Season Preview: Waterford

Manager: Alan Reynolds

Stadium: Regional Sports Centre (RSC), Waterford

2019 Players in: JJ Lunney (Bohemians), Zack Elbouzedi (West Brom Utd), Shane Duggan (Limerick), Kevin Lynch (Bray Wanderers), Damien Delaney (Cork City).

2019 Players out: Garry Comerford (Cork City), Niall Corbett (Bohemians), Derek Daly (Bray Wanderers), Paul Keegan (Bray Wanderers), David Webster (St. Pats), Sean Roche (Wexford)

Extratime.ie Key Man: Bastian Hery 

The French midfielder’s solid 2018 season form was rewarded with a place in the PFAI Team of the Year.

His consistent top level performances last season contributed hugely towards Waterford’s impressive fourth place finish and another season of battling from the French man is crucial to Waterford’s lofty ambitions this season too.

Extratime.ie One to Watch: Zack Elbouzedi 

The Dubliner is a very interesting signing by Alan Reynolds and it will be exciting to see how he adapts to the SSE Airtricty League this season.

Although only 20 years of age, the exciting midfielder has a wealth of experience already having spent two years at West Brom and more recently a short spell with Inverness Caledonian Thistle where he was unlucky with injuries.  

How they did last season:

League: 4th

extratime.ie expected Waterford to take a little bit longer to adapt to being back in the top flight again and predicted a seventh placed last season. Alan Reynolds’ side had their own ideas finishing the season very impressively in fourth and securing a Europa League spot too.

FAI Cup: Quarter Final 

A disappointing 2-1 away defeat to UCD ended Waterford’s FAI Cup run for 2018. 

EA Sports Cup: Waterford’s interest in the League Cup was ended on the road as well in the third round suffering a defeat to Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds narrowly on a 1-0 score line.

What to expect this season: We can expect a similar season to last year from Alan Reynolds and his Waterford side and I’m sure their fans would be delighted with another fourth place finish if they were handed it before a ball is kicked this season. 

JJ Lunney and Zack Elbouzedi are exciting signings with Lunney very consistent with Bohs last season. With the likes of St. Pats and Shamrock Rovers strengthening their squads considerably during the off season, it will be a right battle for that fourth spot which Waterford should play a major part in.

Title Odds:25/1

First game:Shamrock Rovers (H), Friday, Feb 15th

"The @SSEAirtricityLg is back next Friday..."

Bastian Hery: @WaterfordFCie taking on @shelsfc in a pre-season friendly at Tolka Park tonight! #LOI#GreatestLeagueInTheWorldpic.twitter.com/xi6nbU5TLr

— SSE Airtricity League (@SSEAirtricityLg) February 8, 2019