Callum Connolly

[blueloon]

He's the top scorer this season for the u-21s ?

He has a great ability to do the right thing at the right time , appear in the right position in and around the box, and consequently bags himself a fair number of goals. He didn't have many examples on Saturday that highlighted his skills, compared to say Davies , but the Funes Mori goal was an example of what he does. He was the one running diagonally towards the near post when the corner was taken , giving himself space to header if the ball drops short, then he hung about on the right in the box as the ball bobbled about. He didn't rush into Kone's space just created his own, if the ball had ricocheted around to him he would have had the space to shoot as no defender was near him. Lots of ifs and buts there from me as nothing happened, but essentially he played his normal game when in the box. He doesn't have Coleman's driving run and shooting ability from full back, but he's pretty good at scoring with his head. If Coleman is likely to be out on Saturday then I would be tempted to play Connolly from the start at RB on Wednesday, it gives him a bit more experience should he be needed in the squad for Saturday.

 

[catcherintherye]

He has a great ability to do the right thing at the right time , appear in the right position in and around the box, and consequently bags himself a fair number of goals. He didn't have many examples on Saturday that highlighted his skills, compared to say Davies , but the Funes Mori goal was an example of what he does. He was the one running diagonally towards the near post when the corner was taken , giving himself space to header if the ball drops short, then he hung about on the right in the box as the ball bobbled about. He didn't rush into Kone's space just created his own, if the ball had ricocheted around to him he would have had the space to shoot as no defender was near him. Lots of ifs and buts there from me as nothing happened, but essentially he played his normal game when in the box. He doesn't have Coleman's driving run and shooting ability from full back, but he's pretty good at scoring with his head. If Coleman is likely to be out on Saturday then I would be tempted to play Connolly from the start at RB on Wednesday, it gives him a bit more experience should he be needed in the squad for Saturday.

I thought Connolly really struggled on Saturday and played within himself. Unpopular though it is I would do anything to avoid him playing the next two games, but after that would happily have him in.

Having said that you are right about that corner. When you watch his movement it is superb. He is only a small lad (as most 18 year olds are, he will fill out) but when you watch the corner come in he gets free of his marker. Lineker always used to say, he saw space in the box and attacked it, sometimes the ball would go into the space. Connolly looks quite similar.

As a slightly wider point, the inclusion of Connolly and Davies and both doing ok will throw open some interesting questions in the summer if Martinez stays. Ledson and Kenny (and to a lesser degree Pennington and Walsh) who occupy their positions and are proving themselves out on loan may well want to push themselves ahead in the pecking order. It will be an interesting dynamic to see who remains where in the pecking order.

 

[Goat]

I thought Connolly really struggled on Saturday and played within himself. Unpopular though it is I would do anything to avoid him playing the next two games, but after that would happily have him in.

Having said that you are right about that corner. When you watch his movement it is superb. He is only a small lad (as most 18 year olds are, he will fill out) but when you watch the corner come in he gets free of his marker. Lineker always used to say, he saw space in the box and attacked it, sometimes the ball would go into the space. Connolly looks quite similar.

As a slightly wider point, the inclusion of Connolly and Davies and both doing ok will throw open some interesting questions in the summer if Martinez stays. Ledson and Kenny (and to a lesser degree Pennington and Walsh) who occupy their positions and are proving themselves out on loan may well want to push themselves ahead in the pecking order. It will be an interesting dynamic to see who remains where in the pecking order.

Struggled?

Sorry but I dont think he struggled at all, I thought the lad was superb, him and the boy Davies made the whole game worthwhile.

 

[Mogwai]

Struggled?

Sorry but I dont think he struggled at all, I thought the lad was superb, him and the boy Davies made the whole game worthwhile.

Some of his crosses and passes were hit with great precision and power... I only really noticed cause its something Coleman lacks and I wasn't used to seeing it from that position.

 

[Stephenlloyd]

I thought Connolly really struggled on Saturday and played within himself. Unpopular though it is I would do anything to avoid him playing the next two games, but after that would happily have him in.

Having said that you are right about that corner. When you watch his movement it is superb. He is only a small lad (as most 18 year olds are, he will fill out) but when you watch the corner come in he gets free of his marker. Lineker always used to say, he saw space in the box and attacked it, sometimes the ball would go into the space. Connolly looks quite similar.

As a slightly wider point, the inclusion of Connolly and Davies and both doing ok will throw open some interesting questions in the summer if Martinez stays. Ledson and Kenny (and to a lesser degree Pennington and Walsh) who occupy their positions and are proving themselves out on loan may well want to push themselves ahead in the pecking order. It will be an interesting dynamic to see who remains where in the pecking order.

He didn't struggle for me, comes on in a tough situation we are under the cosh, up against mane a top class player. I thought he handled him self well, looked composed in possession too

Also right back is not his position, most of the time he's centre back or left back

 

[blueloon]

Also right back is not his position, most of the time he's centre back or left back

We never see what the coaches see on the training ground or hear the conversations they have, but I'm of the view that they took the opportunity to send him to Barnsley on loan because Barnsley had a short term need for a right back and were prepared to play him there. He returned with good RB experience .I was hoping he'd be on the bench last Saturday but suspected it would be Holgate, think the Barnsley loan at RB really helped swing it. Connolly's versatility puts him ahead of his peers on the subs bench, Galloway and Holgate can play Centre Back and 1 Full back position, he can play anywhere across the back four., midfield too .
My lingering concern is that if Coleman hadn't been injured this thread wouldn't exist as he wouldn't have got on.Yes he'll get exposed at times , but heh both Coleman and Stones have been skinned at RB this season on the odd occasion.

 

[Stephenlloyd]

We never see what the coaches see on the training ground or hear the conversations they have, but I'm of the view that they took the opportunity to send him to Barnsley on loan because Barnsley had a short term need for a right back and were prepared to play him there. He returned with good RB experience .I was hoping he'd be on the bench last Saturday but suspected it would be Holgate, think the Barnsley loan at RB really helped swing it. Connolly's versatility puts him ahead of his peers on the subs bench, Galloway and Holgate can play Centre Back and 1 Full back position, he can play anywhere across the back four., midfield too .
My lingering concern is that if Coleman hadn't been injured this thread wouldn't exist as he wouldn't have got on.Yes he'll get exposed at times , but heh both Coleman and Stones have been skinned at RB this season on the odd occasion.

I knew he had played right back for Barnsley, I was just pointing he hadn't played their that often. And I don't think he struggled like
Catcherintherye had said.

I agree about Coleman & stones, Wembley will be a tricky one. I'm not sure I would like to see stones at right back up against martial, which will probably happen if jags is fit.

 

[Coffee and TV]

Some of his crosses and passes were hit with great precision and power... I only really noticed cause its something Coleman lacks and I wasn't used to seeing it from that position.

His cross won us the corner that we scored from

 

[Neiziro]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...everton-teenager-callum-connolly-can-11208896

Get in!!!!

 

[Neiziro]

Everton teenager Callum Connolly can cope with Merseyside derby - Martinez

• 19:00, 19 APR 2016
• BY PHIL KIRKBRIDE

18-year-old in the frame to feature at Anfield as Seamus Coleman ruled out

• COMMENTS

Everton's Callum Connolly (left) and Southampton's Ryan Bertrand battle for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match at Goodison Park, Liverpool. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday April 16, 2016. See PA story SOCCER Everton. Photo credit should read: Nigel French/PA Wire.
Callum Connolly can cope with the white-hot atmosphere of a Merseyside derby, insists Roberto Martinez.

The 18-year-old made his Everton debut as a second-half substitute in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Southampton.

Connolly replaced the injured Seamus Coleman who has been ruled out of tomorrow night’s 226th derby with a hamstring injury.

Martinez could switch Bryan Oviedo to right-back if Leighton Baines shakes off a groin problem in time but the Blues boss would have no hesitation in picking Connolly from the start.

Tony Hibbert came through 45 minutes for Everton’s under-21s on Monday night but Martinez says the 226th derby will come too soon for the veteran defender and innjury to captain Phil Jagielka means the manager could not push John Stones out to full-back.

• Seamus Coleman - What's gone wrong? How Everton fans aren't too worried about full back missing Anfield
• Everton FC's FA Cup semi final winners of seven years ago: Where are they now?
• Everton without injured duo but Martinez insists: Our focus remains on Liverpool
• Martinez: It's a defining week at Everton, I know I need to produce results
• Liverpool v Everton: Merseyside's best XI revealed - and the Blues dominate the Reds

And so Connolly, who has continued to train with the senior squad alongside Tom Davies this week, is in the frame to play against Liverpool.

Asked if would have any concerns in selecting the teeanger from the start, Martinez said: “Not at all.

“I don’t think it is a concern for anyone in that squad to cope with the psychological aspect of any game.

“The derby, clearly, is a big game but I think everyone looks forward to playing those games as a youngster.

“Everyone in the squad is ready to play in any role they are given.”

 

[Goat]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...everton-teenager-callum-connolly-can-11208896

Get in!!!!

Its a shame whos saying it tho.

 

[blueloon]

I put a longish piece on Connolly in the Youth Team thread, I won't repeat most of it , but essentially I'd be comfortable with Connolly starting at right back, but he needs decent cover ahead of him to protect him a wee bit , either McCarthy or Besic or may be both in a deeper midfield 3 . It would be good if Lennon is fit to play on the right too, otherwise Geri needs to be told to come of age and protect somebody younger than him by tracking back more.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

We obviously have no back up for Baines as yet, especially with Galloway loaned out. Is Connolly ready to step up?

 

[Toffe3m4n]

We obviously have no back up for Baines as yet, especially with Galloway loaned out. Is Connolly ready to step up?

Looks a good player, got plenty of the ball against Twente. Ready to take the step up? Jury's still out.

 

[blueloon]

We obviously have no back up for Baines as yet, especially with Galloway loaned out. Is Connolly ready to step up?

I would say he's a decent back up but not quite there as a regular PL starter , as a comparison I would be more comfortable starting with Kenny at RB than Connolly at LB in the PL.
But we've started other 19 year olds at LB/RB when needed e.g Galloway. I think Connolly's versatility is what sets him apart in that he's played in all back four positions for the U23s last season , plus midfield in other years and as a left sided Centre back in a back 3. He's able to do so because although right footed he can use his left foot too and has probably played more games at LB over the years than at right.
He doesn't have the same attacking intensity that Kenny has , nor the out and out speed you see in other young Full backs. But he has quite an ability to ghost into space in the opposing penalty box and as a result is the most frequent goalscorer of our young defenders. Watch him when he plays , he's often in the box in space or running into space , sadly all to often the ball doesn't reach him but he's capable of scoring with head or either foot if it does. He's nit a bad header of the ball either given his size, again he positions himself well and leaps well. I would like to see him beef up a bit more as he can sometimes be bullied off the ball in an aerial challenge. I'm hoping that he'll do enough pre transfer deadline to convince RK that we don't need to buy in a back up for Baines and that over the next season or two he will develop into a competent PL left back.
Thanks for resurrecting this thread , at one time we had about three defunct Callum Connolly ones.