David Connolly

Connolly deserves to be in the squad on current form. People like giving him abuse because he got a red card ten years ago.

He was never given a fair crack in the Ireland team by Mick, and always got the short end of the stick. I remember an away match against Andorra with Robbie and Connolly up front. Connolly was playing well, putting in the effort and Robbie was abysmal. The goals weren't flowing so Mick wanted to bring on a tall fella (Doherty, Quinn?). He took off Connolly. Totally unfair. Robbie Keane gets special treatment, Connolly only gets special bad treatment.

I've never thought that Connolly was a world beater, but he's a decent player with a good eye for other players and well able to pass the ball.

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Originally Posted by brine3

Connolly deserves to be in the squad on current form. People like giving him abuse because he got a red card ten years ago.

He was never given a fair crack in the Ireland team by Mick, and always got the short end of the stick. I remember an away match against Andorra with Robbie and Connolly up front. Connolly was playing well, putting in the effort and Robbie was abysmal. The goals weren't flowing so Mick wanted to bring on a tall fella (Doherty, Quinn?). He took off Connolly. Totally unfair. Robbie Keane gets special treatment, Connolly only gets special bad treatment.

I've never thought that Connolly was a world beater, but he's a decent player with a good eye for other players and well able to pass the ball.

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I don't think its because he got a red card ten years ago that people dislike him as a player. Its more likely cos he's a useless striker. All he's ever done for Ireland is score a few goals against the likes of licheinstein.Don't know the exact figures, but i'm pretty sure if you take away his goals against the worst team in the qualifying groups, his strike rate at international level is abysmal

Stephen Ward is the best player in the Championship last month so I suppose he gets in ahead of Connolly?

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Originally Posted by pete

Stephen Ward is the best player in the Championship last month so I suppose he gets in ahead of Connolly?

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Ward had 3 goals, Connolly had 3, just one of Connolly's was a penalty (which he got himself)

Glad to see Ward win it. He really impressed me in the lone role for the U21s. I don't know why he wasn't rated highly by supporters.

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Originally Posted by lionelhutz

Its more likely cos he's a useless striker. All he's ever done for Ireland is score a few goals against the likes of licheinstein.Don't know the exact figures, but i'm pretty sure if you take away his goals against the worst team in the qualifying groups, his strike rate at international level is abysmal

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As opposed to the great Robbie Keane. Other than his World Cup goal versus Germany he never ever does it at the top level yet he rarely gets the abuse that Connolly gets. I think you might want to inform Roy Keane about Connolly being a 'useless striker'. He has been Sunderlands moist consistent player for the last three months. He has rarely got a great chance with Ireland and to play him with Keane will never work. Would like to see how he would work with Doyle or Stokes.

How many people here have actually seen Connolly play for Sunderland..?

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Originally Posted by brine3

Connolly deserves to be in the squad on current form. People like giving him abuse because he got a red card ten years ago.

He was never given a fair crack in the Ireland team by Mick, and always got the short end of the stick. I remember an away match against Andorra with Robbie and Connolly up front. Connolly was playing well, putting in the effort and Robbie was abysmal. The goals weren't flowing so Mick wanted to bring on a tall fella (Doherty, Quinn?). He took off Connolly. Totally unfair. Robbie Keane gets special treatment, Connolly only gets special bad treatment.

I've never thought that Connolly was a world beater, but he's a decent player with a good eye for other players and well able to pass the ball.

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I agree with you about Robbie getting special treatment. Ireland aside for a moment, he has scored 15 a season for the last couple of years in the Premiership and is the ONLY Irish striker to do that. However for Ireland he hasnt done it since WC'02. Now that we have other strikers playing in the top flight (Doyle, Long) and promising young lads coming through (Stokes) I would like to see him stripped of the captaincy and made to fight for his place(like at Spurs), the hunger might come back.

Connolly is not good enough and never was. One word proves it - Excelsior !

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Originally Posted by pete

How many people here have actually seen Connolly play for Sunderland..?

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I have, also, he has won a few man of the matches even when he doesnt score

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Originally Posted by pete

How many people here have actually seen Connolly play for Sunderland..?

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seen him a lot this season and his all round play has been excellent and he has not had a regular striker alongside him until stern john has come in .. They seem to have struck up a good partnership. Heading over to Barnsley on sat hopefully we can work our way into the automatic places soon enough .. After Nugent Connolly imo is the best striker in the championship at the moment

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Originally Posted by zinedineontour

seen him a lot this season and his all round play has been excellent and he has not had a regular striker alongside him until stern john has come in .. They seem to have struck up a good partnership. Heading over to Barnsley on sat hopefully we can work our way into the automatic places soon enough .. After Nugent Connolly imo is the best striker in the championship at the moment

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He scored again, and Barnsley said he had "a fine display".
Anyone wondering about the never seeing him play thing, their match is live on TV this Tuesday and I encourage you to watch (I will make a torrent of the game if many people want)
Wolves vs WBA is also on tomorrow, another game I encourage you to watch
EDIT: They canceled Wolves vs WBA?! :mad:
Lets hope the Baggie **** lose

Well all do we can all see that roy keane is managing to get the best out off dave connoly, but i dont think that stautan will be able to get him playing for ireland, because i am not to sure if he ever saw eye to eye with steve.
also i belive roy will get stautan sacked

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Originally Posted by limerickblue

also i belive roy will get stautan sacked

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:confused:

Sorry i never explained did i... Well he has now got over 6 irish players at sunderland and stauntan wiil try and find ways off excluding player. roy will complain about why his quality players cant get in the squad.then the peoples republic off cork will take steve hostage untill hes sacked.

was at the barnsley game and connolly was superb. His all round play was very good and best player on the pitch. Liam Miller had a decent game and seems to be full of confidence now.

BARNSLEY :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by stojkovic

BARNSLEY :rolleyes:

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Not a huge step down from Wales.

Connolly is scoring goals in the Championship against Barnsley etc, Keane is scoring goals in the Premiership and the UEFA Cup. Therefore we should play Connolly :rolleyes:

The title of the thread is "David Connolly should be called up", i.e. that he should be in the squad, not necessarily starting. When it was started, Keane hadn't hit the scoring streak he's on at the moment, whereas Connolly has been scoring consistently since November.

the problem for connolly is that he is always considered too similar a player to keane. keane has rarely had any prolonged injury when ireland have had games and in fairness keane has always played at a higher standard.

connolly more than deserves a call up to the squad the way he is playing, but robbie is playing very well at the moment so barring injury (which he actually is at the mo!!) connolly deserves a shot.