LUCA CONNELL HAS agreed a three-year deal with Barnsley following his release from Celtic.
There were high hopes for the Ireland U21 international when he moved to Glasgow from Bolton Wanderers in 2019.
Liverpool-born Connell had made his Championship debut at 17 and went on to appear 12 times for Bolton in the 2018/19 season.
However, it didn’t work out as planned for the midfielder in Scotland. He was unable to break into the Hoops’ first team and spent two loan spells at Queen’s Park.
Despite having the option to extend his contract for another year, the Scottish Premiership winners opted to release him at the beginning of this month.
But Connell, who was involved with Ireland’s senior team at a Portuguese training camp in 2019, has found a new home at Oakwell.
The Tykes were relegated from the Championship last season – finishing bottom of the table.
🤝 We are delighted to announce the arrival of midfielder Luca Connell on a three-year contract!
— Barnsley FC (@BarnsleyFC) June 17, 2022
“I’m over the moon to finally get it done,” Connell said.
Over the years there’s been some speculation about it happening, but I’m finally here and I’m happy to be a Barnsley player.
“My agent is from Barnsley, so he’s told me about the history of the club. He brought [Conor] Hourihane and [Kieran] Trippier to the club, so there’s high standards. I just know that we need to bounce back to get this club back where it belongs.”
Barnsley chief executive, Khaled El-Ahmad, added: “We are pleased that Luca has chosen Barnsley to continue his promising career and are looking forward to seeing his development in a Reds shirt.”
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Funny thing about Keane and O’ Neill is that I bet they have watched more Irish players live in England in the past 12 months than Liam’s mate Trap during his full term as a Irish manager and Brady defended that manager
Well that’s only because they were unemployed and had nothing to do.. I don’t agree with Brady on much but he has a point about Keane, he will struggle as a number two.. To be a great number two like pat rice, mike phelan, Marco tardelli etc. You have to be the managers man through and through, Keane has proven himself to have never been that man, he’s a lone wolf. And don’t be red thumbing me because you all love Keane and how good a footballer he was.. He’s retired.. Get over it.
Oh course you don’t
That’s my point that when these men were unemployed they have been more active than the manager we had!!! And you say Keane has proved he is a lone wolf? He is one of the most successful captains in club.
Club football that is. Look people need to understand that Keane is not our manager and IF he does upset things do u think the FAI are going to stop O Neil getting rid of him? Keane has been given a great chance here and I believe if it goes wrong he won’t get another chance anywhere and he knows that more than anyone
He was and still is the most successful captain United ever had
He’s a one man wolf pack!
That’s the best point I’ve seen made on the topic so far! Keane’s problems with the Irish set-up have always been around the lack of seriousness when approaching the international stage, the “it’s just great to be here” attitude. If O’Neil picked him he obviously agrees with this stance amongst others.
Other than having a once in a lifetime chance to prove himself, I think Keane thrives when he finds himself working with someone who agrees with him, on principal at least!
And oh to have a one man wolf pack, at least we would get a performance, He was always the conductor of the orchestra and dont ever forget what good performances he put in for us
better a one man wolf pack than a flock of timid sheep wandering around in circles
Marco Tardelli a great number two, no more than Brady all he ever did was defend the indefensible in Trappatoni?
Irregardless of what you think of Marco tardelli. He was Traps man to the end.. The epitome of a number 2.. Keane will start throwing sleights against O’Neill once things start going bad an turning the pot and then he’ll prob blow a fuse and walk out when we lose to Spain which he’ll say we wouldve won.. Trap played to our countries strengths.. Defend hard and hope to nick a goal or two..
And what were Trap and Tardelli EMPLOYED to do?
I think we’re all still trying to figure that one out!!
“Defend hard and hope to nick a goal or two” take care would we ever try be daring and have some self belief, if Belgium and Croatia, Bosnia can develop football teams ranked in the top 20 so can we. How do you know what Roy Keane is thinking or will do in the future or if he has learned from mistakes. He got to the top of the football ladder with plenty of faults. I’m sure he has plenty of valuable advise and experience of playing in big games that the likes of Coleman, McCarhty, Gibson, Clark, Brady, McGeady, Long would all benefit from learning about. So would u keep your defeatist mentality to yourself and stop embarrassing us all.
Can’t really disagree with your there Seán, however Roy has a point to prove, especially to everyone out with Cork! I think O’Neill’s calmness will balance things out. Roy ain’t stupid. He will have learned from his mistakes at Sunderland etc. I think it’s an exciting appointment, and I look forward to cheering on Ireland at the next big tournament!
I’ve heard the same from fellow Everton supporters who were brainwashed by Moyes to believe the club didn’t have the players or the money to play good football and win against supposed bigger clubs. Martinez has already changed that mentality after 10 games. Keane won’t accept excuses and neither should you.
Eh, everton haven’t beaten a team in the supposed top six yet and they got thumped by city so hold your horses just yet..
I’m not defeatist.. I’m a realist.. When, in the last 20 years have we outplayed ourselves apart from Germany in 2002.. Otherwise we’ve had nothing to shout about.. We play bout as good asweet are.. Win games we expect to win and draw games we expect to draw and lose when we expect to lose..
Brady didn’t leave a great “Managerial sphere” behind him either
What a pathetic attitude…lose when we should lose…whats the point in playing those stronger countries so?
Eh, they beat Chelsea
Sure what’s the point in playing any matches at all then? They should just hand out trophies based on your current FIFA ranking or for club teams your bank balance!!
Are you for real we beat Italy in 94 WC, Germany in Germany a few months before that, Italy in Belgium about 2 years ago, Drew away and beat Holland at home to qualify for WC 02 finishing on 24 pts level with group winners Portugal, drew with France away under Brian Kerr, drew with Spain in 02 WC, won a European U21 Championship something England havn’t won since the 80′s as well as finishing 3rd in the WC. All of this without a professional league that could develop academy players at an early age. Amateur boxing believed they could be the best and they now look down on former superpowers such as USA and GB. Rugby and especially the Horse Racing industry are two more examples where they just get on with finding talent believing they can achieve.
That’s a knobish comment about Spain I’m afraid. I still reckon we would’ve beaten them that time if Keane was there. Sick !…
Eh, they beat Chelsea
Many thought the same when Trap got you in but then we realised why, so you could defend him till the end for no reason. So shut up now and give the new manager a chance after defended Trap till the end.
Totally agree with Irishoversea. Brady goes on about Keane not been a man manager..this coming from the guy that defended Trap, who fell out with almost a squad full of players.
He also said that Keane was a failed manager. Sorry but Keane got Sunderland promoted in one season, but you were hounded out of Celtic and did nothing at Brighton so please shut up!!
Don’t forget that keane kept Sunderland in the prem their first year up too! Something the likes of mick McCarthy was unable to do with them.
Keane had money to spend at Sunderland, name one good signing he ever made. Managers live and die by their signings Keane was a disaster on that front.
McCarthy didn’t have as much money as keane when he was there to be fair
I agree with on that Keanes signings were mostly rubbish but he still done a job with them players by keeping these rubbish players in the EPL which proves he must have something about him
yeah but Mick is currently employed and is seen to be doing a good job. Roy Keane has not been for a long time, for good reason. His ego is too big and while I would like to see it work I believe Keane’s ego will prove to be disastrous.
Big Keane fan myself and glad he’s part of the Irish set up, but you can’t defend the indefensible, remember this is a man who signed El Hadji Diouf and that should rule him out from ever managing a club again. But hope all works out for him with Ireland .
Great comment no flipping great comment
Agree, some people here seem to think you can’t criticise Keane.
When McCarthy was with Sunderland they hadn’t two pennies to rub together, where as Keane spent in the region of 75 million signing such luminaries as El Hadji Diouf, Greg Halford, Djbril Cisse, and Anton Ferdinand, as well as every Irish and ex Man Utd player on the market. Most of them turned out to be total flops. He still left them in the bottom 3. So to call his time at Sunderland a success is simply not true.
Brady hasn’t said anything too bad, at the end of the day we all want the Irish team to do well, that’s all that matters to me I couldn’t give a damn about Keane, and I’ll tell you this much too, when the going gets tough and we get a couple of poor results, dunphy will be the first man to stick the knife in ONeill and Keane. Mark my words on that.
This is a national team that cannot buy any players so what does Keanes dealing in the transfer market have to do with this
Proves he’s a bad judge of a player, we could see the likes of Liam Miller back in the green jersey.
Exactly, O’Neill and keanes job is to put the best 11 players in the field for Ireland.
Anyone who thinks they are going to just play the media darlings like Reid and Hoolahan in every game from now on is going to be very disappointed. Keane in particular was renowned as a manager for making some bizarre selection decisions.
Just watch all the media hacks and some fans cheer leading certain players when they are sitting on the subs bench, it will be hilarious to watch.
Not a huge fan of Keane, but one thing I do like about him is that he will not bow to media pressure to play certain players. That’s a good thing straight away!
You guys forget that keane took Sunderland from the bottom of the championship to the top of the premier league in less than a year! FACT.
Yeah I’m worried about who he’ll sign for Ireland :/
The same Liam miller Alex ferguson signed? I guess ferguson was a flop too.
that was after 4 games at the start of a 46 game season the championship is a marathon compared to the sprint of the premiership…. i have said it before great players very rarely make good never mind great managers …. i hope things do work out for the sake of irish football and that success is achieved
I wouldn’t let Keane anywhere near the job after Saipan.
Ferguson also signed Paul Mcshane ,and John O Shea and host of other very bad to mediocre players. Again I can’t remember one good signing Keane made ever.
It’ll be El Hadj Duff next maybe….
Based on your premise its an ideal situation for Keane now that he doesn’t have to make signings or spend money.
Brady showing his true colors …..just because Keane eclipsed him as the greatest irish player of his generation ….sour grapes by liamo …..
And maybe he is disappointed that O’Neill didn’t pick him as his assistant instead!
@Martin O Donnell I take it by ur comment that u are old enough to remember Brady in his prime ie.at arsenal, juve and sampdoria and what a technically gifted player that he was . . . . .
Brady was good but Keane was way way better …Roy Keane is the greatest player Ireland ever saw by far …..
Roy Keane himself would say he couldn’t touch Brady for technical ability.
Brady was “good” brilliant response. . . Just shows how uneducated u are towards Brady as a player.
Brady was world class, no doubt. But keane was world class with bells on. He put the fear of god into entire teams and his leadership on the pitch will rarely be equalled.
Paul mcgrath. Now put away the rod
@Martin
This is just ludicrous! Brady was by far the better player in his prime! Have you ever watched Brady play? Roy Keane was always greatly overrated! All Keane ever had was fitness and determination, no technique and no footballing skills!
And it’s not only Brady who was a better player than Keane, there is still Whelan, Houghton and a certain George Best was Irish too!
Paul McGrath
Ray houghton!!! best comment ever on the journal, love it. In hysterics here.
Ray Houghton lol!!
Keane us a winner Brady’s not and never was. Keane dragged teams kicking and screaming to silverware and Ireland to a World Cup, Brady might have been gifted but win very little
Are you having a laugh?
Houghton better than Roy Keane??? Give me a bit that what your smoking
@Brian
OK, I might got a bit carried away there…Keane was better than Houghton, no doubt…but my main point stands, Brady was the far better footballer, so was Best and in my opinion even Whelan!
Matthias, Please tell me your on about Ronnie Whelan
Overrated? I take it you didn’t see the 1999 Champions League Semi-Final against Juventus then? Keane got booked ruling him out of the final and instead of letting it get him down, he played out of his skin and was instrumental in winning the game for United. To say he had no technique or footballing skills is laughable. You don’t captain a team like Manchester United with no technique or football skills.
Typical moany Brady!!! Give the two lads a chance before knocking them back.
Chjppy likes a good moan alright,reminds me of the time he was at Celtic…….2nd thoughts he doesn’t like to be reminded of that….
“I don’t understand why he brought him back… [Keane's] relationships with players was disastrous at times… If he had great thoroughness and leadership, why didn’t he make it in the managerial sphere?”
Yes, Keane’s relationships with players were distastrous at time but Brady questioning why Keane didn’t make in the managerial sphere sounds a bit ironic to me, if not hypocritical. At Celtic, Brady failed to win a single trophy in his two-year tenure. That tenure included a 5–2 defeat on aggregate by Neuchâtel Xamax in the 1991–92 UEFA Cup, one of the club’s worst European defeats in their history. He didn’t have any success at Brighton either. At least Keane guided Sunderland to promotion from the Championship to the Premiership even if his second season didn’t go so well and his tenure at Ipswich didn’t go well either.
“I’m so delighted that Martin got the job and if I have to put up with [Roy Keane] then so be it.” Is Brady that big headed? If he has to put up with Keane? Does Brady think the whole world revolves around him?
Oh piss off Brady – its not like you brought much to the management party….
Just curious, how do you know what he did/didn’t bring to the management party?
His record, with Ireland and elsewhere…
I assume you meant the Irish management party when they almost made the world cup but for Henry and all that…things deteriorated pretty quickly once he left…i dont know what goes on behind closed doors but signs are he didnt do too bad a job of assisting Trap…
As dunphy would say “a spoofer”
Keane and Brady were both world class but in different ways, why compare who’s better, 1 was great with ball at feet and technically brilliant, the other world class leader and commanded midfield like no other
One of the few sensible comments here.
Keane was on of the best players technically also.
He is dead right, Keane has social impotence when it comes to dealing with people. O’Neill would of been enough.
Would of or would have?
I’ve never seen Liam Brady so excited.
That red thumb is from me bro…:-P go on Keaneo
Usually its giles providing d voice of reason on rte soccer punditry , keanes presence in this managerial set up is dumbfounding. If you thought trap was harsh on Reid for playing the guitar late, what will ye optimistic folk make of it when roy gets a hold of him
First time ever I agree with Brady
Brady is a muppet
It’s exciting times .. Players will now be held accountable .. they won’t be running to social media to voice there disgust at being dropped with this setup .. Plenty of pressure on them to preform which is about time .. We’re not here just for the sing-song … Looking forward to international football for the first time in about 13 years
Here here
Seemed very sour grapes from Brady. As great an Ireland player, his managerial run with Celtic and Brighton was poor. I think it’s time he stopped being a cheerleader for the Trap era and left history where it belongs – in the past.
The one indisputable point Brady made was that the media circus following Keane may become a distraction. O Neill seems like a discreet operator so hope it don’t cause a rift.
it doesn’t seem to have a negative effect on Mourinho…could it be a shrewd move to take the limelight off the players?
Still butt hurt Trap was axed
Patrick this is a real tabloid article. You have deliberately misrepresented what Liam brady said just to make your piece seem credible. This is a Sunday redtop article, and is journalism in its lowest form.
It seemed to me like Brady took to his task with relish and the article merely gives a taste of Brady’s stance as a man with the right to remain doubtful. He was not slow in reminding Dunphy of his festoonery when \Trapattoni was brought in.
Patrick in between your quotation marks you have failed to quote everything he said and the tone in which it was said. As a result your article has sensationalized what Brady said, but if you had reported it verbatim it would have come across as ordinary honest everyday punditry which would hardly be worth a further comment.
How can you transfer Brady’s tone into an article, and the full transcript , god we’d be all day reading it, all you can do is make up ur own mind , the above article far from being tabloid, is very fair, and if you still are in about Brady’s tone, then watch it again and look at his body language, grimacing and squirming in the chair , nooooi Liam’s got his gunners shirt on underneath the suit alright ..
Brady spins everything to attack those who didnt fall into line with first Mick and then Trapp. Brady was a loyalist to those regimes and was blind to any errors or wrong doing. The majority of players who went to Saipan were there to protect any chance they had of a start. Naturally when Keane gave out, all those sheep ran for cover in the FAI/MCarthy camp. Despite the fact that Keane was right in most of what he said the majority of players alienated him in favour of their own agendas. Remember, Brady was supportive of the McCarthy way.
His opinion does not allow for Keane’s proven ability to man manage as he did successfully as Man Utd captain and furthermore as a manager with Sunderland.
Brady and any other critics of Keane should consider the cliques that existed both amongst certain Irish players, management and fai which operated to the detriment of the Irish soccer team by focussing all wrongs on Keane and never taking full responsibility for their own amateur shortcomings.
Keane may be a lot of things but he is primarily a very honest , driven and dedicated man. If he can transmit even half of those qualities to the new bunch of lads, we may return to the international fold with a lot more pride and committment; something Trapp or Brady could never instill.
Whatever way we feel about the new managerial appointments, I think we all need to forget the past and hopefully look forward to a bright new future for our national team, I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision for Keane to accept the role given what happened in Saipan and his fallout with the FAI but I firmly believe that Keane regarded playing for his country as a huge honour and he showed that in each game he played in, and remember he did come back to play again under Kerr knowing the stick and criticism he would get, to me this just proves what it meant to him to play for Ireland, I know he got stick for missing the odd friendly here and there but I believe that was more down to Ferguson not wanting him to get injured in a game that at the end of the day was not that important and anyway friendlies I think should be used to give player’s that don’t normally get game time a chance to show what they can do, I firmly believe he is 100% committed to doing his best to get us back up there as an international force once again, let’s just give him a chance and this is coming from a Liverpool fan but most important I am an Ireland fan first and foremost. COYBIG
P.s. The lads on RTE are only voicing their opinion, which they are paid to do. If they all said everything was great, it would be very boring.
That’s the problem Stu they’re on RTE, about time we had some new blood voicing opinions and get rid of the three wise dubs.
Brady went redder by the minute. Bitter old scrote.
I believe Martin o’neill will be good for Keane and that he will not allow any disruption to the Ireland team, hopefully all will work out and that the partnership will be successful.
Brady should just shut up!!! hate the fact he cant bad mouthing keane like, he will keep the players motivated and will turn shit players into decent enough players like he did at Sunderland.
Like alot of people have been saying, lets give the two boys a chance and see what will happen
Have I missed something here?? What shite players did Keane turn decent at Sunderland? I must have missed that part.
Traps love child Brady saying the spainish press won’t give Gareth bale time to settle in and he’s already having a go at the Irish setup never knew he had a sense of humour
Brady was 100% correct . What Keane did in Siapan was the worse
Act of childishness and bullying ever done by any player towards his
Manager in the history of Irish Football . He should never have been
picked for Ireland again, and certainly never given a job by the FAI .
His lack of respect for his players got him the sack at Sunderland and
Ipswich.
I am worried that he will undo the good work that O’Neil will do motivating
the players and making them feel special.
Very well said 09
Brady moaning again, never has a good thing too say about anyone when it comes too football, just because he didn’t succeed as number 2 when he had the job, he hates the fact that keane is gonna come in and do a much better job than he ever could, fare play too Dunphy for backing keane up on the topic tonight
We all need to get over it, I dont think theres anyone who hadnt got doubts out keane, but he’s here now, a former world class player working wit a world class manager, its exciting times for us, and I bet even you moans are secretly looking forward to it, we’v got an unbelievable chance to turn our international team around, we need to get behind them both
On this front, I agree with everything Brady said…. O Neill great appointment…… Keane BIG mistake…… Give it one campaign and the keane supporters won’t be long shutting up when a few players refuse to turn up cos of a row with him….
BIG mistake
Jealous cause you weren’t ask lol
Your a has been sorry you weren’t that good overpaid overrated pundit
He was asked. He was assistant to Trapattoni and he was also one of the greatest Irish players of all time…just saying
Brady in his tantrum quite clearly tried to misrepresent what Roy Keane said about Young’s dive on Tuesday night, to make it sound like Roy was defending it. Actually, Roy said it was a blatant attempt to con the ref. Dunphy called Brady on it, but was interrupted. If Brady has to lie to support his agenda, he goes down in my estimation.
Hi we are all entitled to our opinion and I respect yours but I’m sorry if I offended you I just didn’t rate him as a player and think he is wrong judging anybody before a game ?
You didn’t rate Brady as a player? Wow…
You must be the only Irish/any supporter of football who even has the smallest bit knowledge of the game that dosent rate Brady as a player!
You didn’t rate Brady as a player? Are you expecting to be taken seriously ?
Don’t really like Brady as a pundit but he was a great player no doubt…
Keane is not the boss so chill out lads. O’Neill doesn’t suffer fools lightly so he obviously appreciates Keane’s footballing opinion when they work together and will have him out the door if he becomes a liability.
I think we all need to reserve judgement until the euro qualifiers are well underway.
“We’re in showbizz baby ” quote of the night by Dunphy
It doesnt matter what the Three Wise Men have to say regardless of how entertaining it is. The management team in O’Neill and Keane. I like the wise men, I even like Brady and some one had to say it we all know Roy is tempermental no matter how much of a legend he is.
I feel his enthusiasm, commitment and pure desire to win will have a fantasti rub off effect on the squad. As a player, he was k own for taking young players under his wing and helping them progress. He knows Irish football inside out. O’Neill is a shrewd operator. He knows Keane’s history and reputation but he also knows from his time in ITV what Keane is like as a man. I wonder if Brady can say the same? O’Neill will have weighed up the pros and cons of Keane….all we have to do is make sure the twelfth man returns to the squad.
Well said John
I think Liam Brady, confirmed last night, that he is as human as the rest if us plebs.. Brady is an ARSENAL man through and through . Unfortunately he is letting that set his agenda regarding Keane. All those years watching Keane frighten the P##S out of his boys , has tainted his view. Whether or not his misgivings prove to be correct, time will tell, but in my opinion they stem more from a dread of Keane than , than a logical assessment of the set up for the future.. PS, I am a united fan, Leeds United..
And meanwhile in the real world……
Liam must be losing a few bob on the Roy Keane deal?
Giles and Dunphy ass licking again minding their jobs fair play to brady Keane is a Disaster
ABU
This is perfect for irish soccer. Roy will coach the players, do all the work that’s needed with the players. And boy will he shape them up. O’Neill will deal with the press, pick the team and give the team talk.
Roy won’t coach the players Brian. He won’t be the one taking training sessions and neither will O’Neill. That’s why many are sceptical. What will he actually do?
Roy will organise the footballs and the Hotels !!!
Then it will be done properly, remember Saipan, bad hotels and no footballs . Be careful what jobs you sneer at, they are all important at that level ..
Saipan was about rest and relaxation and was nothing to do with training. Roy would of known that if he had bothered to attend Niall Quinns testimonial friendly, instead claiming to be injured only to appear out only a few days later for Utd, where it was explained in full that Saipan was being used as an acclimatisation spot due to the similarity of the weather to what we would be playing in. Of course Roy never turned up and then had a hissy fit when he arrived in Saipan….67 caps for Ireland says it all. Kevin Kilbane has 110….!!! Keane just won’t bother turning up for intl friendlies…O’Neill will be on his own.
What a statement ? Brady couldn’t get a ticket for a game as a
Manager .,, he nearly f”ked Celtic
The first paragraph of this article is worded beautifully. Which is rare on the journal…..
Well I just find that Brady will never see beyond the appointment ..he was clearly in favourite of trap and Marco and their demolishing of Irish football ..so he will have a pop at time to time when things are going smoothly! Never liked Brady ! Never will !
Liam must be loosing a few bob on the Roy Keane deal?
All that matters is that the new team of O’Neill and Keane will pick the best 11 and not stick with the same team, playing out of form players out of position. There will be no sentiment. Hopefully this will get the best out of the players.
And on the Keane issue, I think Martin O’Neill will be able to keep him in check.
And if Keane does do or say something untoward that O’Neill doesn’t agree with, he certainly won’t be afraid to get rid of him. But I hope that doesn’t happen.
So let’s just get behind the team now.
Looking forward to seeing the lads play now.
#COYBIG.
Stu.
Why didn’t Brady take the job?? He seems to know everything!
Sour grapes. A whole vine yard of them, by the sounds of it!
140 comments. Dunphy was right.
“the public is entranced”
It will all be good for a laugh anyway. I hope they never won a game :)
I Trapps whole time in charge I don’t believe Tardelli did one interview or at least I never saw any, so why will it be different with O’Neill and Keane?
As for Brady he is a complete curmudgeon and his defense of Trapp was indefensible. Yes he was a great player but no better than Keane.
I’ll let results make my mind up!
did o’neill and keane get a job in football again? with who? im going mad ted.
i would let the pope manage Ireland
if i thought he would help Ireland win a world cup