[Albion] Aaron Connolly - joining Hull permanently

[Lenny Rider]

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

Unfortunately with the rise of social media, there were all kinds of videos doing the rounds. Whatever you do there’s always someone there to film you

I remember one particular one in a kebab/burger shop, it was like watching a car crash in slow motion.

At this point, this is where HR and Potter should have got hold of him and said “ Right, you’re moving in with Mrs Wiggins in Goring, you could probably do with some one to one counselling sessions with George Parris, we need to for an unspecified period monitor your social life and general down time as ultimately you are employed and paid by us to do a job that you’re coming up short on.”

I‘ve got a mate in my local in Spain, Gerry from Dublin, in 2019 he though AC was the second coming of Robbie Keane, he now jokes it was actually Robbie Coltrane.

Joking aside, this had all the hallmarks of a classic case of a wasted career/life, thankfully the young man has turned it around, and all of us, whether we were negative or positive about him over they years, should be pleased with the outcome.

 

[Insel affe]

Yes, I've decided the majority of the problem is with the people (society) doing the coitizing rather than the young man thrown into the sickening environment that is created by the people (society).

Why are we not allowed to comment about the ongoings when we knew he was out drinking, at the end of the day a lot on here pay his wages by turning up week in week out home and away, or supporting the club in other ways financially or emotionally. I think it is fair and right to point out all is not well, if you look back through all the threads the vast majority expressed concern, could see the issue and wished he could turn it around, even when he left for other clubs, the consensus was mainly support and although a shame, hopped he could turn it around. I do not recall out and out hate on here.
I do not do twitter or x or Instagram so can not speak for that, mainly because that is a different level of social media I do not feel comfortable with, having suffered from addiction even at the time, I knew not to go on it, because it is not real, Aaron could have done the same.

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.

I do not think you will anyone on here that does not disagree with the above sentiment.

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.

I think you are wrong about this, we are well aware our players are over hyped and are realistic in our place in the football world.

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.

I think this is aimed at the British Press and Sports Media, that over hypes us and our importance.

 

[BBassic]

Good on the young man for speaking out. Hope his career gets back on the rails.

 

[Milano]

Unfortunately with the rise of social media, there were all kinds of videos doing the rounds. Whatever you do there’s always someone there to film you

I remember one particular one in a kebab/burger shop, it was like watching a car crash in slow motion.

At this point, this is where HR and Potter should have got hold of him and said “ Right, you’re moving in with Mrs Wiggins in Goring, you could probably do with some one to one counselling sessions with George Parris, we need to for an unspecified period monitor your social life and general down time as ultimately you are employed and paid by us to do a job that you’re coming up short on.”

I‘ve got a mate in my local in Spain, Gerry from Dublin, in 2019 he though AC was the second coming of Robbie Keane, he now jokes it was actually Robbie Coltrane.

Joking aside, this had all the hallmarks of a classic case of a wasted career/life, thankfully the young man has turned it around, and all of us, whether we were negative or positive about him over they years, should be pleased with the outcome.

That works for someone under the age of 18. It is not enforeable for an adult, unless it was a specific clause in the contract, which it wasn't. HR can't really do a thing. The club could 'offer' it but if the adult doesn't accept then there is nothing they can do. If he's not performing, then all the manager can do is drop him. If it's really bad then the club could go for contract breach, but any good lawyer would point to other players doing the same thing.

The whole principal is based on the player WANTING the career enough that they are self-disciplined, he admits on the video that became his problem, he wanted the life of a rock star not a sports star. The club could offer help but not force it.

Not surrounding himself with total wankers would have been a good start.

 

[Justice]

Those two goals against Spurs whilst a good thing at the time was possibly the thing that started to push him down the slippery slope.
The club thought the striker issue was solved and handed him a new shiny deal , like he says he thought he had made it and stopped working at his football.
To point a finger at one thing and say this was the problem is wrong on this occasion.
Fans will always have opinions and with social media it takes the discussion out of the pub after a game and into the mainstream.

A Pickford thread has been started calling him a shit goal keeper it’s the way of the modern world and players will have to get used to it or ignore it.

 

[Insel affe]

That works for someone under the age of 18. It is not enforeable for an adult, unless it was a specific clause in the contract, which it wasn't. HR can't really do a thing. The club could 'offer' it but if the adult doesn't accept then there is nothing they can do. If he's not performing, then all the manager can do is drop him. If it's really bad then the club could go for contract breach, but any good lawyer would point to other players doing the same thing.

The whole principal is based on the player WANTING the career enough that they are self-disciplined, he admits on the video that became his problem, he wanted the life of a rock star not a sports star. The club could offer help but not force it.

who is to say or knows if the club did not attempt to help him, there were rumours that he was offered the opportunity to go out on loan to a championship club and he himself declined and opted to fight for his place, maybe that was an attempt to help Aaron by taking him away from the hanger on folks, if true he did not fight very hard, he floundered and suffered.

Lets hope he can move on and fulfil that potential we all saw and got frustrated with.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

Unfortunately with the rise of social media, there were all kinds of videos doing the rounds. Whatever you do there’s always someone there to film you

I remember one particular one in a kebab/burger shop, it was like watching a car crash in slow motion.

At this point, this is where HR and Potter should have got hold of him and said “ Right, you’re moving in with Mrs Wiggins in Goring, you could probably do with some one to one counselling sessions with George Parris, we need to for an unspecified period monitor your social life and general down time as ultimately you are employed and paid by us to do a job that you’re coming up short on.”

I‘ve got a mate in my local in Spain, Gerry from Dublin, in 2019 he though AC was the second coming of Robbie Keane, he now jokes it was actually Robbie Coltrane.

Joking aside, this had all the hallmarks of a classic case of a wasted career/life, thankfully the young man has turned it around, and all of us, whether we were negative or positive about him over they years, should be pleased with the outcome.

Agree with most of this. I remember a round of golf during the time, with a friend who is inside pro football and he laid the blame firmly with Potter. It is the responsibility of the Manager (Head Coach) to oversee the development of young players in the First Team squad. Very obvious what was needed. Not easy to do though - and certainly too much for our Graham (MSc).

 

[Milano]

who is to say or knows if the club did not attempt to help him, there were rumours that he was offered the opportunity to go out on loan to a championship club and he himself declined and opted to fight for his place, maybe that was an attempt to help Aaron by taking him away from the hanger on folks, if true he did not fight very hard, he floundered and suffered.

Lets hope he can move on and fulfil that potential we all saw and got frustrated with.

Not me. I'm on the side of the club on this one. If 'sides' is really the correct thing here.

I'm fed up with the narrative that everything is always someone elses fault. Unless you're under 18 then that's 99% of the time bollocks.

To be fair to AC he's not blaming anyone else. That hasn't stopped some on this thread inferring that the club let him down somehow.

 

[Milano]

Agree with most of this. I remember a round of golf during the time, with a friend who is inside pro football and he laid the blame firmly with Potter. It is the responsibility of the Manager (Head Coach) to oversee the development of young players in the First Team squad. Very obvious what was needed. Not easy to do though - and certainly too much for our Graham (MSc).

Horse shit.

Development a in, can you improve on the pitch. It is NOT the responsibility of the manager to organise every players friends and social lives.

 

[Insel affe]

Not me. I'm on the side of the club on this one. If 'sides' is really the correct thing here.

I'm fed up with the narrative that everything is always someone elses fault. Unless you're under 18 then that's 99% of the time bollocks.

To be fair to AC he's not blaming anyone else. That hasn't stopped some on this thread inferring that the club let him down somehow.

Ah, sorry if i was not clear enough, i was inferring that club probably did try and help, it is in their interest to to, he was an asset, to suggest the club left him to fend for himself or flounder is silly, i think anyway.

 

[Robinjakarta]

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?

He knows everything hence one of the few on my ignore list and still hijacking threads I see.

 

[amexer]

Unfortunately with the rise of social media, there were all kinds of videos doing the rounds. Whatever you do there’s always someone there to film you

I remember one particular one in a kebab/burger shop, it was like watching a car crash in slow motion.

At this point, this is where HR and Potter should have got hold of him and said “ Right, you’re moving in with Mrs Wiggins in Goring, you could probably do with some one to one counselling sessions with George Parris, we need to for an unspecified period monitor your social life and general down time as ultimately you are employed and paid by us to do a job that you’re coming up short on.”

I‘ve got a mate in my local in Spain, Gerry from Dublin, in 2019 he though AC was the second coming of Robbie Keane, he now jokes it was actually Robbie Coltrane.

Joking aside, this had all the hallmarks of a classic case of a wasted career/life, thankfully the young man has turned it around, and all of us, whether we were negative or positive about him over they years, should be pleased with the outcome.

I heard horrendous stories from friends son about behaviour in night club. However thats not my issue .Plenty of players in past with questionable behaviour but played at top level. Just think his ability is very limited. Apart from needing to retain the ball and stay on his feet he was limited to just making runs on left and because one footed always looked to get a shot in on right. Good luck to him. Must have a good agent to be taken on by a side top of championship.

 

[Han Solo]

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?

Becoming an alcoholic and/or partying your life and career away are symptoms of other things being wrong. If he or you doesn't know that, then yes I know something he and you doesn't.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

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.

Really? Some people just like to party

 

[Gabbiano]

Christ are we doing this again? It's just putting words in each others mouths.

In the interview Aaron himself talks about both of these things. He said that he didn't like the online opinions he was getting, but ultimately he was responsible for his own drinking.

 

[Milano]

What I take from this is that it is all Spurs' fault.

 

[Insel affe]

Really? Some people just like to party

This is true, and you should know

 

[RandyWanger]

Good on him for finally facing his demons. Hopefully he can get his career back on track.

 

[dazzer6666]

Agree with most of this. I remember a round of golf during the time, with a friend who is inside pro football and he laid the blame firmly with Potter. It is the responsibility of the Manager (Head Coach) to oversee the development of young players in the First Team squad. Very obvious what was needed. Not easy to do though - and certainly too much for our Graham (MSc).

Your friend is an arse. What people do outside of work isn’t ‘firmly’ their line manager’s responsibility. The line manager can point out the facts of life, suggest what to do, invoke sanctions or offer help……but the subject has to accept responsibility

 

[Easy 10]

Becoming an alcoholic and/or partying your life and career away are symptoms of other things being wrong. If he or you doesn't know that, then yes I know something he and you doesn't.

At his time with BHA he was a young man, an overnight minor celeb, with money in his pocket, a lot of spare time, and an entourage of hangers-on. He liked a drink and he liked to party. He had the time, the money, and the inclination, and (crucially) also lacked the maturity and discipline a professional athlete needs to stay at the top. He just stopped working. He himself has admitted this.

Your theory that NSC/Instagram/Twitter DROVE him to almost drinking his career away is frankly ridiculous. Just accept your thesis turned out to be off-track. He liked the party and nightclub lifestyle, got a taste for it, and discovered you can't burn the candle at both ends without buggering up your own career.

Thats it.