Brendan Connolly Re-signs - Confirmed

[Joesteeler]

Other coaches have by now realised Fox isn't a great tactical coach

Could not disagree with this more - how we finished 2nd last year with that squad is a miracle. Hats off to Fox. Losing the players we did and still finishing 2nd with the replacements is some going.

Not to mention that challenge cup win against a far superior Cardiff team.

Next season? Let’s see

[smbmetal]

I'm very much torn on this one. My heart says yes, but my head says no.

I just worry that he won't be able to stay fit. It looked a bad knee injury and still isn't 100% by the sounds of things.

He does make other players accountable though and we missed that last season I thought.

I hope we see and keep a fit Connolly all season.

Our options in the players market must be limited.

On balance I think he deserves a chance to play... and if he proves fit then we have a great player and character, if he doesn't then we bring somebody in to replace him... I agree its a gamble but its a gamble Fox is taking with a great deal more information than we are privy to..

Having watched his video interview with Pete Spencer I have to say he does deserve a chance to play as you say. I thought he spoke very well. Class guy.

[Doom]

I'm very much torn on this one. My heart says yes, but my head says no.

I just worry that he won't be able to stay fit. It looked a bad knee injury and still isn't 100% by the sounds of things.

He does make other players accountable though and we missed that last season I thought.

I hope we see and keep a fit Connolly all season.

Our options in the players market must be limited.

On balance I think he deserves a chance to play... and if he proves fit then we have a great player and character, if he doesn't then we bring somebody in to replace him... I agree its a gamble but its a gamble Fox is taking with a great deal more information than we are privy to..

Having watched his video interview with Pete Spencer I have to say he does deserve a chance to play as you say. I thought he spoke very well. Class guy.

There's no doubt the guy is a class act and has a superb attitude.

My concern is that we're trying to make up the gap with Belfast and can't afford to get too much wrong in our recruitment.

If Connolly was 29 years old and had suffered this injury I'd be less concerned, but the guy is going to be 37 this season, hasn't played for a year and is coming off major surgery. It's a big risk in a key position and whilst I understand if it doesn't work out we could always bring in someone else, as we all know, it's harder to recruit once the season is well underway.

By my reckoning we have another 4 import forwards to sign, at least 2 of those need to be top end scorers if our goal scoring potential is to be close to our main rivals (McNally doesn't fall into that category and his +/- stats last season are poor).

Regards

Doom

[mark]

A couple of posts moved into the rumours thread as this one is just for the Connolly signing

[smbmetal]

I'm very much torn on this one. My heart says yes, but my head says no.

I just worry that he won't be able to stay fit. It looked a bad knee injury and still isn't 100% by the sounds of things.

He does make other players accountable though and we missed that last season I thought.

I hope we see and keep a fit Connolly all season.

Our options in the players market must be limited.

On balance I think he deserves a chance to play... and if he proves fit then we have a great player and character, if he doesn't then we bring somebody in to replace him... I agree its a gamble but its a gamble Fox is taking with a great deal more information than we are privy to..

Having watched his video interview with Pete Spencer I have to say he does deserve a chance to play as you say. I thought he spoke very well. Class guy.

There's no doubt the guy is a class act and has a superb attitude.

My concern is that we're trying to make up the gap with Belfast and can't afford to get too much wrong in our recruitment.

If Connolly was 29 years old and had suffered this injury I'd be less concerned, but the guy is going to be 37 this season, hasn't played for a year and is coming off major surgery. It's a big risk in a key position and whilst I understand if it doesn't work out we could always bring in someone else, as we all know, it's harder to recruit once the season is well underway.

By my reckoning we have another 4 import forwards to sign, at least 2 of those need to be top end scorers if our goal scoring potential is to be close to our main rivals (McNally doesn't fall into that category and his +/- stats last season are poor).

Regards

Doom

Whilst I love Conn’s and understand why he perhaps deserves another chance to play, I don’t believe Fox has the recruitment contacts to close the gap between Belfast. So he goes for people who he knows which is why the average age is higher.

If Connolly stays fit then I’m sure we still have a great player as we’ve certainly missed him making players accountable and winding up the opposition. Worth the admission fee alone for me lol.

IF he doesn’t then we will need to replace, but gives a nice ready made excuse for the injury excuse bus. Cynical? Yep!

[House_of_Steel]

I'm very much torn on this one. My heart says yes, but my head says no.

I just worry that he won't be able to stay fit. It looked a bad knee injury and still isn't 100% by the sounds of things.

He does make other players accountable though and we missed that last season I thought.

I hope we see and keep a fit Connolly all season.

Our options in the players market must be limited.

On balance I think he deserves a chance to play... and if he proves fit then we have a great player and character, if he doesn't then we bring somebody in to replace him... I agree its a gamble but its a gamble Fox is taking with a great deal more information than we are privy to..

Having watched his video interview with Pete Spencer I have to say he does deserve a chance to play as you say. I thought he spoke very well. Class guy.

There's no doubt the guy is a class act and has a superb attitude.

My concern is that we're trying to make up the gap with Belfast and can't afford to get too much wrong in our recruitment.

If Connolly was 29 years old and had suffered this injury I'd be less concerned, but the guy is going to be 37 this season, hasn't played for a year and is coming off major surgery. It's a big risk in a key position and whilst I understand if it doesn't work out we could always bring in someone else, as we all know, it's harder to recruit once the season is well underway.

By my reckoning we have another 4 import forwards to sign, at least 2 of those need to be top end scorers if our goal scoring potential is to be close to our main rivals (McNally doesn't fall into that category and his +/- stats last season are poor).

Regards

Doom

Whilst I love Conn’s and understand why he perhaps deserves another chance to play, I don’t believe Fox has the recruitment contacts to close the gap between Belfast. So he goes for people who he knows which is why the average age is higher.

If Connolly stays fit then I’m sure we still have a great player as we’ve certainly missed him making players accountable and winding up the opposition. Worth the admission fee alone for me lol.

IF he doesn’t then we will need to replace, but gives a nice ready made excuse for the injury excuse bus. Cynical? Yep!

Cynical yes your not the only one, I don’t believe Fox doesn’t have the contacts we use the same agents and pool of players that are interested in playing in the UK it’s then put to tender of the highest bidder and package the clubs can offer. I simply believe we don’t have the budget and or attraction that Belfast and Cardiff have. Tony upped the spending the season after The Thompson debacle, he clearly stated it was the most he’d spent on a roster ever published by Fairytale in the Star for reference and to be fair you could tell money had been spent, we won the only trophy up for grabs that season unbeknown Covid was ready to hit, however we were still behind Cardiff in the league running and undoubtedly they would of won the league that season. Last season and looking at our incomplete roster this season the quality as dropped dramatically from that first Fox roster, yes a salary cap is in place but the likes of Piccinich, Brodie Reid, Joey Martin Matt register, Carruth, and Beskorowany don’t come cheap neither did Vallerand suffice to say he’s on his merry way and we don’t look to be replacing his goals or talent with the same quality!

[Ron 25]

On balance I think he deserves a chance to play... and if he proves fit then we have a great player and character, if he doesn't then we bring somebody in to replace him... I agree its a gamble but its a gamble Fox is taking with a great deal more information than we are privy to..

Having watched his video interview with Pete Spencer I have to say he does deserve a chance to play as you say. I thought he spoke very well. Class guy.

There's no doubt the guy is a class act and has a superb attitude.

My concern is that we're trying to make up the gap with Belfast and can't afford to get too much wrong in our recruitment.

If Connolly was 29 years old and had suffered this injury I'd be less concerned, but the guy is going to be 37 this season, hasn't played for a year and is coming off major surgery. It's a big risk in a key position and whilst I understand if it doesn't work out we could always bring in someone else, as we all know, it's harder to recruit once the season is well underway.

By my reckoning we have another 4 import forwards to sign, at least 2 of those need to be top end scorers if our goal scoring potential is to be close to our main rivals (McNally doesn't fall into that category and his +/- stats last season are poor).

Regards

Doom

Whilst I love Conn’s and understand why he perhaps deserves another chance to play, I don’t believe Fox has the recruitment contacts to close the gap between Belfast. So he goes for people who he knows which is why the average age is higher.

If Connolly stays fit then I’m sure we still have a great player as we’ve certainly missed him making players accountable and winding up the opposition. Worth the admission fee alone for me lol.

IF he doesn’t then we will need to replace, but gives a nice ready made excuse for the injury excuse bus. Cynical? Yep!

Cynical yes your not the only one, I don’t believe Fox doesn’t have the contacts we use the same agents and pool of players that are interested in playing in the UK it’s then put to tender of the highest bidder and package the clubs can offer. I simply believe we don’t have the budget and or attraction that Belfast and Cardiff have. Tony upped the spending the season after The Thompson debacle, he clearly stated it was the most he’d spent on a roster ever published by Fairytale in the Star for reference and to be fair you could tell money had been spent, we won the only trophy up for grabs that season unbeknown Covid was ready to hit, however we were still behind Cardiff in the league running and undoubtedly they would of won the league that season. Last season and looking at our incomplete roster this season the quality as dropped dramatically from that first Fox roster, yes a salary cap is in place but the likes of Piccinich, Brodie Reid, Joey Martin Matt register, Carruth, and Beskorowany don’t come cheap neither did Vallerand suffice to say he’s on his merry way and we don’t look to be replacing his goals or talent with the same quality!

Like most of us I've been looking at the recruitment by other teams in the league. There are quite a few there that I would liked to have seen at the Steelers. Then I look at our squad. No disrespect to any of the new signings, but there is not one player who excites me. There needs to be a huge upturn in the quality of the remaining few for me to feel comfortable that we will be able to retain our place at the top table. For me, mediocrity beckons.

[Jayboy]

Like most of us I've been looking at the recruitment by other teams in the league. There are quite a few there that I would liked to have seen at the Steelers. Then I look at our squad. No disrespect to any of the new signings, but there is not one player who excites me. There needs to be a huge upturn in the quality of the remaining few for me to feel comfortable that we will be able to retain our place at the top table. For me, mediocrity beckons.

I think Scott Allen is going to surprise a few of us!....

[Ron 25]

Like most of us I've been looking at the recruitment by other teams in the league. There are quite a few there that I would liked to have seen at the Steelers. Then I look at our squad. No disrespect to any of the new signings, but there is not one player who excites me. There needs to be a huge upturn in the quality of the remaining few for me to feel comfortable that we will be able to retain our place at the top table. For me, mediocrity beckons.

I think Scott Allen is going to surprise a few of us!....

I hope that's so, but it's going to take more than one.

[Bryan]

I just have a scene in my head where he gets frustrated with his own performance due to a failing body and gives away too many expensive penalties. I really hope this is a false scenario.