The sad fall of Sam Vokes

Stalbansclaret · Post by **Stalbansclaret** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:11 pm

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/f ... es-5539019

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:14 pm

Sean Dyche got the best out of him.

CleggHall · Post by **CleggHall** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:19 pm

“A good egg but a bad signing” sums it up for Stoke.
We certainly saw the best of him but without wingers he will flounder.

buzzclarets79 · Post by **buzzclarets79** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:33 pm

Vokes and Ings, what a partnership to remember.

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:34 pm

Still a Burnley hero of mine.

claretburns · Post by **claretburns** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:36 pm

To be fair if you think of Vokes pre-Dyche he wasn't the Sam Vokes we all remember and was more often than not a bench-warmer. Certainly shows more for Sean Dyche and the coaching staff on their man management skills.

Spijed · Post by **Spijed** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:37 pm

Overall, SD seems to have a good knack of knowing when to move on players, as was the case with Vokes & Ward.

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:39 pm

Sam is a really great and unassuming guy off the field and having faced professional rejection when younger he was happy to grab anything and everything which came his way in terms of opportunities and never believed he was "entitled". He was also absolutely excellent for us on the field, but I can see why he would flounder in other circumstances. The article mentions Gray and Ings in passing, but they were absolutely pivotal to Sam flourishing and to bringing out the best in him (as was SD). Without the right partner and without the right service Sam will always look slow and cumbersome (because in professional football terms at the highest level he is). He could never play the lone striker role and has been hung out to dry a bit at Stoke unfortunately and I can well see him being the type of character who once he feels the manager and or crowd have lost faith in him, he'll definitely struggle. He gave us great service and some brilliant moments and I hope wherever he goes he makes a success of it, because he really does deserve it.

Firthy · Post by **Firthy** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:45 pm

buzzclarets79 wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:33 pm
Vokes and Ings, what a partnership to remember.

That's how I'll always remember him.

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:48 pm

Firthy wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:45 pm
That's how I'll always remember him.

Me too

GodIsADeeJay81 · Post by **GodIsADeeJay81** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:54 pm

Everything aligned for Sam when he was here.
Great player for us and Dyche got the timing absolutely spot on when selling him and getting crouch in for 6 mths, despite the tantrums from some on here claiming otherwise.

Shame it didn't work out for him at Stoke, but that's going to be mainly down to managers and systems.

minnieclaret · Post by **minnieclaret** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 1:21 pm

I thought he might drop down a couple of Divs and move back to CB.
Gave us some great memories and goals. Good luck to him.

Colburn_Claret · Post by **Colburn_Claret** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 1:28 pm

I recall many on here thought he should be released during SDs first transfer window, some thought he'd be OK from the bench, personally I was meh. I could see him having a role as a sub, but wouldn't have been bothered if he'd moved on.
Just shows what us experts are like. His partnership with Ingsy was almost telepathic, and his contribution was enormous. It continued with Gray, such a shame he was another to suffer long term injuries at the wrong time.
Lots of great memories left behind and I wish him nothing but the best.

timshorts · Post by **timshorts** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 1:28 pm

Firthy wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:45 pm
That's how I'll always remember him.

In my case, the memory that will live longest was the header against Belgium that settled our place in the semi-finals. That he was a claret at the time always made that goal more special for me than the Cruyff turn of Hal Robson Kanu earlier in the game.

It makes you wonder what Sean could do with Keifer Moore.

Rowls · Post by **Rowls** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 2:03 pm

Dyche worked wonders with Vokes.

The season before Dyche's first full season under Howe & Dyche he didn't look up to Championship standard.

Then came the Year of the Vings.

tiger76 · Post by **tiger76** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 2:23 pm

Sam had a great few seasons as a Claret, notably in our 2 promotion winning campaigns, and also the 16/17 season when he played a huge part in us finally surviving at this level, and his telepathic partnership with Danny is the best strike combo I've ever seen as a Burnley fan, his brace at Chelsea in that stunning opening day win will live long in the memory, as will his 1st ever Pl goal against Liverpool.

However we were spot on to let him go when we did, and £7m was good money for somebody of his age.

evensteadiereddie · Post by **evensteadiereddie** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 3:08 pm

"Sam Vokes was signed to lead Stoke to the Premier League"...................is the Stoke Sentinel - now there's a name for a paper - sure about this. Signed in a futile attempt to stop the rot, I'd say.

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 3:47 pm

Very good player for us and one of the best headers of the ball in recent decades for me.
As mentioned above, great performance at Chelsea that day, among others.
And as Tony says, SD certainly got the best out of him.

I wish you well Sam.

Aclaret · Post by **Aclaret** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 4:25 pm

Nothing but good memories of Sam. Sam Vokes, there's only one Sam Vokes.

superdimitri · Post by **superdimitri** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 4:53 pm

He really struggles with fitness, always complaining about knocks. He needs regular play time to keep fit which is harder and harder the older you get.

If it wasn't for that I'm sure he would have been more successful. I think a lot of credit has to go to our medical team for managing him.

Silkyskills1 · Post by **Silkyskills1** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 4:59 pm

Some great link up play with Danny Ings 2013-2014. Wonderful header of the ball( and from opposition free kicks and corners) and great rapport with the supporters. Good luck to him wherever he goes. A true gentleman.

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 6:15 pm

Did his bit for us. Good luck Sam.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 9:24 pm

The way he shone with Danny that season going up was one of the most pleasantly surprising aspects of a great season.
Sam then went on to contribute a lot to our resurgence this last few years.

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 9:40 pm

One of those players who'll always receive a great reception if he ever comes back to the Turf.

warksclaret · Post by **warksclaret** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 9:45 pm

He can surely have no enemies at Burnley. Cost us peanuts (thanks to Eddie Howe), and we got the best out of him-he came over as a great unassuming player. Reminded me of Gareth Taylor who also gave his best whilst with us

durhamclaret · Post by **durhamclaret** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 10:16 pm

Nowt wrong with Sam

Bordeauxclaret · Post by **Bordeauxclaret** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 10:19 pm

Partnership with Ings was exceptional.
A great signing for us.

Another excellent signing from Howe that Dyche managed to mold.

Steve-Harpers-perm · Post by **Steve-Harpers-perm** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 10:25 pm

Superb player for us and another player who Dyche got the best from.

Spike · Post by **Spike** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 10:32 pm

Sam was a marvellous player for Burnley
Throughout his career he has always a player that needed to play regularly to be really sharp
Stoke broke him by not playing him regularly and then not giving him any service
The Lackofsenseinhell should realise the blame lies with the Stoke mismanagement
Voksey Voksey Voksey

Papabendi · Post by **Papabendi** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 10:33 pm

Should still be a bloody good player at that level if played in the right system.

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 10:48 pm

Bordeauxclaret wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 17, 2021 10:19 pm
Partnership with Ings was exceptional.
A great signing for us.

Another excellent signing from Howe that Dyche managed to mold.

Howe brought him in on loan then Dyche signed him.

Rumour had it at the time that Wolves still owed us 500k of the Fletcher money and we got Vokes instead. They might have been struggling to pay.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 10:49 pm

Papabendi wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 17, 2021 10:33 pm
Should still be a bloody good player at that level if played in the right system.

I think that’s it. Sam has his strengths and his weaknesses. He’s at a club where they don’t play to his strengths which means he doesn’t play often enough.

gawthorpe_view · Post by **gawthorpe_view** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 10:52 pm

Voksey, Voksey Voksey...

What a season and forward line that was!

RalphCoatesComb · Post by **RalphCoatesComb** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 11:01 pm

Superb for us. Will always be a Claret !

BabylonClaret · Post by **BabylonClaret** » Fri Jun 18, 2021 12:31 am

Colburn_Claret wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 17, 2021 1:28 pm
I recall many on here thought he should be released during SDs first transfer window, some thought he'd be OK from the bench, personally I was meh. I could see him having a role as a sub, but wouldn't have been bothered if he'd moved on.
Just shows what us experts are like. His partnership with Ingsy was almost telepathic, and his contribution was enormous. It continued with Gray, such a shame he was another to suffer long term injuries at the wrong time.
Lots of great memories left behind and I wish him nothing but the best.

This. I'd have happily carried him on my back to any taker that summer. And the first game or two we looked a bit lacking up front but suddenly it all clicked...

Woodleyclaret · Post by **Woodleyclaret** » Fri Jun 18, 2021 6:05 am

Steve C has signed a winger with a decent lower league pedigree. Hopefully, Sam will get his move to the Shrews and prosper under Steve C with game time and decent service

Bordeauxclaret · Post by **Bordeauxclaret** » Fri Jun 18, 2021 7:07 am

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 17, 2021 10:48 pm
Howe brought him in on loan then Dyche signed him.

Rumour had it at the time that Wolves still owed us 500k of the Fletcher money and we got Vokes instead. They might have been struggling to pay.

He was already here permanently when Dyche arrived.

Socrates · Post by **Socrates** » Fri Jun 18, 2021 7:13 am

I always felt Big Sam needed a run of 7 or 8 games to get up to full speed, and particularly at the start of those games he could look sluggish and poor.

State of football nowadays, nobody gets that run. Fans and managers won’t be patient.

superdimitri · Post by **superdimitri** » Fri Jun 18, 2021 7:38 am

Socrates wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 18, 2021 7:13 am
I always felt Big Sam needed a run of 7 or 8 games to get up to full speed, and particularly at the start of those games he could look sluggish and poor.

State of football nowadays, nobody gets that run. Fans and managers won’t be patient.

Barnes is very much like that too. I'm sure with Vokes part of it was because he had a long period where he wasn't getting many minutes at all. I think it's tougher to keep free of knocks when you can't actually build any resistance through game time.

He's also a big guy. I remember him saying in an interview that he was actually overweight when he was younger.

warksclaret · Post by **warksclaret** » Fri Jun 18, 2021 8:17 am

I am sure he will find a new club-still has a lot to offer. With the right manager it could prove a good move to leave Stoke

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Fri Jun 18, 2021 8:20 am

: FB_IMG_1549094715969.jpg (55.71 KiB) Viewed 1829 times

Big Sam with my son Sam before the Rotherham game 2016.

SouthLondonexile · Post by **SouthLondonexile** » Fri Jun 18, 2021 2:06 pm

I still remember that crushing victory over Ipswich and Vokes bullet headed goal. The partnership with Ings was excellent. His injury that promotion season and his absence from the team meant we did not have strike force for the first few months of that season in the premiership.

JTClaret · Post by **JTClaret** » Fri Jun 18, 2021 5:13 pm

I'll always be remembered as a Burnley player who won everything in the air, it was unreal at times and clearly knew how to make Dyche's system work.
As it mentions Ings and Gray it's easy to see why he is/was perfect perfect for the big man/small man combo, where he would win the ball and the quick runner would get the lay off.

Part of a very special time at Burnley that helped us get to where we are today.

Bordeauxclaret · Post by **Bordeauxclaret** » Fri Jun 18, 2021 6:55 pm

SouthLondonexile wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 18, 2021 2:06 pm
I still remember that crushing victory over Ipswich and Vokes bullet headed goal. The partnership with Ings was excellent. His injury that promotion season and his absence from the team meant we did not have strike force for the first few months of that season in the premiership.

For all of that season really. Despite coming back on Boxing Day he wasn’t fully fit until the next season.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Jun 18, 2021 7:49 pm

Bordeauxclaret wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 18, 2021 6:55 pm
For all of that season really. Despite coming back on Boxing Day he wasn’t fully fit until the next season.

Played 15 Premier League games that season but only five of them were starts.