Mark Connolly - Released

Barr Hill · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 12:49 pm

Mark Connolly has twittered that he has been released by Bolton. Can anyone verify this. I thought he was one for the future?
Bolton haven't wasted anytime !!!!!

wanderers_on_tour · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 12:50 pm

viewtopic.php?p=731734#p731734

TKIZ! · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 12:50 pm

See Jaffka's transfer thread

Colonel Campo · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 1:28 pm

Shame that. Looked a decent prospect what I saw of him.

H. Pedersen · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 3:11 pm

Ah Megson, the gift that keeps on giving. £1 million, no appearances. Makes Knight look like a bargain.

Lord Kangana · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 3:19 pm

More expensive per game than Danny Shittu.

Never thought I'd see the day...

H. Pedersen · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 3:35 pm

Jeez I had blocked Shittu out of my memory. Thanks LK.

jaffka · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 4:36 pm

TKIZ! wrote:

See Jaffka's transfer thread

Yep, see that thread for all the latest transfer news involving Bolton Wanderers Football Club.

Riviman · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 4:46 pm

Barr Hill wrote:

Mark Connolly has twittered that he has been released by Bolton. Can anyone verify this. I thought he was one for the future?
Bolton haven't wasted anytime !!!!!

http://www.lionofviennasuite.com/2012/5 ... ves-bolton

Riviman · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 4:52 pm

Saw him pay many times for the reserves and was never convinced that he would make it as a centre half, did far better, in my opinion, when he moved into mid field for a few games, even then he didn't outshine the likes of Vella or Blakeman. Hope his transfer feee paid to Wolves was tied into the number of first team appearances he made !

Dave Sutton's barnet · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 6:10 pm

Riviman wrote:

Hope his transfer feee paid to Wolves was tied into the number of first team appearances he made !

I strongly suspect it was. Wasn't it a tribunal? They're often 'achievement-based'.

I wouldn't particularly blame Megson for this. He and Chris Evans seemed convinced Connolly had the necessary - Wolves were furious and sued, IIRC - but you only get a small percentage of youth players making the grade. We paid roughly the same headline amount for Tope Obadeyi, who seems not to have progressed either. I wouldn't blame the academy for that: some promising teenagers just don't reach their potential. Ask Paul Wheatcroft.

jimbo · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 6:14 pm

Dave Sutton's barnet wrote:

Riviman wrote:

Hope his transfer feee paid to Wolves was tied into the number of first team appearances he made !

I strongly suspect it was. Wasn't it a tribunal? They're often 'achievement-based'.

I wouldn't particularly blame Megson for this. He and Chris Evans seemed convinced Connolly had the necessary - Wolves were furious and sued, IIRC - but you only get a small percentage of youth players making the grade. We paid roughly the same headline amount for Tope Obadeyi, who seems not to have progressed either. I wouldn't blame the academy for that: some promising teenagers just don't reach their potential. Ask Paul Wheatcroft.

I know there's loads of reasons why, but it is infuriating how few of our youngsters actually make any sort of impact in the first team squad.

Dave Sutton's barnet · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 6:25 pm

jimbo wrote:

I know there's loads of reasons why, but it is infuriating how few of our youngsters actually make any sort of impact in the first team squad.

Particularly prevalent in the pressurised Premiership. Should be more opportunities this term with a lower league level, smaller squad and stated aim of promoting youngsters.

Even teh mightymanyoo, who can nick youths from around t'world, haven't brought that many through. How many between the current Welbeck/Cleverley and the Beckham generation? John O'Shea and...?

H. Pedersen · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 6:34 pm

jimbo wrote:

I know there's loads of reasons why, but it is infuriating how few of our youngsters actually make any sort of impact in the first team squad.

One reason is the bloated roster. We’ve got four goddamned right backs on the team right now. Managers would apparently rather go with a journeyman than a kid in a relegation battle.

This is another reason the debt has exploded since Allardyce. We’ve been paying two dedicated left backs. Allardyce never had that luxury. He got us into Europe with Gardner (winger), Pedersen (striker), and Ben Haim (central defender) back there.

jimbo · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 6:40 pm

Dave Sutton's barnet wrote:

jimbo wrote:

I know there's loads of reasons why, but it is infuriating how few of our youngsters actually make any sort of impact in the first team squad.

Particularly prevalent in the pressurised Premiership. Should be more opportunities this term with a lower league level, smaller squad and stated aim of promoting youngsters.

Even teh mightymanyoo, who can nick youths from around t'world, haven't brought that many through. How many between the current Welbeck/Cleverley and the Beckham generation? John O'Shea and...?

Agreed. Just we seem to hear a bit about some youngster in the reserves who is supposed to be good who then ends up on loan at Macclesfield or Rochdale and struggles to make an impact. In general when our better youth players leave, they end up out of the football league all together, which shows just how far away they are from 'making it'. Where we are we face competition from loads of clubs for youngsters, and which sane 14 year old is going to go to Bolton or Wigan when Utd, City or Liverpool come knocking?

Dave Sutton's barnet · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 6:52 pm

Last things first...

jimbo wrote:

which sane 14 year old is going to go to Bolton or Wigan when Utd, City or Liverpool come knocking?

One that wants to stand more chance of breaking through, I suppose. But "sane" and "14-year-old" rarely go together, especially when families smell football millions.

jimbo wrote:

we seem to hear a bit about some youngster in the reserves who is supposed to be good who then ends up on loan at Macclesfield or Rochdale and struggles to make an impact.

I've nothing against loaning out (and I'm not saying you object either). At a certain stage, it's the best way to make them progress - better than playing in front of 20 at Leyland. Again, if they're up to it they'll step up. Not sure who went to Macc but Rochdale I assume you mean Tope: I fear he may be the perfect example of the greyhound striker - fast, tiny brain, runs round in circles.

jimbo wrote:

In general when our better youth players leave, they end up out of the football league all together, which shows just how far away they are from 'making it'.

That's the worst of it. You can't expect more than one a season to come through, but you'd hope we can release them with sell-on clauses so if they come back stronger we get a butty back.

Take David Norris, who we sold to Plymouth: played so well that Ipswich paid quite a bit for him, up to £2m according to some sources; we were due 50% of that, although I understand we waived some of it.

Seamus' good leg · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 6:57 pm

Might have been useful to hold on to Jonathan Walters for a while longer

H. Pedersen · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 7:00 pm

Has Coyle been overusing the loan system as well? OK, Wilshere and Sturridge I get. But Boyata? Is he that much better than Riley and Connolly? We don’t have anyone who could have done Kakuta’s job?

I hate the idea that we’re developing Wenger’s kids instead of our own.

Dave Sutton's barnet · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 7:16 pm

H. Pedersen wrote:

Boyata? Is he that much better than Riley and Connolly?

Flexible, which is what we needed given lack of cover (and suspected impending sale of Cahill). Obviously better than Connolly, considering the thread title. Don't think Riley was in the picture this time last year, so well done him: Boyata's presence hardly ended the kid's career.

H. Pedersen wrote:

We don’t have anyone who could have done Kakuta’s job?

Again, it's a matter of gauging potential. Obviously Coyle likes a winger, Chelsea were willing to offer us someone, and Kakuta was highly-rated.

H. Pedersen wrote:

I hate the idea that we’re developing Wenger’s kids instead of our own.

I don't mind a Wilshere. Less keen on a Kakuta.

I get your general point, that loanees can inhibit youth development. However, managers have to assess their squad (full and youth) and balance the likelihood of the kids stepping up immediately, impressively and improvingly. Although I applaud the idea of bettering our own academy, I'd rather not lose out in a promotion or relegation battle because we haven't got the necessary *right now*.

plymouth wanderer · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 7:25 pm

Dave Sutton's barnet wrote:

Last things first...

jimbo wrote:

which sane 14 year old is going to go to Bolton or Wigan when Utd, City or Liverpool come knocking?

One that wants to stand more chance of breaking through, I suppose. But "sane" and "14-year-old" rarely go together, especially when families smell football millions.

jimbo wrote:

we seem to hear a bit about some youngster in the reserves who is supposed to be good who then ends up on loan at Macclesfield or Rochdale and struggles to make an impact.

I've nothing against loaning out (and I'm not saying you object either). At a certain stage, it's the best way to make them progress - better than playing in front of 20 at Leyland. Again, if they're up to it they'll step up. Not sure who went to Macc but Rochdale I assume you mean Tope: I fear he may be the perfect example of the greyhound striker - fast, tiny brain, runs round in circles.

jimbo wrote:

In general when our better youth players leave, they end up out of the football league all together, which shows just how far away they are from 'making it'.

That's the worst of it. You can't expect more than one a season to come through, but you'd hope we can release them with sell-on clauses so if they come back stronger we get a butty back.

Take David Norris, who we sold to Plymouth: played so well that Ipswich paid quite a bit for him, up to £2m according to some sources; we were due 50% of that, although I understand we waived some of it.

I must of been pissed when i bought him

Mark Connolly - Released

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