Who should play: Samaras or Stokes?

It depends but I voted Stokes as in general I would rather see him start.

I think against most, if not every, team in the SPL we should start Hooper and Stokes up front. Against tougher teams where we need to pack the midfield a bit more, I can see why Samaras behind Hooper is the best option as he can move freely between the midfield and forward role. When we need to win balls in the middle of the park I think stokes goes missing sometimes. But you cannot doubt his finishing and for the most part I would rather see up go 2 up front proper with Hoops and Stokes

 

Stokes when his attitude is right. And tbf to the lad he is far more consistent in front of goal than Sammy.
Although Sammy is more of a handful running at defences with the ball. Tough one really and you can understand why Lenny rotates them.

 

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <wunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif][if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif][if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Commons doesn’t need to prove anything - he is the better player.

Samaras has been at Celtic for 4 years now and done very little, bar some small bursts here and there (which are largely over-exaggerated when they do come along)

If anyone up front should be dropped, it is Hooper.

Stokes has been exceptional this season, and I was one of those who initially doubted him. I still think he has a bit of an attitude problem, but there is no doubting that he delivers on the pitch.

 

Hooper should be dropped? Jesus *.

 

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <wunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif][if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif][if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Why is Stokes always the fall guy when it is he who contributes more to the side?

 

Hooper in the last 3 games have had what I consider his best three games for the Hoops outwith his skelping of the Huns last season. He is a harder worker, he has a better first touch and he is better at holding off defenders.

Stokes is excellent at making room from himself away from defenders and linking the midfield and attack which is the role Samaras also plays. Hooper is also by far the most clinical striker in our squad.

Hooper our best striker, he's a level above Stokes and Sammy IMO. The best partnership is Stokes and Hooper by a mile for me. I don't like relying on Samaras.

 

They're totally different players in different roles. I think Sammy's having a cracking season now and he offers a dimension to the team that we don't get from any other player. He has pace, he can challenge for the high out-balls and he can skin his opponent on the deck. He's not a goal score but I don't really care about that if he's setting up goals for other players as he did on Wednesday at Swinecastle.
Stokes is a natural finisher and as long as he and Hooper are taking it in turns to finish off the chances we're creating, I'm happy with the way things are at the moment.
I'd start with Sammy on the left in every game and Hooper in the middle with Stokes on the bench available to replace either of them depending how the game pans out.

 

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It is by far, our best forward pairing. But in O*d F**m games, Samaras has become almost a certainty to start – meaning the Hooper-Stokes partnership has to be broken up.

In these instances, I see no justification for the fall guy always being Stokes; particularly this season where Hooper has look disinterested at times, whereas Stokes has looked hungry – saving Lennon’s job at Rugby Park.

 

I think it's overstated that Stokesy "saved Lennon's job" no, he scored goals - which is him doing exactly HIS job!
Forrest arguably was our best player that day as well.

Hooper is undropable. Joint top scorer this season, top scorer last season, his finishing, touch, work rate, control, passing, assisting and holding up the ball is all top notch. He's one of the best strikers in Britain, top 5 right now easily.

Hooper and Stokes should start together in every single match, home or away, unless one is injured or badly off form.

 

There is no question that Samaras has been in excellent form of late. None more so then on Wednesday against the diet huns. So certainly there is a debate and argument to be had for and against each player. But for me I just feel the combination Stokes has with Hooper and the fact that Stokes is much more of a goal threat would give the edge to Stokes in my book.

 

Agree with most of that except that hooper is a harder worker, hes worked hard as * for the last 3 games which is true but before that stokes has always done more of the ball imo.

 

for a place up front, samaras should be dropped
for a place on the left wing, stokes should be dropped

and samaras doesnt put in alot of crosses at all, 9 times out of 10 he gets himself in a corner, and amazingly enough, probably like 6 out of the 8 times he manages to get out of it or get us a corner :s

but anyway .. no, he doesnt put in alot of crosses, the assist he got from the ledley goal on wednesday is one of the only times ive saw him cross it. to be honest i expected it to get ran out the park and was pulling the hair out my head but he put in a great cross to be fair

 

Samaras should of being sold a long time ago...he is brutal and the guys on here singing his praises have very short memories..he is not related to a footballer...honest maybe but not near good enough to wear the hoops.Stokes is not much better but at least he will convert a few chances...he knows where the goal is at least...so i voted for neither

 

Stokes up front with Sammy on the left.

 

Agreed.

 

At the moment Samaras