[Albion] Connolly

[Jolly Red Giant]

Another wonder Kid? Let’s hope he measures up to expectations... I would not bet yet on his arrival, his manager said ( ofthe Brighton move) “ That's on the cards, unless something were to change in the meantime. Maybe Real Madrid might come in for him!'“

Ferguson picked Brighton over Liverpool

Very young players moving to countries with different languages, culture, far from the parents etc. very rarely works out. Quite unusual in England I suppose as the academies over there are great nowadays but as a Swede I see examples all the time. Sure Real Madrid might sound a bit more tempting than ie Brighton it but might not be the better move.

Different situation than Sweden - young Irish players have traditionally gone to English clubs to learn their trade - there are currently hundreds of Irish kids attached to clubs in Britain. Same language, very similar culture, nearly a third of the population in Britain with Irish ancestry and a long tradition going back decades. It is the dream of every Irish kid to play in Britain.

Didn't Richie Towell score about 750 goals in a season in the LOI ?

46 in two seasons - in a Dundalk team that won the LOI and included Sean Maguire, Andy Boyle and Daryl Horgan who all went to Preston (Horgan is now at Wycombe and played for Ireland last night and Maguire has played 11 times for Ireland and was in the squad for last night's game) and Dave McMillan who went on to play in the Scottish PL. Towell was 25 years old when he joined Brighton and a very good player whose opportunity at Brighton was scuppered by injuries.

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

16 goals and 7 assists in the LOI at 15? That's insane

That's with the Bohemians U19 team - Ferguson started 2 games and came on as a sub in 2 more during the 2020 LOI

 

[Guinness Boy]

True, there is a bit of a language barrier from deepst darkest Ireland to Sussex . . . . one step at a time.

Indeed. When I worked in Dublin for a few months people in the office, including senior managers used the C word as punctuation. I've always wondered if it was just that company?

 

[Swansman]

Different situation than Sweden - young Irish players have traditionally gone to English clubs to learn their trade - there are currently hundreds of Irish kids attached to clubs in Britain. Same language, very similar culture, nearly a third of the population in Britain with Irish ancestry and a long tradition going back decades. It is the dream of every Irish kid to play in Britain.

I know bro, its a no-brainer. In my reply I was referring to the "maybe Real Madrid goes for him" part and that, in this case, Brighton > Real Madrid.

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

I know bro, its a no-brainer. In my reply I was referring to the "maybe Real Madrid goes for him" part and that, in this case, Brighton > Real Madrid.

Like I said - he already turned down Liverpool to join Brighton.

 

[AZ Gull]

Nope - I have been consistent in outlining that the there is significant quality in the underage levels of Irish soccer and that Connolly is just one of a number of players coming through who have to potential to have a long and very good international career. I previously indicated that Connolly is actually down the pecking order - Adam Idah has started before Connolly in the international team and Troy Parrott would be starting ahead of him if he weren't injured.

Is that the "injured" Troy Parrott who is in the ROI U-21 squad for their match against Iceland tomorrow, or is there another Troy Parrott who actually is injured?

 

[dazzer6666]

Calling out the local (gutter, misinformed, making-stuff-up) press today......


[tweet]1327612233275338753[/tweet]

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

Is that the "injured" Troy Parrott who is in the ROI U-21 squad for their match against Iceland tomorrow, or is there another Troy Parrott who actually is injured?

Parrott hasn't kicked a ball since September - he has been out with ankle ligament damage. He was a sub for the game yesterday because the Irish U-21 manager Jim Crawford, said he wasn't ready for a full 90 minutes. He came on at half-time but didn't look fit. He probably won't play the full 90 minutes against Luxembourg on Wednesday either.

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

Is that the "injured" Troy Parrott who is in the ROI U-21 squad for their match against Iceland tomorrow, or is there another Troy Parrott who actually is injured?

Well, well, - look at that - Troy Parrott has been called into the Irish squad for the game against Bulgaria - and will probably play in the game.