[Albion] Aaron Connolly - joining Hull permanently

[Han Solo]

Shane Duffy, the club, the HR department, the coach, the HR department, the lack of experienced players at the time...

WHATEVER we do, lets not mention the years of verbal abuse from Albion fans here and on every thinkable social media channel as a possible reason for his psychological struggles. Because if we start mentioning that, maybe we can't abuse the next teenager over how he fails to live up to our dreams, and wheres the fun in that? So lets continue to pretend that recieving 24/7 abuse from your supposed supporters as a 18-19-year-old has no impact on the life of the player. Lets pretend that shit never happened and just lump all the responsibility at Shane Duffy or whoever.

Good on Aaron showing that the bunch of middle-aged men who in the old Connolly thread for years called him ugly, stupid, moronic, useless, claiming he'd play in Worthing when his Brighton contract was over.. they were all wrong. This guy has at the age of 24 identified his issues and been brave enough to talk about it because it can help him and others. His critics aren't fit to polish his shoes.

 

[Zeus]

Shane Duffy, the club, the HR department, the coach, the HR department, the lack of experienced players at the time...

WHATEVER we do, lets not mention the years of verbal abuse from Albion fans here and on every thinkable social media channel as a possible reason for his psychological struggles. Because if we start mentioning that, maybe we can't abuse the next teenager over how he fails to live up to our dreams, and wheres the fun in that? So lets continue to pretend that recieving 24/7 abuse from your supposed supporters as a 18-19-year-old has no impact on the life of the player. Lets pretend that shit never happened and just lump all the responsibility at Shane Duffy or whoever.

Good on Aaron showing that the bunch of middle-aged men who in the old Connolly thread for years called him ugly, stupid, moronic, useless, claiming he'd play in Worthing when his Brighton contract was over.. they were all wrong. This guy has at the age of 24 identified his issues and been brave enough to talk about it because it can help him and others. His critics aren't fit to polish his shoes.

Ah I see what you’ve done there. Deflected the blame to a chat forum after being proved wrong in your assessment and defence of Connolly straight from the horses mouth.

Looks to me that he’s admitted that everything everyone was saying about him was pretty accurate and he was more interested in partying than playing football. Of course though, all Down to those middle aged mean social media people and nothing to do with Arron himself.

 

[amexer]

So lucky to get another chance as high as championship. Wish him luck but did hear a similar interview when he went to Italy. Have always thought at his best was very limited. Good luck to him

 

[Han Solo]

Ah I see what you’ve done there. Deflected the blame to a chat forum after being proved wrong in your assessment and defence of Connolly straight from the horses mouth.

Looks to me that he’s admitted that everything everyone was saying about him was pretty accurate and he was more interested in partying than playing football. Of course though, all Down to those middle aged mean social media people and nothing to do with Arron himself.

I've been blaming chat forums and social media for a lot of the issues Connolly has had for a VERY long time. In fact I pushed the whole "STOP ABUSING OUR YOUNG PLAYERS BECAUSE THEY MIGHT f***ing READ IT AND TAKE HARM FROM IT" in the old Connolly thread to the point where I was banned from it. That's not new. That's what I've been saying the entire time. Thats been the core of the "is Connolly all kinds of horrible human or he is just human" debate where I've been very firm on the latter.

Aaron has a responsibility of course, and he's taking it, whether he will do so successfully or not. Those who spent years making sure that every day he woke up, he was told about how ugly, shit and dumb he was, won't take any sort of responsibility. They'll do the same thing over again. Evan Ferguson is about five minutes away from being labelled a useless party guy receiving a bunch of shit any time he fails to score. Julio Enciso not far behind.

The attitude will be the same as it was with Connolly. "I'm paying a ticket so I have the right to PM this 19 year old lad on Instagram and tell him I never want to see his useless ugly face in my team again".

Every year there's a bunch of Premier League talents not making it. Many of them get into trouble. The main reason for the latter is because media and fans have destroyed their lives. This will never change as the worst scum on the planet are either journalists or football fans. Its a tragedy, but its never going to improve because people can't see the connection between being told you're shit every day and poor mental health and its consequences (such as escapism through alcohol).

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

I've been blaming chat forums and social media for a lot of the issues Connolly has had for a VERY long time. In fact I pushed the whole "STOP ABUSING OUR YOUNG PLAYERS BECAUSE THEY MIGHT f***ing READ IT AND TAKE HARM FROM IT" in the old Connolly thread to the point where I was banned from it. That's not new. That's what I've been saying the entire time. Thats been the core of the "is Connolly all kinds of horrible human or he is just human" debate where I've been very firm on the latter.

Aaron has a responsibility of course, and he's taking it, whether he will do so successfully or not. Those who spent years making sure that every day he woke up, he was told about how ugly, shit and dumb he was, won't take any sort of responsibility. They'll do the same thing over again. Evan Ferguson is about five minutes away from being labelled a useless party guy receiving a bunch of shit any time he fails to score. Julio Enciso not far behind.

The attitude will be the same as it was with Connolly. "I'm paying a ticket so I have the right to PM this 19 year old lad on Instagram and tell him I never want to see his useless ugly face in my team again".

Every year there's a bunch of Premier League talents not making it. Many of them get into trouble. The main reason for the latter is because media and fans have destroyed their lives. This will never change as the worst scum on the planet are either journalists or football fans. Its a tragedy, but its never going to improve because people can't see the connection between being told you're shit every day and poor mental health and its consequences (such as escapism through alcohol).

You've regularly dismissed the main reason for a lot of criticism, which was because we (Sussex residents) all either kept seeing him out boozing all the time, or knew someone who had. You inferred we were bullying him and making it up.

Aaron Connolly was not reading criticism on North Stand Chat when he was out on the piss in Brighton. Or Hove. Or Worthing. Or Ditchling. Or Burgess Hill. Or Hurstpierpoint. Or Shoreham.

It wasn't made up.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

You've regularly dismissed the main reason for a lot of criticism, which was because we (Sussex residents) all either kept seeing him out boozing all the time, or knew someone who had. You inferred we were bullying him and making it up.

Aaron Connolly was not reading criticism on North Stand Chat when he was out on the piss in Brighton. Or Hove. Or Worthing. Or Ditchling. Or Burgess Hill. Or Hurstpierpoint. Or Shoreham.

It wasn't made up.

I think it's fair to suggest that part of the reason he was out boozing all the time, drinking his sorrows away, was the abuse he was receiving online, and because he couldn't live up to the expectations that had been fosted on him.

Then if course it becomes circular, but I think it's a reasonable point to make.

 

[Simster]

It's ok to just be wrong sometimes, @Han Solo. Stop embarrassing yourself with this nonsense. You can whine at middle aged men on a forum if you like, but that was never the cause of his fall from grace.

He was seen out drinking regularly, he had a big problematic entourage, he was taken under the wing of a senior player known for heavy drinking. Sometimes if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.

He had a drink problem according to the man himself. I actually think it's far easier to say that sort of thing these days where mental health is talked about and not suppressed, so I just hope he isn't paying lip service to his own words and actually addresses the issue. Obviously like every sane Brighton fan, I wish him well.

 

[Milano]

You've regularly dismissed the main reason for a lot of criticism, which was because we (Sussex residents) all either kept seeing him out boozing all the time, or knew someone who had. You inferred we were bullying him and making it up.

Aaron Connolly was not reading criticism on North Stand Chat when he was out on the piss in Brighton. Or Hove. Or Worthing. Or Ditchling. Or Burgess Hill. Or Hurstpierpoint. Or Shoreham.

It wasn't made up.

If the club knew he was out drinking in Burgess Hill then that changes my opinion somewhat, that is rock bottom......

 

[Han Solo]

It's ok to just be wrong sometimes, @Han Solo. Stop embarrassing yourself with this nonsense. You can whine at middle aged men on a forum if you like, but that was never the cause of his fall from grace.

He was seen out drinking regularly, he had a big problematic entourage, he was taken under the wing of a senior player known for heavy drinking. Sometimes if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.

He had a drink problem according to the man himself. I actually think it's far easier to say that sort of thing these days where mental health is talked about and not suppressed, so I just hope he isn't paying lip service to his own words and actually addresses the issue. Obviously like every sane Brighton fan, I wish him well.

In what sense was I wrong? Is he ugly? Up to anyone to decide. Is he a shite footballer who will "play in the National League" when his Brighton contract runs out? No, last season he scored 8 goals in one of the ten best leagues in the world. Is he an idiot? Clearly not, he's done more self-reflecting in 24 years than the OAPs here are capable of after a lifetime of learning. Does he have a shite attitude? No, he understands his problems and wants to improve. What the f*** was I wrong about?

The thing happening here is the same thing always happening with British footballers:

1. Player scores a couple of goals and is labelled the new Jesus with people lifting him to the skies.
2. Player has a couple of bad months and was labelled the worst shit that had ever played in the team.
3. Player reacts to this treatment either by massively struggling or becoming some sort of untouchable diva

Happens over and over and over again, with no one looking in the mirror and everyone looking at the next young kid to push under the water,

 

[Bridcutt]

The thing happening here is the same thing always happening with British footballers

Good thing he's not British then isn't it

 

[Simster]

In what sense was I wrong? Is he ugly? Up to anyone to decide. Is he a shite footballer who will "play in the National League" when his Brighton contract runs out? No, last season he scored 8 goals in one of the ten best leagues in the world. Is he an idiot? Clearly not, he's done more self-reflecting in 24 years than the OAPs here are capable of after a lifetime of learning. Does he have a shite attitude? No, he understands his problems and wants to improve. What the f*** was I wrong about?

The thing happening here is the same thing always happening with British footballers:

1. Player scores a couple of goals and is labelled the new Jesus with people lifting him to the skies.
2. Player has a couple of bad months and was labelled the worst shit that had ever played in the team.
3. Player reacts to this treatment either by massively struggling or becoming some sort of untouchable diva

Happens over and over and over again, with no one looking in the mirror and everyone looking at the next young kid to push under the water,

Sigh.

You're wrong because rather than looking at the underlying reasons for the criticism (and some of it will have been unfair but borne out of frustration), you've decided the problem is with the people doing the criticising rather than the adult who stopped working hard and turned to drink when he thought he was untouchable - as pretty much stated by the man himself.

And no, the same thing does not "always" happen with British footballers any more than anywhere else. Not everyone lifts players to the skies or then labels a player the worst shit that has ever played. At this point you're just making up shit to suit your argument rather than just admitting that ultimately he brought all of it on himself.

 

[Insel affe]

In what sense was I wrong? Is he ugly? Up to anyone to decide. Is he a shite footballer who will "play in the National League" when his Brighton contract runs out? No, last season he scored 8 goals in one of the ten best leagues in the world. Is he an idiot? Clearly not, he's done more self-reflecting in 24 years than the OAPs here are capable of after a lifetime of learning. Does he have a shite attitude?

Yes he did at the time and admitted it, no one forced him to drink, he was in a privileged position.
Sometimes you have to look at yourself to see the problem, and he has only just done that, and good on him for that.
Only he could make that call.

No, he understands his problems and wants to improve. What the f*** was I wrong about?

You were wrong at the time, a stopped clock is right twice a day.

"The thing happening here is the same thing always happening with British footballers:"

1. Player scores a couple of goals and is labelled the new Jesus with people lifting him to the skies.
2. Player has a couple of bad months and was labelled the worst shit that had ever played in the team.
3. Player reacts to this treatment either by massively struggling or becoming some sort of untouchable diva

Happens over and over and over again, with no one looking in the mirror and everyone looking at the next young kid to push under the water,

This is not a purely English thing, you know that right, it happens in every country.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Danny Welbeck has a drinking problem?

Not many clean sheets when he’s about to be fair

 

[Change at Barnham]

@Han Solo, I hear what you're saying about the criticism of players by some fans.
However what frustrates me is how much attention negative comments receive when coming from a very small percentage of a fan base.
If there are 100 people online being abusive out of 10000 people online they get far too much attention and people start biting back and referring to the online abuse, from there it all then snowballs, and it is perceived as "the fans" turning against a player when it is a minority.
Unfortunately the genie is out of the lamp as far as social media is concerned and we aren't going to get the genie back in the lamp.

You sentiments @Han Solo are very admirable about protecting people against unkindness and I would suggest the vast majority of people online are supportive of struggling players. And you are rightly upset and annoyed at the behaviour of some online posters, but I think you need to choose your words carefully.
You have said: "The main reason for the latter is because media and fans have destroyed their lives. This will never change as the worst scum on the planet are either journalists or football fans."

I think you need to temper your accusations of unfairness by saying "a small, but vocal minority" of media and fans have destroyed their lives.

As a football fan I feel offended and annoyed that you have made such sweeping statements to describe those who have used social media so unkindly. I would suggest that the majority of people are sympathetic to the struggles of players when they are going through a tough time.

You are correct that there are plenty of arseholes who spew horrible criticism of struggling individuals, but please, please, please do not get things out of perspective on how the majority of fans behave.
Whether against Beckham, Rooney or Connolly, it is a minority.
A loud minority, but still a minority.

To me it feels you seem to be attacking the online community and football fans in general instead of individuals.

 

[Milano]

In what sense was I wrong? Is he ugly? Up to anyone to decide. Is he a shite footballer who will "play in the National League" when his Brighton contract runs out? No, last season he scored 8 goals in one of the ten best leagues in the world. Is he an idiot? Clearly not, he's done more self-reflecting in 24 years than the OAPs here are capable of after a lifetime of learning. Does he have a shite attitude? No, he understands his problems and wants to improve. What the f*** was I wrong about?

The thing happening here is the same thing always happening with British footballers:

1. Player scores a couple of goals and is labelled the new Jesus with people lifting him to the skies.
2. Player has a couple of bad months and was labelled the worst shit that had ever played in the team.
3. Player reacts to this treatment either by massively struggling or becoming some sort of untouchable diva

Happens over and over and over again, with no one looking in the mirror and everyone looking at the next young kid to push under the water,

Build them up then knock them down, it's happened for ever. The issue is that the internet has turbo charged it to the point it is non-stop, instant and global.

It's human nature, it's not just football, it's just this is a football forum. Humans are jealous creatures, they seek something to worship and hate in equal measure.

People were gossiping hateful shit about Marie Antoinette in the 1700s because of made up lies printed in Parisian pamphlets, at the same time as copying her hairstyles, that ended well...... You will never ever change it.

 

[dazzer6666]

If the club knew he was out drinking in Burgess Hill then that changes my opinion somewhat, that is rock bottom......

He was, often

 

[Dibdab]

I've been blaming chat forums and social media for a lot of the issues Connolly has had for a VERY long time. In fact I pushed the whole "STOP ABUSING OUR YOUNG PLAYERS BECAUSE THEY MIGHT f***ing READ IT AND TAKE HARM FROM IT" in the old Connolly thread to the point where I was banned from it. That's not new. That's what I've been saying the entire time. Thats been the core of the "is Connolly all kinds of horrible human or he is just human" debate where I've been very firm on the latter.

Aaron has a responsibility of course, and he's taking it, whether he will do so successfully or not. Those who spent years making sure that every day he woke up, he was told about how ugly, shit and dumb he was, won't take any sort of responsibility. They'll do the same thing over again. Evan Ferguson is about five minutes away from being labelled a useless party guy receiving a bunch of shit any time he fails to score. Julio Enciso not far behind.

The attitude will be the same as it was with Connolly. "I'm paying a ticket so I have the right to PM this 19 year old lad on Instagram and tell him I never want to see his useless ugly face in my team again".

Every year there's a bunch of Premier League talents not making it. Many of them get into trouble. The main reason for the latter is because media and fans have destroyed their lives. This will never change as the worst scum on the planet are either journalists or football fans. Its a tragedy, but its never going to improve because people can't see the connection between being told you're shit every day and poor mental health and its consequences (such as escapism through alcohol).

But Arron has admitted it was his partying and drinking that's the problem, not people on social media? You know something he doesn't?

 

[pocketseagull]

I think it's fair to suggest that part of the reason he was out boozing all the time, drinking his sorrows away,

I've not seen the full interview but does he say that? The clip I saw he said we was just getting a bigger buzz from drinking than playing. Addiction doesn't always start from a point of depression.

 

[GT49er]

I think it's fair to suggest that part of the reason he was out boozing all the time, drinking his sorrows away, was the abuse he was receiving online, and because he couldn't live up to the expectations that had been fosted on him.

Then if course it becomes circular, but I think it's a reasonable point to make.

I don't believe he took up boozing and partying because of accusations of boozing and partying online that he felt he had to live up to!

 

[Han Solo]

Sigh.

You're wrong because rather than looking at the underlying reasons for the criticism (and some of it will have been unfair but borne out of frustration), you've decided the problem is with the people doing the criticising rather than the adult who stopped working hard and turned to drink when he thought he was untouchable - as pretty much stated by the man himself.

And no, the same thing does not "always" happen with British footballers any more than anywhere else. Not everyone lifts players to the skies or then labels a player the worst shit that has ever played. At this point you're just making up shit to suit your argument rather than just admitting that ultimately he brought all of it on himself.

Yes, I've decided the majoirty of the problem is with the people (society) doing the cricising rather than the young man thrown into the sickening environment that is created by the people (society). That is my belief when it comes to most substance abuse: the key to solving it isn't to make every individual perfect, it is to improve society.

As for your second paragraph... if you say so. To me as an outsider, the weakness of British football has always been its belief in its own perfection. It doesn't matter how many world class talents Walcotts and Oxlade Chamberlains and Grealishs that eventually turn into a shrug, or how fearful the English players look in tournaments, knowing that if they do anything wrong they'll be abused for life; its all perfect, and nothing needs to change, and indeed nothing does change, eternally you remain a step behind everyone else.

You're never ever going to produce a Zidane or Ronaldo or Messi or Haaland because you're perfect as you are. And thats great if you think its great, but it means there will always be a steady stream of Justin Fashanus, Paul Gascoignes and Aaron Connollys, vulnerable people destroyed in one way or another by the (perfect) perks of being a footballer in Britain.