Luca Connell (D/M Barnsley b.2001)

[Razors left peg]

Its a bit odd that he has gone from being in the 1st team at Bolton to just being another youth player at Celtic. I dont think its a season where Celtic will take many chances on young players given that they are going for the 10 in a row.

[seanfhear]

Could he have any physical problems that stopped him from playing much this last year ?

[Eirambler]

Could he have any physical problems that stopped him from playing much this last year ?

That he's too much of a footballer for Lennon?

He did have a couple of injuries to be fair, but even when fit he wasn't getting a sniff.

[Stuttgart88]

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.Nedved?

[gastric]

Nedved?
I was wondering who he reminded me of and you have just given me the answer!

[DeLorean]

Modric, surely. :o

[livehead1]

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

It impressed me that he is constantly looking to break the line, his first thought is can I move this ball forward. Maybe Lennon just can't understand why someone would want to pass the ball forward, and not merely sideways or backwards...

[Diggs246]

Why not call him into the u21s see how that goes

[Olé Olé]

Was he not involved with the under 21s? I would also say a lot of the central midfield options at that level have had more experience. Molumby and Knight have played full seasons in the Championship. Jack Taylor at Peterborough. Coventry had a limit time at Lincoln. And Connell had no under 23 level like a lot of others. I'm sure he'd be on the radar for a call-up if he played some competitive club games.

[Diggs246]

no as per wiki up until U19s

[Eirambler]

He jumped straight into the senior squad off the back of his first team run with Bolton at 17/18. I remember Robbie Keane being quoted as being impressed by him when he was with the Seniors. So he has missed the under 21s so far. I'd expect him to be in their next squad though.

[samhaydenjr]

Yeah a call-up to the 21s seems about right - maybe gives them the depth to allow Smallbone to move up to the Seniors

[elatedscum]

If memory serves me, he was called up as an injury replacement for one of the squads, after they had met up but before they had played the first game. He traveled to the away match but picked up a knock during training and wasn’t put on the bench as a result...

[Trequartista20]

Celtic was a bad move. He was very badly advised.

He'd previously impressed at Championship level and received a a senior international call-up off the back of it.

Needs a loan move for his career to again pick up momentum.

[tommy_c12000]

No Luca in squad today. He shouldn’t sit on this one, needs games. Bit part appearances and learning from average midfielders not optimal, needs loan to SPL side. All the indicators are I won’t be splashing out on a CelticTV subscription this year...

[Diggs246]

The problem with Celtic is there is no pressure on the manager to try anything different or play young guys. Because they win every year

[Stuttgart88]

The pressure is on 10 in a row. They are taking no chances whatsoever, especially as last year's title race was in the balance until the winter break.

Several of the team's regulars were given chances as kids, and Frimpong still is a kid.

[Trequartista20]

Connell clearly needs, at least, a loan move away from Parkhead this season.

A quite appalling waste of talent as things stand. Deserves a chance to further his career. Even if that be a loan move at League One/Scottish Premiership level.

[geysir]

If Luca was a full back he could've been a contender like Frimpong who got a fortunate break as Celtic were looking for 2 FBs last season, since Tierney was sold and the Swede Lustig moved on.

[DeLorean]

The pressure is on 10 in a row.

Good interview here with Craig Burley regarding the pressure of stopping the 10 in a row in 1998. Obviously Celtic are on the other side of it this time around, but not sure that'll be any easier - https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/i-went-to-take-a-throw-in-at-celtic-park-and-a-guy-just-said-why-dont-you-just-f-off-back-to-chelsea-39416760.html

[Diggs246]

Connell clearly needs, at least, a loan move away from Parkhead this season.

A quite appalling waste of talent as things stand. Deserves a chance to further his career. Even if that be a loan move at League One/Scottish Premiership level.

Yep. Swansea come to mind and if brentford stay down.

[Eirambler]

Not sure he'd be high profile enough to get Swansea or Brentford. I'd be happy enough with a SPL or League 1 team this season as long as he's getting regular first team games. Somewhere like Hibs or Oxford would be good (obviously loads of other possible clubs too).

[Razors left peg]

Not sure he'd be high profile enough to get Swansea or Brentford. I'd be happy enough with a SPL or League 1 team this season as long as he's getting regular first team games. Somewhere like Hibs or Oxford would be good (obviously loads of other possible clubs too).

Hibs would have to have been impressed with him the way he played against them in friendly last week. At least hes in around squad though, Lee O Connor and Johnathan Afolabi have fallen off the face of the earth and need a career kickstart quickly or they could fall out off football

[Trequartista20]

Connell clearly needs, at least, a loan move away from Parkhead this season.

A quite appalling waste of talent as things stand. Deserves a chance to further his career. Even if that be a loan move at League One/Scottish Premiership level.


Yep. Swansea come to mind and if brentford stay down.

That would be a hugely exciting, albeit a rather unlikely move as things currently look, for Connell.

A move to a Sunderland/Portsmouth/Barnsley or another Scottish Premeirship side, Dundee United or the like, would be hugely welcome.

[Diggs246]

Or maybe a Dutch team?

[Kingdom]

The problem that Luca has is a good one, but a particular one.
He's obviously a footballer, as well as tough and a grafter. He needs to go to a team that will not only get the ball into his feet, but also look for him to be on the ball and use it in the way that we saw in the highlights reel vs Hibs.
That's a very finite list of possibilities in the UK, given his lack of profile as Eirambler pointed out.
If we're looking at the championship, a club like Millwall ironically enough would be perfect. Other contenders, Preston, Reading.
Somewhere where there isn't huge pressure to get promoted automatically, and that play football, and are known for developing players. Bournemouth, if Howe was staying would have been a nice one too.

[Eirambler]

Another set back today for Luca Connell with academy midfielder Scott Robertson preferred to him on the bench away to Kilmarnock.

[Diggs246]

Another set back today for Luca Connell with academy midfielder Scott Robertson preferred to him on the bench away to Kilmarnock.


I know you will want to check me into John of Gods, but I actually think that could be good news, Lennon obviously doesn't rate him and this could be Luca chance to go out on loan where he can properly develop
No point being in and out and on the bench etc etc

[Eirambler]

I watched the Celtic game yesterday. They did not play well.

They have weaknesses all over the field to be honest, but in particular they were crying out for something different in central midfield. They need a player in there who can bring energy to their play, likes a tackle and has a passing game that can open up defences and create chances.

So I'd expect Lennon to be dipping into the transfer market again in the coming weeks.

[DeLorean]

They were pretty clueless looking alright. Unusual for such a side to have so much possession in the final third but never really look like creating a chance, let alone score. Still, a 17 year old saw minutes the week before, a 19 year old made the bench yesterday and they already have one starting every game. This notion that they (or Lennon) won't give youth a chance seems to be a bit wide of the mark, they just haven't given our guys much of a chance so far.

[Eirambler]

To be fair I think Robertson was only on the bench because they literally ran out of first team midfielders to pick. Rogic and Johnston were both injured and Shved was held back because he's transfering out in the next few days.

The nine subs allowance means more opportunities to make the bench but I don't think there was any realistic chance of the lad getting on, unless they were four or five goals up,then he might have got a token five minutes like Dembele the week before.

[DeLorean]

True. Still, they're in the wider picture at least, more than we could have said for O'Connor & Afolabi. Failing a loan move, a token five minutes for Connell would be welcome at this point. Have to start somewhere.

[geysir]

He made more forward passes in that video clip than any midfielder did for Ireland did in the qualifiers, even when he tackles, he tackles forward.
Would he get into the Irish U21 squad should a few of the existing players be promoted? or is he too inexperienced?

[Eirambler]

It's tough for him at Under 21 level too. You're looking at Molumby and Knight as probably the two best central midfield players (excluding number 10 types like Smallbone and Ronan). Molumby may well be with the Seniors, but then you'd expect Conor Coventry to come back in to the team. And we know that Kenny is a big fan of Joe Hodge. Jack Taylor has also done well when he's had a chance.

It's tough to get in there. Left back possibly offers more opportunity, but Connell's not really a left back and even then there's Thomas O'Connor, maybe the likes of Ryan Burke or Lewis Richards might get a look in. Trevor Clarke is still underage as well.

Luca just seems to be finding competition at every turn right now. It's easy to say with hindsight, but possibly the best thing he could have done for his career was stay with Bolton.

[geysir]

I don't think staying with Bolton was a realistic option for Luca. And the vagaries of a crossborder transfer made it lucrative for both Luca and Celtic.

[tetsujin1979]

Bolton needed the cash following relegation as well.

[Diggs246]

Bolton needed the cash following relegation as well.
But didnt they only get something ridiculous because of luca age or something

[geysir]

Bolton needed the cash following relegation as well.
Bolton were in receivership or something similar?
Bolton probably would have gotten more had he gone to an English club such as Sheffield Wed. Celtic were only required to pay a development fee of £1/4m, but as it turned out they volunteered to pay Bolton something substantial over the odds.

[Stuttgart88]

Celtic might be needing a back up left back soon! What an utter idiot Bolingoli is.

[Fixer82]

Celtic might be needing a back up left back soon! What an utter idiot Bolingoli is.
Yes hopefully this works out well for Luca

[Eirambler]

I watched the Celtic game yesterday. They did not play well.

They have weaknesses all over the field to be honest, but in particular they were crying out for something different in central midfield. They need a player in there who can bring energy to their play, likes a tackle and has a passing game that can open up defences and create chances.

So I'd expect Lennon to be dipping into the transfer market again in the coming weeks.

And, predictably enough, that's exactly what they have done, bringing in David Turnbull for £3 million from Motherwell. Nicely timed to move the news cycle on from the latest Neil Lennon tactical masterclass against Ferencvaros last night. He's some man for spending other people's money. £4 million on Klimala a couple of months ago and he's already been written off as not good enough, Turnbull would want to hit the ground running to avoid the same treatment.

As for Luca, a loan move was needed anyway so this signing will make only a limited difference to his situation. But who's going to take him? O'Connor, with a higher standing in the Irish youth setup as well as a senior cap, could only get a League 2 move, while the likes of Cassidy, Bazunu and others with arguably a lesser current standing/level of experience go straight from the Premier League or Championship to League 1 loans.

The bottom line is that the Celtic reserves have little or no standing outside of Scotland, so it's going to be difficult for him to get a decent move. Hopefully his previous first team experience with Bolton will be enough to get him something somewhere.

[Diggs246]

Go to the Dutch league. why not?

[Eirambler]

Depends if anyone there would take him. Worrying times for the Irish lads at Celtic with reports like this one currently floating around Glasgow.

"Strike 2 was a report from Kieran Devlin on Monday's The Agenda show on The Cynic Patreon podcast, where he relayed that multiple current Celtic players had told him the coaching at Celtic was at a level where they decided to hire their own coaches to help their development."

https://twitter.com/jucojames/status/1298946513788428288?s=19

If that's what things are like at senior level, you'd have to wonder what the state of things has been with the youths and reserves in recent years.

[Diggs246]

Royal Antwerp is another one that would take talented lads on loan from big clubs

[seanfhear]

And, predictably enough, that's exactly what they have done, bringing in David Turnbull for £3 million from Motherwell. Nicely timed to move the news cycle on from the latest Neil Lennon tactical masterclass against Ferencvaros last night. He's some man for spending other people's money. £4 million on Klimala a couple of months ago and he's already been written off as not good enough, Turnbull would want to hit the ground running to avoid the same treatment.

As for Luca, a loan move was needed anyway so this signing will make only a limited difference to his situation. But who's going to take him? O'Connor, with a higher standing in the Irish youth setup as well as a senior cap, could only get a League 2 move, while the likes of Cassidy, Bazunu and others with arguably a lesser current standing/level of experience go straight from the Premier League or Championship to League 1 loans.

The bottom line is that the Celtic reserves have little or no standing outside of Scotland, so it's going to be difficult for him to get a decent move. Hopefully his previous first team experience with Bolton will be enough to get him something somewhere.
Why were Celtic daft enough to bring back Lennon ? Jeez things can’t have been that bad. The way things are going the Top League of Ireland teams will be as good as Celtic and Rangers.

[youngirish]

There was a remark on here a few weeks ago before Hendrick's transfer that Newcastle was the deathbed of Irish footballer's careers. Surely it must be Celtic? A club with a shocking history of developing Irish talent.

Even the players who did get regular games such as Liam Miller and McGeady struggled when they left to adapt to the far higher level of opposition you find almost anywhere else in Europe.

[Eirambler]

I still maintain that if McGeady had come through at a club with a better youth structure his weaknesses would have been worked on and he'd have learned how to cross a ball. At Celtic he was the standout youth player in Scotland by a mile at the time, so he was rarely challenged at a younger age to work on his weaknesses. It caught up with him in the end when he moved to the EPL and was found out a bit.

Definitely not knocking his 90 caps by any means but he could have been even better than he was.

[youngirish]

I still maintain that if McGeady had come through at a club with a better youth structure his weaknesses would have been worked on and he'd have learned how to cross a ball. At Celtic he was the standout youth player in Scotland by a mile at the time, so he was rarely challenged at a younger age to work on his weaknesses. It caught up with him in the end when he moved to the EPL and was found out a bit.

Definitely not knocking his 90 caps by any means but he could have been even better than he was.

I always thought he looked good against minnows for Ireland but struggled badly against decent opposition which is a microcosm of his career as a whole. I agree he did have lots of talent though and could have been so much better if he started his career at a decent club a few hundred miles to the south.

[Olé Olé]

I still maintain that if McGeady had come through at a club with a better youth structure his weaknesses would have been worked on and he'd have learned how to cross a ball. At Celtic he was the standout youth player in Scotland by a mile at the time, so he was rarely challenged at a younger age to work on his weaknesses. It caught up with him in the end when he moved to the EPL and was found out a bit.

Definitely not knocking his 90 caps by any means but he could have been even better than he was.

His dribbling ability and close control must surely be the envy of so many more rounded and accomplished players. He glided with the ball at his feet. And it was as if that was identified as a strength and nurtured to the hilt- but the glaringly less strong aspects of his game weren't addressed like, as you say, they would have been elsewhere. Not seeking to measure him too closely to Duff but they shared that same close control. Duff just had so many other attributes that ended up elevating him to the level he achieved and excelled at.

[seanfhear]

I still maintain that if McGeady had come through at a club with a better youth structure his weaknesses would have been worked on and he'd have learned how to cross a ball. At Celtic he was the standout youth player in Scotland by a mile at the time, so he was rarely challenged at a younger age to work on his weaknesses. It caught up with him in the end when he moved to the EPL and was found out a bit.

Definitely not knocking his 90 caps by any means but he could have been even better than he was.
Incredible to believe he never learned to cross a ball or hold on to procession. He would have improved both of these if he was with clubs in the English Championship of Premier league clubs as he was making his way.