stokes to be picked or even picked to start against 'pool. After his display's for Falkirk it's quite possibly the least he deserves.
Stokes
I can see where your coming from and agree about alliadiare (cant be bothered checking spelling). The thing that worries me is that we seem to be allowing a number of youth players to leave. It is possible that Stokes, Lupoli and Larson all sign deals this week which will see them not with us after summer. The talk about these players was that they are great players for the future.
Also look at Bently, two seasons ao he was teh "next Bergkamp" and he was let go and now united are chasing him. We have got to trust Wenger tho, he does not get to much wrong in the Transfer market, and to let young players of quality go, he must know that we have, will have players of better quality who will keep them out.
Also look at Bently, two seasons ao he was teh "next Bergkamp" and he was let go and now united are chasing him. We have got to trust Wenger tho, he does not get to much wrong in the Transfer market, and to let young players of quality go, he must know that we have, will have players of better quality who will keep them out.
I def agree with the comment on alliadiare (spelling?! - who cares)
Lupoli is a fantastic player and def shouldn't be allowed to leave, i remember seeing him for the reserves and he was scoring an average of a goal a game, and he just got a hat-trick for derby in the FA cup third round!!
I've not seen enough of stokes to judge, and being a top scorer is Scotland might to be as good as it sounds but it show he must at least have a goal scoring instinct that should be tested!
Bendner is also fantastic and could definately do it at the top level, trouble is that def leaves too many strikers so its got to be jeremie and stokes for me if we can get some money for them
perhaps we should have invested in more younger defenders / midfielders or we should just be grateful that we even have this problem and it will be a handy couple of mill for the kitty when we sell a couple of them rather than wasting money on wages for them to rot on the bench
Lupoli is a fantastic player and def shouldn't be allowed to leave, i remember seeing him for the reserves and he was scoring an average of a goal a game, and he just got a hat-trick for derby in the FA cup third round!!
I've not seen enough of stokes to judge, and being a top scorer is Scotland might to be as good as it sounds but it show he must at least have a goal scoring instinct that should be tested!
Bendner is also fantastic and could definately do it at the top level, trouble is that def leaves too many strikers so its got to be jeremie and stokes for me if we can get some money for them
perhaps we should have invested in more younger defenders / midfielders or we should just be grateful that we even have this problem and it will be a handy couple of mill for the kitty when we sell a couple of them rather than wasting money on wages for them to rot on the bench
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clockender1
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my first thought on seeing this on sky sports ast night was that if he's worth 4.5 million for The Arsenal to sell him, why are we letting him go without a run in the first team, when we are holding on to Aliadere ?
i guess it can only be cos the kid's attitude is that he wants first team football ?
it does sadden me to see the likes of bentley, stokes, sidwell and upson go, but i guess the reality of our finances has been that 3 or 4 million each for kids that cost nothing pays for the big signings.
i guess it can only be cos the kid's attitude is that he wants first team football ?
it does sadden me to see the likes of bentley, stokes, sidwell and upson go, but i guess the reality of our finances has been that 3 or 4 million each for kids that cost nothing pays for the big signings.
I know what you mean about Bentley Sidwell etc but look at the sides they are playing for now. Sidwell had a little moan when he left about the fact that it was difficult to break in to the first team but when he left it wasnt as if United/Chelski etc were after him, he ended up at Reading, Same for Bentley at Blackburn, and I am sure there are others.
Pennant was given so many chances and didnt take them, more to do with his off field behaviour. When you look at teenage foreign players and teenage english players, i think foreign players are more prepared to knuckle down and work hard. English players tend to work hard yes but get distracted by friends etc who are not footballers. Perhaps foreign teenagers fare better because they dont have their friends with them in this country.
In saying that I think Walcott will be okay, he appears to have a good background and it was nice to see his Dad and Brother in the crowd at Reading away singing ' have you ever seen Chelsea play like this'
Pennant was given so many chances and didnt take them, more to do with his off field behaviour. When you look at teenage foreign players and teenage english players, i think foreign players are more prepared to knuckle down and work hard. English players tend to work hard yes but get distracted by friends etc who are not footballers. Perhaps foreign teenagers fare better because they dont have their friends with them in this country.
In saying that I think Walcott will be okay, he appears to have a good background and it was nice to see his Dad and Brother in the crowd at Reading away singing ' have you ever seen Chelsea play like this'
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highburyJD
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gooner.ed
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Stokes
Not so good that Arsene wants to hang on to him, but having been through Arsenal's academy system, Sunderland will be getting a decent prospect. If you want an equivalent example, think Steven Sidwell at Reading
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clockender1
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