Luca Connell (D/M Barnsley b.2001)

[gastric]

It's sad really how we have become cynical about such utterances from dual qualified nationals.

https://www.independent.ie/au/sport/soccer/international-soccer/new-recruit-connell-assures-mccarthy-that-he-sees-his-future-with-ireland-38162823.html

[Diggs246]

The upside to this I think we will get to see josh Cullen play some part in these 2 games

[Olé Olé]

It's a pity re Connell but that will make it even more emphatic an occasion and statement if he comes back in Sept/Oct to play a role and get his cap.

We really need someone to buck the trend as soon as possible. I imagine Grealish will be gunning to play himself on to the England squad within 12 months now. Rice is being heavily linked with United.

Just on the head turning, I know the Irish community is strong in Birmingham but I also know Grealish's father has a strong taste for money and attention. The Irish community in Liverpool is probably less identifiable due to the timelines of emigration. Connell's grandparents are outliers in that they didn't move to Liverpool in the late 1800s or early 1900's but you'd wonder if he would ever heavily identify as English. As he says, Liverpool is almost a part of Ireland. It isn't as attractive to him. I hope.

[Olé Olé]

Christ. The facts of the Rice case are really impacting my green tinted cognitive biases. All I could picture after that post was that iconic pic of Rice and his utterly chuffed father after his debut.

[tetsujin1979]

the Georgia away qualifier in October is realistically the only game left that he could play in. It's a lot to ask an 18 year old to play against Switzerland, or Denmark.

[Diggs246]

It's sad really how we have become cynical about such utterances from dual qualified nationals.

https://www.independent.ie/au/sport/soccer/international-soccer/new-recruit-connell-assures-mccarthy-that-he-sees-his-future-with-ireland-38162823.html

It's worrying to say the least. Mick says to him I'm possibly going to give you the infamous 3 mins on the pitch. He say sounds great..... and then pulls out.... He might be genuinely injured but I can't be confident.

[Bungle]

It's a pity re Connell but that will make it even more emphatic an occasion and statement if he comes back in Sept/Oct to play a role and get his cap.

We really need someone to buck the trend as soon as possible. I imagine Grealish will be gunning to play himself on to the England squad within 12 months now. Rice is being heavily linked with United.

Just on the head turning, I know the Irish community is strong in Birmingham but I also know Grealish's father has a strong taste for money and attention. The Irish community in Liverpool is probably less identifiable due to the timelines of emigration. Connell's grandparents are outliers in that they didn't move to Liverpool in the late 1800s or early 1900's but you'd wonder if he would ever heavily identify as English. As he says, Liverpool is almost a part of Ireland. It isn't as attractive to him. I hope.

Liverpool is basically an Irish city. I was there working in 88' and the place errupted when we won. They don't feel English at all. Great people the Liverpudlians.

I think they still suffer from Middle England's stereotypes of the Irish and it impacts on their Englishness. Birmingham has a massive Irish population but you wouldn't call it an Irish city. I would be suprised if Luca declared for England but until he plays competitively anything can happen.

I saw him play for Bolton and imo he has the talent to be an incredible player. Jason Knight is even more talented though which is great from our point of view.

[Eirambler]

A lot of articles out there linking Luca to Celtic now. I wouldn't normally be a fan of seeing our higher rated young players moving to Scotland, but in this case it might help us secure his future as an Irish player.

Hopefully, if this goes through, he will be able to get into the first team pretty quickly, the development league in Scotland is a complete joke standard wise and is not where you would want any young Irish player to be playing.

[elatedscum]

his social media posts around the denmark game were positive as well. obviously can't take anything for granted but... he's making all the right noises

[tommy_c12000]

Celtic reportedly have opened official transfer talks now. Agree should increase chances of remaining with Ireland, not a fan of Scottish league given standard. But should be easier for him to start games at his young age so will help his development. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4361784/luca-connell-celtic-bolton-transfer-news/amp/

[IsMiseSean]

Celtic reportedly have opened official transfer talks now. Agree should increase chances of remaining with Ireland, not a fan of Scottish league given standard. But should be easier for him to start games at his young age so will help his development. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4361784/luca-connell-celtic-bolton-transfer-news/amp/

If Rodgers was still in charge of Celtic, I'd think it was a good move for him.

[Eirambler]

Signs for Celtic on a four year deal. Hopefully can push on into the first team right away. If he's as good as he's made out to be he'll have a chance to play, Celtic have an early start in Europe and their midfield is decent but not outstanding.

Hopefully a good move in terms of ensuring he stays with us.

[Diggs246]

Great move for him best of luck

[Fixer82]

Now he has to play for Ireland 🇮🇪

[Bottle of Tonic]

Good move. England won't pick a young a young guy 'only' playing in Scotland. We will.

He will play in a winning team with plenty of the ball. Good for his development.

If he shines he will get chances at Celtic and move on to another level in time to come.

[liamoo11]

Good move. England won't pick a young a young guy 'only' playing in Scotland. We will.

He will play in a winning team with plenty of the ball. Good for his development.

If he shines he will get chances at Celtic and move on to another level in time to come.

Not sure about the England wont pick a lad in Scotland bit. Dembele has lived there since he was 2 or 3 and they pick him and they were still picking okoflex when he moved. Connell is under 19 for the coming season Brits would happily pick him in their qualifying squad for the 19s which is probably in October. Obviously that would be him gone then

[Bottle of Tonic]

Oh right yeah. I was actually only thinking in terms of the senior team. England barely picked the likes of Alan Thompson and Chris Sutton despite years of success at Celtic. Forgot underage selection can tie you down too. To be honest I'm not that well up on the rules.

Still, if we offer him caps at senior level and England only look to get him in at u19 does that not put us in a stronger position?

And I'm sure playing in front of scores of tricolours hanging from the stands each week won't hurt his feelings towards us either!

[tetsujin1979]

Interviewed on Celtic's website: http://www.celticfc.net/news/16438
Might make his first appearance tomorrow against Rennes at Celtic Park

[Eirambler]

Connell hasn't made the Celtic travelling squad for their Champions League qualifier in Romania this week. Started for their colts team in the Challenge Cup last night but was subbed off at half time.

[Diggs246]

What do all the "play him against Gibraltar" mob think now

[Olé Olé]

What do all the "play him against Gibraltar" mob think now

Yeah. He's finished.

[seanfhear]

What do all the "play him against Gibraltar" mob think now
Mobs generally want to know where the Mob meets up . Furnish details if known to you !

[Diggs246]

Yeah. He's finished.

My point is, he wasn't ready for international football. It was a game we were far from comfortable in, yet people demand/want anyone who has duel nationality to play the last few minutes in any game to tie them down

[tetsujin1979]

also, injured and unavailable.
We only used two substitutes in that game, I wanted Cullen to come on just so that, no matter how he plays in the new season, he can't switch to England.

[irishfan86]

I find it really strange that Connell isn't around the first team given what we saw out of him at Bolton. Did he show up in preseason completely out of shape or something?

[Diggs246]

also, injured and unavailable.
We only used two substitutes in that game, I wanted Cullen to come on just so that, no matter how he plays in the new season, he can't switch to England.

Cullen should have played I agree, not because he is also English, but because he is a good player with two or three full seasons as a full time Pro

People were calling for Luca to play before he got injured to be fair

[Eirambler]

Neil Lennon doesn't have a great record with younger players. Has a habit of either ignoring them entirely or else picking a couple of them and then running them into the ground, forcing them to play through injury, scapegoating them for poor team performances etc. Caused huge problems in this regard at Hibs last year before he was eventually shown the door.

I'd worry for Connell if he ends up in their reserve team all season though, with no competitive league to play in if he's not getting first team football Celtic is not the right club for him - same goes for the other Irish lads there.

[seanfhear]

Lennon is a follower of the Martin O Neill school of management = Old school .

[tetsujin1979]

Cullen should have played I agree, not because he is also English, but because he is a good player with two or three full seasons as a full time Pro

People were calling for Luca to play before he got injured to be fair

I've a feeling that's going to be the new reality in future. As soon as an English-qualified player appears in the Premier League, the national manager is asked why he isn't in the national side, mainly due to the drop in English-born players in the competition. As things stand with dual-qualified internationals, we've lost Rice and Grealish to England, while Obafemi has been confirmed as an Irish international. Nobody wants to see another player lining out in and England jersey, and until the rules change, the only way to tie a player to the national side is to play him in a competitive international, so the calls for players in the Irish underage sides to appear at senior level are only going to increase.

FWIW I'm still of the opinion that Grealish wouldn't have changed his allegiance if the press hasn't been pressuring Hodgson to call him up.

[DeLorean]

Rotting? He's only been there a month.

Yes, I think and hope there's a bit too being made about Connell's exclusion so far. Celtic are trying to get up to speed quickly as they've crucial CL qualifiers week-on-week at the moment. It's not an ideal time for bedding in new players really. Hopefully he'll get his chance and take it once their season settles down a bit.

[liamoo11]

Yes, I think and hope there's a bit too being made about Connell's exclusion so far. Celtic are trying to get up to speed quickly as they've crucial CL qualifiers week-on-week at the moment. It's not an ideal time for bedding in new players really. Hopefully he'll get his chance and take it once their season settles down a bit.

Yeah these next few weeks are most important in their season getting in to the champions league would be such a fantastic achievement again for lennon

[Eirambler]

Celtic out of the Champions League before Connell makes his senior debut. He's taking a bit of stick off Bolton fans on social media over it. On the plus side he apparently played very well for the Celtic Colts in the Caramel Wafer Teacake Cup or whatever it's called last night. However, they lost on penalties so that's his only other route to competitive games closed off for this year.

Needs to push into the first team but doesn't seem to be in Lennon's plans yet.

[geysir]

is that Luca 2nd row left (https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2019/dec/08/rangers-celtic-scottish-league-cup-final-live)? At least he's in the picture at Celtic and he's a bit taller than Frimpong.

https://images.scribblelive.com/2019/12/8/8d18e30e-e323-4e86-bb26-069194f14d21.jpg

[tetsujin1979]

Looks like Dean Ambrose

[geysir]

Have you got a picture of Dean?

To me that looks the spittin image of Luca

[tetsujin1979]

He looks a little different these days, but this is what he used to look like
https://cdn1us.denofgeek.com/sites/denofgeekus/files/styles/main_wide/public/2019/01/dean-ambrose-stares-down-seth-rollins-as-wwe-champ.jpg

[geysir]

That's about 40 kg heavier, 30 years older and I guess that's circus wrestiing garb

Close but no cigar :D

[tetsujin1979]

Yes, no, and pretty much!

[tetsujin1979]

Celtic have qualified top of their group in the Europa League, you'd hope to see some of the youth players bring given a chance in their final game against Cluj on Thursday

[tommy_c12000]

Only Coffey is eligible as he’s on their B list. None of the other 4 irish players were registered

[elatedscum]

think there's a uefa rule that a player has to be at the club for 2 years to be included in the B-List and anyone who has signed more recently has to be fully registered, presumably as a foreign player to play (because they won't have clocked up enough time within scotland to be considered nationally homegrown)

25 man squad consisting of:

Foreign Players: Up to 17
Players Developed Within Nation: 4+
Players Developed Within Club: 4+

Minimum 3 keepers

[DCWA]

Barnsley supporting mate of mine reckons he is in the verge of signing for them. Anyone heard anything ?

[tetsujin1979]

Also linked with a loan to Sunderland scoring to reports on Twitter

[Olé Olé]

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5228323/celtic-fc-news-connell-sunderland-barnsley/

The Scottish Sun reference a potential loan move to both here. Would be no harm. Sunderland could be a difficult place to go though.

[Eirambler]

Lennon confirms that Connell is likely to be heading out on loan in his press conference. Also hangs Irish qualified (but unlikely to declare for us) Mikey Johnston out to dry over an injury he picked up playing last night - very poor form.

[Dunners]

Came on for the 2nd half in Celtic’s preseason game v Hibs
Getting positive reviews on kerrydale forum.

just hope Lennon gives him a chance

[Olé Olé]

https://www.talkceltic.net/forums/threads/luca-connell.150659/page-16

Praises being sung by Celtic fans who are impressed with his passing and added physicality.

[Razors left peg]

https://streamable.com/97jdhx

Some one on that Celtic Forum put together Connells highlights. Meaningless friendly, but he looks like he has a touch of class

[irishfan86]

Honestly we need to get this guy involved in senior squad fully ASAP. I don't care whether Lennon is going to let him rot or not we need to give him a cap, and a platform for a move if he can't make the breakthrough at Celtic. Looks premium grade.

[Olé Olé]

Watching those clips there and I can't understand why he went to the SPL. Between the hair, the touch, the vision and way he passes he looks every inch a Serie A player.