Aaron Connolly F Millwall b.2000

[Eirambler]

If I was to guess now I'd say solid Premier League professional but not a guy who will play consistently, or maybe at all, for a top 4 or top 6 club. I'd expect him to outlast Brighton in the EPL though.

Just a guess obviously, its too early to tell really.

[irishfan86]

I’m with Eirambler. Too early to say. I’m thinking a decade at Premier League level, potential to be a regular starter at a Top 10 side. Has matches where he does nothing but occasionally has decisive quality. Has the benefit of elite speed but does he have the guile to make use of it consistently?

[Olé Olé]

I'm probably with the pair of you. One thing I will say is that he shows moments of elite quality. His league goals last year were awesome for a player his age. And there ain't many players his age playing regularly up front in the Premiership.

I'll go with the pair of you and say he will be a solid PL player. Have a long enough career. Score 8-10 goals a season. Play off the left and though the middle.

But if something clicks and those flashes of elite quality become more frequent then he may have a few great seasons. He won't be 21 until January.

[Eminence Grise]

Getting so many top flight games while still so young will develop the physical side of his game and guile will come with experience. I always think - arbitrarily - it takes 100 games to lay down a marker. He could have two-thirds of those played while he's still 21. It means the chance to be a solid premiership player is in his hands, and he's developing well. In a season or two he'll be a good player for any mid-table Prem club. Luck will take care of anything better than that.

[seanfhear]

Time will Tell as The Clock told William Tell.

[DeLorean]

I must have the most ridiculously green tinted specs every time I watch Connolly for Brighton. He seems to make good runs into great areas so often and isn't found with a pass. I always have the feeling he could score a ton of goals with right service...but yet he doesn't always start ahead of Maupay who I think is a terrible player.

Do we think Connolly can be a top player or just another guy who will bounce between Premiership and Championship through his career?

How good would Maupay be if he was Irish though? :D

[irishfan86]

Disagree RE: Maupay. Considering lack of service at times at Brighton he often does well to get on the end of things. Has decent pace, has grit and uses body well. Still only 24 so can improve further. In any case I believe Connolly and him can form a partnership or work together in an attacking 3 — I don’t really view them as being in direct competition with each other.

[paul_oshea]

If I was to guess now I'd say solid Premier League professional but not a guy who will play consistently, or maybe at all, for a top 4 or top 6 club. I'd expect him to outlast Brighton in the EPL though.

Just a guess obviously, its too early to tell really.

Yep been saying the same for a while now, I'd worry as well if they get in a proper striker. He doesnt involve himself enough, clearly he needs to, this brighton team dont fashion chances very easily or often and he becomes a bystander, a passenger. He wont get a move to another(premier) club with those kind of performances either, if he was performing above the ability of brighton others would be taking note. I wouldnt even been thinking of a top 4 or 6 club. Duff/keane all these lads showed early enough their promise and were putting in very good performances, perhaps not every game but fairly regularly - connolly isnt doing that.

[DeLorean]

Disagree RE: Maupay. Considering lack of service at times at Brighton he often does well to get on the end of things. Has decent pace, has grit and uses body well. Still only 24 so can improve further. In any case I believe Connolly and him can form a partnership or work together in an attacking 3 — I don’t really view them as being in direct competition with each other.

They've played together quite a bit alright, and agree that Maupay isn't terrible by any stretch.

[youngirish]

Do we think Connolly can be a top player or just another guy who will bounce between Premiership and Championship through his career?
I think most likely a regular for a lower to mid table Premiership team down the line, perhaps similar to Long's career path.

IMO at present he's not good enough to be playing regularly in the Premiership but he could do well at a decent footballing team in the Championship. A loan could be good for his development as surely Brighton will now bring in a new striker before the transfer deadline.

He does show flashes of class but they are too infrequent and he too often looks like a headless chicken and makes the wrong decision when in dangerous positions. I hope these traits disappear given more experience but I've yet to see any great improvement in these deficiencies since he burst onto the scene at the end of last year.

I see more potential for him as a wide player rather than a striker as he would get the ball in space more often and there'll be less pressure on him to weigh in with goals. However he really needs to be given chances to be playing regularly in such a position to develop his game to the required standard.

Of our current young strikers I rate his potential behind Parrott, Odubeko (if he is still ours), Idah and Obafemi, in that order, but he's further ahead in his development than all, with the possible exception of Obafemi.

I also like the look of Scully at Lincoln but its too early days and too low a level to really judge how good he can be. Let's just say at 20 he already looks good enough to be a very decent League One striker but obviously we would hope he will improve with the confidence and experience he is getting from regular games and goals.

[DeLorean]

Even if they do buy a striker, would Brighton at this stage consider him too important to put out on loan though? He features in pretty much every match for them, be it starting or off the bench. Even if that changes, a minor injury situation and he'd be needed again.

[seanfhear]

Have Brighton any Money ?

[irishfan86]

Potter clearly rates Connolly. Let’s put it this way. Connolly was the first man off the bench in the Premier League for him this season. A few days ago Potter was asked about Viktor Gyokeres, a 22 year old Swedish forward trying to break through. Potter wasn’t entirely clear on whether he plans to keep Gyokeres or loan him out as he could potentially play a role. But Gyokeres didn’t even make the matchday squad vs Chelsea.

Connolly isn’t going anywhere.

[youngirish]

Even if they do buy a striker, would Brighton at this stage consider him too important to put out on loan though? He features in pretty much every match for them, be it starting or off the bench. Even if that changes, a minor injury situation and he'd be needed again.

I agree he will still get game time but likely less than now. It wouldn't be a disaster to see him starting week in, week out at a decent team in the Championship who create opportunities for him to score. This may allow him to develop that killer instinct and confidence he needs to add to his game and could raise his stock considerably if he did well, as was the case with Ben White.

[Exgrad]

Lads, it is less than a year since Connolly made his debut. He's still 20, just enjoy watching him develop. People going on about Keane and Duff, both made their name in the championship, Connolly is trying to impact at Premier League level.

[Olé Olé]

Lads, it is less than a year since Connolly made his debut. He's still 20, just enjoy watching him develop. People going on about Keane and Duff, both made their name in the championship, Connolly is trying to impact at Premier League level.

No harm in a bit of idle crystal balling. And why is it so wrong to speak about his potential? I think a lot of the points made here have been interesting and insightful and have read worse discussions in my day.

[Razors left peg]

How good would Maupay be if he was Irish though? :D
Haha fair question. That's why I asked originally if my green tinted specs are telling me something different about Connolly.

I do think Maupay is poor though. I just can't work out how good or otherwise Connolly is. I still think he makes excellent runs off the ball and would be found by better players around him. Hopefully Lallana can do that this season for him

[seanfhear]

Ok; Connolly is a bit small , Is he that fast ? He certainly wasted two good chances for Ireland recently, How good of a finisher is he ?

Other that that he is bloody marvellous = My Scouting report ! !

[elatedscum]

Ok; Connolly is a bit small , Is he that fast ? He certainly wasted two good chances for Ireland recently, How good of a finisher is he ?

Other that that he is bloody marvellous = My Scouting report ! !

He’s very fast

Obafemi > Connolly > Afolabi > Idah > Parrott

[Stuttgart88]

Haha fair question. That's why I asked originally if my green tinted specs are telling me something different about Connolly.

I do think Maupay is poor though. I just can't work out how good or otherwise Connolly is. I still think he makes excellent runs off the ball and would be found by better players around him. Hopefully Lallana can do that this season for himMaupay was rubbish vs Chelsea.

I'd like to see Connolly in a team that tends to be on top of games. I get frustrated watching him dart around as the first line of defence, pressing defenders, without ever having a rat's chance of even getting a touch. You rarely get a look at him attacking a slighly stretched defence. It's a tough education for him where he is.

[dynamo kerry]

Maupay was rubbish vs Chelsea.

I'd like to see Connolly in a team that tends to be on top of games. I get frustrated watching him dart around as the first line of defence, pressing defenders, without ever having a rat's chance of even getting a touch. You rarely get a look at him attacking a slighly stretched defence. It's a tough education for him where he is.
I always think of dwight yorke for this. He was good for villa, excellent for United..

[Charlie Darwin]

I always think of dwight yorke for this. He was good for villa, excellent for United..
Yorke was excellent for Villa, to be fair, but you're right that he stepped it up in Manchester. Which was interesting because he seemed to have been around so long when he went to United but he was in his prime, at 28.

[seanfhear]

Yorke was excellent for Villa, to be fair, but you're right that he stepped it up in Manchester. Which was interesting because he seemed to have been around so long when he went to United but he was in his prime, at 28.
Was it himself and Sheringham that were not talking but still played well together ? ?

[tetsujin1979]

No, it was Cole and Sheringham. Apparently, it all went back to when Cole made his England debut, as a substitute for Sheringham, and Sheringham didn't shake his hand.

[Fixer82]

RMK clearly didn't like Sheringham and mentioned in his first book a few times how he was a shaper. Keane obviously liked Cole as he signed him for Sunderland when he was well past it.
But ultimately, there'll always be players who don't get on in a group but can put that aside when they get on the pitch

[DeLorean]

Cole strikes me as a bit odd, this was the incident (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVZGPZtVzGU) and there was a little handshake there, think Sheringham was just annoyed at being taken off and maybe the foul just beforehand. Certainly nothing that should have caused a lifelong rift.

Anyway, Connolly... :o

[seanfhear]

Cole strikes me as a bit odd, this was the incident (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVZGPZtVzGU) and there was a little handshake there, think Sheringham was just annoyed at being taken off and maybe the foul just beforehand. Certainly nothing that should have caused a lifelong rift.

Anyway, Connolly... :o
A guy could easily be annoyed at been taken off. Did’t Andy Cole go all Andrew Cole there for awhile as well.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Unstoppable today vs the old magpies el Bambino Pons nicknamed him the little buffalo Rooney on espn Argentina. Hendrick invisible today. Clark on the bench

[tommy_c12000]

Beautiful finish for Connolly today, 3-0 up in closing minutes vs Newcastle. Fantastic to see it!

[elatedscum]

Good goal. Also hit the post in what turned out to be an offside move.

Same thing with both, opened his body and tried to curl into the far corner from the left.

[Bielsa´s irish]

What a goal. james McCarthy could bring the ball there to Connolly. Connolly has to play but in a free role like today. The new Rooney doppelganger Pons dubbed him on espn

[Diggs246]

Any link for the goal guys

[Razors left peg]

Any link for the goal guys
https://streamable.com/mufn3v

[Closed Account]

Any link for the goal guys

https://streamable.com/hudrrq

Flashscore.com have been reliable lately(through mobile browser not the app)
But I would usually check
Reddit.com/r/soccer/new

[Razors left peg]

Think the goal in a weird way shows what I said about Maupay being poor and Connolly making good runs. Look how long it took for Maupay to play the pass, it was almost too late.
Only turned game on just before goal but commentary so I don't know how well Connolly played overall

[elatedscum]

Only turned game on just before goal but commentary so I don't know how well Connolly played overall

Lots of decent runs, didn’t receive the ball a lot. Busy as always.

Won a few good free kicks.

Good hold up and pass to Lamptey on the break from a corner, who should have scored (Lamptey was superb).

Hit the post from a wide left angle, was half a yard offside though, but almost an excellent finish from a difficult angle

[Diggs246]

https://streamable.com/mufn3v
Thanks. Lovely goal perfect weight

[Olé Olé]

Lots of decent runs, didn’t receive the ball a lot. Busy as always.

Won a few good free kicks.

Good hold up and pass to Lamptey on the break from a corner, who should have scored (Lamptey was superb).

Hit the post from a wide left angle, was half a yard offside though, but almost an excellent finish from a difficult angle

I thought that about the runs too. He was getting very frustrated with Trossard I thought. I think the runs issue is probably because he was playing through the middle.

But he caused Lascelles problems. Earned them territory. Had bright moments. Lovely goal. Happy days.

[Bielsa´s irish]

I thought that about the runs too. He was getting very frustrated with Trossard I thought. I think the runs issue is probably because he was playing through the middle.

But he caused Lascelles problems. Earned them territory. Had bright moments. Lovely goal. Happy days.

An assist and a goal. unstoppable has a bit of buffalo Rooney in him, as the argentinian commentators said. Maupay wants to play for Argentina he also got contacted from Lionel Scaloni from his house in Soller, Mallorca.

[Razors left peg]

WTF is buffalo Rooney

[DeLorean]

Think the goal in a weird way shows what I said about Maupay being poor and Connolly making good runs. Look how long it took for Maupay to play the pass, it was almost too late.
Only turned game on just before goal but commentary so I don't know how well Connolly played overall

Nothing about today shows what you were saying about Maupay, but nice try. :) The pass was timed well imho

[Bielsa´s irish]

WTF is buffalo Rooney
they called rooney that way in affection in Spain Uruguay, Italy and Argentina

[Razors left peg]

Nothing about today shows what you were saying about Maupay, but nice try. :) The pass was timed well imho
When Connolly got the ball he had to check back to shoot, Maupay had the chance to play it into the stride. Im gonna keep clinging to this LOL

[tetsujin1979]

What a goal. james McCarthy could bring the ball there to Connolly. Connolly has to play but in a free role like today. The new Rooney doppelganger Pons dubbed him on espn
Unless you provide proof about these games being on ESPN Argentina, please don't attribute at quotes to them.
You used to do this on YBIG as well, and it was really, really annoying.

[DeLorean]

It was on 'ESPN Play Sur' & 'ESPN2 Sur' in Argentina, according to the Live Soccer TV (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.livesoccertv&paramLiveSoccerTV.TB) app.

[tommy_c12000]

Unless you provide proof about these games being on ESPN Argentina, please don't attribute at quotes to them.
You used to do this on YBIG as well, and it was really, really annoying.

Appreciate the stewardship Tets, let’s keep that stuff for YBIG

[Bielsa´s irish]

It was on 'ESPN Play Sur' & 'ESPN2 Sur' in Argentina, according to the Live Soccer TV (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.livesoccertv&paramLiveSoccerTV.TB) app.

espn 2 Argentina is where their headquarters are, and they hire people mostly from Spain and Italy, Uruguay and Argentina. Some colombians too because of their suave accent, argentinian and uruguayan accent and the "vos" person from the french and some frenchiee expressions turned into spanish make it awkward for most spanish speakers.

Pons and the doctor Herbella chose "rooney" Connolly as man of the match since Lamptey was hauled out after 55 minutes

[seanfhear]

they called rooney that way in affection in Spain Uruguay, Italy and Argentina
Had they never heard of his Granny Hooker ? ?

[Bielsa´s irish]

Had they never heard of his Granny Hooker ? ?
when rooney scored that goal against seaman and made that successful partnership with a canadian dude who i dont remember his name but was quick and skillful, they tought in Southamerica that Wayne was irish because of his look and his last name.

[seanfhear]

when rooney scored that goal against seaman and made that successful partnership with a canadian dude who i dont remember his name but was quick and skillful, they tought in Southamerica that Wayne was irish because of his look and his last name.
Is the Granny Hooker ever going to get any Credit or an Assist ? ?