| Aaron Connelly 23:27 - Jul 3 with 4505 views | the_toff |
Wonder if anyone will take a punt on him from Brighton. Looks almost certain to move on, undoubtedly has talent but perhaps not applied himself or looked after himself as he should have done previously. Not sure he meets McKenna’s criteria in that respect but think he could be a potentially cheap punt for someone if they can see the best of him.
Looked really exciting when he first broke through but seems to have stalled a bit. |  | | |  |
| Aaron Connelly on 07:46 - Jul 4 with 4120 views | Churchman |
Racked 41 league appearances since 2017, 4 last season. Banged in 9 league goals, 4 loans and Hull don’t want him. He’s 5ft 9ins so a monster in the air as long as somebody brings him a stepladder. Yep, what’s not to like?
If ever there was an Evans signing that was it. Hopefully we’ve moved on from this? |  | | |
| Aaron Connelly on 08:29 - Jul 4 with 3926 views | HighgateBlue |
| Aaron Connelly on 07:46 - Jul 4 by Churchman |
Racked 41 league appearances since 2017, 4 last season. Banged in 9 league goals, 4 loans and Hull don’t want him. He’s 5ft 9ins so a monster in the air as long as somebody brings him a stepladder. Yep, what’s not to like?
If ever there was an Evans signing that was it. Hopefully we’ve moved on from this? |
How is this an Evans signing? His stats at Champ level or higher are more impressive than either TJJ or Hirst when they joined us, and age-wise he's sandwiched between the two.
Is it not rather harsh to judge a kid on how many league appearances he made when he was 17 and contracted to a premier league side? In any event, your stats on league appearances are wrong, as you said appearances rather than starts.
He was an interesting prospect when he first emerged; as the OP says, he's stalled. I've not seen him play a great deal, and he could off course still go either way. There are plenty of failed prospects out there.
But, in the interests of balance:
- he's younger than Leif Davis
- he's actually played in 73 league games over the last 4 seasons
- he was only 19 at the start of that 4 year timeframe
- 45 of those appearances were in the Premier League
- He has 5 top flight goals (already more than Pablo, not as many as Kuqi)
Yes he's shorter, and I doubt he'd necessarily fit with Kieran's style of play, but if he was rated by our management as someone to bring in, I'd be excited at what our coaches could do with an interesting youngish prospect. |  | | |
| Aaron Connelly on 08:47 - Jul 4 with 3833 views | tractordownsouth |
His loans have been disappointing and he’s apparently a bit of a knob. |  |
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| Aaron Connelly on 09:01 - Jul 4 with 3787 views | Sharkey |
He's from Co.Galway. By chance I was discussing last night, in the pub, which footballers come from the Republic of Ireland but not from Dublin. Very very few come from Galway, ... but Alan Lee is one. |  | | |
| Aaron Connelly on 09:07 - Jul 4 with 3755 views | the_toff |
| Aaron Connelly on 07:46 - Jul 4 by Churchman |
Racked 41 league appearances since 2017, 4 last season. Banged in 9 league goals, 4 loans and Hull don’t want him. He’s 5ft 9ins so a monster in the air as long as somebody brings him a stepladder. Yep, what’s not to like?
If ever there was an Evans signing that was it. Hopefully we’ve moved on from this? |
I think that's a very basic way of looking at him, a lot of his games have been off the bench and has struggled to feel settled anywhere, he quite obviously has a lot of ability. I can't remember Evans signing anyone who had started his Premier League debut only a few years earlier scoring twice against Spurs. But the post was more speculating on where he might go, with the Championship a likely destination.
He's not tall, but when I've seen him he's worked hard, harried defenders, reminds me a bit of a young Danny Ings or Adam Armstrong profile. | | | |
| Aaron Connelly on 09:13 - Jul 4 with 3717 views | Guthrum |
| Aaron Connelly on 08:29 - Jul 4 by HighgateBlue |
How is this an Evans signing? His stats at Champ level or higher are more impressive than either TJJ or Hirst when they joined us, and age-wise he's sandwiched between the two.
Is it not rather harsh to judge a kid on how many league appearances he made when he was 17 and contracted to a premier league side? In any event, your stats on league appearances are wrong, as you said appearances rather than starts.
He was an interesting prospect when he first emerged; as the OP says, he's stalled. I've not seen him play a great deal, and he could off course still go either way. There are plenty of failed prospects out there.
But, in the interests of balance:
- he's younger than Leif Davis
- he's actually played in 73 league games over the last 4 seasons
- he was only 19 at the start of that 4 year timeframe
- 45 of those appearances were in the Premier League
- He has 5 top flight goals (already more than Pablo, not as many as Kuqi)
Yes he's shorter, and I doubt he'd necessarily fit with Kieran's style of play, but if he was rated by our management as someone to bring in, I'd be excited at what our coaches could do with an interesting youngish prospect. |
It was also injury and illness which blighted his time at Hull, rather than lack of abiity. That in itself may be an issue, or it may have been a one-off. Perhaps a change of management and environment may be the refresh he needs? |  |
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| Aaron Connelly on 09:15 - Jul 4 with 3678 views | itfcsuth |
Absolutely, would be a top top signing - would fit the versatile forward role as well as can play as one of the pocket players and can play on the last man.
I don't necessarily buy the bad egg story anyway - it is commonly to do with the relationship between staff and player - and KMc is an outstanding relationship builder with his players.
We've had this before, apparently Bakinson was a bad egg, apparently Ladapo was a bad egg, not a single problem under KMc between them. |  | | |
| Aaron Connelly on 09:27 - Jul 4 with 3634 views | Sharkey |
| Aaron Connelly on 09:15 - Jul 4 by itfcsuth |
Absolutely, would be a top top signing - would fit the versatile forward role as well as can play as one of the pocket players and can play on the last man.
I don't necessarily buy the bad egg story anyway - it is commonly to do with the relationship between staff and player - and KMc is an outstanding relationship builder with his players.
We've had this before, apparently Bakinson was a bad egg, apparently Ladapo was a bad egg, not a single problem under KMc between them. |
I guess Walton would know him pretty well, as weren't they both actually AT Brighton, rather than out on loan, during 2020-2021, and will have known each other quite a while before that. | | | |
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| Aaron Connelly on 09:33 - Jul 4 with 3605 views | Guthrum |
| Aaron Connelly on 09:07 - Jul 4 by the_toff |
I think that's a very basic way of looking at him, a lot of his games have been off the bench and has struggled to feel settled anywhere, he quite obviously has a lot of ability. I can't remember Evans signing anyone who had started his Premier League debut only a few years earlier scoring twice against Spurs. But the post was more speculating on where he might go, with the Championship a likely destination.
He's not tall, but when I've seen him he's worked hard, harried defenders, reminds me a bit of a young Danny Ings or Adam Armstrong profile. |
Height is not an essential prerequisite for scoring goals, as Conor Chaplin proved last season. If we keep the ball on the ground, speed, strength, nippiness and quick thinking are greater virtues.
The squad has plenty of tall guys to come up for corners. | |
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| Aaron Connelly on 09:34 - Jul 4 with 3601 views | the_toff |
| Aaron Connelly on 09:15 - Jul 4 by itfcsuth |
Absolutely, would be a top top signing - would fit the versatile forward role as well as can play as one of the pocket players and can play on the last man.
I don't necessarily buy the bad egg story anyway - it is commonly to do with the relationship between staff and player - and KMc is an outstanding relationship builder with his players.
We've had this before, apparently Bakinson was a bad egg, apparently Ladapo was a bad egg, not a single problem under KMc between them. |
I don't think he's a bad egg necessarily, although that would be easy to confirm through references. I think he's had physical injuries and perhaps mentally not been in the best spot to fulfil his potential. I think loans are hard sometimes, he needs a home somewhere. It would be a punt for someone, but one that could be interesting at the right price. He's only got 1 year left on his deal, could perhaps de-risk it with a lower initial payment with a sell on % or performance based payments. | | | |
| Aaron Connelly on 10:03 - Jul 4 with 3512 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
| Aaron Connelly on 08:47 - Jul 4 by tractordownsouth |
His loans have been disappointing and he’s apparently a bit of a knob. |
The final part of your sentence is exactly why we won't be looking at him, Connolly has admitted his 'off field influences' are the reason for not playing for Ireland of late. The club have repeatedly talked about the 'character' of players being correct, or they will walk away. |  |
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| Aaron Connelly on 10:06 - Jul 4 with 3495 views | itfcsuth |
| Aaron Connelly on 09:27 - Jul 4 by Sharkey |
I guess Walton would know him pretty well, as weren't they both actually AT Brighton, rather than out on loan, during 2020-2021, and will have known each other quite a while before that. |
Yeah would imagine so. Would be possible to reference check in multiple ways - even Adam Webster there is extremely close with Conor Chaplin, and MA would know Webster through their Bristol days.
I think he's a very good player - but think it is time for him to find a new permanent home rather than join the loan market revolving door. | | | |
| Aaron Connelly on 10:29 - Jul 4 with 3391 views | IPSWICHFANITFC |
One to avoid. Has had a lot of injury issues and they probably centre around lifestyle choices. |  |
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| Aaron Connelly on 10:45 - Jul 4 with 3352 views | Guthrum |
| Aaron Connelly on 10:29 - Jul 4 by IPSWICHFANITFC |
One to avoid. Has had a lot of injury issues and they probably centre around lifestyle choices. |
Tho injuries based on lifestyle choices can be more easily fixed than chronic skeletal or muscular issues. Recovery times from changed habits and new behaviours are less than from extensive surgery or continuing physical weakness.
Poor lifestyle choices are frequently based on boredom or dissatisfaction. A change of environment, inspiring leadership, an improved social situation and interesting work can change mental outlook and thus personal actions. Addictions, on the other hand, are harder to overcome. I don't know any details, so impossible to predict outcomes, but that is part of the coaching staff's job. | |
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| Aaron Connelly on 11:00 - Jul 4 with 3313 views | itfcsuth |
| Aaron Connelly on 10:29 - Jul 4 by IPSWICHFANITFC |
One to avoid. Has had a lot of injury issues and they probably centre around lifestyle choices. |
He broke his toe playing last season which ended his Hull loan which started very promisingly, not sure that is related to any lifestyle choice.
Other than a broken toe he has had no real injury concerns.
I find it bizarre when people make comments like this around 'lifestyle choices', being 'bag eggs' or 'bit of a knob' - with no real evidence to back that up. | | | |
| Aaron Connelly on 11:19 - Jul 4 with 3274 views | itfcjoe |
| Aaron Connelly on 11:00 - Jul 4 by itfcsuth |
He broke his toe playing last season which ended his Hull loan which started very promisingly, not sure that is related to any lifestyle choice.
Other than a broken toe he has had no real injury concerns.
I find it bizarre when people make comments like this around 'lifestyle choices', being 'bag eggs' or 'bit of a knob' - with no real evidence to back that up. |
It's such an easy thing to say as well, and generally is a load of rubbish
Forgets that some people can be going through different things at different times - and that football clubs are quite happy to use their friendly press and fanbase to echo their narrative |  |
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| Aaron Connelly on 11:27 - Jul 4 with 3238 views | the_toff |
| Aaron Connelly on 11:19 - Jul 4 by itfcjoe |
It's such an easy thing to say as well, and generally is a load of rubbish
Forgets that some people can be going through different things at different times - and that football clubs are quite happy to use their friendly press and fanbase to echo their narrative |
People forget it's hard on a human level for a lot of footballers. Move away from your family in Ireland to a new country at 16, pressure to break through and make a name for yourself. Get a bit of an opportunity at Brighton but then suffer some setbacks. His journey isn't dissimilar to McKenna's at that point, although without the heartbreak of having to hang his boots up. He might be the sort of manager he needs to play under.
Then sent off to Luton, then Middlesborough, Venice, Hull. Left to your own devices somewhat without a strong network of friends or family locally.
People are quick to judge when all it might take is an arm around him and to feel involved. Someone like that would probably integrate really well into our group, they seem a close knit bunch and feeling like you have a home is important, rather than these temporary moves here, there and everywhere.
I'm not suggesting he's one we should look at necessarily, but he's a player who showed so much promise when he broke through at Brighton and is at a stage of his career where if he gets back on track could be an exciting addition. | | | |
| Aaron Connelly on 11:50 - Jul 4 with 3164 views | jayessess |
Fair few players I've seen dismissed with "this isn't the Evans era anymore", which I'm not sure is an especially helpful way of thinking. By the end of the week Leicester will have spent the bones of £30m on new players, there's simply no way we can compete with those clubs by being straightforward in the transfer market.
You've need a way of finding value where other clubs aren't and one way to do that is sometimes to rehabilitate a player that's lost their way or had a hard time of things. Patrick Roberts at Sunderland is a great example. [Post edited 4 Jul 2023 12:40]
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| Aaron Connelly on 12:34 - Jul 4 with 3093 views | Churchman |
| Aaron Connelly on 08:29 - Jul 4 by HighgateBlue |
How is this an Evans signing? His stats at Champ level or higher are more impressive than either TJJ or Hirst when they joined us, and age-wise he's sandwiched between the two.
Is it not rather harsh to judge a kid on how many league appearances he made when he was 17 and contracted to a premier league side? In any event, your stats on league appearances are wrong, as you said appearances rather than starts.
He was an interesting prospect when he first emerged; as the OP says, he's stalled. I've not seen him play a great deal, and he could off course still go either way. There are plenty of failed prospects out there.
But, in the interests of balance:
- he's younger than Leif Davis
- he's actually played in 73 league games over the last 4 seasons
- he was only 19 at the start of that 4 year timeframe
- 45 of those appearances were in the Premier League
- He has 5 top flight goals (already more than Pablo, not as many as Kuqi)
Yes he's shorter, and I doubt he'd necessarily fit with Kieran's style of play, but if he was rated by our management as someone to bring in, I'd be excited at what our coaches could do with an interesting youngish prospect. |
I took the stats from this. Apols if it’s the wrong player, it’s wrong or I read it wrong
https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=107304
Connolly is 23 now and Hull don’t want him. I don’t know if he’s a knob or a Chaplin-style club/community man, but why would he fit here? Is he a waster, misunderstood or a late developer like Ian Wright was? Yes, small players can score goals as Gates, Chaplin prove, but how many do you want in a team? What we need is a No 9. Had he been at the club in January, could he have fulfilled the role Hirst did, since you are comparing him in your first para? If not, who does he replace?
If this bloke is the best we can do, then fine. If he’s the one played McKenna has been tracking and thinks is gold dust, brilliant. As things stand, I just think we can do bit better. If he’s as good as people on here say he is, it’ll be interesting to see where he ends up.
Just a view. | | | |
| Aaron Connelly on 13:55 - Jul 4 with 2951 views | Sharkey |
| Aaron Connelly on 11:27 - Jul 4 by the_toff |
People forget it's hard on a human level for a lot of footballers. Move away from your family in Ireland to a new country at 16, pressure to break through and make a name for yourself. Get a bit of an opportunity at Brighton but then suffer some setbacks. His journey isn't dissimilar to McKenna's at that point, although without the heartbreak of having to hang his boots up. He might be the sort of manager he needs to play under.
Then sent off to Luton, then Middlesborough, Venice, Hull. Left to your own devices somewhat without a strong network of friends or family locally.
People are quick to judge when all it might take is an arm around him and to feel involved. Someone like that would probably integrate really well into our group, they seem a close knit bunch and feeling like you have a home is important, rather than these temporary moves here, there and everywhere.
I'm not suggesting he's one we should look at necessarily, but he's a player who showed so much promise when he broke through at Brighton and is at a stage of his career where if he gets back on track could be an exciting addition. |
Plus all made much harder for young people during Covid. | | | |
| Aaron Connelly on 14:13 - Jul 4 with 2921 views | Vaughan8 |
| Aaron Connelly on 12:34 - Jul 4 by Churchman |
I took the stats from this. Apols if it’s the wrong player, it’s wrong or I read it wrong
https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=107304
Connolly is 23 now and Hull don’t want him. I don’t know if he’s a knob or a Chaplin-style club/community man, but why would he fit here? Is he a waster, misunderstood or a late developer like Ian Wright was? Yes, small players can score goals as Gates, Chaplin prove, but how many do you want in a team? What we need is a No 9. Had he been at the club in January, could he have fulfilled the role Hirst did, since you are comparing him in your first para? If not, who does he replace?
If this bloke is the best we can do, then fine. If he’s the one played McKenna has been tracking and thinks is gold dust, brilliant. As things stand, I just think we can do bit better. If he’s as good as people on here say he is, it’ll be interesting to see where he ends up.
Just a view. |
You could say that about Hirst when he came surely though?
One OK season with Portsmouth in League one (13 goals in 40 games), the rest, not very good?
Not sure what happened last season if he was injured or just no fancied in Italy and Hull.
Without checking, I'm sure most of his Brighton appearances were in the premier league (A higher level than us now) when they weren't as good as they are now. And possibly on the wing instead of as a number 9.
Based on my last point, I agree with you and don't think he's going to be the "number 9" we are after and we probably have enough other forwards. | | | |
| Aaron Connelly on 14:48 - Jul 4 with 2842 views | itfcsuth |
| Aaron Connelly on 11:19 - Jul 4 by itfcjoe |
It's such an easy thing to say as well, and generally is a load of rubbish
Forgets that some people can be going through different things at different times - and that football clubs are quite happy to use their friendly press and fanbase to echo their narrative |
It is generally a load of rubbish, and if sometimes true, very rarely do fans know the truth behind a players circumstance.
I'm very lucky to have stayed in contact with a lot of friends from playing academy football, and a lot of friends that have gone on, or are still building careers from the Premier League, down to the National League, all the way across to the MLS.
For example, I have one friend who was playing really good football in L1, but was still young, and was receiving very good money - unfortunately was taking drugs and his career blew up - everyone looks at that and thinks silly boy (which of course he was). But I know that he came from nothing, like real poverty, I know he didn't have the best childhood - far far from a bad egg, but was constantly labelled a wrong un.
Everybody goes through different circumstances, from an outside we can't judge them - we can only judge what we see on the pitch from them as player. | | | |
| Aaron Connelly on 16:08 - Jul 4 with 2751 views | itfcjoe |
| Aaron Connelly on 11:27 - Jul 4 by the_toff |
People forget it's hard on a human level for a lot of footballers. Move away from your family in Ireland to a new country at 16, pressure to break through and make a name for yourself. Get a bit of an opportunity at Brighton but then suffer some setbacks. His journey isn't dissimilar to McKenna's at that point, although without the heartbreak of having to hang his boots up. He might be the sort of manager he needs to play under.
Then sent off to Luton, then Middlesborough, Venice, Hull. Left to your own devices somewhat without a strong network of friends or family locally.
People are quick to judge when all it might take is an arm around him and to feel involved. Someone like that would probably integrate really well into our group, they seem a close knit bunch and feeling like you have a home is important, rather than these temporary moves here, there and everywhere.
I'm not suggesting he's one we should look at necessarily, but he's a player who showed so much promise when he broke through at Brighton and is at a stage of his career where if he gets back on track could be an exciting addition. |
Absolutely - some players just need a home, need the right environment, the right manager, the right partner outside football, lots and lots of things.
It's so easy to say someone isn't a bad character - people talking about Downes yesterday as sulking, toys out of pram, when reality is he was probably too professional, setting too high standards for himself and the frustration came from that side of things.
Footballers are humans, good managers and situations get the best out of them and a couple of chats between McKenna, Ashton and the player and they can work out if all on the same page.
But when we signed Morsy he didn't want to be here, that's not worked out badly for both parties now | |
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| Aaron Connelly on 16:15 - Jul 4 with 2715 views | itfcjoe |
| Aaron Connelly on 14:48 - Jul 4 by itfcsuth |
It is generally a load of rubbish, and if sometimes true, very rarely do fans know the truth behind a players circumstance.
I'm very lucky to have stayed in contact with a lot of friends from playing academy football, and a lot of friends that have gone on, or are still building careers from the Premier League, down to the National League, all the way across to the MLS.
For example, I have one friend who was playing really good football in L1, but was still young, and was receiving very good money - unfortunately was taking drugs and his career blew up - everyone looks at that and thinks silly boy (which of course he was). But I know that he came from nothing, like real poverty, I know he didn't have the best childhood - far far from a bad egg, but was constantly labelled a wrong un.
Everybody goes through different circumstances, from an outside we can't judge them - we can only judge what we see on the pitch from them as player. |
I think people judge things from their own standards and can't possibly put themselves in the extreme positions some players have come from. Man U have had a few - Ravel Morrison, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard all from extremely poor backgrounds - some go one way, some go the other way
Evan players seen as good men now may have got lost at some point - Jon Walters was sacked as a youngster at Blackburn for stealing from his team mates. It's easy from middle class to look at these boys as flawed but then we all are | |
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