THE REBEL GEL
Caulfield backs Cork to settle after new signings are bedded in
JOHN CAULFIELD has warned his new Cork City signings that they must hit the ground running.
After an opening day defeat at St Pat’s, the Rebels host Waterford on Friday desperate for their first points of the season.
The Blues also lost last weekend, going down 2-1 as Shamrock Rovers won at the RSC with the last kick.
While these are early days in the campaign, the Munster derby rivals will be loathe to go a second week without return.
Caulfield (right) has been busy playing down expectations around the 2017 league champions having lost half his squad in the close season. Hope has been pinned on new arrivals like English strikers James Tilley, Liam Nash and the currently injured Matty Gillam as well as returning Kevin O’connor.
Caulfield said yesterday: “Kevin hasn’t really played in three months. Nash is the same and
Gillam although Tilley had been with Brighton’s U21s.
“It takes time to adjust to the intensity of the league and the fitness levels required. It also takes time for patterns to develop between different players.
“We have a lot of new players and it might take time to gel, but you’re also hoping that it won’t take six or seven weeks.”
Caulfield added: “Not to labour the point but 10 players from a squad of about 20 have gone, and we’ve brought in some young players to replace them. “There is great talent here with the likes of Dan Casey who has been very good and Daire O’connor who is absolutely outstanding.
“The other new guys are working very hard to bring their fitness and intensity up as you could see the levels were massive against Pats.”
Caulfield refuses to dwell on the defeat in Inchicore having seen his side squander early chances before struggling to break Saints down in the second-half.
But he would love to get the account up and running in front of a large Turner’s Cross crowd when Waterford come to town on Friday.
Last season, the teams were involved in a mass brawl at the RSC when four players and both managers were slapped with 16 games worth of bans between them.
Caulfield said: “Waterford are a physical and aggressive side with huge players.
“It looks like they were unlucky against Rovers.
“We know from last year that it’ll be hectic and you have to be on your game when it’s that intensity – and we’re planning for that.
“They have excellent players like Bastien Hery and Shane Duggan and games between us are always tight.
“Like other teams, Waterford have invested heavily so you’d expect games in the league this season to be tighter than before. I don’t see any team or teams pulling away.”