Rangers players snap Celtic stars but refs never book them

[bombaybadboy08 15,660]

Dec 5 2010 Scott Mcdermott, Sunday Mail

ANTHONY STOKES was so fired up for his Old Firm debut he almost got himself sent off within a MINUTE of kick-off.

But the Celtic striker insists he won't make the same mistake again if he's unleashed at Ibrox on January 2.

The Irishman admits the derby hype got the better of him when the Hoops lost 3-1 to Walter Smith's men at Parkhead in October.

His crude lunge on Sasa Papac warranted an early red card but Stokes got away with a yellow before having one of his poorest games so far in a Celtic shirt.

The 22-year-old amazingly believes it was a HARSH booking and claims Ibrox stars have "snapped" Celtic players in the past only to walk away unpunished.

However, if he gets the nod from Neil Lennon to start in Govan next month, Stokes won't let himself get carried away by the pre-match tension this time.

The striker already has his sights on Ibrox and is determined to put things right after a dark debut in the fixture.

Stokes said: "I learned a lot from my first Old Firm game. I was playing out wide that day which was a little bit different.

"If I get the chance to play in the next one at Ibrox I will try to relax more.

"I was probably too hyped up for it but it's a learning curve.

"It's a completely different atmosphere against Rangers when you're a Hibs player compared to being at Celtic.

"Maybe that had an effect on me with the early tackle I made on Papac.

"But what annoyed me was that we watched DVDs of four or five Old Firm games from the past. In every one Rangers players were going in and snapping the Celtic lads but there was never a yellow card.

"The tackle I made was down to me being wound up a bit too much. I still don't really think it was a bad tackle - he followed through a bit and got injured by the way he landed.

"I will certainly try to relax a bit more before the next Old Firm game. I remember thinking after the first one I had been too hyped up and it affected my performance.

"So when I next face Rangers I will just concentrate on playing football.

"The game at Ibrox in January will be massive. The way things are, with Rangers a few points ahead, we need to get a run going before that match.

"That could prove to be a really important game come the end of the season."

Stokes scored a stunning goal for Hibs at Ibrox last season to help the Easter Road side claim a 1-1 draw.

But he admits an Old Firm winner there would mean so much more.

He said: "When I went to Ibrox with Hibs we generally played quite well there.

"That was our problem - we would do well against the bigger teams then lose to the smaller ones when we were fancied to win.

"I've had good experiences at Ibrox in the past and scored a couple of goals so I'm looking forward to going there with Celtic for the first time."

Stokes failed to start Celtic's last two SPL games due to illness and was sick when Lennon's men contrived to drop four points at home to Dundee United and Inverness.

At a time when the club have been embroiled in off-field battles with the SFA, they've lost their impetus on it.

Gers now hold a two-point advantage with a game in hand and the Hoops fans are far from happy with their side.

Stokes sympathises with the supporters after two dismal displays but is certain Lennon's troops can bounce back and make up ground on their rivals before that Old Firm joust.

Celtic's clash with Aberdeen yesterday was postponed due to the bad weather and the Irishman insists the players are desperate to get back out on the pitch.

He said: "The last two weeks haven't been good enough and hopefully this little break will allow us to get our focus back.

"We need to bounce back with some wins because drawing two games in a row is unacceptable at Celtic.

"The results have been disappointing because you don't expect to give away leads but it's about how we react now.

"I can understand the fans' reaction after the Caley Thistle game.

"We were 2-0 up at home. Even if I was still at Hibs - or at any club - I'd expect to hold on in circumstances like that.

"But at Celtic it just shouldn't happen. We should be stronger than that and going on to look for three or four goals.

"I don't think external factors have had an effect on us. We were two ahead at home to Inverness so nothing should have stopped us getting the points. Most of the players don't pay attention to what happens outside the club.

"We know there's a lot we can improve on and that's our aim now."

Aside from his abject performance against Gers, Stokes has proved to be an astute signing by Lennon.

He has already bagged eight goals for his boyhood heroes and grabbed a hat-trick in the 9-0 thrashing of Aberdeen.

Wearing a Hoops shirt brings added pressure but the former Hibs star is enjoying the extra responsibility at Parkhead.

Stokes said: "It's very intense being a Celtic player. At Hibs we would go to certain grounds and take a 1-1 draw any day of the week.

"But here it's just not like that. A draw is like a loss at Celtic - winning games is all that matters and I like that.

"Every player wants to be at a club going for trophies. It has been brilliant so far."

Striker orders Hoops softies to toughen up CELTIC striker Anthony Stokes has warned his Parkhead team-mates they must toughen up if they want to become SPL champions.

The Irish hitman watched in disbelief as the Hoops squandered four points at home against Dundee United and Inverness in their last two games.

Conceding late goals has cost Neil Lennon's side dearly and Stokes - who is fully fit again after illness - insists they have to stop being easy pushovers.

The 22-year-old fears if they don't start killing teams off, they have no chance of wrestling the SPL title back from Old Firm rivals Rangers.

He said: "It has been an up and down season so far. At times we've played great football and devoured teams. But the next week we've dropped points.

"We need more consistency because we're going for this title. The basis is there and we're getting better as a team.

"But we have to be harder to beat than we have been in the last few weeks.

"Conceding goals has been the problem. We need to dig in a bit more. If you look at the Dundee United and Inverness games - it's like we're soft at times.

"But that comes from the front - we all have to defend better and work for the team. That's what we've been working on and hopefully when we get back playing we can show that.

"We've spoken about the need to kill off teams. The gaffer has told us, we've watched DVDs, we're doing everything we can.

"But it all comes down to the players on the pitch. We have to be harder to beat from now on."

http://www.dailyreco...86908-22763195/

He believes it was a harsh booking and yet another dig from Torbett Towers about referees.

This bastards beginning to get to me like Sutton did.

[double denim 29]

A seen him greetin about this in the paper earlier, they do it because they know they daft cunts will lap it up and he'll become a hero in their eyes!!

[Clemdog 39,389]

So sad how desperate some of them have become to be popular with the fans.

Stokes couldn't of brown nosed them anymore there if he tried.

Talked some amount of shite, which will go down well.

[H72 265]

I was just about to start the same thread.

That cunt had me swearing at the paper this morning. An absolute fucking joke. Scumbag.

"The tackle I made was down to me being wound up a bit too much. I still don't really think it was a bad tackle - he followed through a bit and got injured by the way he landed."

Are you fucking kidding me on?

[Papa Sasac 164]

What a little scrote. So Papac's injury was all down to the landing?! Absolute thug of a player, hope McCulloch snaps his legs in January.

[BRITNEY IS NOT FEELING IT 8,293]

Absolutely deluded view from within breezeblock boulevard yet again , i don't want any pro to be injured by another pro due to a bad tackle ,but in his case ,i hope he tackles an opponent and he comes off the worse because of his own stupidity gets injured and sent off , dhirty rhat bhastard

[J_RFC87 761]

The boy doesn't have any brains

[gunslinger 270]

he should stop watching dvds of the lesbian liars games and comparing it with modern football.

he also should stop claimin it was anything other than assault.

[ballingrybear 2]

a bitter fenian bastard

[djbroxybear 660]

I hope Cunts like him get put out of the game due to someone snapping his neck in a tackle Fenian Cunt! His card will be marked for next game.

[Papa Sasac 164]

I hope Cunts like him get put out of the game due to someone snapping his neck in a tackle Fenian Cunt! His card will be marked for next game.

Totally. Richie Foran thought he had it bad, snapped Edu and Lee kicks him in the stomach. Stokes could be in for quite a bit.

[docspiderman 1,255]

Does this not come under the banner of bringing the game into disrepute and the suggestion of refs favouring Rangers. I await to see the SFA with its new hard line throwing the book at this idiot.Probably as much chance of me winning the lottery when I do not buy a ticket.

[MisterC 12,397]

What a repulsive little cunt.

[stuart54 218]

Not one of us are shocked by this statement from the new tattie boy, are we? They've been doing this for decades, when their teams crap (and throw in a shaved orangutan as manager) they will lead their support a merry dance with the blame factor at everyone else's door and the gullible bhastards always go for it. Their stadium miden is half empty week after week, they've no European revenue and their board of directors are, well, you all know what they are. So how do they get their fans off their backs? They get some muncher to have a go at the physical side of The Rangers game.

As a football club, they are a joke and an embarrassment and we shouldnt really read anything that comes out of that cesspit.

Rant over. WATP.

[nickn1234 4]

more deluded nonsense from a brainless little scrote- when will they ever learn??! i would be so embarrassed to be attached to a club that peddled such paranoid drivel on a regular basis. the way these mororns try and pander to their support playin the victim card is just beyond a joke, its actually cringeworthy. this guy is just a wee ned and also just a terrible footballer, im delighted he's signed for celtic- the perfect club for him. i give it another couple of months and he'll be gettin pelters from the supporters he's trying to placate with this nonsense, i cant wait till they figure out this guys utter pish. can you imagine any of our players coming out with nonsense like this in the papers?!? that club is pure scum from top to bottom and this season everyone is seeing them for what they are. this is gonna be such a sweet title this year.

[50ShadesofBlue 667]

Papac should return the favour and then see how he feels about the tackle. Cunt.

[BEARGER 339]

Does this not come under the banner of bringing the game into disrepute and the suggestion of refs favouring Rangers. I await to see the SFA with its new hard line throwing the book at this idiot.Probably as much chance of me winning the lottery when I do not buy a ticket.

Thinking the same myself, will not hold my breath waiting though.

[ClintonGrey 365]

Right so, his excuse for that tackle was that someone else had done a worse tackle before?

So If I was to go commit murder, it would be fine, because their have been serial kills in the past?

Taigs

[stuart54 218]

more deluded nonsense from a brainless little scrote- when will they ever learn??! i would be so embarrassed to be attached to a club that peddled such paranoid drivel on a regular basis. the way these mororns try and pander to their support playin the victim card is just beyond a joke, its actually cringeworthy. this guy is just a wee ned and also just a terrible footballer, im delighted he's signed for celtic- the perfect club for him. i give it another couple of months and he'll be gettin pelters from the supporters he's trying to placate with this nonsense, i cant wait till they figure out this guys utter pish. can you imagine any of our players coming out with nonsense like this in the papers?!? that club is pure scum from top to bottom and this season everyone is seeing them for what they are. this is gonna be such a sweet title this year.

Well said.

[grfc1975 1]

stokes is a wee prick, and not a very good player at that. he has some front moaning,

should of walked for his attack on sasa, he will get whats coming on the 2nd of jan.

what was the point in leaving a wee mickey mouse team to go to another mickey mouse outfit.

all this shite about refs will never go away as long as players from the great unwashed

keep coming out in the press with utter bullshit.

[Andy 69]

Imagine being a Celtic player and watching 4 or 5 OF games of us running a mock. Sad. How can you come out and say this after you should have been issued a straight red in the last OF Game? :S

[Ozblue 4,331]

The day I get upset or worried by whatever any of those mangy cunts say, or are supposed to have said, is the day I will draw my last breath on this planet.

Stokes, like all his other inbreds haven't learned that it's better to shut your mouth, say nothing and let people assume you are an idiot, than open your mouth and prove conclusively that you are a fucking idiot.

Fucking inbred tosspot :wanker: :wanker:

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

I Liked the Papac followed through line -

[nickn1234 4]

I Liked the Papac followed through line -

the only thing papac "followed through" on was his pants after he was blind-sided by that cowardly wee rat. cant wait till the first 50/50 in the next old firm. step forward brother mcculloch.

[H72 265]

• When was the last time a Rangers player came out and said something controversial to the papers, similar to this?
  
• When was the last time a Rangers player came out and showed so much disrespect to another football team, regardless of it being their rivals?
  
• When was the last time that a Rangers player came out and shamed themselves in the media, yet continued to carry on spouting filth without suffering any consequences from the management?
  

The last time anything like this happened was the Boozegate scandal in which Smith took the right action over Ferguson and McGregor. The time Boyd had a go at training comes to mind too.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Walter Smith is to thank for this. An absolute gentleman of the modern game who oozes class, no matter the situation he's faced with. Not only is he the model football manager of the modern game, but also one of the last noticeable managers of the older game.

Lennon should be getting tore into Hooper and Stokes, and no doubt Samaras will come out with something before the Old Firm game, but he won't. He's just as bad as them, in fact, he's worse. An absolutely disgusting man who is a poor excuse for a "professional". Like it or not, when your the manager of a club, like Celtic, who are supposed to be challenging on all fronts (i.e. Domestic football and European) you cannot act the way he does, on and off the pitch.

When Celtic go behind, what does Lennon do? He stands at the touchline in his clatty Nike tracksuit with a pair of worn football boots on, unshaven and probably unwashed, and barks rabidly at the players that he brought in to try harder, or else he'll put on Paddy McCourt. Many fans of the other side argue that he's developing a fighting attitude and "bringin' the thonder back". I say he's developing unprofessionalism and evidently bringing disrepute to the already failing Scottish game. There is no respect for Lennon - rumours whispering that Ledley already wants his way out of Parkhead. Neil Lennon is to blame for outbreaks like this. If he done all that he should, his players would be fearful of saying things like this to the press.

Even then, however, that would be wrong. The players of Rangers Football Club don't stay silent to the media out of fear from the manager; they play honourably and stay dignified to media out of respect for Walter Smith, and most importantly, Rangers Football Club.

The key word here: dignity.