" Does not sound like he wants to come back? "

Does not sound like he wants to come back?



CONNOLLY: "Glad To Be Involved" - Defender On Signing For Hornets


Wed 25 Mar 2015

Author: Club Journalist



Defensive acquisition Matthew Connolly relishing the chance to help in the Golden Boys' promotion run-in...

LOAN signing Matthew Connolly joins the Golden Boys at a crucial stage of their Sky Bet Championship season, as the Hornets fight for a much sought after automatic promotion spot with seven games to go.

The Hertfordshire-born stopper wants to lend his exceptional experience to the current situation, having tasted promotion from the division on three separate occasions with Queens Park Rangers, Reading and parent club Cardiff City.

"I've done it a few times before, so hopefully I can help," he smiled, speaking exclusively to Hornets Player.

"It's a big seven games coming up, and we all need to push in the same direction together. It's going to be a squad effort, not just a team. Whether I'm in the the team or the squad, I'll be looking to help out.

"I think it's just about keeping cool. You need to take each game as it comes, as the cliche goes. We have a big game on Friday, and a big game on Monday. If we can win at Derby, we can get some good confidence going into the next one.

"Clean sheets will be key for us. We need to score goals too, but we've got them in abundance with the attacking threat we have. We need to be strong, focused, and try to win every game until the end of the season."

Hailing from Hatfield, Connolly says being closer to home and having some familiar faces to greet him at UCL made the decision to move from South Wales a simple one.

"I'm a local lad, I only live round the corner in Bushey." he explained.

"It's great to be home, not sitting on the M4 all the time! It's nice to come in, get training done and be home, around my family and friends.

"I knew a few of the boys, Ben Watson, Sean Murray and Lloyd Doyley. It's been easy to settle in. There's a bit of everything, a few foreign boys and some English lads as well.

"I am an Arsenal fan, but I've always had friends who play for Watford, and I keep an eye out for the results. I'm a Watford fan now!"

Having come up against the Hornets regularly as an opponent, the ball-playing central defender says he is delighted to be part of Slavisa Jokanovic's squad.

"I played Watford earlier in the season. We got the win at Vicarage Road, I'm not sure how that happened! Then they turned Cardiff over at their place.

"I've always been aware of Watford's style - one and two-touch passing. We have some very, very talented players here so I'm glad to be involved."

Seems very happy to leave.

Locality to friends and family is key.

Also wants to play fir a team that passes and plays football ⚽, he will move on.

good luck to him,maybe he is valued there and not seen as a financial liability..

"WE got the win at Vicarage Road, I'm not sure how that happened! Then THEY turned Cardiff over at their place"
Whats this "WE" and "THEY"
What a prat. He seems to forget that with Turner available he is 4th choice center back and a full back no one rates.

he's been good for the club, never complained of being played out of position. Good luck to him

"WE got the win at Vicarage Road, I'm not sure how that happened! Then THEY turned Cardiff over at their place"
Whats this "WE" and "THEY"
What a prat. He seems to forget that with Turner available he is 4th choice center back and a full back no one rates.

How does him referring to Cardiff as "we" and Watford as "they" make him a prat? If anything, it says the opposite as he's referring to his parent club as we.

Well he can't say much else if he's looking for a move there?

"WE got the win at Vicarage Road, I'm not sure how that happened! Then THEY turned Cardiff over at their place"
Whats this "WE" and "THEY"
What a prat. He seems to forget that with Turner available he is 4th choice center back and a full back no one rates.

How does him referring to Cardiff as "we" and Watford as "they" make him a prat? If anything, it says the opposite as he's referring to his parent club as we.

I stand corrected I misread it. I'm the prat.

Great move for him, good luck to the lad

We don't need him

"WE got the win at Vicarage Road, I'm not sure how that happened! Then THEY turned Cardiff over at their place"
Whats this "WE" and "THEY"
What a prat. He seems to forget that with Turner available he is 4th choice center back and a full back no one rates.

How does him referring to Cardiff as "we" and Watford as "they" make him a prat? If anything, it says the opposite as he's referring to his parent club as we.

I stand corrected I misread it. I'm the prat.

No - I agree with you. In the first few paragraphs Connolly consistently refers to Watford as "we". This just lacks respect given that he's only been there a week and supposedly on loan until the end of the season.

Taking account all his comments, its clear that he has no commitment or desire to play for Cardiff. This might come back to bite him, if Watford realise that he is nothing special and send him packing back to Cardiff. If that happens, we should sell him to Blackpool. Be careful what you wish for...

He is a professional footballer in this era.

There is no such thing as 'loyalty' any more.

Disappointing,but he's been treated badly by our club and I really rate him at Championship level. However, if Watford go up he won't get a look in...if they decide to sign him permanently. If only Fabio could play as well every game as he did v. Brum I would not want him back. Mind, there's always Peltier.

Disappointing,but he's been treated badly by our club and I really rate him at Championship level. However, if Watford go up he won't get a look in...if they decide to sign him permanently. If only Fabio could play as well every game as he did v. Brum I would not want him back. Mind, there's always Peltier.

when has hew been treated badly?

I will be gutted if Connolly leaves permanently. If I was asked to pick one solid, reliable, dependable, versatile Championship defender with the correct character, professionalism and attitude, it would be Matthew Connolly. Connolly's value to our squad is massive. When we are hanging on for a result in the future but buckle under the pressure, it will be because Connolly isn't there.

Sounds like he has psychologically made the move permanently already.

If he's happier there, good luck to him. He wasn't ever going to be picked every week at Cardiff anyway.

Onwards and upwards.

At his best he was solid but he lacked consistency so I'm not that sorry to see him go. Best of luck to him but I won't lose any sleep over him leaving.

Says he wants to go to a team that passes the ball he will struggle there then, he cant pass the ball ten feet, and when he is full back he turns his back on the ball because he dont want it off the keeper

Cant believe he never moved his home here the amount of time he has been at the club, That should be part of a contract move within x amount of miles of training ground, Not up and down motorways every day.

Is it just me or do we have more than our fair share of dummy spitting fans.I don't think he had a choice in the matter.When you join a new club the first thing any fan wants to know is that the player concerned is up for the challenge.I remember SupaKev saying a similar sort of thing when he joined Bolton.

"WE got the win at Vicarage Road, I'm not sure how that happened! Then THEY turned Cardiff over at their place"
Whats this "WE" and "THEY"
What a prat. He seems to forget that with Turner available he is 4th choice center back and a full back no one rates.

How does him referring to Cardiff as "we" and Watford as "they" make him a prat? If anything, it says the opposite as he's referring to his parent club as we.

Probably because Watford are paying his wages?

Good luck to him. He's also a Watford fan

good luck to him,maybe he is valued there and not seen as a financial liability..

Good luck to him. He's also a Watford fan

It actually says he's an Arsenal fan, just from that area