Waterford United Preview 2012

Last season: 5th (First Division)
 

In: Gary Dempsey (Bray Wanderers), John Frost (Limerick FC), Daragh Walshe (Wexford Youths), Peter White (Limerick), Ben Ryan (Wexford Youths), Peter Higgins (No Club), Robert Hughes (Shamrock Rovers), Packie Holden (Wexford Youths), Craig Burns (Cork City), Dylan Mernagh (Villa FC)

Out: Paul Murphy (Released), Kevin Murray (Cork City), Kevin Burns (Cork City), Kenny Browne (St Patrick's Athletic), Dwayne Wilson (Bohemians), Brian Nolan (Wexford Youths), Conor Sinnott (Released), Michael Coady (Released), Paul Walsh (Dundalk),
 

Manager: Paul O’Brien
 

Stadium: RSC
 

Expectations at the club this season are to challenge for promotion. Manager Paul O’Brien and chairman John O’Sullivan believe that they have a squad capable of challenging but a tricky pre-season has fans on edge. A 5-0 defeat to Bray Wanderers followed by a 8-1 defeat against Shamrock Rovers last week have put an end to a tough pre-season for the Blues. Rewind 12 months and the Blues lost just 2-0 to Rovers and drew 2-2 with Bray Wanderers.
 

The addition of experienced players like Gary Dempsey, John Frost and Packie Holden should help bring a young squad together. Some of the players to depart the club include goalkeeper Kevin Burns and defender Kevin Murray to Cork City while Kenny Browne has left for St. Patrick’s Athletic.
 

With Limerick looking like the team to beat this season, an uninspiring pre-season doesn’t bode well as the Blues embark on another First Division campaign. The Blues won wins from 30 last season which simply wasn’t enough but with two less games this season, the Blues will look to improve that number in an eight team league that has lost some of the big teams from last season.

For the manager Paul O’Brien, it will be his first full season as the Blues boss having taken charge midway through last season following the departure of Stephen Henderson. Despite being unable to bring the club into the play-offs, O’Brien now has the chance to mould his own squad and bring his own style of play to the team.
 

For a club like Waterford United, with a rich tradition of League of Ireland football, a return to the Premier Division this season is vital. A poor pre-season, and other teams looking stronger, mean that it will be far from easy for Paul O’Brien’s men.

ExtraTime.ie Prediction: 3rd.