Aaron Connolly F Millwall b.2000

[Olé Olé]

I think the interview is a huge step with his recovery. Coming out so publicly as an addict is also pretty much drawing a line that this is his last chance. If he goes back to his old ways then he's unlikely to ever be trusted by a half decent club again - not to mind all those wishing him well today.

There's a series of choices that falling off the wagon entails and he's added an extra layer of consequence to falling off the wagon again.

Very impressed by him and very brave. For every few tales of people's lives being destroyed by addiction, there's one that's inspirational. Wishing him all the best that he remains in the latter.

Coming down from my soapbox now :)

Agreed on all this. Incredibly brave for a man of 24 to take this step. Regardless of what is at stake. He has shown a lot of vulnerability in that interview but also a huge amount of determination, courage and strength.

It is so soon into his time there. I wonder if this was something he came to Sunderland and said he would want to or be willing to do when he was in talks to join them.

[Eirambler]

Sunderland will clearly be insisting on him getting his act together, but it does sound like the public interview was his call. The interviewer says a few times to him that he (Aaron) wanted to do it, and they wouldn't have left that in if it wasn't the case.

I think this is maybe where Connolly is different from someone like Stokes. I think, deep down, his heart is in the right place, he's just completely gone off the rails off the back of winning the big money contract at Brighton. He can be annoying, mouthy on the pitch and maybe hard for his teammates to like off it, but at the same time I honestly don't think he's a bad person under it all.

I think things like the previous Venezia interview and coming back to play Under 21s for Ireland show that. As does this very public Sunderland interview and particularly all the references to his parents etc. It's clear he'd love to get back to playing for Ireland again as well and that's obviously not going to be a money thing. He definitely gets another chance from me as a national team supporter. And as someone else has correctly pointed out, it's him that will suffer if he messes up again, the public nature of all this means he's on his last chance at a high level.

[Fixer82]

i've been very critical of him before but I admire his honesty and courage here. Long may it last. If he gets his head down and practices humility and gratefulness he might be a great player.

[Fixer82]

Also, I don't know anything of Connolly's family background, but the difference between him and Stokes may be that Connolly comes from a decent family with good values. Whereas as Stoke just doesn't

[tetsujin1979]

Another goal for Connolly for Sunderland's U21s tonight
1846256583279349810

[tetsujin1979]

Scored a second before being substituted
1846276161636053118

[Buckett]

Hopefully he gets a few minutes on Sunday against Hull.

[CraftyToePoke]

Off the bench for 15 today.
Lazarus Connolly

[liamoo11]

Off the bench for 15 today.
Lazarus Connolly

If we play 442 now difficult to see where he fits with us. The second striker in the 2 is most likely to be an azaz or a Taylor I think given our need to have 3 in our midfield. It's difficult to see him as a wide midfielder in a 4 and it's difficult to see him as the striker leading the line although I imagine that central striker role is where he would want to play as a goalscorer

[John83]

It's a bit early to be worrying about that. Let's let him find his feet at club level for a bit.

[~YTM~]

Hull would play 4-4-1-1 when Connolly was there. Wouldn't be ruling him out as the CF as it's not like those currently ahead of him are doing much.

Unlike Idah and Parrott he'd be more inclined to play on the shoulder of defenders and look for balls in behind. Whereas Idah and Parrott would prefer ball to feet.

[CraftyToePoke]

It's a bit early to be worrying about that. Let's let him find his feet at club level for a bit.

Yeah, Christmas & NY looming. Won't be easy. Let's see if the adorable little rascal can keep it between the ditches until February without any mysterious training / match absences or DUIs before we talk Ireland changing shape to facilitate his international career.

[elatedscum]

If we play 442 now difficult to see where he fits with us. The second striker in the 2 is most likely to be an azaz or a Taylor I think given our need to have 3 in our midfield. It's difficult to see him as a wide midfielder in a 4 and it's difficult to see him as the striker leading the line although I imagine that central striker role is where he would want to play as a goalscorer

Why are we calling it 4-4-2 if we're playing Azaz or Taylor as a third midfielder. That's 4-5-1, in which case he's competing with Szmodics, Johnston and Knight for a slot out wide left. If we're actually playing 4-4-2, he's probably competing with Troy, Szmodics and Obafemi if he finds form for that second striker slot

[CraftyToePoke]

Came on for about 25 minutes tonight.
Sunderland won, clear at the top.

[Buckett]

Started away to Preston, was taken off after an hour. Finished 0-0

[rebelmusic]

Can anyone comment on how he's been doing in the recent games he's been sprung from the bench?

[tetsujin1979]

Interviewed in the northern echo
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/24733889.aaron-connolly-size-sunderland-level-quality-within-squad/

[Demesne Lad]

Scores, away to Millwall.

[irishfan86]

Scores, away to Millwall.

That’s brilliant. Delighted for him.

[Olé Olé]

There was a tweet during the week where a Sunderland fan in London had previously tweeted about being depressed. He subsequently tweeted a private message from Connolly in which Connolly said that he had seen the tweet, would get him tickets to the Millwall game and a signed jersey off all the players.

https://x.com/Mackemdownsouth/status/1858209721636774158?t=lDG-BCIY4ntffTH8whwtJg&s=19

[Buckett]

Taken off after 58 minutes because of an injury

[pineapple stu]

Ah Christ!

Clicked into the thread to see the good news; then the bad news was sneaky hidden on the next page... :mad:

[tetsujin1979]

Reality check for Aaron Connolly as Black Cats man faces ‘long journey’ to cement spot in team
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/other-soccer/reality-check-for-aaron-connolly-as-black-cats-man-faces-long-journey-to-cement-spot-in-team/a1401605324.html

[Olé Olé]

Reality check for Aaron Connolly as Black Cats man faces ‘long journey’ to cement spot in team
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/other-soccer/reality-check-for-aaron-connolly-as-black-cats-man-faces-long-journey-to-cement-spot-in-team/a1401605324.html

I think the tone and headline of the article doesn't really tally with the quotes of his manager. He doesn't face the "long journey" - he is in the middle of it. And the manager said he struggled for a bit but the last week was positive for him.

He has had a quiet few weeks but that was always likely to occur and he needs to be flying it to get into a side going so well.

[Olé Olé]

Heading to Millwall it appears. At least he should get more game time and hopefully plays himself into a good run.

[Eirambler]

Some line up of Championship clubs himself and Obafemi have signed for at this point:

Connolly - Middlesbrough, Hull, Sunderland, Millwall, Luton (in L1 at the time)
Obafemi - Swansea, Burnley, Millwall, Plymouth, Watford (as a youth player)

They've been with nearly 40% of the current Championship clubs between them. It does feel like they're both nearing the end of the road in that division though and will probably both be finding their level in the lower leagues before too long.

Incidentally, of the four young Irish strikers that came through around the same time about five years ago (Connolly, Obafemi, Parrott and Idah), only Idah now won't have played for Millwall in his career - there's still time for him to end up there as well though!

[Eirambler]

Confirmed now that he has left Sunderland and signed for Millwall.

[tetsujin1979]

He looks pretty good in the photos on Millwall's website
https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2025/january/16/millwall-announce-aaron-connolly-signing/

[Eirambler]

No mention of a contract length but presumably just until the end of the season for now.

[Exgrad]

Will shortly have played for over 20% of the teams in the champiosnhip...by 24, some going.

[Exgrad]

Fresh start for Connolly, hopefully he can get a run of games and stay injury free etc etc

[Eirambler]

Fresh start for Connolly, hopefully he can get a run of games and stay injury free etc etc

He's had a few of those at this stage!

[pineapple stu]

Came on as an early sub today; missed a penalty. Ho hum.

Seemed to play well enough outside of that in fairness

[Olé Olé]

Came on as an early sub today; missed a penalty. Ho hum.

Seemed to play well enough outside of that in fairness

Seemed to play in a 10 role with a more significant defensive mandate than he'd be used to?

[rebelmusic]

Hey played well but the penalty was absolutely woeful, one of the worst I've seen in a very long time. In fairness, he earned the penalty in the first place and they still won the game so hopefully it's quickly forgotten.

[Eirambler]

Seemed to play in a 10 role with a more significant defensive mandate than he'd be used to?

Millwall will probably be the most defensively minded team he has played for in his career, so he may be asked to play a different role. Brighton were a possession team and Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Hull and Luton were all promotion chasing teams when he played for them. (To be honest I don't know much about his time in Italy.) So it will be interesting to see how he deals with potentially being asked to track back and contribute more out of possession at Millwall.

It might be no harm because if his career stats tell us anything, it's that he's not a prolific goalscorer by any means.

[Olé Olé]

Millwall will probably be the most defensively minded team he has played for in his career, so he may be asked to play a different role. Brighton were a possession team and Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Hull and Luton were all promotion chasing teams when he played for them. (To be honest I don't know much about his time in Italy.) So it will be interesting to see how he deals with potentially being asked to track back and contribute more out of possession at Millwall.
He dealt fine with it today.

[SkStu]

Guess who’s back… back again… Aaron’s back… Hallgrimsson…


Aaron Connolly puts Millwall one up after 30 seconds!
The Lions work it well down the right and it comes to Connolly in the area who fires a first time effort into the far corner from about 12 yards out.

[Eirambler]

Tidy finish. Sustaining his form over an extended period of time is the key for Aaron now though.

[Razors left peg]

Hes actually looking very trim and fit

[Eirambler]

https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/ive-got-plenty-of-time-to-get-my-career-back-where-i-want-it-in-depth-with-millwall-attacker-aaron-connolly/

An interesting interview with Connolly, confirms that the Millwall contract is only until the end of the season. Also seems to say that he turned down a contract offer at Hull last season which led to him being dropped, I don't think that has been reported before. Sounds like he's staying on the level so far since his acknowledgement of his alcohol issues, the current lack of a contract for next season will help focus his mind as well I'd imagine.

[Jolly Red Giant]

https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/ive-got-plenty-of-time-to-get-my-career-back-where-i-want-it-in-depth-with-millwall-attacker-aaron-connolly/

An interesting interview with Connolly, confirms that the Millwall contract is only until the end of the season. Also seems to say that he turned down a contract offer at Hull last season which led to him being dropped, I don't think that has been reported before. Sounds like he's staying on the level so far since his acknowledgement of his alcohol issues, the current lack of a contract for next season will help focus his mind as well I'd imagine.
When Connolly was at Brighton he displayed all the elements of an immature boy who was flush with money - the polar opposite of the likes of Ferguson. Hopefully he has managed to get his head together and figured out how to deal with being a professional footballer (and all the highs and lows that are part of the job). The guy has talent and he can have a very good career if he can keep it going. I wish him the best.

[Buckett]

Is he cup tied?

[Eirambler]

Played in the third round for Sunderland so he will be, yes.

[Eirambler]

Hasn't been starting for Millwall recently, Emakhu preferred to him today. Emakhu was decent, certainly justified the start.

Connolly was lively when he came on, definitely offered Millwall an outlet and made a nuisance of himself. Just looks like he's lost something compared to the player that first broke through at Brighton, whether it's a trick or half a yard of pace, he has a more stocky build now. Will be interesting to see if he gets an extended contract at Millwall, his work rate is good, but at 25 this does look to be about his level.

Moran came on for Stoke just after Connolly and honestly might as well not have been on the pitch for all the impact he had. Millwall took control of the game after he came on and out of possession he really does offer absolutely nothing at all right now.

[pineapple stu]

Released by Millwall. Will hardly get a Championship move next season.

And on a random tangent, I figured the easiest way to find this thread would be to sort the forum by alphabetical order - but then it's on page 8 :eek:

[tetsujin1979]

There's links to every player thread, ordered by surname, in the important thread post at the top of the forum homepage

[pineapple stu]

I know - I just thought it'd be quicker for Aaron to sort in alphabetical order

[tetsujin1979]

It was originally sorted in first name order, can't remember who asked for it to be changed to surname order

[Eirambler]

Was maybe a little unlucky that Millwall had a strong season, had they been down in the bottom half like they usually are he might've played more.

That said, you can only be unlucky so many times before it's a case of making your own luck, and I think that applies to both him and Obafemi. Probably looking at League 1, Scotland or further afield for both players next season. Not where either player would have seen themselves at 25 I'm sure.

Not sure which of them I'm more disappointed with, maybe Obafemi because he has genuine pace and goalscoring talent. Maybe Connolly was never really as good as he looked in that breakthrough half season he had at Brighton. Premier League teams seemed to get a read on him quickly enough.