Season Preview 2015 - Bray Wanderers

Manager: Alan Mathews

Stadium: The Carlisle Grounds

Players In: Brian Kane (Malahide Utd), Hugh Douglas (UCD), Jack Memery (Bohemians), Daniel O’Reilly (Bishop’s Stortford), Alan McNally (Drogheda Utd), Ryan McEvoy (Bohemians), Luke Gallagher (Shelbourne), Peter McGlynn (Drogheda Utd), Emeka Onwubiko (Shamrock Rovers B), Chris Lyons (Shamrock Rovers B), Peter Durrad (St Pats Ath)

Players Out:Dave Webster (Shamrock Rovers), Joe Gorman (Drogheda Utd), Michael Brown (Athlone Town), Rob Maloney (Cabinteely), Sean Hurley (Waterford Utd), Jake Kelly (Dundalk), Ryan Swan (UCD), Shane O’Neill (Cabinteely), Philip Hughes (Shelbourne)

Extratime.ie Key Man: David Cassidy

During his time at Shelbourne Cassidy was a regular goalscorer, netting fifteen league goals in 2011. Last season he scored just four times for Bray Wanderers, the same amount he got for Drogheda the year before. But since those heady days at Tolka Park his value to the teams that he has played for has changed. Cassidy may not score as many goals as he used to but he has matured into a class act in the centre of the park, one of those rare players who has the ability to turn pressure into opportunity with a single, well chosen pass. His vision, strength of purpose and confidence on the ball will be crucial as Alan Mathews looks to guide Bray away from their perennial position around the lower reaches of the Premier Division.

Extratime.ie One to Watch: Emeka Onwubiko

Onwubiko has shown himself to have genuine talent from as far back as 2009 when he scored a sublime brace for Athlone Town in a League Cup tie against Longford. But the intervening five seasons haven’t seen him cash in his potential for real achievement. Last season he played 20 league games (eight as a substitute) for Shamrock Rovers B with just one goal to show for his efforts. But a brace in the club’s opening pre-season friendly against Ardmore Rovers reignited hopes that he might yet turn his undoubted ability to account. Bray now need him to deliver on the big stage.

How they did last season:

League: 10th   (Premier Division)

FAI Cup: 2nd Round

EA Sports Cup: 2nd Round

What to expect this season:

It is a relatively rare thing for Bray Wanderers to enter a League of Ireland season with optimism to the fore but the new influence of the McGettigan Group has added a sense of hope to the Seagulls’ preparations for the 2015 campaign.

Bray have finished 10th, 11th and 10th in the three seasons since the Premier Division reverted to a twelve team format, consistently failing to break the tractor beam that sucks them annually towards the relegation dog fight. This year there is some hope, locally at least, that things might be about to change. But have Bray’s winter transfer dealings created a sufficiently improved squad for them to deliver a significantly improved season?

Bray conceded 61 goals in 2014, five more than bottom club Athlone Town. Alan Mathews’ response has been to bring in four new defenders to replace the four who moved out over the winter. Alan McNally provides an experienced partner for Adam Mitchell at the heart of the back four but it remains to be seen if the changes in personnel bring about real improvement.

In 2014 Bray struggled to score goals with the departed Jake Kelly topping the club’s scoring charts with five league goals. Peter Durrad, brought in from St Pats, is unproven but the addition of Chris Lyons from Shamrock Rovers brings a developing goal-scorer into the fold. Lyons scored six times in an injury disrupted season at Tallaght but he got just three league goals for Bohemians in 2013 and one for UCD in 2012. The young striker will need to step up to the plate if Bray are to resolve their lack of punch up front.

If Bray are to improve this season expect it to come in small installments rather than anything dramatic.

Title Odds: 250/1 (Paddy Power)

First Game: v Drogheda Unied  (The Carlisle Grounds) Sat. 7th March  (ko - 5.45 pm)