David Connolly

Clinton scored as well, hopefully he will be get plenty of match time now

Just because the angry ant scores 1 goal in the premiership doesnt mean he is premiership call. Lets wait and see with this one........hope he does well but i would never be to sure about him in an ireland shirt.

And i wouldnt pick him for the cypus game ahead of Elliot. but Kerr might as he doesnt think Elliot is ready.

Well he is one goal up on Micheal Owen and at one eighth of the price thats not bad going, so give him a chance!!

What exactly has Elliot done to deserve to be picked ahead of Connolly? He had a semi-decent season last year and that's been about it. He's a good prospect but nothing more. Connolly should be called back into the squad for the game against Cyprus. He's a proven goal-scorer and that's something that this team needs now. Elliot is there for the future, we need Connolly now.

Stephen Elliot:
theres no chance that elliot is ready for itnl football. one senior season and he wasnt always first choice. hes playing in the worst side in the premiership and is not standing out....i dont even think he is that good of a striker and i think this will be proven, hes hardly 18-19 either

David Connolly:
connolly is a decent striker and people say it cant cut it at the top...well he aint been given a chance until now. hes always been consistant at championship level and has had some good games for ireland but has never really been first choice in recent years and this is always going to affect you, especially at international level

Clinton Morrison:
morrison is a good striker and looked quite lively against the french. he always gives 110% in all the games and is always there for the friendlies and squad meet ups. his strike record is reasonably good and he has seemed to improve recently and is becoming more accustomed to what is expected at this level

Gary Doherty
doherty is simply a pile of wa*k. he cant give a long pass, he cant give a short pass,when in defence he cant deal with anything on the ground, when in attack he cant find the back of the net regularly enough to be considered a striker, indeed ask tottenham or norwich fans and im sure they struggle to consider him a footballer at all. how a man who cannot get in the side of a championship team consistantly earn a place in the squad ahead of a player with the record at that level of david connolly or even the skilful lee trundle is beyond many peoples comprehension


From this, i conclude that backup to robbie keane, (as his position in the current ireland team is all but guarenteed down to his outstanding talent and goalscoring record) should be david connolly and clinton morrison. behind him would probably be stephen elliot but doyle could push him all the way as elliot has not achieved a great deal more...just a season of decent senior football, which seems to be enough to earn a place. Indeed im tempted to ask kerr for a call up meself!

Originally Posted by Irish Pride

Jbut Kerr might as he doesnt think Elliot is ready.

Why do you say that? Didn't he start Elliott in the Faroes?

Was that Connolly's Premiership debut? Always liked him as a player, but a moany fecker alright - seems to be costing him. Would have him in the Cyprus and Switzerland squad though.

Saw highlights of the wigan game. Very well taken goal by Mr. Connolly! Should be in with a shot for the Cyprus game squad, if he can prove it wasn't a one off!

I think he must start against Cyprus especailly given the suspensions (both Keane
and Morrison suspended?), I don't care what people think about him personally or
his record in the past, he has scored 5 goals in 8 games, which I believe is 4 more
than any of the other candidates, besides Cyprus wouldn't make it in the Championship
nevermind the Premiership. He is on form and putting the ball in the back of the
net so he must play. The size of the goal at international level is the same as in the
Championship I believe!!!

I didn't see his goal today because my TV has packed up but the
ones I have seen in the past show he knows how to put the ball in the back of the net.

Hopefully, Connolly will get into a good run of form over the next few weeks and that will open up options for Kerr.

Your right about connollys goal, it was a great goal. He controlled the ball perfectly and smacked it brilliantly into the back of the net. Its a pity he never did it at international level , maybe at 28 he can now ?

Connolly got a hat trick in the first half against Liechtenstein in 1996. He was 19 at the time. Mick McCarthy gave him a bollocking at half time. Connolly never played well under Mick again. There was another time against Andorra when Mick drafted Connolly back into the Ireland team. Robbie and Connolly were playing up front, Robbie was having an absolute howler while Connolly was creating chances for himself and others, and generally playing well. Mick took Connolly off.

Kerr is a good man manager, look at how he smoothed things over with Harte. If anyone can get the most out of Connolly, then Kerr can.

Absolutely..Yea great goal, on his weaker foot. Surely another option for us?

lets hope and pray! wat impressed me more was not the finish, cos i've seen that all before wit him. if u can hit the top corner at one level, u can hit it at any level cos its only striking a ball. wat impressed me was his off the ball run and the pace he showed, completely killed the defender for pace. he also had a hand in the second goal, playing the ball into bullard. he should only get better as he gets to know his new teammates

Brilliant goal. Yeah, as much as we've given him shed loads of grief, he's doing a lot more than Keano at the mo. I'd start him against Cyprus. Fookit, see what happens.

Looks like he's interested in returning also! Very well mannered in his come and get me plea on skysports. Says he supports the team no matter what and can undertand why kerr might not have picked him in the past! If harte can get back after badmouthing kerr...

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

both Keane and Morrison suspended?

Roy, not Robbie.

Connolly should be in the Cyprus squad if he's fit. We are dreadfully short of depth in this position. Doc just isn't the answer. Whatever the reasons for picking him in theory, he isn't even in Nowich's match day squad, let alone team so is nor deserving of a place in a good international side. He's no bloody Jan Koller that's for sure.

I said recently that I prefer Elliott but if Connolly is on form it'd be an insult not to include him. What message does it send out to any player in any position? The Irish squad should not be a closed shop. 15 or 16 places should pick themselves but "outsiders" have to feel they've some chance, especially when someone in their position is suspended. Alan Quinn is another who should be in the next squad.

I'm still not too concerned about Elliott's form - yet. It was obvious he'd find it tough playing for a team that is up against it at this level. For Ireland he showed enough against Faroes & Italy that he's got something to offer.

Were not a big enough team to say no to players. We cant afford to have any hangups who plays for the Green. I hope the greener is texting him now telling him if he keeps it up he will be on his way to sunny Cyprus in 4 weeks time !

I say we drop Robbie and start with Clint and Connolly.Drop Robbie for now.

Originally Posted by jorge

I say we drop Robbie and start with Clint and Connolly.Drop Robbie for now.

Yeah, it has to be in Kerrs mind anyway. The guy ain't playing at all & it showed against the French.