[Albion] Aaron Connolly - joining Hull permanently

[Easy 10]

He had the talent and potential, but not the application, maturity or professionalism to make the most of it. I'm sure the club did all they could to try to steer him on the right path, but there's only so much they can do. He likes the craic, thats more important to him. He's still gone further than 99% will ever manage, but he could have been so much more than a journeyman pro working his way ever downwards.

Ho hum.

 

[Han Solo]

Did well in the Championship last season, top 10 in goals per 90 minutes. No surprise he gets a good move. Best of luck to him.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Did well in the Championship last season, top 10 in goals per 90 minutes. No surprise he gets a good move. Best of luck to him.

Well, it is a bit of a surprise, given after a spell of injuries they eventually gave up on him and then released him while rumours on Hull social media continued about his off-field antics.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

My apologies I was under the impression he was from the more salubrious part of Dublin, that said coming to England and then being paid relatively vast amounts of money must have been a real culture shock.

To be honest I agree with you to some extent.

As someone who follows the Albion and Ireland and whose family is from Galway, no-one was more invested in Aaron Connolly doing well than me. And I definitely gave him more time and was sticking up for him more than most.

But as the good performances became a bit more sporadic and the rumours about his life came from all directions (NSC, people who played with him in the youth setup, sixth formers I teach) it became obvious he might be a bit of a bellend.

That said, plenty of bellends still make it as top, top footballers and I do think Albion and Ireland got it wrong with Connolly. After the Spurs game we had him leading the line week in week out aged 19 for a team that was really getting bullied and he was barely getting a touch. Then Mick McCarthy followed suit and did the same for Ireland. Must have had a mixture of making him think he'd made it and also severely knocking his confidence as the goals didn't come for either team.

Ah well, as has been said on here it's water long under the bridge now. On to Evan Ferguson. And failing that, on to Mark O'Mahony!

 

[Han Solo]

Well, it is a bit of a surprise, given after a spell of injuries they eventually gave up on him and then released him while rumours on Hull social media continued about his off-field antics.

Still, goals sell no matter circumstances and he's proven to be quite efficient in the Championship when actually fit. Sheffield is a bit surprising though, would have predicted a mid/bottom team.

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

Looking on the positive side of things, Wikipedia says he’s only 24 so still time to get back to where he wants to be if he applies himself. I can’t help thinking those two goals against Spurs were in hindsight a hindrance as it just heaped pressure and the limelight on him literally overnight.

 

[Zeus]

Sometimes young footballers really do have too much, much too young. Aaron clearly had no idea had to manage himself and was clearly not being advised by anyone else who he was listening too.

All that being said he’s still earnt money that most people could only dream of, and if he can manage his finances half sensibly should even now be able to be comfortable for most his life. All because he scored a couple of goals against Spurs. It’s incredible what even bang average players can take from the game off only a couple of decent Prem/Championship contracts now.

 

[Easy 10]

Sometimes young footballers really do have too much, much too young. Aaron clearly had no idea had to manage himself and was clearly not being advised by anyone else who he was listening too.

All that being said he’s still earnt money that most people could only dream of, and if he can manage his finances half sensibly should even now be able to be comfortable for most his life. All because he scored a couple of goals against Spurs. It’s incredible what even bang average players can take from the game off only a couple of decent Prem/Championship contracts now.

And one of those was just a scrambled nod over the line from 2 inches, when Hugo Lloris muffed a cross and spannered his elbow falling into the goal.

 

[GT49er]

Such a shame that thread has gone.
The self-righteousness of the Connolly pack was something to behold.
If you were pro-loan you clearly hated him and knew nothing about football.

Well, obviously neither do you, so f*** off. Some of us (not ITK(!) any more than you though!) thought he was potentially pretty good, and needed the right career path.


Or maybe it's just opinions that differ from yours; or maybe you're trying to claim the self-righteous ground, eh!?
Go for it, sunshine!

 

[dazzer6666]

Sometimes young footballers really do have too much, much too young. Aaron clearly had no idea had to manage himself and was clearly not being advised by anyone else who he was listening too.

All that being said he’s still earnt money that most people could only dream of, and if he can manage his finances half sensibly should even now be able to be comfortable for most his life. All because he scored a couple of goals against Spurs. It’s incredible what even bang average players can take from the game off only a couple of decent Prem/Championship contracts now.

Part of the problem was being ‘advised’ by Shane Duffy

 

[DJ NOBO]

Well, obviously neither do you, so f*** off. Some of us (not ITK(!) any more than you though!) thought he was potentially pretty good, and needed the right career path.


Or maybe it's just opinions that differ from yours; or maybe you're trying to claim the self-righteous ground, eh!?
Go for it, sunshine!

I have read this through three times and still have no idea what you’re on about

 

[Van Cleef]

And one of those was just a scrambled nod over the line from 2 inches, when Hugo Lloris muffed a cross and spannered his elbow falling into the goal.

I think that was Maupay from memory.

 

[mona]

Really?

Surely we, ie the Albion, were culpable in some way, we plucked him from quite a rough area of Dublin (we've all watched The Commitments), put him in the first team, two goals get the Spurs boss the sack, the media and fans turn him into 'Peter Ward incarnate', we then put his wages up overnight and he moves next door to Shane Duffy.

And then expect him to behave like Daniel Radcliffe...........

He wasn't even from Dublin.
Galway ....and he seemed a committed at first

 

[Bry Nylon]

And one of those was just a scrambled nod over the line from 2 inches, when Hugo Lloris muffed a cross and spannered his elbow falling into the goal.

I think that was Maupay from memory.

Eh? Maupay? Even Joe Biden knows that it was Connolly that scored that goal.

 

[Bring back Bryan wade!!]

He literally lived directly behind me in BH before he moved over to Italy on loan last season. (believe he still owns the house). Met him a few times and not normally something I would say but came across as massively arrogant.

 

[AZ Gull]

And one of those was just a scrambled nod over the line from 2 inches, when Hugo Lloris muffed a cross and spannered his elbow falling into the goal.

I think that was Maupay from memory.

Eh? Maupay? Even Joe Biden knows that it was Connolly that scored that goal.

Fully appreciate I'm probably being whooshed here but.....

It was indeed Maupay that scored that first goal (2 mins 29 secs into the match).

 

[John Byrnes Mullet]

He's just not good enough. The club made a big mistake in improving his contract after 2 games where he got lucky scoring. If that's true about him moving next door to Shane Duddy then no wonder his career suffered because they would have been drinking many a night till 3am. He's a short ass to he honest which is not a problem but to compete without height at the top two leagues in England you need massive upper body strength. This does happen when drinking alcohol. Good luck to the guy but League 1 whilst living the Shane Duddy lifestyle is about as good as it will get for him.

 

[Bry Nylon]

Fully appreciate I'm probably being whooshed here but.....

It was indeed Maupay that scored that first goal (2 mins 29 secs into the match).

No - blimey, you're not being whooshed. I just watched the highlights back and you and @Van Cleef are 100% correct and I am 100% WRONG! I would have sworn that Connolly got the first, but of course HIS first goal in that game was his first-time flick that came back off the keeper, then he tucked in the rebound.

I'll never doubt @Van Cleef's memory again!

FFS @Easy 10 , you've made me look like a right KNOB here.

 

[Mr deez]

Just to chip in that I sat near to Connolly during the England/Netherlands match in the pub, and he was the model pro - not really drinking, happy to chat to fans, and openly stating he wished he could have done more for Brighton.

Nothing like the reputation he has and which people confidently talk about as fact. He seemed like a thoroughly decent lad. Just to counter the continual negativity against his name...

 

[AZ Gull]

No - blimey, you're not being whooshed. I just watched the highlights back and you and @Van Cleef are 100% correct and I am 100% WRONG! I would have sworn that Connolly got the first, but of course HIS first goal in that game was his first-time flick that came back off the keeper, then he tucked in the rebound.

I'll never doubt @Van Cleef's memory again!

FFS @Easy 10 , you've made me look like a right KNOB here.

At least we now know why Joe Biden had to stand down...