Year: 2016
MCLAUGHLIN ASKS MORE DEFENDERS TO SCORE
Posted on December 14, 2016 in Conor Mclaughlin
Fleetwood player Conor Mclaughlin has tasked his fellow defenders with scoring more goals if the team wants a better season that the status quo.
Mclaughlin scored two goals all season last year but he has already overtaken his tally this term. He has contributed two more goals to the team aside his crucial effort at Chesterfield in October. He headed in a goal in injury time to earn a point for the team in the 2-2 draw during the clash with AFC Wimbledon and he scored in the 3-0 victory over Shrewsbury.
Aside Mclaughlin’s effort, fellow wingback Amari’i Bell scored in two straight games against Southport and Chesterfield. Central defender Cian Bolger also contributed a goal when he grabbed his first league goal for the club against Wimbledon.
“It’s strange – Amari’i said that when he gets one, he usually gets another straight after and now that’s happened to me. If we can chip in and help the strikers, then it will be a better season for us,” Mclaughlin said.
The Northern Ireland player also scored his first international goal this month in the 4-0 victory over Azerbaijan in a World Cup qualifier.
“It’s an honour even playing for your country, let alone scoring. It’s something I will remember for a long time,” he said of his goal, being the first Fleetwood Town player to score in a senior international game.
Fleetwood coach Uwe Rosler reckons that the team could have picked up all three points during the meeting in the southeast. They were ahead by halftime, but lost their lead to go 1-2 due to goals from Tom Elliott and a controversial penalty offered to Dean Parrett. Rosler said the team should have put the game away when they could but was happy with how they “came back from the disappointment.”
CONNOR MCLAUGHLIN’S WAY TO THE NATIONAL TEAM
Posted on November 20, 2016 in Conor Mclaughlin
It amazed a lot of teammates how Connor McLaughlin, the full-back from Fleetwood, England League One, suddenly emerged from ‘nowhere’ to feature in nearly every match in the qualifier matches to Euro 2016 tournament.
It has been two years since McLaughlin left Fleetwood’s celebrations after winning the League Two playoff final against Burton Albion and flew 18 hours to Montevideo just to be part of the squad on a tour of South America because Chris Baird fell ill.
The 25-year-old has hardly been left behind in the team since, missing just one game in qualifying which was due to suspension. McLaughlin prepared and was determined to play against some of the best attackers in the world as Northern Ireland met Germany, Poland and Ukraine in their first appearance at the European Championship finals on the back of 12 matches without a loss.
“It has been an amazing journey, a few years ago nobody would know who I was,” said McLaughlin at the squad’s training base at Saint-Georges-de-Reneins. “It has been brilliant to be a part of this team and making history nearly every week now. We have got an unbeaten run going and it is amazing to be present and participating here. Hopefully we can do well in the tournament.
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O’Neill Praises Performance ofConor McLaughlin
Posted on October 22, 2016 in Conor Mclaughlin
Northern Ireland opened their World Cup qualification campaign with a 0-0 draw against the Czech Republic. Even though it was a stalemate, the team at least started the campaign without a loss.
The clean sheet from a top opponent also bodes well for Northern Ireland, who had defender Conor McLaughlin at the back. The Fleetwood Town defender has been a major presence for Ireland since making his debut in 2011. Due to the national team failing to qualify for major competitions on a regular basis, he has made only 12 appearances so far.
At 25 years of age,McLaughlin is rightly poised to become the first choice right back for Ireland. The fact that manager O’Neill was pleased with the performance of the defender is likely to see him called up for the next round of qualification action, which will take place in October. Northern Ireland will be up against San Marino and Germany in the space of a few days. It will give O’Neill the possibility to testMcLaughlin against a minnow and the reigning world champions.McLaughlin, though, will be hoping that this praise from O’Neill results in more first-team opportunities. Despite being part of the Euro 2016 squad, the player made only one appearance at the major competition. (more…)
Pressley admits that Mclaughlin may leave
Posted on August 19, 2016 in Conor Mclaughlin
ConorMclaughlin might be leaving Fleetwood Town in the summer.
This statement has been made by the manager of the club as he believes that the player is interested in playing in a more competitive league. ConorMclaughlin has already stated before the Euros that he wants to seek a move away to a bigger club as he wants to play top level football.
Stephen Pressley admitted that there is interest from Leeds United and that the club might be prepared to sell the player if they received the right amount of money. The manager said that ConorMclaughlin only have one year left on his contract, and that means that the player can leave on a free transfer next season. It is better for them that they sell now and recoup some money rather than wait and see the player leave for nothing.
Stephen Pressley said that the club would do everything they can to safeguard their interest, and that means that they will wait for the best situation before selling the player. (more…)
Steven Davis backs Professionals
Posted on July 26, 2016 in Conor Mclaughlin
Steven Davis says the professionals are ambitious and it’s not hard to understand their willingness to work at upper levels if there are opportunities. Michael O’Neill’s situation should be seen from the same point of view.
It is understood that the clubs are starting to come to the Federation of Ireland to talk about the procedure for them to acquire O’Neill and according to Davis, the manager’s interest in leaving would only be normal.
Davis was quoted as saying, “The clubs would be coming for sure. If you ask us, yes of course, each and every one of us would want him not to leave, but, he would have his own aspirations and that’s fine.”
On remarks that the Green and White were too circumspect and were all defence in all 4 Euro matches they played, Davis said that the set up the manager forms depends on what he has got to play with. If he is armed with the attackers, the set up and the style would be different.
In Davis’ words, “You see whom were we up against at the group stage? The likes of Bale, Lewandowski, we didn’t let them have much of a say. Germany, with their quality, had the better of us, but, I believe the formation was absolutely right considering our strength.” (more…)
CONOR MCLAUGHLIN GETS TIME OFF AFTER EURO 2016 IN FRANCE
Posted on July 18, 2016 in Conor Mclaughlin
Northern Ireland Right Back Conor Mclaughlin has been given time off by his club’s manager Steven Pressley after his Euro 2016 international duty.
The player played just one match in France and it was in their opening Group C match against Poland which they lost.
The Michael O’Neill led squad fought back from the initial defeat to qualify from the group but they could not go pass Wales, who sent them home in the Round of 16. Conor Mclaughlin was the first player to represent his club Fleetwood Town, at a major international tournament hoped to showcase his skills so he could possibly get better employers. However, it is believed that the club has not received any offer for the services of the player.
Mclaughlin returned for the pre season plans of the club but the manager asked him to take the extra time off and return on the 17th of July after resting well. The manager said: “After the season we have had and the Euros, it is important that he manages to switch off mentally and physically. It is most important on the mental side that he takes a break ahead of the new season.”
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Fleetwood Town were able to secure a point against Southend United
Posted on May 6, 2016 in Conor Mclaughlin
Fleetwood Town were able to secure a point against Southend United thanks to a late goal fromConor McLaughlin.
It appeared that Southend were heading for three points when they managed a spirited comeback through goals from Jack Payne and Adam Barrett. This was after Fleetwood have taken the lead early in the second half through Robert Grant. Considering that Payne scored with eight minutes of normal time remaining, Southend seemed to have secured three points. This would have been a disaster for Fleetwood Town in their fight against relegation. However, McLaughlin came up with this vital point that helps the club stay above the relegation zone.
Only recently, manager Steven Pressley set a target of eight victories in the remainder of the campaign in order to avoid relegation from League One. The team had a sweet boost of confidence following the 2-0 win over Peterborough United in the previous game. This coupled with a point against Southend will only make Fleetwood confident that they can avoid relegation. The upcoming games for the club are against Oldham, Millwall, and Blackpool. A figure of 65 points will be enough to sustain their position in League One. This has been the magical figure to achieve safety in the division and Fleetwood are approaching the 50 point mark. (more…)
Conor McLaughlin not glad with Timing of Matches
Posted on April 28, 2016 in Conor Mclaughlin
Conor McLaughlin might have put on the Northern Ireland kit and preparing for the coming friendly matches, but, he has been honest enough to confess that he is not glad with the timing of the matches and his mind is still at Fleetwood Town where a tough struggle is for the Cod Army to save their stature as a League One Club.
However, McLaughlin understands the perspective of the Northern Ireland head coach that he is looking to make the side come together for a couple of matches so that the players get to know about their roles a little more clearly and also, he gets to see who fits where and which combination gives him the best result at which positions.
McLaughlin also has the idea that the performances in these friendly matches will count in terms of who will be the coach’s top picks on the visit to France and so, he is taking the assignment seriously and would not just turn up because he has to make the numbers.
He says he is going to take it as a chance to play himself into some kind of form and then, returns to Fleetwood feeling better and helps them in his fullest capacity which he believes he hasn’t quite done. (more…)
Conor McLaughlin is excited with the fact that Northern Ireland has been slotted
Posted on January 14, 2016 in Conor Mclaughlin
Conor McLaughlin is excited with the fact that Northern Ireland has been slotted with strong sides in Group C in the main draw of the Euro Cup.
Northern Ireland looks an absolute minnow on paper in comparison to the other three sides which make Group C, but, according to McLaughlin, rather than fearing the strong opposition, he and his teammates would look to enjoy the challenge.
This is the first time ever that Northern Ireland will be competing in Europe. They had been failing to qualify for the last five decades, but, they finally made it this time around with some spirited performances in the qualifying tournament.
They topped their qualifying group i.e. Group F by winning 6 out of their 10 games.
They will start their campaign in the main tournament on 12th of June, 2016 when they take on Poland at Allianz Riviera in Nice.
Speaking on TV last night about Northern Ireland’s qualification and how the team is approaching the main tournament, McLaughlin said, “To be honest, it’s not totally sunk in that we are in the main draw.” (more…)
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