Aaron Connolly F Millwall b.2000

[pineapple stu]

Fairy nuff. I don't think the initial shot was off target, but I don't think it would have gone in without the huge deflection (seemed a weak enough shot that the keeper had covered)

Either way, wouldn't be getting too excited over one goal - I think the bigger positive is that he got back into the starting line-up after a couple of games on the bench.

[tommy_c12000]

Lucky break today with the goal. Seemed to have done a bit better than recent games judging by their forum and twitter. He has a long way to go, let’s hope he can push on

[sadloserkid]

Fairy nuff. I don't think the initial shot was off target, but I don't think it would have gone in without the huge deflection (seemed a weak enough shot that the keeper had covered)

Either way, wouldn't be getting too excited over one goal - I think the bigger positive is that he got back into the starting line-up after a couple of games on the bench.

Yeah I'm on the same page as you about him. Don't think the goal (or OG) means a whole lot in and of itself. He has a lot of work to do to turn his momentum around and at least if he's playing he'll get an opportunity to try.

[gastric]

I open this thread with trepidation each time. Good to see there is some, some positivity about his performances. Hopefully the loan proves successful for him.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Connolly is the first name in my starting eleven with the Ronan kid. The other 9 a debate. Ryan Manning is another playera with flair and a set of skills.

[Exgrad]

Should be pointed out it was his good run that pressured the defender to concede the OG for the first goal, Connolly was in a great position to finish if defender had missed. From the hightlights i saw (admittedly very brief) he seemed to be sharp. Whether his goal was an OG or not it was a nice turn and shot, bit more decisive than ive seen him recently. He latched onto a poor pass later in the game and went on a good run taking on the last defender and getting decent enough shot in. Bodes well. At 1.30 here:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtcQOs8v2sk

[seanfhear]

Should be pointed out it was his good run that pressured the defender to concede the OG for the first goal, Connolly was in a great position to finish if defender had missed. From the hightlights i saw (admittedly very brief) he seemed to be sharp. Whether his goal was an OG or not it was a nice turn and shot, bit more decisive than ive seen him recently. He latched onto a poor pass later in the game and went on a good run taking on the last defender and getting decent enough shot in. Bodes well. At 1.30 here:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtcQOs8v2sk
The last goal conceded by Derby was Shenanigans Incorporated ! !

[Trequartista20]

I'm pleased for Connolly. He gets a lot of stick, especially on another rival forum. But that little bit of cockiness he supposedly has isn't necessarily a bad thing. Many of the top players have that, and better that than for him to be racked with self-doubt.

Wilder's no fool and seems to have a lot of faith in the lad. Let's hope he can kick on from here.

[Trequartista20]

Named in the Championship team of the week.

1493531384689868801

Interesting comments from him here on confidence and his frustration over a lack of game-time:

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aaron-connolly-middlesbrough-relief-wilder-23096429

[Olé Olé]

Some great comments there. Seems humble and credits teammates too. Good to see he has struck up a rapport with Wilder. Very interesting few months ahead for this lad.

[third policeman]

Some great comments there. Seems humble and credits teammates too. Good to see he has struck up a rapport with Wilder. Very interesting few months ahead for this lad.

Would be good to see him playing and scoring regularly. There was so much promise with the crop of young strikers, we just need one or two to come good. Still feel that Connolly and Obafemi are more likely to become established goal scorers than Idah or Parrott. They have a hunger and sharpness about them when in the groove.

[Fixer82]

Would be good to see him playing and scoring regularly. There was so much promise with the crop of young strikers, we just need one or two to come good. Still feel that Connolly and Obafemi are more likely to become established goal scorers than Idah or Parrott. They have a hunger and sharpness about them when in the groove.

I think you're right. Idah could be a good no.9 in a 2-man strike force perhaps

[Demesne Lad]

On the bench tonight for Middlesbrough. That may be related to the latest break-up with the girlfriend, but an analysis (Ned Holmes, Football League World) of Connolly's performance over his first 12 games suggests that he has not been as successful a loan signing as Boro had hoped. A total of 935 minutes played, 2 goals, zero assists. Just 42% of his 31 shots were on target. He made 110 passes and received 93. The other January loan signing forward, Balogun of Arsenal (20), played for 230 minutes less. He had only 16 shots, but 56% were on target. He scored twice and provided 2 assists. as well as making 143 passes and receiving 113. Chris Wilder has been non-committal about the possibility of signing Connolly permanently during the summer.

[Fixer82]

No surprise he has no assists. He’s an absolute glory hunter

[kennedmc]

On the bench tonight for Middlesbrough. That may be related to the latest break-up with the girlfriend, but an analysis (Ned Holmes, Football League World) of Connolly's performance over his first 12 games suggests that he has not been as successful a loan signing as Boro had hoped. A total of 935 minutes played, 2 goals, zero assists. Just 42% of his 31 shots were on target. He made 110 passes and received 93. The other January loan signing forward, Balogun of Arsenal (20), played for 230 minutes less. He had only 16 shots, but 56% were on target. He scored twice and provided 2 assists. as well as making 143 passes and receiving 113. Chris Wilder has been non-committal about the possibility of signing Connolly permanently during the summer.

Above is a good summary. I had a look through Boro forum after his last goal and the praise was fairly muted for him at best. General disappointment.

His pros seem to be:
Good pace
Good strength
Decent technically
Makes good runs
Good attitude (His workrate, conditioning and attitude seem good - yes I know the stories in the press etc and he has a touch of arrogance / narkiness about him - not bad if channeled in right way :D )

Cons:
Very poor finisher
Greedy / selfish in around goal (But not in the good way) OR total lack of awareness of players around him -
Takes the wrong option alot!

I believe he has the tools to be a decent level PL player as a wide attacker in, for example, a 433 providing assists and chipping in with a respectable amount of goals 5-8 a season.

However the only way that happens IMO is if he stops being a selfish f@cker in and around the box and starts trying to be a provider too. Focus on taking the right options for the team and plays with his head up.

If he doesn't work very hard on that part of his game I can see him being a championship / L1 player which is a waste considering the pros above.

[Buller]

Above is a good summary. I had a look through Boro forum after his last goal and the praise was fairly muted for him at best. General disappointment.

His pros seem to be:
Good pace
Good strength
Decent technically
Makes good runs
Good attitude (His workrate, conditioning and attitude seem good - yes I know the stories in the press etc and he has a touch of arrogance / narkiness about him - not bad if channeled in right way :D )

Cons:
Very poor finisher
Greedy / selfish in around goal (But not in the good way) OR total lack of awareness of players around him -
Takes the wrong option alot!


I'd agree with all of that! Always thought he was being played in the wrong position. With the attributes he has, he's not a striker (or forward, whatever that position is called these days!). But he's boxed and penned into that position now unfortunately.
If it was 4-4-2 he would be a winger; he can beat players, create space, and if it was drilled into him to be less greedy and never shoot, he'd have a ton of assists and be a great asset to any team!

Quite a different player but Damian Duff was a poor enough finisher - imagine he was greedy and played up front instead of out wide!

As it is he's wasteful and so badly utilised. He could be a top quality winger, but at the moment he's L1/Championship Striker material at best.

[pineapple stu]

Last week's news (literally) (https://www.capitalfm.com/news/love-island-lucinda-strafford-ex-aaron-connolly-split-fight/), but seems the police were called to Aaron's house to deal with a domestic bust-up, and his missus has packed the bags (again)


A source [said]: “Their relationship had been toxic for some time before this. They broke up last year then wanted to give it another shot, but it just doesn’t look like it’s going to work. Lucinda had a nice night out with her friends but later went to his place where things completely erupted.

“She’s had to put up with a lot during their relationship and she questioned him about him apparently cheating on her."
You wonder are you starting to see his and Parrott's careers starting to diverge? Parrott with the head down, out of the news, and starting to score regularly for the first time in senior football. Connolly...not quite.

At least he's still starting games, so that's something.

[Eirambler]

In terms of the four forwards that broke through around the same time, Idah, Parrott, Obafemi and Connolly - they've all had their own very individual routes to this point.

Idah always seemed to have the right attitude, it's just been injuries and maybe a lack of loan moves that has held him back.

Parrott was so far above the standard at underage level that we maybe shouldn't be too surprised that he took it for granted that he would find it easy in the men's game. His improved attitude in recent months is a huge step forward for him and is hopefully the turning point.

Obafemi looks to have improved his attitude also, hopefully that's a permanent change, though I'd worry there might still be setbacks for him, he just seems too easy going off the field at times.

Connolly is almost a different case again in that senior men's football initially seemed to come naturally to him in a way it's didn't for the others. The goals against Tottenham and a few other performances that season set him apart from the others at the time.

Maybe in hindsight it was the worst thing that could have happened to him, he thought it was that easy and the goals would keep flowing.

It's hard to know if he's had that penny dropping moment yet and it's just not happening on the field for him, or if he hasn't had it and is still waiting for things to come good for him rather than making it happen himself. Of course the real concern now is that he possibly just hasn't got the mentality for it, in which case he'll be playing down in the lower leagues before too long.

He's the least natural goalscorer of the four, so workrate and attitude is even more important in his case to compensate for that.

[JR89]

Can see Brighton looking to sell in the summer and making something off him. Will be down to the final two years of his contract and like Molumby they'll probably loan him out again with a clause to buy.

[Olé Olé]

My concern about Connolly is that I feel like he would need to hit a low point to build himself back up to where he could get. I don't want to pay heed to the paper speculation but on a few other fronts he comes across as the cliched flash lad that is satisfied to have made it as a pro footballer. And he has enough qualities that he will be good enough to play at a level like the Championship or League One for his whole career and be paid sufficiently well to maintain his image of himself in his head as the pro footballer with money for a long time.

It just feels to me like he will coast along until he reaches a low point or has the penny drop moment or maybe just simply he matures- it's easy to forget how young these guys are.

And Idah is gas in that regard. I don't believe he was the prodigious talent from a young age like Connolly and Parrott were - one with incredible pace and the other with amazing technique - so he has worked harder and utilised his natural height and honed his skillset to make himself a lovely number 9 that will get better with age.

[seanfhear]

My concern about Connolly is that I feel like he would need to hit a low point to build himself back up to where he could get. I don't want to pay heed to the paper speculation but on a few other fronts he comes across as the cliched flash lad that is satisfied to have made it as a pro footballer. And he has enough qualities that he will be good enough to play at a level like the Championship or League One for his whole career and be paid sufficiently well to maintain his image of himself in his head as the pro footballer with money for a long time.

It just feels to me like he will coast along until he reaches a low point or has the penny drop moment or maybe just simply he matures- it's easy to forget how young these guys are.

And Idah is gas in that regard. I don't believe he was the prodigious talent from a young age like Connolly and Parrott were - one with incredible pace and the other with amazing technique - so he has worked harder and utilised his natural height and honed his skillset to make himself a lovely number 9 that will get better with age.
I suppose there is hundred / thousands like Connolly potentially is i.e. Completely wastes his talents ~ ~ In a Pub somewhere in 10 / 15 years telling some poor devil how great he could have been except for ~ This / That / Other.

How many of those like that has there been in the history of football ?

[SkStu]

I suppose there is hundred / thousands like Connolly potentially is i.e. Completely wastes his talents ~ ~ In a Pub somewhere in 10 / 15 years telling some poor devil how great he could have been except for ~ This / That / Other.

How many of those like that has there been in the history of football ?

Over to you Tets. :D

[tetsujin1979]

Over to you Tets. :D

Coincidentally, this appeared on my YouTube feed today
7EiI4poa7gM

[pineapple stu]

At least he's still starting games, so that's something.
I may have jinxed things. Dropped today and came on as a sub with ten minutes to go. Don't know was it form or did the bust-up impact things, or was it just tactical?

[JR89]

I may have jinxed things. Dropped today and came on as a sub with ten minutes to go. Don't know was it form or did the bust-up impact things, or was it just tactical?

Just rested. Played 82mins on Friday and the only other game he hasn't started since the international break was against Fulham which was a mid week game too.

[CraftyToePoke]

His numbers were desperate the other day, hard to defend him reading them.

[Stuttgart88]

Inzaghi's numbers would be similar, except for GS!

[liamoo11]

My concern about Connolly is that I feel like he would need to hit a low point to build himself back up to where he could get. I don't want to pay heed to the paper speculation but on a few other fronts he comes across as the cliched flash lad that is satisfied to have made it as a pro footballer. And he has enough qualities that he will be good enough to play at a level like the Championship or League One for his whole career and be paid sufficiently well to maintain his image of himself in his head as the pro footballer with money for a long time.

It just feels to me like he will coast along until he reaches a low point or has the penny drop moment or maybe just simply he matures- it's easy to forget how young these guys are.

And Idah is gas in that regard. I don't believe he was the prodigious talent from a young age like Connolly and Parrott were - one with incredible pace and the other with amazing technique - so he has worked harder and utilised his natural height and honed his skillset to make himself a lovely number 9 that will get better with age.

Bit harsh on idah there. He has been scoring goals in abundance since under 15s internationally. He is a full year younger than Connolly but consistently played up a year on international sides with Connolly from under 17 level and always scored goals

[TonyD]

Bit harsh on idah there. He has been scoring goals in abundance since under 15s internationally. He is a full year younger than Connolly but consistently played up a year on international sides with Connolly from under 17 level and always scored goals

I took it as a compliment to Idah, in that he has worked hard to maximise his ability, while maybe not having as much natural talent as Connolly. It may be the case that the game comes too easy to some, whereas if you have to work and work at it to make the grade that work ethic will stand to you.

[Olé Olé]

I took it as a compliment to Idah, in that he has worked hard to maximise his ability, while maybe not having as much natural talent as Connolly. It may be the case that the game comes too easy to some, whereas if you have to work and work at it to make the grade that work ethic will stand to you.
Yep, it was intended as a compliment. Connolly had/has brilliant pace. Parrott had/has brilliant technique. I'm not sure Idah naturally would have either. Idah had the brilliant work ethic and desire. And a good frame.

I don't believe Idah had a huge amount of offers as a teenager, did he? I might have to go back through his thread but I don't believe he was chased as much as others and even 3 or 4 years ago posters on here doubted he would make it.

I honestly think he has a big future ahead of him and the form he showed before before his injury wasn't a huge surprise to me.

[Eirambler]

Idah was a sprinter as a teenager was he not? Was in the same athletics team as Tyriek Wright I believe. I think he's quick enough for a tall lad.

Actually, if you were to put together the attributes or an ideal striker, Idah would tick a lot of boxes. He's quick enough, he's tall, he's strong, he's technically proficient with his feet and he's a good finisher. Seems to have a good attitude also. Probably the main negative is that he's injury prone. But, in terms of his all round natural abilities, he is possibly the most rounded forward we have coming through (Evan Ferguson has good attributes also to be fair but I haven't seen as much of him yet). If football did a combine for young players like other sports do Idah would score well in it I think.

The question with Idah is whether he can put all that together to become the striker he is capable of being and also whether he can stay consistently fit for long enough to deliver on his potential.

Connolly doesn't have near as many positive attributes as Idah, especially in terms of playing centre forward, he's short, doesn't hold the ball up well, is a poor finisher and seems to have a questionable attitude (to put it mildly). His main positives - that he's quick, reasonably skillful and has a trick or two would more suit a wide forward. But his managers seem to want to play him centrally for whatever reason. They must see something in him that I don't to be honest.

[Stuttgart88]

Idah was a sprinter as a teenager was he not? Was in the same athletics team as Tyriek Wright I believe. I think he's quick enough for a tall lad.
Yeah I don't know where the notion came from that he's not quick. He used to run for Leevale in Cork I think. The lad's a really good athlete. And I think he was lauded as a prospect from a long time back too. He's scored well at all our underage levels but still - to me - looks short of know-how at senior level. I think he needs regular games at a lower level.

[Olé Olé]

I take all the points on board re Idah. I suppose my point is that Connolly was probably the type of player at a young age that could knock it past players or get in behind and score. He'd win games like that. Parrott was probably able to win games on his own through his incredible technique. Those kind of young lads that are just prodigious. Idah has a more rounded skillset and has grown into the centre forward role and progressed at a steadier rate. I'll leave it there.

[John83]

I think Idah is going to look a serious player in the Championship next year if he's playing at the front of a functioning team.

How's Connolly doing overall at Middlesbrough? I get the feeling he's in and out of the team and not scoring much, but I haven't followed the details.

[Snapshot]

I think Idah is going to look a serious player in the Championship next year if he's playing at the front of a functioning team.

How's Connolly doing overall at Middlesbrough? I get the feeling he's in and out of the team and not scoring much, but I haven't followed the details.

Connolly struggling, unpopular with fans. Doesn't help.

[JR89]

I think Idah is going to look a serious player in the Championship next year if he's playing at the front of a functioning team.

How's Connolly doing overall at Middlesbrough? I get the feeling he's in and out of the team and not scoring much, but I haven't followed the details.

If Norwich keep Pukki this summer, which they should because don't see teams meeting Norwich's valuation then himself and Idah could form a top partnership next season. Pukki is a goal machine in the championship and they were working well together when Smith switched to 4-4-2.

[Olé Olé]

If Norwich keep Pukki this summer, which they should because don't see teams meeting Norwich's valuation then himself and Idah could form a top partnership next season. Pukki is a goal machine in the championship and they were working well together when Smith switched to 4-4-2.

Based on the West Ham and Everton games then, if you're Smith, you're looking at ensuring you maintain existing or sign improved hard-working wingers and keeping that pair in situ. That is surely how it will go.

On Pukki, maybe a non European club comes in with a nice wedge for him. China, Middle East etc. He might like a final pay day as opposed to a promotion battle.

[JR89]

Based on the West Ham and Everton games then, if you're Smith, you're looking at ensuring you maintain existing or sign improved hard-working wingers and keeping that pair in situ. That is surely how it will go.

On Pukki, maybe a non European club comes in with a nice wedge for him. China, Middle East etc. He might like a final pay day as opposed to a promotion battle.

They paid good money for Rashica and Sargent last summer and don't think they've done enough for other teams to be sniffing around. Should be able to keep the current team together and strengthen smartly. Midfield is where they'll probably look to strengthen first and probably why they're rumoured as one the teams looking at Cullen as Anderlecht play a similar 4-4-2 system.

With promotion worth over a hundred million can't see Norwich letting him go and feel the risk of losing him for nothing in 2023 would be worth it. Would take a big offer for Norwich to consider it.

[geysir]

They paid good money for Rashica and Sargent last summer and don't think they've done enough for other teams to be sniffing around. Should be able to keep the current team together and strengthen smartly. Midfield is where they'll probably look to strengthen first and probably why they're rumoured as one the teams looking at Cullen as Anderlecht play a similar 4-4-2 system.

With promotion worth over a hundred million can't see Norwich letting him go and feel the risk of losing him for nothing in 2023 would be worth it. Would take a big offer for Norwich to consider it.

Pukki is the type of player that epitomizes most everything a

[SkStu]

Reading that he missed a great chance to snatch a win at the death with a shot off the post.

[JR89]

Yeah thought he was gonna grab the winner but hit the post. Lack of confidence maybe when you compare it to Obafemi who'd probably have scored it with the way he's currently playing.

[Snapshot]

Testing times for Connolly at Middlesborough. His name was booed when the team against Cardiff was announced - and again when he was introduced in the 76th minute. Though most fans disagree with the booing, the general consensus (forum) is he's a poor player. One poster suggests he gets playing time only to honour the contract. Others not so eloquent.

[seanfhear]

Testing times for Connolly at Middlesborough. His name was booed when the team against Cardiff was announced - and again when he was introduced in the 76th minute. Though most fans disagree with the booing, the general consensus (forum) is he's a poor player. One poster suggests he gets playing time only to honour the contract. Others not so eloquent.
His history has made a rod for his own back. You need to be a very good player for all that sort of nonsense to be forgotten if you are not producing the goods.

[pineapple stu]

You'd have hoped a relatively fresh slate at a new club (even if only on loan) would have helped though. To be booed relatively early at a new club really isn't encouraging. And he's started on the bench for the last three games now; you wonder where he'll end up next season. I presume he has a contract with Brighton for next season? But failing to make an impression at a good second tier side isn't great on the CV. Could he end up on loan at a League One side next year?

It's a pity, cos I like the type of player he is - a nippy pacy little attacker. He just seems to be not all that good at it.

[ifk101]

He's just not particularly good playing centrally and off the shoulder as he is doing for Boro. He's at his best in a wider starting position where he has the space to get turned and push defenders onto the back foot - which we have seen for the U21s and his performance in the Portugal away game for the seniors.

[JR89]

You'd have hoped a relatively fresh slate at a new club (even if only on loan) would have helped though. To be booed relatively early at a new club really isn't encouraging. And he's started on the bench for the last three games now; you wonder where he'll end up next season. I presume he has a contract with Brighton for next season? But failing to make an impression at a good second tier side isn't great on the CV. Could he end up on loan at a League One side next year?

It's a pity, cos I like the type of player he is - a nippy pacy little attacker. He just seems to be not all that good at it.

Has two years left on his contract this summer, unless Brighton have an option to extended it further that hasn't been made public. Can see next season being his last at Brighton who'll try and move him on. Probably be another loan to buy like Molumby was.

Don't think he ends up at a League One club because he's on at least 20k a week and Brighton would want this covered. Pity the rumours of Hoffenheim I think it was being interested in him before he broke through at Brighton came to nothing. A move away like that might have taken him away from most of the outside influences in his life.

[Snapshot]

He's just not particularly good playing centrally and off the shoulder as he is doing for Boro. He's at his best in a wider starting position where he has the space to get turned and push defenders onto the back foot - which we have seen for the U21s and his performance in the Portugal away game for the seniors.
I accept your point, but reluctantly. From what I've seen of him in a Boro jersey (not that much) he consistently gravitates to the role you describe without much impact. He could change everything with a few goals to boost Boro's play-off hopes.

[pineapple stu]

Don't think he ends up at a League One club because he's on at least 20k a week and Brighton would want this covered.
Good point. He could well end up betwixt and between - not worth sending him on loan for (say) 25% of salary, so staying as a squad player at Brighton but not getting enough game time then.

[Stuttgart88]

He's just not particularly good playing centrally and off the shoulder as he is doing for Boro. He's at his best in a wider starting position where he has the space to get turned and push defenders onto the back foot - which we have seen for the U21s and his performance in the Portugal away game for the seniors.I think he's best at U21 football! After the Armenia(?) game at Tallaght I said that he looked the most ready of that team at the time to step up to senior football. I think he showed flashes after that both for club and country that there was raw talent with great pace and definite potential, but unfortunately they remain only flashes of evidence. There has been plenty too to be underwhelmed by and several pretty poor misses.

I've heard some argue he's not in great physical condition. I'm not convinced. Despite criticism of his lifestyle I think he's vain enough to like his six-pack but I'm sure those working with him at close quarters know the truth here.

[Razors left peg]

Theres a difference between having a 6 pack to look the part and actually be a fit professional athlete though. I remember seeing a picture of Troy Parrott recently where he had the hollowed out cheekbones like Roy Keane in his prime and I thought he looked like he got himself in great shape.

Obafemi and Connolly would be a decent comparison from a body shape point of view. Obafemi was a weird shape for a footballer but he looks now like hes found a good balance and looks in great shape. Connolly to me looks bloated