Waterford FC Thread

Dunmoreroader

Anyone know how many season tickets taken up to date?

Smell the glove

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121515526#Comment_121515526

1100 sold last season and they had broken that record two weeks into the sales so who knows at this stage.

Squidvicious

Coughlan's gone to Fleetwood, I see. Not wishing to be cynical, but what do we get out of the tie up with Fleetwood. We see our good players going over there. Have we got anyone any good come in the other direction or have we got any other benefit?

jimbojazz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121569000#Comment_121569000

Was he a free agent?

Squidvicious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121569090#Comment_121569090

I think he was. Apparently, he had been offered another contract. I'm relying on Wikipedia for that but I'm sure it's true, it would be bizarre if they didn't try to keep him. So, yes, I suppose that you can argue that they haven’t stolen him and he might have gone anyway. However, Fleetwood clearly wanted him. And if Fleetwood decided that they wanted him, then surely there was always going to be a limit to how far Waterford could go to keep him. If some other struggling League 1 side offered to take him, Waterford might have been able to persuade him to stay. But once Fleetwood come in, it's curtains.

This is a genuine question but is the link with Fleetwood of any benefit to the club? Getting Beggley in exchange for losing Patterson, Quitorna and Coughlan doesn’t look like a good bargain to me. Are we going to lose every decent player that we find? Do Fleetwood care whether we even survive in the Premier division or are they happytouse us as some kind of reserve team?

jimbojazz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121569206#Comment_121569206

Great questions, and I'd love to know the answer.

What I do think, though, is the squad as it stands is still very weak to be competitive in the Premier division. They're back in training at the moment and the season starts next month, so hopefully they get some quality on, but it's gone very quiet on that front at the moment.

With regards to Coughlan, he'll be a loss. But I think his girlfriend is English, so that may have swayed him to move over.

Also, do we even know who the club owner is at the moment, given the Pilley situation?

hardybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121569000#Comment_121569000

I think, apart from the loanees, you get the next Coughlan.

Why else would he have dropped down a division to play with Waterford other than a good wage and an opportunity to play in the UK if things go well?

3-4 ex Waterford players were togging out in a league one fixture the other week, and that won't have gone unnoticed by players and agents.

Squidvicious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121570966#Comment_121570966

But is the mere possibility that they might be taken to Fleetwood(a side at the foot of League 1 and probably bound for League 2)enough of a carrot to entice players to come to Waterford? I can't say why Coughlan decided to join Waterford but I'm not at all convinced that the Fleetwood tie in was what did it.

Even if I'm wrong, is that enough to justify losing all our best players? Admittedly, some of the 4 might have gone anyway. However, with Fleetwood in charge of recruitment, we have no chance of keeping any player that Fleetwood want.

At the end of the day, the proof will be whether they are prepared to sign players who can compete in the top division. Time will tell, I suppose.

hardybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121571448#Comment_121571448

Do you expect Waterford to be in a position to retain players like that any time soon when much bigger clubs in Ireland can't?

The Fleetwood link might have been a little bit tenuous for Coughlan (even though he's just signed with them), but I think it would be very relevant to a UK based player who wondering what the LOI and Waterford are like.

If Waterford can continually sign players capable of playing at League One standard they'll be in decent enough shape.

I also think it'd be good to have a reputation for developing young lads in Ireland (e.g. Sobowale) who are capable of playing at a higher level.

Squidvicious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121571920#Comment_121571920

Yes, in the longer term perhaps it will work out. It just worries me that Waterford's needs will always be second fiddle to Fleetwood's. Yes, our players will always be vulnerable to approaches from other clubs. But a small town team(at least small town compated to the big Dublin clubs)like Dundalk managed to prosper. Potentially, we can do that too but I just fear that we are now just a feeder club and that may be a cap on what we achieve. That said, I have to accept that we've not achieved a whole lot as an independent club for decades at this stage either so we'll just have to see what happens. If a decent attempt is made this year to assemble a team capable of staying up at the very least, then okay. But if a decent attempt isn't made.....

StringerBell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121569000#Comment_121569000

Barry Baggley for one

StringerBell

The Fleetwood link has been a good one ,the likes of Parsons, Burkey, Baggley etc would have been nowhere near the club without them. Very likely Coughlan and Plenty of others in the midfield and defence tbh.

It also has the advantage of players seeing Waterford as a legitimate pathway to England.

We are the junior partner in a relationship, it isn't going to go all our way and you know the deal when you sign up for it, there is give and take

Squidvicious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121576054#Comment_121576054

Yeah, fair enough, I'm just a bit sore seeing some of the talent that gone across the water but it hasn't been one way traffic and there's swings and roundabouts, I suppose. Let's just hope they build a decent team for the coming season.

Boooourns

Which one of Fleetwood and us has an easier gateway to Europe though? There's 4 European places up for grabs in league from 10 teams (if a first division team doesn't win the cup) so that's why they have invested over here, plenty of money to be made if the club is run right and so far it has been, well beside the (ex?) chairman being a horrible criminal.

Been impressed on how they've back Long so far, the defence looks to be have invested in heavily which was a relief and there's apparently a few more on the way. It will be very tough to stay up as there's no weak teams this season , on paper were the whipping boys coming up from the first division but the city is absolutely buzzing and the team will need the support for the whole season. I can't fooking wait 😁

PTH2009

2024 is all about survival and getting to grips with the Premier Division. Hopefully a fight for Europe from 2025 onwards

2018 and 2020 are still sickners regarding Europe. We had it in 2018 but politics fucked us up (same season a Northern Ireland team got it having new owners just like us) and 2020 we only have ourselves to blame **** up in Donegal

skaface

Staying up is the priority this season.. Anything else is a Bonus.. Can see Sligo. Dundalk Galway, Drogheda and ourselves battleing it out for survival , with Rovers, Pats, Derry, Bohs that bit ahead of the rest. Agood start will be massive, starting against Shels at home.. We need to want Premier teams dreading coming down to the RSC.. Get a good start, and the crowds will come

Squidvicious

https://www.wlrfm.com/sport/waterford-fc-signings-2-342238

As you will see from my posts above, I'm concerned about how Fleetwood will manage us. I have to admit these signings look decent though.

Boooourns

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121604172#Comment_121604172

We're definitely a draw to talented player because of the gateway to England. If Fleetwood get relegated that may change!

If we can put a marker down in the league this year it might get the owners to focus on getting us to Europe. Hopefully a win win situation.

decies

You’d think they would make sure they give us the best chance to get European football time will tell .

StringerBell

Plenty of work to be done to have a realistic chance at survival as things stand, squad is very light.

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121612534#Comment_121612534

The thought of going back down to the graveyard of the first division is gutwrenching

Staying up should be the sole aim of the 2024 season

StringerBell

By hook or by crook, would take staying up on goal difference if you offered it to me now yeah.

PTH2009

https://www.youtube.com/live/sl3kA3fQct8?feature=shared

Wasn't the most exciting game in the World. Coughlan with the 2 goals for the Fleetwood 11

skaface

Both stands Sold Out for Friday.. Should be over 4,000 in attendance at the RSC ,and a cracking Atmosphere

Boooourns

Yeah I'm buzzing for it. Shels will be a really tough side to beat, they didn't lose many last year but plenty of draws, just a real solid side and Duff has done brilliant with them.

No idea what to expect with us with so many new signings but we'll be good to watch with Long. 1 or 3 points will be a great start.

PTH2009

Great to see the crowds back, we need to maintain our Premier Division status and take it from there (sorry for been obvious)

A draw would be great tonight, Shelbourne a tough team to break down

PTH2009

Can't wish for a better start than that

PTH2009

We'll take whatever points we can get early in the season. Brilliant crowd over 4000

Dammo

Yeah. Not a bad start.

Dunmoreroader

Unlucky not to take all 3 points. Shels didn't do much for their point. We're certainly not out of our depth in this company.