Aaron Connolly F Millwall b.2000

[EAFC_rdfl]

You certainly have found your's.
Nicely done!

[Kingdom]

Fap fap fap fap fap.

[paul_oshea]

You certainly have found your's.

Good one ole ole ole, you've been waiting a while for that one : D

[Diggs246]

Connelly defo gets into great positions, he needs confidence and also to grow up

We might yet have a good player there

[seanfhear]

Connelly defo gets into great positions, he needs confidence and also to grow up

We might yet have a good player there
Do they also say that about him in the Brighton Night Clubs ?

[Diggs246]

His goals
6jMfUEM8z9Q

[seanfhear]

His goals
6jMfUEM8z9Q
A couple of nice goals. Swansea missed a whole pile of chances going by that.

[seanfhear]

His goals
6jMfUEM8z9Q
Looking at them again Connolly was given a freedom he is not getting a a higher level or international level.

[passinginterest]

You can see the difference a bit of confidence makes just between the first and second. There's not a lot of conviction about the first and gets a very favourable deflection. Immediately, for the second, he puts it away with genuine confidence, it's never missing. I think Idah is similarly struggling for confidence a bit too, the fact he was the designated peno taker the other night and let another young player take it off him and miss says a lot about his mentality at the moment too. Hopefully both keep getting opportunities and start scoring regularly.

[seanfhear]

You can see the difference a bit of confidence makes just between the first and second. There's not a lot of conviction about the first and gets a very favourable deflection. Immediately, for the second, he puts it away with genuine confidence, it's never missing. I think Idah is similarly struggling for confidence a bit too, the fact he was the designated peno taker the other night and let another young player take it off him and miss says a lot about his mentality at the moment too. Hopefully both keep getting opportunities and start scoring regularly.
Idah should have imposed his physicality in that situation ~ un-ambigiously.

[elatedscum]

the fact he was the designated peno taker the other night and let another young player take it off him and miss says a lot about his mentality at the moment too. Hopefully both keep getting opportunities and start scoring regularly.

He’s probably taken 500 penalties on Kelleher. Only him and Kelleher know who’s got who’s number. Personally I was glad he wasn’t taking it. Kelleher is a pretty good penalty stopper and often in those situations, the relative advantage is with the keeper

[JR89]

He’s probably taken 500 penalties on Kelleher. Only him and Kelleher know who’s got who’s number. Personally I was glad he wasn’t taking it. Kelleher is a pretty good penalty stopper and often in those situations, the relative advantage is with the keeper

Or it was just another ball that Idah couldn't hold onto that night. One thing not getting the better of Konate or Gomez, two very good CBs but he should have been more assertive on taking the pen if he was the designated taker. Shouldn't have let Tzolis take the ball off him.

Hopefully Connolly's two goals can spark a bit of confidence and get him some game time over the next two games for Brighton before the internationals. If Robinson is struggling for fitness it's more than likely gonna be him and Idah starting against Azerbaijan.

[Bielsa´s irish]

He looks like a real person now. He even grew a beard. Looks like Rooney. No blond trendy shame

[tetsujin1979]

Starts tonight for Brighton
Evan Ferguson named on the bench
1471185790764032003

[sadloserkid]

Based on the replies to that tweet their fans are a lot more excited by Ferguson than Connolly.

[tommy_c12000]

Brighton happy playing without a recognized striker now. Connolly off. He really needs a loan in January to get consistent game time. Anonymous

[tommy_c12000]

Lallana and Richards on now, two more midfielders. No Evan tonight. All subs made

[Demesne Lad]

Brighton happy playing without a recognized striker now. Connolly off. He really needs a loan in January to get consistent game time. Anonymous
Going to Middlesbrough, according to 'The 72' and Mail Online today (28th).

[joey B]

https://mobile.twitter.com/KieranMaguire/status/1476563820139229186

Not be missed much in Brighton it seems….

[paul_oshea]

Is there any substance to this apart from him unlocking Brighton and liking Boro on social media?

[JR89]

Is there any substance to this apart from him unlocking Brighton and liking Boro on social media?

His GF was posting pictures of them up in Middlesbrough today.

[pineapple stu]

On Sky Sports too (https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12506274/aaron-connolly-brighton-forward-expected-to-join-middlesbrough-on-loan-for-rest-of-season).

Be very interesting to see how he gets on.

[liamoo11]

On Sky Sports too (https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12506274/aaron-connolly-brighton-forward-expected-to-join-middlesbrough-on-loan-for-rest-of-season).

Be very interesting to see how he gets on.

Be a shame if connollys move blocked callum kavanagh been involved at Boro

[Jd2793]

Be a shame if connollys move blocked callum kavanagh been involved at Boro

kavanagh is not even on the first team radar.

[Poor Student]

Be a shame if connollys move blocked callum kavanagh been involved at Boro

His move is probably more likely to push Evan Ferguson closer to the 1st team at Brighton: https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-40776177.html

[tommy_c12000]

Aaron should see game time in FA cup vs Mansfield tomorrow, as should Evan Ferguson vs West Brom, along with several other irish prospects playing. It will be an exciting day of football from an irish perspective, but it’s still only the FA cup. It feels like we’ve been waiting quite a while for a few “big breakthroughs” to happen but yet 3 years later we are still grasping at straws.

Green shoots though, here’s to a strong start to 2022!

[tetsujin1979]

Keep an eye on the live blog - http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/Live
I'll be updating that throughout the day

[JR89]

Aaron should see game time in FA cup vs Mansfield tomorrow, as should Evan Ferguson vs West Brom, along with several other irish prospects playing. It will be an exciting day of football from an irish perspective, but it’s still only the FA cup. It feels like we’ve been waiting quite a while for a few “big breakthroughs” to happen but yet 3 years later we are still grasping at straws.

Green shoots though, here’s to a strong start to 2022!

Not in the squad today but Middlesbrough are missing some players through covid. Hopefully it's more a fitness issue or he's a close contact and doesn't have covid.

[tommy_c12000]

Yep saw that, after setting my alarm for 6am I was pretty disappointed!

Pretty strong bench for Brighton today, and Maupay and Wellbeck both start, so no guarantees that Evan will see some genuine game time today. Here’s hoping

[tommy_c12000]

5 subs permitted so he should be okay actually. 1 enforced sun already made with McAllister on

[tommy_c12000]

Starts today for boro, a first step on the road to redemption? Let’s see what he can do and if Wilder can get a better handle on him

[pineapple stu]

Subbed off shortly after the hour and overshadowed by Andy Carroll scoring a real goal (see his two world-class goals in a minute in a 7-0 defeat during the week, both of which were offside). But any and all game time welcome.

[tommy_c12000]

Second start for Boro in their 1-0 loss to Blackburn. Overall poor with minimal impact. Still short of composure something he has never improved upon and going down way too easily as always in good positions. 4 chances, messed up 2 of them, other one hit off Lenihan where he should have taken it on as it was clear Lenihan was going to make the block, the last one an ok attempt at a side foot deflected wide. Lucky not to get a second yellow with an elbow on Lenihan. A lot of work left to do this season if he’s to prove himself to be of premiership caliber.

[seanfhear]

Second start for Boro in their 1-0 loss to Blackburn. Overall poor with minimal impact. Still short of composure something he has never improved upon and going down way too easily as always in good positions. 4 chances, messed up 2 of them, other one hit off Lenihan where he should have taken it on as it was clear Lenihan was going to make the block, the last one an ok attempt at a side foot deflected wide. Lucky not to get a second yellow with an elbow on Lenihan. A lot of work left to do this season if he’s to prove himself to be of premiership caliber.
Or even Championship caliber.

[Fixer82]

Man U V Middlesbrough gone to penalties and Connolly hasn’t taken a peno yet.

Middlesbrough are on their 8th penalty

[liamoo11]

Had a good second half of extra time bit unlucky with his chance. Playing in a 2 rather than out wide suits him better I think

[Fixer82]

Can’t understand how they took 8 penalties and their premier league striker wasn’t one of them

[Olé Olé]

Had a good second half of extra time bit unlucky with his chance. Playing in a 2 rather than out wide suits him better I think

Did well enough overall. Won a couple of decent frees and that was a difficult chance.

I must imagine he didn't fancy a penalty. Odd.

[DCWA]

Can we read much into him not taking a penalty? He is an attacking player and didn’t step forward ahead of central defenders.

It wasn’t prearranged either as Wilder said they didn’t prepare anything so has Connolly - a striker - bottled taking a shot from 12 yards and let lesser equipped teammates take the pressure?

[pineapple stu]

I'd probably be more interested in why he didn't start (and didn't come on until extra time)

Was he dropped? Carrying a knock? Or (maybe most likely) just rotated out for a cup game?

[seanfhear]

I'd probably be more interested in why he didn't start (and didn't come on until extra time)

Was he dropped? Carrying a knock? Or (maybe most likely) just rotated out for a cup game?
Are you contradicting post *588 here ?

[pineapple stu]

How so? I don't see that I am?

[seanfhear]

How so? I don't see that I am?
Sorry, Read your post wrong ~ really wrong.

[JR89]

I'd probably be more interested in why he didn't start (and didn't come on until extra time)

Was he dropped? Carrying a knock? Or (maybe most likely) just rotated out for a cup game?

If he starts the next game it's possible. He's the only one from the starting XI in their last three league games not to start last night, and Balogun who did replace him last night set up the only goal in the last league game two mins after replacing Connolly in the 56th min to give them the win. I think it's safe to assume he was dropped.

[liamoo11]

If he starts the next game it's possible. He's the only one from the starting XI in their last three league games not to start last night, and Balogun who did replace him last night set up the only goal in the last league game two mins after replacing Connolly in the 56th min to give them the win. I think it's safe to assume he was dropped.

Balogun was very poor last night poor touch gave it away no threat

[JR89]

Himself and Balogun on the bench. Watmore gets a start ahead of both.

[pineapple stu]

Uh oh.

[pineapple stu]

Restored to the side for the game against Derby today, and scored his first goal for them just before halftime

Edit - the goal is here (https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12540251/middlesbrough-4-1-derby), but you'd have to imagine that'll get redesignated an own goal.

[Trequartista20]

Connolly started and seems to have played well, and scored, in the 4-1 win, which is disappointing for the naysayers.

Ebosele only had a cameo role, seemingly due to a hamstring problem.

[sadloserkid]

Restored to the side for the game against Derby today, and scored his first goal for them just before halftime

Edit - the goal is here (https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12540251/middlesbrough-4-1-derby), but you'd have to imagine that'll get redesignated an own goal.

I couldn't really tell from the replays there but the OPTA definition for determining if a goal is given to an attacker or marked an own goal is pretty simple. If the initial shot was deemed to be on target it's given as attacker's goal even if a deflection would carry it from, for example, bottom right to top left. If the original shot was off target it's an own goal. Of course that's easier in theory than in practice too, I remember us covering some Norwegian games in particular when I was there that were almost impossible to call in real time.