Aaron Connolly F Millwall b.2000

[Bielsa´s irish]

Is the Granny Hooker ever going to get any Credit or an Assist ? ?

Yeap Tomasz Radzinski

[seanfhear]

Yeap Tomasz Radzinski
Didn’t Rooney say the Granny Hooker was the best Coach he ever had ? I’m out after that one !

[irishfan86]

Well, bizarre thread but brilliant to see Connolly look the part vs Newcastle. Well taken goal.

I’ll also add the Maupay critics weren’t exactly proven right. Excellently taken penalty and a very cool finish for his goal from open play.

The two can play together and both have an energy and feistiness that will serve Brighton well this season.

[Olé Olé]

Their two league games before Slovakia are United and Everton. Last year, Brighton would often play a 3-5-2, instead of a 3-4-3 like they played yesterday, against the bigger sides. It will be interesting to see if Potter reverts to the 3-5-2 for those matches, which will surely squeeze one of Trossard, Connolly and Maupay from the team. All three did well yesterday so hopefully they persist with 3-4-3 and if they go to 3-5-2 that Potter maintains Connolly.

[Razors left peg]

Well, bizarre thread but brilliant to see Connolly look the part vs Newcastle. Well taken goal.

I’ll also add the Maupay critics weren’t exactly proven right. Excellently taken penalty and a very cool finish for his goal from open play.

The two can play together and both have an energy and feistiness that will serve Brighton well this season.

I think I might be the sole member of the Maupay critics club at the moment to be fair!

[irishfan86]

One kind of sidebar angle to this whole Maupay/Connolly thing is that Connolly was harrying the Newcastle backline and applying plenty of pressure, generated another good chance, and the commentator on the feed I was watching kept calling him Maupay. Then the colour commentator went on and on about Maupay. They must not have been looking at their monitors because the camera was zoomed in right on Connolly after the play. The thing is it happened more than once it was like the commentator thought 9 and 7 were both Maupay.

[Razors left peg]

One kind of sidebar angle to this whole Maupay/Connolly thing is that Connolly was harrying the Newcastle backline and applying plenty of pressure, generated another good chance, and the commentator on the feed I was watching kept calling him Maupay. Then the colour commentator went on and on about Maupay. They must not have been looking at their monitors because the camera was zoomed in right on Connolly after the play. The thing is it happened more than once it was like the commentator thought 9 and 7 were both Maupay.

That doesnt surprise me. I honestly think the standard of football commentary and punditry is absolutely atrocious. You so often hear pundits and commentators pronouncing players names wrong ( DoKherty) or saying things like "I dont know much about this player".

Ive started watching a lot more US sports in recent years since moving here and the standard of analysis and commentary of games is so far above what football does. You rarely get the "at the end of the day hes a top top player, class is permanent" nonsense.

Im struggling even to find a proper podcast I like for football these days with the amount of crap thats talked...... sorry, this has been bugging me for ages!!!

[paul_oshea]

One kind of sidebar angle to this whole Maupay/Connolly thing is that Connolly was harrying the Newcastle backline and applying plenty of pressure, generated another good chance, and the commentator on the feed I was watching kept calling him Maupay. Then the colour commentator went on and on about Maupay. They must not have been looking at their monitors because the camera was zoomed in right on Connolly after the play. The thing is it happened more than once it was like the commentator thought 9 and 7 were both Maupay.

I dont think you can say those kind of things anymore.

[tommy_c12000]

I dont think you can say those kind of things anymore.

Enjoyed that one.

That was NBC/Peacock, must have had the 2019/20 squad numbers whereby Maupay was 7. Wouldn’t get too upset about it, the fans and management can tell the difference

[passinginterest]

Playing very central against Utd. Brighton have been good. Connolly looks sharp, just the one half chance for a shot a few mins ago. Making good runs again and has held it up well a few times. A couple of good runs not spotted again too.

Opportunity on the counter just now where maybe he didn’t trust his own pace and made a poor decision. Brighton hit both posts and the bar. Penalty now. Pressing Utd really well and Connolly a big part of that.

[Stuttgart88]

Mental game. Both Connolly pen calls probably right but you get them in international football. Was compared to Duff in that respect on Twitter, drawing fouls.

[Razors left peg]

I thought it was harsh to over turn the penalty awarded to Connolly. He went down easily but Pogba was all over him. The United fan in me was happy but I thought it was a penalty and definitely not a clear and obvious error to overturn it

[Charlie Darwin]

It was a clear penalty, no idea why they reversed. He was obviously looking for Pogba to make the mistake but he didn't initiate the contact.

[Eirambler]

I think it was the little tug on Pogba's jersey that did him. Still though, last season when the refs weren't using the screen at the side of the pitch I think it would probably have stood.

He does seem to go down a little bit too easily or dramatically in games in general though, he could get a reputation for it if he's not careful.

[elatedscum]

Brighton have just signed Wellbeck. Can’t do Aaron’s playing time any good, hopefully the competition for places brings the best out of him...

[Olé Olé]

Hopefully it does bring out the best in him. He hasn't scored many goals in the last year or so and he was openly self critical after the Finland match so he knows there is work to do.

Very disappointing to see Molumby didn't make the bench there today.

[tommy_c12000]

Connolly came on around the 75th minute mark, had two touches of the ball. First touch: an unintentional back heel assist to set up equalizer. Second touch: was ahead of last defender again deep in injury time and yet again threw himself on ground looking for penalty. Could have scored if wasn’t looking for penalty

[youngirish]

Connolly came on around the 75th minute mark, had two touches of the ball. First touch: an unintentional back heel assist to set up equalizer. Second touch: was ahead of last defender again deep in injury time and yet again threw himself on ground looking for penalty. Could have scored if wasn’t looking for penalty

I've been very disappointed with Connolly so far this season. Even after a year of regular first team football he's still the same rabbit in the headlights when he receives the ball in the final third that we seen when he first broke into the team. You would have hoped to see some improvement by now but there's little evidence of it. It could be an inherent weakness to his game that is very difficult to coach out.

Luckily he is at a team with possibly the poorest choice of forward options in the league so he should get more opportunities than perhaps his performances merit. If he was with Obafemi at Southampton he'd most likely be long back with the U23s.

[Stuttgart88]

Connolly came on around the 75th minute mark, had two touches of the ball. First touch: an unintentional back heel assist to set up equalizer. Second touch: was ahead of last defender again deep in injury time and yet again threw himself on ground looking for penalty. Could have scored if wasn’t looking for penalty
I thought he was going away from goal so the goal scoring chance was remote.

[Tipp Townie]

Its so long since i've been on here properly I've skimmed the threads, so apols if this is covered elsewhere.
But i've seen a few comments about the signing of Wellbeck being a 'replacement' or a bad thing for Connolly. Fact is we (Brighton) desperately needed to bring in:
a) another striker. As things stood we had two 'senior' strikers in the squad (Zeqiri is an unknown at present, not sure if he's development squad or first team), ie Maupay and Connolly. A ridiculous situation when you factor in possible injuries and suspension (or 'incident' based punishments), let alone that at 20 years old imho Aaron just isn't ready to play every game in a Prem season. He'll get burnt out.
b) a different type of striker. Maupay and Connolly have very similar games, although in the first few matches of this season they were working well together. We definitely needed a more physical presence, etc
c) some experience and leadership. Dunk has turned into a great captain, but after him we were seriously lacking on-pitch (and training pitch) leadership until Lallana, and now Wellbeck came along.

Its true that Wellbeck's signing will likely reduce Connolly's playing time but I don't think this has to be a bad thing. On the contrary, my hope/view is that it will relieve some of the physical and mental pressure and allow him to develop more on his own terms. Potter has always seemed to really rate him - when he got thrown in last season it really took us by surprise, though imho he ended up being over-used - and hopefully that continues.

The other thing about Wellbeck - history tells us he's unlikely to stay fit all of the time.

[Olé Olé]

Any time a club with an Irish player signs a player that can play in a position remotely similar to the clubs Irish player, there is the inevitable post stating that the Irish player is finished there. It's inevitable and often inaccurate too. Rotation, injury, form and formation often get missed in these reactions too.

[Charlie Darwin]

Any time a club with an Irish player signs a player that can play in a position remotely similar to the clubs Irish player, there is the inevitable post stating that the Irish player is finished there. It's inevitable and often inaccurate too. Rotation, injury, form and formation often get missed in these reactions too.
Players being finished is a well-established foot.ie meme.

[Eminence Grise]

Danny Unwellbeck. Good player, but if he wasn't injury prone I'd be worried. Connolly will have his chances.

[Charlie Darwin]

Danny Unwellbeck.
https://i.imgur.com/3lcDPOz.gif

[seanfhear]

Remember Kieron Dyer ( various Clubs ) would always hit a great run of form and an injury free run just before his contract was up. After the contract was signed back to a fierce run of injuries and bad form ! !

[John83]

I think Welbeck's reputation is quite the opposite. Very game, good pro, just let down by his body.

[Olé Olé]

Both Molumby and Connolly on the bench today for Brighton. Hopefully both come in.

[tetsujin1979]

Molumby's start against Wales was his fifth cap, one more appearance than he has for Brighton's senior team

[seanfhear]

Molumby's start against Wales was his fifth cap, one more appearance than he has for Brighton's senior team

He is certainly good enough to be in the frame for a start / sub in our midfield. A good athlete as well which never hurts !

[tommy_c12000]

Yes agree. However, it’s disappointing to see Ben White pushed into midfield for the injured Lallana, rather than Molumby coming on. Hopefully he can get game time soon. Should really have gone on a short term loan

[Olé Olé]

Starts at home to Liverpool. I normally criticise Potter for playing two strikers against the better sides. He's gone with Connolly, Maupay and Welbeck today. Potentially it's a function of having to play a fairly defensive player in Veltman down the right in Lamptey's absence. Trossard is on the bench.

Molumby on the bench too.

[passinginterest]

Just missed a great chance. Helped to make it putting pressure on a Liverpool defender trying to clear. Maupay won the breaking ball and Connolly made a perfect run. Clear on goal, no pressure, tried to clip it past Alisson with a little curler into the top corner but didn’t get the curl and it drifted wide.

[passinginterest]

Giving Liverpool nightmares. Just won a clear penalty.

Which Maupay has put wide.

[elatedscum]

Won a pen, getting better after a few missed chances

[Bielsa´s irish]

Great game by "rooney" Connolly as Bambino Pons nicknamed him on espn., should strike to goal a few first timers, not control and all the time. great game though by him

[tetsujin1979]

Great game by "rooney" Connolly as Bambino Pons nicknamed him on espn., should strike to goal a few first timers, not control and all the time. great game though by him
You've been warned about posts referencing ESPN Argentina, provide proof

[elatedscum]

Brighton’s best player so far today. Causing Liverpool all sorts of problems. Great runs off the ball, lovely link up play, aggressive dribbling. Doesn’t score as much as he should though. Salah’s disallowed goal was a good example of the difference. One chance, puts it away...

In a very different way, Shane Long’s lack of clinical finishing dramatically reduced his effectiveness at the highest level... Long term, could go either way for Aaron

[passinginterest]

Yeah, the Salah finish was the perfect example of the difference between world class and just potentially very good. It does feel like Connolly might just be a goal or two away from stepping up a level, he’s doing so much right, even the attempted finish for the one on one was the right option, keeper had no chance it just didn’t come back in for him.

If he can break his duck and get the confidence a little more up it feels like there’s a good finisher in there trying to get out.

[DCWA]

Subbed there. Very frustrated. BT Sport commentators very sympathetic there surprised he has been taken off considering him Brighton’s biggest threat.

[passinginterest]

Strange choice to take him off. Something else that was evident is how well he uses his body. He’s obviously not a big man but he’s strong and gets himself across defenders and right up against them when they’re trying to clear balls. He looks difficult to play against. He hadn’t been in the game as much second half, Welbeck was seeing more of it, but I still find it hard to see why he’s the one taken off. Maybe just managing his minutes seeing as he’s had a few injuries.

[Olé Olé]

Well they really cocked that one up because Lallana lasted 10 minutes before coming off injured for Jahanbakhsh.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Subbed there. Very frustrated. BT Sport commentators very sympathetic there surprised he has been taken off considering him Brighton’s biggest threat.

Same down here the uruguayan-argentinian "Bambino" Pons said the same, he played very good, blamed the coach, Brightonnnow they are toothless,

[Bielsa´s irish]

You've been warned about posts referencing ESPN Argentina, provide proof
http://www.espn.com.ar/tv/programacion
http://www.guiaespn.com/?id=407

[Bielsa´s irish]

Well they really cocked that one up because Lallana lasted 10 minutes before coming off injured for Jahanbakhsh.

money wasted,
Potter got away with a point because of VAR, but terrible handling of Connolly, lucky guy.this Potter

[seanfhear]

money wasted,
Potter got away with a point because of VAR, but terrible handling of Connolly, lucky guy.this PotterHis Great Aunt was Maureen.

[Colbert Report]

I'm very encouraged watching him play, I think he's already our best player. Hopefully he can continue to progress and develop.

[Olé Olé]

When there's posters not appreciating his career so far on YBIG I just chuckle. How many other countries, including England, have a 20 year old striker getting games in PL?

[John83]

When there's posters not appreciating his career so far on YBIG I just chuckle. How many other countries, including England, have a 20 year old striker getting games in PL?
Mason Greenwood is 19, but it's a decent bit of perspective. Connolly is an exciting prospect, and playing in a position where we desperately need one.

[irishfan86]

Looked very good today vs. Liverpool. Excellent movement and did well to earn the penalty. I think this guy will come good. I had concern he was mainly a speedster without the guile but his off the ball running in this match was elite level.

[elatedscum]

Neco Williams looked excellent against us for Wales. Connolly gave him real trouble. Re-emphasised how unfortunate Kenny was to lose Connolly and Robinson before the squad started...