Galway United FC

civis_liberalis

Mr Velo wrote: »

GUFC lots of peoples favourites for the drop according to the predictions thread on here. https://www.boards.ie/b/thread/2057708497

I wouldn't pay any heed to them. Is it possible? Yes. It is likely? Not in my opinion.

I'm confident we'll have a good season for a number of reasons, including... how fit they are and the quality we have compared to last year, quality over quantity as some have put it. We had too many players last year and too many of them didn't stand out compared to the players vying for their place. We also had 5 keepers over the course of the season which was frankly embarrassing.

Some are worrying about a reliance on kids to fill out the squad, but the fact is that only 2 of them are even eligible for the under 19s any more and I think they are there on merit, not by default.

They're not kids any more. I think they will all get a chance and I feel they deserve it after the season they had last year. It was GUFC's first full season with an u19 team, yet they reached the final of the competition and the players promoted to the first team backboned Johnny Glynn's u19s.

Of course anything can happen and while I'm nervous with the first game approaching, I'm quietly confident we can do well.

UnleashTheBeast

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Keeper(Nugent) and back four pick themselves, it's the shape and personnel from midfield forward that's debatable.

Agreed RE Nugent. He has to start, he looks the more competent goalkeeper. In fairness to Keegan, he gave both players a fair crack at the whip in pre season.

The back four does pick itself. Then it gets sort of tricky, Keegan has a lot of options which is a good complaint. Conor Melody has impressed me anytime Ive seen him in the friendlies. We need to make a positive start here.

Ath trasna

I'm not overly impressed by either keeper after seeing the 3 home friendlies, based on what I saw in those 3 games I thought that Nugents distribution was pretty shocking and I think Wynn's ability is also questionable. My opinion is that the goalkeeping position is the the biggest weakness in the team. I hope to be proven wrong though.

UnleashTheBeast

Ath trasna wrote: »

I'm not overly impressed by either keeper after seeing the 3 home friendlies, based on what I saw in those 3 games I thought that Nugents distribution was pretty shocking and I think Wynn's ability is also questionable. My opinion is that the goalkeeping position is the the biggest weakness in the team. I hope to be proven wrong though.

I thought Nugent's kicking was improved after his opening friendly.

He only conceded 1 goal in the 6 friendlies.

Ruben Remus

Remember to stick on a few extra layers for tomorrow night! Friday's forecast from Met Eireann:

"Hazy sunshine across the midlands, north and east to begin tomorrow Friday, with any frost quickly clearing. Becoming cloudy everywhere though by early afternoon with patchy rain and drizzle developing. Rather breezy at that point too, in a freshening southwest breeze. Highest temperatures 6 to 9 degrees Celsius, coolest in the north. Rain will turn that bit heavier during the evening and early night-time hours."

UnleashTheBeast

Very quiet on here surprisingly - It's really great to be back, a little excitement building I feel.

I think we will have a little too much quality for Drogheda, but it will be closer than people think. I'm going for a 2-1 win, with a crowd of 2,000 or so.

CrowdedHouse

UnleashTheBeast wrote: »

Very quiet on here surprisingly - It's really great to be back, a little excitement building I feel.

On the GUFC forum there's twice as many posts about the name of the bar as there is about the match......:(

civis_liberalis

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

On the GUFC forum there's twice as many posts about the name of the bar as there is about the match......:(

It's something completely new to Terryland, of course people are going to talk about it a lot.

Buses are coming from the four corners of Galway. Clifden, Dunmore, Loughrea, Kinvara

Pre-season preparations went well.

Hoping for an all-round great night.

UnleashTheBeast

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

On the GUFC forum there's twice as many posts about the name of the bar as there is about the match......:(

That is a positive IMO. The matchday experience at Terryland is lacking and that will help a lot. Good to see the club trying different ways to attract new and old supporters, make going to games more of an event.

CrowdedHouse

Perhaps you're right although I'd just prefer a proper cup of coffee

ben.schlomo

UnleashTheBeast wrote: »

Very quiet on here surprisingly - It's really great to be back, a little excitement building I feel.

I think we will have a little too much quality for Drogheda, but it will be closer than people think. I'm going for a 2-1 win, with a crowd of 2,000 or so.

It looks like it will be typical Terryland weather; blustery, cold and wet so I'd bite your hand off for a win and good crowd now.

ratracer

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

Perhaps you're right although I'd just prefer a proper cup of coffee

Maybe there will be decent coffee in the bar?? ( Let's hope so!!)

civis_liberalis

ben.schlomo wrote: »

It looks like it will be typical Terryland weather; blustery, cold and wet so I'd bite your hand off for a win and good crowd now.

Warm yourself in the bar, should the need arise

_Puma_

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

On the GUFC forum there's twice as many posts about the name of the bar as there is about the match......:(

I'm all for any initiative the club does to get people through the turnstiles as once people get a taste for Friday nights in Terryland they usually keep it up.

Usually once people see with their own eyes (You would be hard pressed to stumble across the little coverage the LOI gets from our national broadcaster) the standard and get a sample for the atmosphere they keep going. If a bar changes even one persons mind who would have stayed at home instead its worth it.

Anything that removes the "Obstacles" some people seem to have about going to games is a good thing in my opinion. Its a sad but true situation that some people see the availability of alcohol at a sport venue as something that would keep them away.

CrowdedHouse

_Puma_ wrote: »

Its a sad but true situation that some people see the availability of alcohol at a sport venue as something that would keep them away.

My thoughts exactly.

UnleashTheBeast

_Puma_ wrote: »

Its a sad but true situation that some people see the availability of alcohol at a sport venue as something that would keep them away.

It is sad, but that's the way sport is going. There has to be a lot more than just "the match" now. Matchday experience has to be improved. I think security wise, things will be very tight and I don't believe alcohol will be allowed outside of the clubhouse, which is a sensible way to control things.

Rain will keep people away, so will the cold, so will the heat in the summer. In the long run, I can't see how this won't help attendances and the matchday experience to be honest. If it brings more people through the gate, even though it doesn't appeal to me personally, I'm all for it.

Mars Bar

Just bought my ticket on ticketmaster. Going on the Dunmore bus. €5 return is fantastic value!

For me, knowing that a child I coached in our academy is being a mascot tonight turned it in my favour. I hope he has a great evening!

bobbyss

UnleashTheBeast wrote: »

It is sad, but that's the way sport is going. There has to be a lot more than just "the match" now. Matchday experience has to be improved. I think security wise, things will be very tight and I don't believe alcohol will be allowed outside of the clubhouse, which is a sensible way to control things.

Rain will keep people away, so will the cold, so will the heat in the summer. In the long run, I can't see how this won't help attendances and the matchday experience to be honest. If it brings more people through the gate, even though it doesn't appeal to me personally, I'm all for it.

I agree 100%. As a non drinker it jisses me off to see such close links between sport and drink. But we are where we are.

civis_liberalis

bobbyss wrote: »

I agree 100%. As a non drinker it jisses me off to see such close links between sport and drink. But we are where we are.

There is a bar. People who do not drink will never have to see it and people who do will not be allowed out of it with their beverages.

It it an absolutely essential part of modern stadia, whether you partake or not. I am personally not bothered, but many people are.

Apart from serving drinks, it will provide slightly more comfortable place for people to socialise out of the elements for a period before and after the game, as well as during the break.

It's something many supporters bemoaned the lack of for many years.

GalwayGrrrrrl

At the moment EDP is a very child friendly venue. I hope that the bar won't change that family atmosphere.

ratracer

Well that was rather disappointing!! Could have been out of sight by half time, suckered in the second half! Overall a poor performance by United, worryingly there are very little options on the bench!!

bobbyss

Next up is Cork away I think. Looks like 0 from two games coming up.

Mr Velo

ratracer wrote: »

Well that was rather disappointing!! Could have been out of sight by half time, suckered in the second half! Overall a poor performance by United, worryingly there are very little options on the bench!!

One forced substitution - definitely says a lot about the strength of the squad alright. Very disappointing night. Had Vinnie's header gone in rather than hitting the crossbar early on it could have been very different.

fergiesfolly

Played some lovely football in the first half, but lacked a cutting edge up front. Tired very visably in the second half and although understandable, it let a very poor Drogheda back into the game.
With three going down this year, United could find themselves in a very ugly dogfight if that don't pick up points soon.
The lack of second half substitutes is a worry.

ben.schlomo

fergiesfolly wrote: »

Played some lovely football in the first half, but lacked a cutting edge up front. Tired very visably in the second half and although understandable, it let a very poor Drogheda back into the game.
With three going down this year, United could find themselves in a very ugly dogfight if that don't pick up points soon.
The lack of second half substitutes is a worry.

We missed having Melody in the squad tonight, he brings a lot of skill and drive to the game, that would have been the ideal sub for Gary going off injured. I don't agree that we tired, they just upped their game after completely sitting back first half. We were also playing into the strong wind second half. If we continue in tonight's manner then goals will be tough to come by.

Utopia Parkway

ratracer wrote: »

Well that was rather disappointing!! Could have been out of sight by half time, suckered in the second half! Overall a poor performance by United, worryingly there are very little options on the bench!!

Heard Shane Keegan on the radio during the week saying they opted to spend the budget on quality for the first eleven for the season rather than on having a bigger squad with a lot of them sitting on the bench every week. Good if it works out but a few injuries and you're down to the kids.

Either way losing at home to a likely bottom half of the table rival is a pretty dire start. Drogs are not good and came away with 3 points.

civis_liberalis

A lot of very disappointed people, myself included.

We need to put it into persective though. We battered them in the first half but just couldn't score.

Had any of the chances gone in, I believe we would have gone on to win 2 or 3-0. Drogheda would have been forced to play football.

They got a clear cut chance and scored it. They will get relegated. We have to make sure we resolve the issues we have and hope to push on.

Tough games coming up for sure but no point in getting into hysterics after 90 minutes of the season.

A lot of positive from the last while and last night as well. Bitterly disappointed with the result, but better days are ahead.

Ruben Remus

civis_liberalis wrote: »

(Drogheda) got a clear cut chance and scored it. They will get relegated.

I wouldn't be so certain about that. Their ability to grind out a result, despite not playing very well, is the sort of attribute that keeps teams up, and it's a quality that Galway unfortunately don't have.

The most worrying aspect of Friday was how, despite some nice passing at times, United rarely cut through the Drogheda defence. Players were often playing one pass too many, rather than taking on responsibility themselves.

Mr Velo

Ruben Remus wrote: »

civis_liberalis wrote: »

(Drogheda) got a clear cut chance and scored it. They will get relegated.

I wouldn't be so certain about that. Their ability to grind out a result, despite not playing very well, is the sort of attribute that keeps teams up, and it's a quality that Galway unfortunately don't have.

The most worrying aspect of Friday was how, despite some nice passing at times, United rarely cut through the Drogheda defence. Players were often playing one pass too many, rather than taking on responsibility themselves.

Bang on!

death1234567

Ruben Remus wrote: »

I wouldn't be so certain about that.

I would. Drogheda are definitely one of the three that'll go down this season.