Connolly to Sunderland Rumour.......

[PFKAKTF FOX]

Just wondering what your thoughts were, whether anybody believes this rumour has any truth or whether it is a load of old tosh.

IMO this could be true, Sunderland were interested last summer and McCarthy is a big admirer of Connolly (as a player, MK) and a million pounds would be a decent price for both clubs. I also have my suspicions as regards Connolly's recent omissions, he missed the game against Celtic with a slight knock and was expected to play in the subsequent fixture to then again miss out, if he is fit then surely CL would want him out there playing, building up his confidence and sharpness, also allowing the team to become accustomed to the pattern of play with Connors in the side.

Also Connolly has had problems in the past and has a reputation as a bit of a sulker, and with him not being a CL signing and he is one of the clubs most saleable assets, I wonder whether CL has decided enough is enough and to cash in on him, enabling him to bring in a couple more players who fit his criteria. Once we have a striker signing to announce, I think it will be disclosed that Connolly is leaving and hence why he has missed so many pre season games.

I think the club may have been caught out on this one, expecting to sign somebody a lot earlier, probably around the Celtic game, and therefore the "slight injury" to Connolly could have been believeable, now though we have no striker in and Connolly still aint fit enough when he was a cert for the Inter game, it just doesnt add up.

What are your thoughts ?

 

[Lboro fox]

I imagine his wages are at the higher end of scale too, but seeing how difficult its been to bring in a striker selling connelly would probably be a mistake.

 

[The Stearmanator]

I hope this rumour isn't true! What good would it be selling him a week before the season starts? The only player of similar proven ability who was for sale was Robbie Blake. Surely if CL knew Conners wanted to go, he would have made some attempt to bring in a worthy replacement, and to my knowledge the only striker we have been after is Steve Lovell, who.....isn't a worthy replacement

 

[dpjfox]

If Connolly was sold then surely we would aim to bring in 2 strikers (one first choice and one stand by).
I hope these rumours arent true as i believe Connolly has the potential to get 20 goals given good service. However i am confused about the amount of time CL has took to sign this "back-up striker" (since the Surm deal fell through), so maybe he is plotting a contraversial couple of deals.
Added to that Sunderland have failed miserably pre season, especially scoring goals and maybe McCarthy is under pressure.
Suppose we will find out this week.

 

[fcukcov]

Im not sure on this one. On one hand I dont believe we have seen the full potential of David yet for us and I believe that now with good service and a decent manager behind him he could be the elusive 20 goal a season striker.

However I also believe that 1 million could be a good price at this moment in time and maybe if CL knows there are two youngish decent strikers he can bring in for the money that will do the job then lets go for it. That is if it is the only way to raise the money for the players he wants and he can guarantee that the signings will be done before the season starts.

Its a tough one and i reckon the choice CL makes and the success of it, could decide his future.

 

[PONTUS KAAMARK]

Theres no way Levein would make a massive gamble like selling Connolly with out having something else sorted out. It would risk the clubs season and his own position as a lot of fans would be pretty peed off if he left and we ended up with DD and MDV up front all season.

I could see this happening, its not within the realms of impossibility, but to be honest I cant see who we would replace him with. Everyone is looking for a striker at the minue and I think Levein rates DC quiet highly.

I think DC will do well for us this season and to be fair he did score 13 last season, in what was a very very average season for him. 20 Goals from him would be lovely.

 

[Graz]

Got to agree, it certainly is suspect how for every game he's had a "slight knock but should be fit" and yet it's kept him out for over about 2 weeks. I wouldn't be suprised at all to see him leave. However, if Connolly leaves, without us having a good replacement completely ready to sign (fee agreed with the club, contract agreed and passed a medical) then I will be really annoyed. We've seen deals fall through in the past and I don't want to see us selling our best player, then the deal for his replacement falling through.
I think Connolly would get us 20 goals this season, but if he is unhappy and wants to leave, and we can get in a decent replacement then it makes sense to let him go. If the Riordan rumour is true, then I would take that. We need 2 strikers if Connolly leaves though..


DavieG has posted an update on the other site:
"Latest from GTFox on FoxFanzine

The Press Association rumour this sunday is that a Connelly deal is definately done with Sunderland, for circa £1M and City will sign Riordan and also Nugent, if Preston can get McVeigh from Norwich. Rather complicated but CL will not agree to Connolly leaving (he wants to leave)unless he can get replacements in.

CL and Tim Davies are determined to complete the squad with good striking options and will spend up to £1.25M if the Connolly deal is done.

As far as Hughes is concerned CL sees him as an important part of the team and he is simply recovering from an ankle ligament injury"

 

[Fox Fan]

Don't foreget Piper has a 'slight knock' opening game of the 02-03 season. Next thing we knew he was off to Sunderland.

However I would be surpirised if Connolly went because after the oxford game, and pre-season in general it looks to me as though we are going to struggle to score goals, and CL is no idiot, im quite sure hes aware if this problem and is working to fix it. These are proberly just rumors started by Forest fans using there weekly computer session from the county jail.

 

[PONTUS KAAMARK]

I still think Connolly will be in the starting 11 come 12.45pm next saturday.

As hes come out and said, he expects Hughes and Connolly to be fit. He wouldnt have mentioned DC if he wasnt expecting him to still be around.

 

[Steven]

Got to agree, it certainly is suspect how for every game he's had a "slight knock but should be fit" and yet it's kept him out for over about 2 weeks. I wouldn't be suprised at all to see him leave. However, if Connolly leaves, without us having a good replacement completely ready to sign (fee agreed with the club, contract agreed and passed a medical) then I will be really annoyed. We've seen deals fall through in the past and I don't want to see us selling our best player, then the deal for his replacement falling through.
I think Connolly would get us 20 goals this season, but if he is unhappy and wants to leave, and we can get in a decent replacement then it makes sense to let him go. If the Riordan rumour is true, then I would take that. We need 2 strikers if Connolly leaves though..


DavieG has posted an update on the other site:
"Latest from GTFox on FoxFanzine

The Press Association rumour this sunday is that a Connelly deal is definately done with Sunderland, for circa £1M and City will sign Riordan and also Nugent, if Preston can get McVeigh from Norwich. Rather complicated but CL will not agree to Connolly leaving (he wants to leave)unless he can get replacements in.

CL and Tim Davies are determined to complete the squad with good striking options and will spend up to £1.25M if the Connolly deal is done.

As far as Hughes is concerned CL sees him as an important part of the team and he is simply recovering from an ankle ligament injury"

Here is one fly in the ointment for this rumour.

Preston manager Billy Davies has denied the club are primed to bid for Paul McVeigh.

The Norwich striker is on the transfer list after slipping down the pecking order at Carrow Road.

Scottish boss Davies had been linked with a move for the Northern Ireland ace, however he says not to read anything into the reports.

"No, none, none whatsoever," Davies told the club's official website after being asked whether there was any truth in the link.

Source

 

[PFKAKTF FOX]

Bearing in mind the current situation, if CL didnt mention Connolly being around for next week then this would surely fan the flames that he is leaving, it is a well known fact that people from the club read these boards so they are more than likely aware that this rumour is now circulating.

Just as bit of info maybe completely irrelevant but David Nugent has not been selected in the starting eleven in either of Preston's last 2 friendlies, although he has played a bit part role from the bench.

The more info that comes out the more I suspect this could be true, it seems to me that if either Leicester or Preston announced the sale of there star striker without having an ample replacement signed it is likely to cause uproar and a fans revolt, but if the timing could be that the clubs unveil there new signing at the same point they announce the sales then it may well appease the supporters and therefore job done.

 

[SilverFox]

I personally think this is a load of crap! Why do we insist on making up phoney rumours about our players leaving. Do we enjoy unsettling the ship a week before the season begins.

Treat it as utter garbage, until you here any differently!

Just out of interest...who comes up with this rubbish?

 

[PFKAKTF FOX]

This rumour has come from the Rivals board, posted by GTFOX who either works for the Press Association or has a reliable source there. I dont know how reliable GT is, whether he is another Cainy or maybe another Mad Biker is yet to be seen.

As for believing or non believing surely this is the whole point of a forum, if we ignored speculation / rumours there would be very little to discuss, he has posted various information regarding this transfer on 2 or 3 seperate occasions over the last few days so if he is a bullshitting chancer he is a desperate sad one. I still think there is some truth in this one all though that is purely my opinion.

Maybe our very own MB could shed some light on it.

 

[SilverFox]

This rumour has come from the Rivals board, posted by GTFOX who either works for the Press Association or has a reliable source there. I dont know how reliable GT is, whether he is another Cainy or maybe another Mad Biker is yet to be seen.

As for believing or non believing surely this is the whole point of a forum, if we ignored speculation / rumours there would be very little to discuss, he has posted various information regarding this transfer on 2 or 3 seperate occasions over the last few days so if he is a bullshitting chancer he is a desperate sad one. I still think there is some truth in this one all though that is purely my opinion.

Maybe our very own MB could shed some light on it.

MB is away at the moment. I personally think this is garbage. Thats my opinion and i'm sticking with it!

 

[PFKAKTF FOX]

Like you say Silver we will see, what are your reasons for believing it is garbage ?

 

[SilverFox]

Just that from Leveins comments he seems to suggest that Connolly is part of his plans. To me it seems that the only reason Connolly hasn't started is because Levein has not wanted to risk him. Levein is not foolish, he knows that David Connolly is an important player for us. Why risk your best striker who isn't 100% fit on a friendly?

A lot of people however only see the gap that he leaves, note that he hasn't played for 3 games, take two, add another two to it...and come up with six!:icon_lol:

I guess time will tell!

 

[big mac]

What are your thoughts ?[/QUOTE] just been on bbc sport web site for lcfc and main headline is that connolly will be fit for opening game? You could be right about the wage bill though seems as though CL has done his best to address the damage caused by MA. Any news on the opening live sky game? seems to have me down as a junior never mind

 

[MKFox]

I'd take a million for the short arsed little gypo.
He's hardly prolific is he?

 

[SilverFox]

All the evidence suggests that yes he is prolific in this league. Last season we were poor and he got 14 goals. That is not a bad haul considering we were utter crap at feeding balls to our forwards last year. If you also consider how unlucky he was on occassion (i.e. hitting the post on numerous occassions), that figure could have been even greater.

He showed a lot to me in the last 6-7 games of last season and ended the season as perhaps the most prolific goalscorer in the league for the last 6-7 games, scoring in nearly all of them.

Lets not get on his case. Hes a good player and we have seen in the pre season how we have struggled without him, and just how poor we would be from an attacking perspective without him.

He wears our colours, get behing him!

 

[drummindefender]

my logic for why connolly is staying-cl gave crap squad numbers to all the players he wanted out ie heath who was 6 ended up 18, canero was 2 ended up 20 something the same with jordan and tommy wright. Connolly however was given number 8 or maybe i'm just being naive!